Efforts to get farmers through the fodder crisis stepped up significantly on Wednesday.

On the ground, farmers are sharing fodder where they can, often for the promise of fodder returned rather than payment. Now the co-ops, including Dairygold, Lakeland and Kerry, are sourcing fodder abroad, with Glanbia discounting all ruminant feed.

Minister Michael Creed estimated national fodder stocks will last two weeks, and has now moved to subsidise imports, also scrapping the transport subsidy distance restriction.

IFA president Joe Healy described the response as “too little, too late” calling for meal vouchers and immediate payment of all outstanding direct payments as a minimum action.

Fodder can be stretched with careful management, according to Teagasc’s Siobhan Kavanagh.

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