Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
998. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering long-term measures and proposals that will seek to avoid further livestock fodder shortages in future years. [36708/18]
View answerIn order to address fodder issues arising from the prolonged wet winter and spring of this year I formed a representative group chaired by Teagasc, including stakeholders such as Co-ops, banks, farm bodies amongst others, to coordinate advisory messages to farmers around replenishing depleted stocks of fodder in advance of next winter. I further requested the group to co-ordinate advice on managing grazing and fodder conservation through the extended period of dry weather throughout the summer. Practical advice on fodder conservation options this autumn are being shared across the group and with the wider farming community.
Once we finally navigate our way out the other side of this really difficult period, it is an absolute priority to make sure that in future years enough fodder is conserved to deal with whatever weather conditions future winters may bring. I am asking Teagasc to make it a matter of priority in its advisory campaign to advise farmers on how best to build back up stocks of fodder. It is important that we learn some of the lessons from this Spring and Summer and build resilience into our systems going forward.
As the most recent weather events have shown, farmers should have access to measures that improve their capacity to respond to these occurrences. I have asked my officials, in the context of the upcoming CAP reform, to examine all available risk management tools to determine which of these may be most appropriate to the farming sector.
