Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
147. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to ensure an adequate fodder supply in spring 2023 and in subsequent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26776/22]
View answerI assure the Deputy that the fallout from the illegal war in Ukraine and its impact on our farm families is my number one priority at present.
The Deputy may be aware that shortly after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, I met with the main farm organisations and Teagasc on 8th March 2022 to discuss the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on Irish agriculture and supply chains.
At that meeting, I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.
Following the first meeting of this Committee, Teagasc issued advice to farmers on how to manage their farms during the current grass growing season with a view to securing sufficient fodder for next winter. The advice includes applying sufficient fertiliser on grassland and crops, on the basis of a fodder budget for winter 2022 so as ensure that sufficient fodder is conserved.
On the 22nd March 2022, I also announced a Targeted Intervention Package framed around three pillars to support Irish farming families arising both from events in Ukraine and wider global price volatility. The total package is projected to cost in the region of €12.2 million.
The package seeks to incentivise the planting of additional tillage crops through the Tillage Incentive Scheme and introduces supports to encourage farmers to grow protein crops in 2022. Supporting domestic production of tillage and protein crops is a key mechanism to reduce Ireland’s reliance on imported feed material
The package also includes a Multi-Species Sward Initiative and a Red Clover Silage Measure, to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming, and thereby reduce nitrogen fertiliser usage, while maintaining forage yields.
The Deputy will be aware that on 3rd May 2022, I brought a Memorandum for Information to Government on a proposed Fodder Support Scheme, with the objective of supporting farm families to conserve silage and hay this year to ensure that nationally we have adequate stocks of fodder over next winter. Any such scheme would have to be targeted towards those farmers who are at greatest risk of not having sufficient fodder for winter 2022. In that context, based on recent Teagasc survey data, this is more of a challenge in relation to the beef and sheep sectors than it is for the dairy sector.
Such a scheme will require approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department is continuing to engage with that Department on the funding aspects of the scheme. I expect to announce further details on the proposed scheme shortly.
The financial supports previously announced, and those currently under discussion, will assist farmers in providing sufficient fodder for winter 2022. I remain committed to standing by our farm families during this time of crisis.
