Mayoral candidate urges fodder support scheme as poor weather continues
Fianna Fáil candidate for Mayor of Limerick, Dee Ryan has this week contacted party colleague and Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, urging him to confirm a fodder support scheme for farmers given the on-going rainfall across the county this Monday, following the deluge of rain experienced during Storm Kathleen at the weekend.
Commenting from her home in county Limerick, MS Ryan said that farmers in Limerick were “at their wits end after this exceptionally long and wet winter and spring period”.
“Farmers have been housing cattle for an extended period since last October with no sign of a let-up long enough to dry out the fields and allow animals to get to grass,” she said. “Ground conditions across Limerick are very poor, with waterlogged fields in areas making it impossible to even walk the land let alone think about getting an animal or a machine out on it. Our farmers have had the increased workload of feeding, bedding and cleaning out sheds for months and are feeling the financial and physical strain of that. It’s difficult to be positive in the face of decreased yields and the certainty of fodder shortage and resultant cost increases in the autumn and winter.”
“I have spoken to the ICMSA and heard their very real concerns about the impact that the difficult weather and ground conditions that farmers are dealing with, the impact of decreased yields on their cashflow and the build up of other work on the farm that can’t get done while the rain continues to bucket down.
“Today I have made representations to my party colleague Minister McConalogue, outlining the difficult situation for farmers here in Limerick and urging him to confirm a Fodder Support Scheme as soon as possible, ensuring to include dairy farmers in any scheme”.
INTEREST RATES
Ms Ryan, who is an expert on the regional economy and served on the Government appointed Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce in 2022/2023, is also calling for a reduction in the costs of providing credit, from financial institutes.
“I am also calling on our financial institutions to recognise the difficulties customers in farming families are experiencing and to reduce the already punitive costs charged for providing credit. Our Irish dairy farmers are paying at least 2.5% higher interest rates than their Dutch, German and French counterparts, impacting on competitiveness of our produce on the market.
“As Mayor of Limerick I will work with our farming families in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to the county. I want to meet as many Limerick farmers as I can to hear their concerns – from potholes to hedge-cutting, to fighting for them at national level, I am committed to Limerick farmers’.
PUBLIC MEETING ON THURSDAY 11TH
A married mother of 4 who has spent the last five years as chief executive of Limerick Chamber, Ms Ryan is the Fianna Fáil candidate for Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick.
Ms Ryan will be taking part in a public information meeting being held by Minister Niall Collins, on Thursday, 11th April at 8.30pm in the Croom Civic Centre and encourages those interested in learning about the new office of mayor to attend.
“I will be a mayor for the county and not just the city. I am looking forward to engaging in public meetings and canvassing from Glin to Galbally and Newcastle West to Castleconnell. As a county person I feel strongly that we need to bring the mayoral debate to the county and not have everything focused on the city.”