Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2013
223. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his officials in his Department have engaged with the Department of Social Protection to analyse the impact of the fodder crisis on those farmers in receipt of farm assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24557/13]
View answerI announced on 10 May an extension of the imported fodder transport scheme for a further two weeks and the doubling of the fund to €2m. Following consultation with Met Éireann, co-ops, the farming organisations and Teagasc, and with the advice of officials working on the ground, the decision was taken to allow a further two weeks for fodder to be imported into the country with a doubling of the transport subsidy fund. Fodder eligible under the scheme and delivered into the country will be covered up to next Friday 24 May. I have also decided, as an exceptional measure, that any definite purchases that have been placed by that date, but which will be delivered during the following week, will be included under the scheme.
By the end of the week some 2,000 loads of imported fodder, amounting to about 30,000 tonnes, will have benefited from my Department’s contribution to these transport costs. My Department will continue to monitor the situation on a day-by-day basis. This remains a very challenging situation for farmers and the extension to 24 May will allow both farmers and co-ops to have some certainty around the supply of fodder over the coming weeks.
It is also important that while continuing to focus on the emergency fodder position in the short term, farmers should also focus on growing and conserving fodder for next winter’s needs. We should be maximising production in the coming period and I have asked Teagasc to prioritise this policy in their advisory campaigns over the summer months.
It is clear that the main cut of silage will be delayed this year and as a consequence we need to look at the potential for the growing of additional fodder later into the season. In this regard I have also raised a number of specific issues with regard to the nitrates regulations with my colleague Deputy Hogan, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, with a view to ensuring we maximise the opportunity for fodder production this year.
The animal welfare hotline that I established remains open for those with emergency situations or who need information about where to source fodder at Lo-call 1850 21 19 90. The majority of calls received are enquiring about fodder availability and these callers are being referred to co-ops in their respective areas. Those farmers with animal welfare issues (i.e. animals starving) are being referred to the DVOs where there are systems in place to deal with them on a case-by-case basis. Further information on the scheme is available from the Department website. http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/fodderassistanceapril2013/.
The management of the farm assist scheme is a matter for my colleague Deputy Burton, the Minister for Social Protection, and I understand she met with farm organisations recently to discuss concerns with regard to the scheme in the context of the current fodder shortage.
