Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
754. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the measures his Department has in place to offset a significant lack of fodder availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58603/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, Teagasc the authority responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector in Ireland, carried out a fodder survey and published the results recently.
Teagasc advisers completed almost 650 winter fodder budgets for dry-stock and dairy farmers nationwide as part of this survey. These fodder budgets were carried out as part of a new initiative to promote better feed security planning on livestock farms.
While I know and appreciate that their might anomalies to this but the survey concluded that the national picture shows drystock farms reporting a projected surplus of approximately 29%, while dairy farms are similarly well placed at approximately an 18% overall surplus. The survey shows that all regions are in a good position for feed stocks. Again. I appreciate that there could be anomalies to this survey.
2021 has been a good grass growing year and there were periods of good weather allowing excellent quality fodder to be made. Farmers have also had the benefit of an extended grazing period this autumn/early winter which has the effect of reducing fodder demand. I think the Deputy will agree that, in particular, the back end proved to be excellent grazing conditions in most parts of the country.
Taking all of this into account, I encourage farmers to complete their own fodder budgets before winter sets in to ensure that they have enough fodder and to contact their local adviser for any help they need.
Based on the results of Teagasc's fodder survey, and as things stand, I do not see the need for my Department to intervene at this time given that the position regarding the availability of fodder is very healthy. However, we will continue to closely monitor the position throughout the winter period.
