MINISTER ANNOUNCES FODDER TRANSPORT SUPPORT MEASURE
Minister for Agriculture Food & Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, announced on Tuesday, the introduction of a Fodder Transport support measure to provide additional assistance to livestock farmers most severely affected by the prolonged exceptional weather conditions.
In many of these cases the delayed turn out to grass because of the very poor ground conditions has meant that some farmers are now running out of fodder.
Launching the measure, the minister acknowledged that a key issue to resolve was the cost of transporting fodder between those areas where it was plentiful and those where it was scarce.
"Teagasc analysis has shown that fodder remains available across the country, but I am conscious of the significant additional cost to farmers where fodder has to be transported over significant distance to areas where it is most needed."
The minister added: "This measure builds on my early supports to farmers, through a pause on all non-essential inspections and the co-ordination of advisory support to farmers by Teagasc to facilitate fodder transfers and advice over the recent period."
A financial contribution is being provided to offset transport costs of hay, fodder beet, straw and silage for feeding, where this involves a distance of more than 75km. Farmers will be eligible to receive a financial contribution towards offsetting the costs of transport of fodder. Financial assistance under the Fodder Transport support measure is payable in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013 on de minimis aid in the agricultural production sector.
Minister McConalogue went on to stress that in addressing the current challenges, payments from last October to now have injected over €1.8 billion into the Irish rural economy. In addition, the 2023 Fodder Scheme issued payments of almost €53m to 67,000 farmers to assist them in making extra fodder. On inspections, the minister also noted that similar pauses to that announced by DAFM were announced by the HSA and Bord Bia.
The National Fodder and Feed Security committee has met twice recently and has helped to ensure a co-ordinated response to the fodder problem across all the main stakeholders including Teagasc, feed merchants, co-ops, banking and the farming bodies.
Concluding, Minister McConalogue said: "As fodder is traded between farms on a regular basis, it is essential that the support measure being announced today is targeted at those who most need it and does not impact on the normal functioning of the market for fodder. I am grateful that the co-op structure is supporting the practical implementation of this measure."