There have been calls for further extension to the fodder support schemes in light of the continued poor ground conditions in many parts of the country.
Cavan ICSA chair Hugh Farrell said: “Countless farmers have yet to get stock out to grass as the land has yet to dry out sufficiently. In Cavan and surrounding counties, it could take another two to three weeks of feeding before we’ll be out of the woods.”
The Department of Agriculture had initially set a date of 30 April for both the fodder transport and the fodder import support measures to end. This was then extended to 7 May.
Farrell added: “It will also take a bit more time before the grass growth kicks in. For something that has been described as a ‘short-term problem’, it’s certainly dragging on. Many farmers continue to have the same problems as they’ve had for months now. There is no excuse for not extending these schemes until this crisis has well and truly passed. The ICSA believes that an extension until at least the end of May is more than warranted.”
