Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2014
98. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on revising the regulation to allow farmers who are committed to the agri-environment option scheme to supplement the feed for their animals as currently the only time supplement may be added to the diet is under extreme weather conditions due to heavy snowfall or flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39584/14]
View answerSupplementary feeding was prohibited on Species Rich Grassland parcels in AEOS as a precautionary measure to prevent damage through poaching at supplementary feeding points. However in the context of GLAS my Department is considering allowing supplementary feeding on Low Input Permanent Pasture and Traditional Hay Meadow parcels contiguous to commonage as a means of assisting farmers to manage stock actively grazing the commonage. This review will also inform our position with regard to supplementary feeding under AEOS.
