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Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018

Thursday, 12 July 2018

Ceisteanna (4)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cohesive steps he plans to put in place to address the crisis pertaining to agriculture and wider economy in the context of the ongoing heatwave and dry spell and the impact they are having on the entire agricultural sector and the impending shortages there will be until spring 2019 for farmers who need to protect their animals and crops and be able to function going forward. [32069/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (23 píosaí cainte)

I wish to ask the Minister about the cohesive steps he is planning to put in place to address the crisis pertaining to agriculture and the wider economy in the context of to the ongoing heatwave and dry spell and the impact they are having across the entire agricultural sector. I also want to ask about his plans to deal with the impending shortages there will be until spring. Farmers who need to protect their animals are in a difficult situation and the whole country is going to face a water shortage. What measures does the Minister intend to put in place to deal with these issues before the Houses rises later today?

This current dry spell is having a significant impact across many sectors, not only in the agricultural sphere but also throughout the wider community. I view the first priority for farmers as the need to protect their livestock and fodder crops, ensure access to fresh water for livestock and, once this dry spell concludes, ensure adequate fodder provision for the winter ahead.

To plan for the coming winter, I formed a representative group chaired by Teagasc and including, among others, stakeholders such as co-ops, banks, and farming bodies to co-ordinate advisory messages to farmers this summer in the context of replenishing stocks that have been used up and also managing grazing and fodder throughout this extended period of extraordinarily dry weather.

The group has met on two occasions. I joined the second meeting of the group by phone link in order to keep informed of its actions in support of livestock farmers affected by dry conditions. The group is scheduled to meet again next week and continue on until the issue of next winter’s fodder needs are fully addressed.

In support of this work, on 26 June, I launched a national fodder census to be compiled by Teagasc, through its client network as well as clients of other fodder stakeholders, with another census planned for 1 September. The aim of the census is to monitor and measure the levels of fodder in the country. The census will inform further actions that may be necessary in the autumn.

Detailed agronomic advice is being regularly co-ordinated and communicated to farmers by bodies represented on the fodder group, including through our own social media account.

In addition, Teagasc has established a dedicated helpline to provide advice to farmers affected by the ongoing drought. This is being supplemented by a series of local meetings and clinics at which farmers can obtain direct support from Teagasc advisers. The helpline will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This helpline service and local clinics are open to all farmers, including non-Teagasc clients.

Co-ops and feed compounders represented on the group have increased feed output to meet demand.

Banking institutions are working closely with farmer customers on effective financial planning to see them through the current difficult spell.

In order to support them in protecting the future of their crops and animals, it is essential that farmers should have access to measures that improve their resilience to these recent weather events. I have asked my officials to examine all available risk management tools to determine which may be the most appropriate to the farming sector.

I am very disappointed with the Minister's reply. We had this fodder crisis in the spring and I could quote to the Minister what was said then. He mentioned the idea of a census for food. There is no food because it has stopped growing. We all enjoy this hot weather but it is having a huge impact on grass, which is not growing. Second-cut silage has been cut to feed the animals and root crops such as corn, spring cereals, sugar beet, fodder beet and potatoes are in an awful crisis. The time for censuses and counting is over. That is only waffle. We can see that the fields are barren. They will hardly get much growth back now. We need real, cohesive action. Counting the amount of fodder in September is quite plainly an insult to farmers because they have opened the silage pits and are feeding their animals with what they had saved in the first cut. If the second cut grew, it is wilting. I saw them cutting it last week because it was melting away. They had to bring it in earlier than usual and more of them are cutting grass to feed the cows on a daily basis.

Counting is an insult to farmers; they need support. The Minister referred to the banks giving them support. The banks do not support farmers. The Minister also mentioned Teagasc. Teagasc is responsible and has to step up to the plate. It has advised many young farmers to be way overstocked in terms of their cows. The next question, which is from Deputy Eamon Ryan, is relevant in this regard. Teagasc advised farmers to overstock and the banks threw the money at them. However, the banks are not there now to support them in the way the Minister has outlined. It is action we need, not counting fodder. It is an insult for a farmer to count what he or she does not have. Such an obligation belittles farmers. They are good, decent people who are suffering stress and mental health problems because of what is happening. This is an unprecedented crisis. We need action, not counting as if the Minister was playing bingo.

I appreciate that this is an extremely stressful time, particularly as it follows on from a difficult winter. The Deputy has not offered a single suggestion as to what might be done.

Action. Not counting.

All generics, not a single-----

Show me the money.

-----substantial action. There is a saying that what is not measured does not matter, and that is why we are conducting a census to find out what level of provision has been made already-----

The Minister is out of touch.

-----and what will be made in September. I appreciate that the Deputy may not wish to listen.

I am anxious to work in a collaborative fashion with all those who have something positive to offer or contribute. I have convened a stakeholder group.

It represents farmers, the banking industry, the co-op movement and the advisory service. All of the appropriate stakeholders, including my Department, are in there. They are all working earnestly to try to find a solution to a difficult problem. The last thing we need in this difficult period is an unfocused scattergun approach to the issue. That is why it is important to be able to measure and respond accordingly.

There is nothing left to measure.

Taking a census now and another in September will give us the knowledge bank with which to make informed decisions.

I do not want to disparage or scaremonger, but there is nothing left to measure, there is nothing left to cut and there is nothing left to harvest. This is unprecedented. The Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, is beside the Minister. He is a cereal grower. He knows about the stunting in growth. We know that spring barley is being cut with a foot of straw or less. There will be a huge crisis. We know a large volume of cereal was not even sown last year because of the economic situation. It is not viable. The time for counting, studies and focus groups is over. The banks are not our friends. Some of the co-ops are great and some of them are not. As Deputy Cahill and others have said, the meat factories are exploiting this. It is time for action. The Minister should give over with the census and the counting because there is nothing to count. People are counting their anguish. It is traumatic for farmers to watch this. We are going to have huge issues maintaining water supplies for them come September because of the prolonged drought. When the Minister comes back here in September we will be in a real crisis. That is why I thought there would be some cohesive action. He did not act during the crisis in spring. I am thankful that we got through that but this is an unprecedented crisis that is recognised worldwide. It is insulting to use the language of counting and censuses because there is nothing to count apart from stock that are hungry. We see crops wilting away and melting. There will be no supplies at all for the winter following last spring, the failure to grow this summer and this real crisis in growth.

I note that in the context of the two opportunities the Deputy has had to contribute-----

We need action. Deputy Creed is the Minister; I am not.

-----he has talked a lot about action but he has not made one single constructive proposal.

I have called for cohesive action and finance.

At least the Deputy's county colleague had a number of constructive proposals to make. The Deputy has not made one but has just-----

The Minister can keep counting and doing censuses.

-----ranted about the issue. We can all make noise about the matter. This requires focused concentration on solutions.

We need action, not words.

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