The Oireachtas agriculture committee is set to meet next week for the first time after the Dáil’s summer recess. Fianna Fáil spokesperson on food and horticulture, Jackie Cahill has called on Minister Creed to come to the talks with answers to three key questions.

The meeting is set to focus on the current fodder shortage and Cahill identified low-cost credit facilities, new export markets and the importation of fodder as the areas that could provide solutions.

Credit

“Firstly, we need low-cost credit facilities rolled out to struggling farmers. Secondly, we need to secure new export markets for dairy-cross cattle to reduce demands on fodder. And finally, the Department must actively start importing large quantities of fodder into the country in advance of winter,” said Cahill.

He made the point that farmers, merchants and contractors alike were struggling with cashflow, and that low-cost credit would ensure they had the cash needed to keep businesses afloat.

“Budget 2018 contained many commitments that have yet to be met. The Government could go a long way in supporting struggling farmers if it kept the promises made in the last budget.”

Exports and imports

On the exports front, Cahill said Bord Bia must focus on finding new live export markets for dairy-cross cattle. These new markets would have a two-fold impact – increasing competition, thus increasing prices, and reducing demand on existing fodder stocks.

Lastly, he said the Department needed to start the importation of large quantities of fodder from overseas. He added that waiting any longer was short-termism, and highly dangerous as it could see farmers engulfed in a further crisis.

“Minister Creed at next week’s meeting must grasp the urgency of the crisis, and come to the committee members with answers and responses to the above issues,” concluded Cahill.