Clare farmers say they’re experiencing some of the worst ground conditions in a lifetime as there are calls for the EU’s reserve funds to be used amid the current fodder crisis.
Months of poor weather has led to poor grass growth, and some farmers have been unable to let animals out on the land, resulting in the severe shortage of feed for livestock across the country.
The situation has led Shannon Airport to offer up the grass on its airfield to farmers.
Kilkishen farmer Mike Shanahan says the ground conditions this year are as bad as he’s ever seen.
He’s been speaking with Clare FM as the industry copes with its worst issues since 2013, a crisis which the IFA estimates the current crisis will cost in the region of 500 million euro.
While some farmers in Clare say the situation now hasn’t yet reached the point that it was at five years ago, others say it’s the worst they’ve seen.
Work has been ongoing to offset the impact of the poor weather including the importation of fodder under a government-led scheme.
However, many say the state needs to have done much more already.
The Agriculture Minister will be drilled by politicians in an Oireachtas Committee meeting later today, as there are calls for EU funding to be used.
Clare County Chair of the ICMSA Martin McMahon says Irish farmers need help from Brussels.
Some help is coming for farmers, from Shannon Airport.
In 2013, 1600 bales of grass were cut at the airport as the industry was looking for any and all available sources of food for their animals.
The airport is repeating its gesture this time around – Director of Operations, Niall Moloney.
