The Clare County Chair of the IFA says farmers here are struggling through even worse conditions now than during the fodder crisis of 2013.
The Agriculture Minister has announced a review of the situation, amid concern that any ongoing inclement weather will see problems worsen further.
Clare FM’s Fiona McGarry reports:
Farmers here have been forced to house their animals for several months now, with heavy rains leading to saturated lands in many areas.
This in turn has led to issues with the supply of silage and fodder, and higher expenses for farmers who are now worried that fodder supplies could run out before the weather improves.
It’s five years since the last fodder crisis, which saw farmers allowed cut the grass of the airfield at Shannon Airport in a bid to get supply for the hardest hit areas.
Clare Chair of the Irish Farmers Association Willie Hanrahan says it’s extremely concerning that conditions now are so bad.
The Minister for Agriculture has announced a review of the supply situation to identify possible measures to increase availability.
Michael Creed is meeting with Teagasc and the main farming co-ops againt today following a difficult Easter weekend of further bad weather, which it’s feared has compounded the problem.
Farmers’ representative groups are calling for action, including an end to the delays of payments and what the ICMSA has called ‘exceptional crisis measures.’
Hannah Quinn-Mulligan of the Irish Farmers Journal says the situation is impacting on the health of animals, and humans.
