Tillage farmers have planted almost 20,000ha of land under the Fodder Production Incentive measure, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said.

In response to a parliamentary question from Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath, Minister Creed said that he was confident that the range of measures introduced by his department was “the most effective response” to fodder shortages.

The measure aims to provide additional fodder to livestock farmers experiencing serious forage shortages, by providing a financial incentive for the growing of forage crops on tillage land to alleviate some of the current shortfall in the market place.

Brassica crops of forage rape, stubble turnips and hybrids of rape/kale and short-term grass species such as Italian ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass and westerwolds are eligible under the scheme.

Under the scheme, the minimum area tillage farmers could plant is 3ha up to a maximum of 50ha.

Total funding under the scheme is €2.75m.

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