Fodder imports aim to ease the pressure on farmers

LOCAL farming co-ops will join their national counterparts in importing animal fodder this week, as the feed crisis continues.

Courtmacsherry Cllr and farmer John O’Sullivan said this week that action, rather than any government review, was what was needed.

While he welcomed the fact that Teagasc is carrying out a survey of available fodder, and will be conducting clinics throughout the country, he called on the Department of Agriculture and the farming co-operatives to provide ‘at cost’ rations to farmers who are under pressure.

Macroom-based Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed TD acknowledged that the ‘significant rainfall over the weekend had created additional challenges for Irish farmers dealing with what has already been a difficult spring.’  

He confirmed that officials from his Department, in conjunction with Teagasc, have been actively monitoring the availability of fodder supplies. And he confirmed that his officials were actively developing a scheme supporting the importation of fodder from outside the country, the details of which will be worked on ‘in the coming days’.