Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has launched a €2.75m fodder production incentive for tillage farmers to grow additional crops this autumn.
The payment is available to tillage farmers growing between 3ha and 50ha of additional temporary forage crops (additional to that already grown under GLAS), as follows:
€155/ha for temporary crop of short rotation grasses for fodder production over the winter months.€100/ha for catch crops such as fodder rape, turnips etc.The measure will not apply where land is being taken out of tillage production but encourages temporary production only of fodder by tillage growers. The Department targets 23,000ha of crops with the scheme.
"I am acutely aware of the need to prepare for the winter ahead," Minister Creed said. "I have been actively engaged with the Fodder Group and through their work, maximising production of home-grown fodder is a collective priority this autumn. Through this incentive, I am encouraging tillage growers to actively engage in the fodder market."
Reaction
IFA president Joe Healy said: “Subject to seeing full detail of the scheme, we would welcome this announcement from the minister. Growing fodder crops on tillage ground has the potential to play a part in closing the national fodder deficit arising from drought.”
IFA grain chair Mark Browne also welcomed the scheme and he said that it must be kept simple and free from “any uncertainty or unnecessary bureaucracy”.
"These crops need to be sown urgently to take advantage of the recent rain," Browne said.
ICSA tillage chairman Gavin Carberry was also positive and called for the immediate implentation for the measure "with no red tape". "It is right that the Minister is encouraging maximum production of home grown fodder. Tillage farmers can be part of the solution and it serves as a reminder that we should not put all our eggs in one basket when it comes to the agri-food strategy," he said, calling for longer-term action to reverse the decline of cereal growing in Ireland.
Read more
Drought relief: what can Minister Creed do?
More flexibility for GLAS farmers to conserve fodder
Department backtracks on GLAS fallow land derogation
Fodder shortfall the equivalent of 2.4m tonnes of concentrate
Defining week for Minister Creed
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has launched a €2.75m fodder production incentive for tillage farmers to grow additional crops this autumn.
The payment is available to tillage farmers growing between 3ha and 50ha of additional temporary forage crops (additional to that already grown under GLAS), as follows:
€155/ha for temporary crop of short rotation grasses for fodder production over the winter months.€100/ha for catch crops such as fodder rape, turnips etc.The measure will not apply where land is being taken out of tillage production but encourages temporary production only of fodder by tillage growers. The Department targets 23,000ha of crops with the scheme.
"I am acutely aware of the need to prepare for the winter ahead," Minister Creed said. "I have been actively engaged with the Fodder Group and through their work, maximising production of home-grown fodder is a collective priority this autumn. Through this incentive, I am encouraging tillage growers to actively engage in the fodder market."
Reaction
IFA president Joe Healy said: “Subject to seeing full detail of the scheme, we would welcome this announcement from the minister. Growing fodder crops on tillage ground has the potential to play a part in closing the national fodder deficit arising from drought.”
IFA grain chair Mark Browne also welcomed the scheme and he said that it must be kept simple and free from “any uncertainty or unnecessary bureaucracy”.
"These crops need to be sown urgently to take advantage of the recent rain," Browne said.
ICSA tillage chairman Gavin Carberry was also positive and called for the immediate implentation for the measure "with no red tape". "It is right that the Minister is encouraging maximum production of home grown fodder. Tillage farmers can be part of the solution and it serves as a reminder that we should not put all our eggs in one basket when it comes to the agri-food strategy," he said, calling for longer-term action to reverse the decline of cereal growing in Ireland.
Read more
Drought relief: what can Minister Creed do?
More flexibility for GLAS farmers to conserve fodder
Department backtracks on GLAS fallow land derogation
Fodder shortfall the equivalent of 2.4m tonnes of concentrate
Defining week for Minister Creed
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