Farmers need action now as pressures from the drought continue to build, according to Seán McNamara of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA).

The ICSA president said he came away “very disappointed” from the meeting convened by Minister Heydon to spell out what is happening on farms and to discuss practical measures to deal with what is coming.

He said that “there are no concrete measures being put in place”, and it was “not good enough to simply monitor the situation”.

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Supports are needed now

“Farmers can already see where this is heading. Winter reserves are being raided and costs are mounting. The Minister said that any additional supports will be considered when the full picture is available and in the context of Budget 2027. That is too late. Farmers are carrying these extra costs now and we need practical measures and financial support now.”

He called for the deadline on fertiliser spreading to be extended and for farmers to be allowed to cut riparian areas before 1 September.

“We need a plan to get grain and fodder moving to farms that need it or are going to need it.”

He added there was no need to wait for the Teagasc fodder survey before planning for the winter and spring.

“We already know enough to start planning. Farmers are using winter fodder now and that could leave a much bigger problem in spring. Farmers have told us what they need, and we brought that to the Minister. We now need action. Monitoring will not put fodder in a shed or pay the bills on a farm,” he concluded.

ICMSA

This was echoed by Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) deputy president Eamonn Carroll, who said that supports will be required if farmers are to navigate the challenges posed by both the drought and the resulting fodder shortage.

“The message coming from our members of extreme drought conditions right across the midlands, south, east and southeast was reflected in the data provided by Teagasc at the meeting.

“Many farmers are in deficit for winter fodder and eating through it further by the day. This will continue for weeks to come with little or no rain forecast”, said Mr Carroll.

The ICMSA deputy president said that even with rain, it will take weeks to return to normality.

He acknowledged the importance of stock-taking but noted that the organisation would be “wary of delaying taking actions that are demonstrably required – and required immediately”.

He called for a tillage scheme to encourage cover and catch crops, as well as allowing farmers on lower stocked land to increase nitrogen allowance to grow grass in the coming weeks.

Advice

Carroll said that while advice will be important in dealing with drought conditions, organic manure and how best to respond when grass eventually comes back, the situation had already moved past ‘advice’.

He said it is going to require actual funds being made accessible and easy-to-draw-down for the most hard-pressed farmers.

“We have to get these farmers through to next spring and, in the first instance, that’s going to take money being made available to the farmers who won’t make it through this winter if that help is not forthcoming quickly," stated the ICMSA deputy president.