Fodder subsidy plan urgently required to import winter straw – Lombard

The Minister for Agriculture must act now to ensure adequate fodder and bedding for the winter is available to farmers, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Agriculture said that a Fodder Subsidy Scheme needs to be provided for to allow for straw to be imported.

“Minister McConalogue needs to be proactive now and avoid a potential crisis for farmers. We’ve seen from the winter crop which has been cut that the volume is well below the expected yield. Recently cut winter barley is showing more than a 50% reduction in the number of round bales produced this year,”

Senator Lombard explained: “The introduction of the Fodder Scheme in April was a welcome step to supporting farmers, giving a financial contribution to offset transport costs of hay, fodder beet, straw and silage for feeding, but weather conditions experienced since the beginning of this year has affected projected crop yields for the whole year.

“We can’t afford to wait around for the spring cereal crop to be cut. We already know that it will be poor and the volume will fall below what’s needed, so a contingency plan needs to be put in place.

The Minister needs to offset any potential shortages by introducing a subsidy scheme now which will allow farmers and co-ops to import straw. Farmers don’t have the luxury of waiting. There is a real fear that there won’t be enough fodder and bedding for the winter and farmers need assurances that they won’t face fodder and bedding shortages.”