Charlie McConalogue, the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, has announced a new initiative aimed at providing additional aid to livestock farmers who have been severely impacted by the prolonged adverse weather conditions. Due to the delayed turn-out to grass caused by the poor ground conditions, some farmers are now facing shortages of fodder.
In launching this measure, Minister McConalogue recognised the pressing issue of the high costs associated with transporting fodder from areas where it is abundant to those where it is scarce. He emphasised the importance of addressing this challenge, stating, “Teagasc analysis indicates that fodder is still available nationwide, but I am aware of the significant extra expenses for farmers who must transport fodder over long distances to meet demand.”
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the government’s previous efforts to support farmers, including the suspension of non-essential inspections and the provision of advisory assistance through Teagasc to facilitate fodder transfers and offer guidance during this challenging period.
Under the new Fodder Transport Support Measure, financial assistance will be provided to cover the transport costs of hay, fodder beet, straw, and silage for feeding, particularly for distances exceeding 75 kilometres. This financial aid is in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013 on de minimis aid in the agricultural sector.
Minister McConalogue stressed that payments totalling over €1.8 billion have been injected into the rural economy from last October to the present to address current challenges. Additionally, the 2023 Fodder scheme disbursed nearly €53 million to 67,000 farmers to assist with fodder shortages.
The National Fodder and Feed Security Committee, which has met twice recently, has played a crucial role in coordinating responses to the fodder shortage across various stakeholders, including Teagasc, feed merchants, cooperatives, banks, and farming organisations.
For more information about the Fodder Transport support measure, click here.