Creed rules out a national fodder scheme

There are no plans at present to establish a national fodder aid scheme for farmers, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed told the Dáil.

Sinn Féin’s Agriculture Spokesman Martin Kenny said there had been extremely bad weather since the middle of August and all through September. “We have a huge problem in many parts of the country. “There is the potential of a fodder crisis,” he said. “As this is an ongoing thing every year, can a proper scheme be put in place to ensure it is dealt with it?”

In reply, Minister Creed said he accepted that weather conditions in recent weeks have been challenging and this has created difficulties for farmers. “My Department has been monitoring grass growth rates, weather conditions and feed supplies across the country,” he said. “Grass growth rates are currently substantially ahead of recent years but there are difficulties in utilising grass in some regions due to above average rainfall levels.”

He said the European Commission had recently agreed to my request for an advance payment of the 2017 basic payment scheme. “This has been prompted by the protracted inclement weather conditions and also market difficulties caused by currency fluctuations,” he said. “This means an increase from 50% to 70% in the rate for the basic payment scheme to those applicants whose applications are confirmed fully clear with effect from 16 October, with balancing payments being made with effect from 1 December. There will also be an increase permitted to the advance for Pillar 2 rural development schemes.”

These payments and the payments under the areas of natural constraints scheme, which commenced recently, will inject up to €800 million into the Irish rural economy in the coming weeks, he said and will provide a very welcome boost for Irish farm families, and also funding for fodder purchase where required.

“Avenues are available to individual farmers and the Department will help where there are fodder and animal welfare issues combining to give rise to specific circumstances requiring the intervention of the Department,” he added.