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Co-ops and marts need to be more proactive in encouraging farmers to use the fodder scheme according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) Cavan chair Hugh Farrell.
“We’ve no issue with the Department, but the marts need to more proactive and positive about promoting the scheme to farmers,” Farrell told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“We were lead to believe that the scheme was very complicated, but that’s not the case and we’ve sat down with farmers and gone through the paperwork with them.
It’s costing up to €480 for a load of fodder and that’s too much for farmers to pay
“But when there’s an €8 to €9 difference between the price of fodder being sourced and delivered by farmers then there’s something very wrong.
“It’s costing up to €480 for a load of fodder and that’s too much for farmers to pay. Farmers have been supporting co-ops and marts for years and it’s time for them to support farmers.”
Agricultural adviser
Farmers must have a fodder budget completed by an agricultural adviser to certify that they are short of fodder to qualify for the scheme.
The ICSA has asked all agricultural advisers to follow Teagasc’s lead and offer to complete fodder budgets for free.
“We’d like to thank Teagasc for the their generosity in completing fodder budgets for free and encourage other agricultural advisers to do the same in this time of crisis,” Farrell said.
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