Scanlon calls for front loading of payments for fodder affected farmers

FIANNA Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim Eamon Scanlon has called on the Agriculture Minister to frontload farm payments for farmers who have been badly affected by the fodder crisis. The compensation scheme rolled out by Minister Creed has been a complete failure with only 9 applications submitted to the Department since it was announced.

Speaking in the Dáil this week, Deputy Scanlon said, “I have received countless calls from farmers across the North West who are at their wits end with worry as to how they will pay for fodder for their animals. The scheme that the Minister introduced has been a complete failure, as it focussed solely on hay and silage, both of which have experienced substantial price increases over the past couple of weeks. I along with my party colleagues had been arguing for a meal voucher scheme for farmers, but Minister Creed chose to press ahead with his flawed idea – is it any wonder there were only 9 applications?

“This situation is getting worse by the day, and it has been exacerbated by a se- ries of adverse weather events. Cattle are being kept indoors because of snow and flooding and fodder stocks are all but gone at this stage.

“Many farmers have exhausted their credit options and are running out of time. I am urging Minister Creed to wake up to the seriousness of the situation and to front load their farm payments for this year – this would provide some much needed relief for farm families. This money is due to them anyway, but it would make a huge difference if it could be paid out now”.