The INHFA are calling on Minister Creed to give farmers the option of taking a fodder crop of land that is currently paid for under the Low Input Permanent Pasture measure in GLAS.
National President Colm O Donnell stated ‘how, farmers are since the 1st July allowed top this pasture and as we head into a fodder shortage it would, make more sense to make hay or silage from it rather than let this grass rot into the ground .”
With a significant uptake of this measure especially in GLAS 1 there is an opportunity added the farmers leader “to make progress on addressing our national fodder situation, especially when you consider that a lot of land in this measure is on heavier soils that is growing well.
O Donnell concluded by stating “how a precedent for this was set in 2013 when similar to now there were concerns of a national fodder shortage and the Minister allowed farmers in AEOS with land under the Species Rich Grassland measure be allowed take a fodder crop from it.”
