Supports needed as bad weather continues

WITH more rain falling, farmers across Wexford sit perched in their tractors, looking out over rain-sodden fields, wondering how they’ ll manage to make it through this Spring.

In recent days, there’s been warnings of a major potato shortage because of the persistent wet weather. While usually February and March are the time for planting potatoes, only a fraction of the 21,000 acre crop is in the ground at present.

The weather has also delayed livestock turnout and caused difficulties with other fieldwork, as farmers also wade through mountains of red tape – something highlighted with their recent ‘Enough is Enough’ protest at Wexford County Council.

In fact, at the Johnstown Castle weather station in Wexford, Met Éireann has recorded 153.7mm of rainfall in March – almost double the March long term average rainfall of 79mm.

With all this in mind, Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe is calling for significant supports to be made available to Wexford farmers battling the elements.

“I know how important agriculture is to the local economy and Fine Gael is committed to delivering for rural Ireland and farmers,” he said. “Right now, weather conditions are hammering farmer morale and we are moving into an unprecedented territory on farms. Farmers are acting responsibly but the reality is that the weather is preventing livestock turnout, spring planting, and other fielding right across the country, including in County Wexford.

“This is causing untold stress for farmers who are trying to manage a difficult situation. I welcome the pausing of all non-essential farm inspection until 22 April to provide farmers with breathing space. We are in a position where every and all option to support them needs to be considered if these difficult conditions persist.”

Deputy Kehoe called on Government and all actors in the sector to come together to provide a co-ordinated response to the situation facing farmers. His party colleague Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon has vowed that every measure which could offer a reprieve for farmers until conditions improve is being looked at.

Fine Gael Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon said that any measure which could offer a reprieve for farmers until the conditions improve was being looked at.

“We are engaging with financial institutions to emphasise the need for short term finance on farms where cashflow is a difficulty,” he said, by way of an example. “In addition to pausing non-essential inspections we are exploring any flexibilities that can be offered around schemes and administration.”

Locally, having spoken out in support of farmers on several occasions before, Aontú councillor Jim Codd had major concerns that government supports would not go far enough.

“I was talking to an old farmer last night who told me that he cannot remember a wetter year than this and he genuinely fears for the future of his and neighbours’ farms,” he said.

“The government has no control over the weather but they can help ease the worry of farmers by being clear and concise in what supports they are offering to both the tillage and cattle sectors.

“They need to be clear if the fodder support scheme is on the table instead of mumbling mixed messages,” he concluded. “The knock-on effect of doing nothing will be detrimental to the local economy across a rural county like Wexford.”