Macra president, Josephine O’Neill, has called for the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) to be reconvened immediately amid ongoing drought and growing concerns over fodder supplies for the coming months.

O’Neill said she raised the issue with the Minister for Agriculture at a meeting on 22 July, calling for the committee to be reconvened. She followed up in writing on the 29 July, reiterating the urgency of the situation.

Many farmers have already started supplement feeding, which leaves Macra concerned about shortages later in the year.

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“Farmers, particularly young farmers with limited financial and fodder reserves, cannot afford to wait until there is a crisis before action is taken,” O’Neill said.

“We need an immediate assessment of fodder stocks, grass growth and regional pressures so that contingency measure can be put in place now. Waiting until autumn or winter to determine the scale of the problem will simply be too late,” she added.

The Macra president stated that the focus must be on preparedness rather than crisis management.

“The warning signs are already there. The Government must act now to ensure farmers have the support and certainty they need in the months ahead,” she concluded.

Macra is calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to reconvene the committee at the earliest opportunity and begin planning now for the risk of fodder shortages later this year.