Tipperary farming: crisis-hit farmers welcome fodder import scheme

IFA president Joe Healy has acknowledged the confirmation by the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, of a fodder import scheme for €4,25m as another important element identified in IFA’s Drought Action Plan.

Mr Healy said once the Minister had announced at the Tullamore Show 10 days ago of his intention to bring in a fodder import scheme, farmers wanted it in place quickly.

“Some co-ops and merchants have identified available fodder abroad and this allows them to put their plans in place,” he said.

Mr Healy again called on Minister Creed to introduce immediately the low-cost loans which were promised in last October’s Budget, adding that these loans must be available for working capital.

He also said it was important that changes under GLAS were confirmed and clarified as a matter of urgency.

The flexibility to allow conservation of fodder on fallow ground is welcome, but urgent movement on the Low-Input Grassland measure was critical. This will allow farmers to conserve extra fodder, he said.

ICSA president Patrick Kent also welcomed the announcement of €4.25m for the introduction of a fodder import support measure.

“ICSA has been calling for this and other measures to be put in place at the earliest possible point as part of the combined effort required to offset major fodder difficulties down the track, he said.

high quality fodder

However Mr Kent said that while ICSA was in favour of importing fodder, it must be of high quality and at a fair price. Vigilance on quality and price towards imported feed must also extend to cereals, he said.

Mr Kent said profit margins on suckler and sheep farms were practically non-existent at present so if these enterprises were to have any hope of surviving it was imperative that access to quality feed at a reasonable price is secured.

“On home ground, we need to take a sensible approach and allow low-input grassland to be baled, sooner rather than later,” he said.

Mr Kent impressed upon millers to deliver the best possible value to farmers at this difficult time and reiterated that profiteering by meat plants must not be tolerated,

“It is incumbent on all players to protect the industry as a whole. We will not stand for primary producers being taken advantage of at this vulnerable time,” he said.