Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
86. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a fodder scheme for the farmers along the river Shannon who lost meadow as a result of unprecedented rainfall this summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47013/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in June 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,, I launched the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme. The aim of the scheme was to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) to reduce the risk of animal welfare issues over the 2022 winter and 2023 spring.
Building on the success of the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme, I launched the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme in November 2022. €30 million was paid to farmers under the 2023 Scheme in December 2022.
Both the 2022 and 2023 schemes were a recognition of the impact of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the impact it had on the availability of imported animal feed and the price of agricultural inputs, especially chemical fertiliser.
At this time, there are no plans to introduce a further fodder support scheme for farmers in the Shannon Callows.
