Teagasc is urging farmers to address any fodder deficits this side of Christmas and avoid complacency, on the back of its latest fodder survey.

Over one-fifth of the farmers surveyed reported a fodder deficit of 10% or higher, which Teagasc dairy specialist Joe Patton says is the equivalent of two weeks worth of feeding, based on projections of a 145 day winter.

Patton told a meeting of the fodder inter-agency group on Monday in Tullamore that farmers who are short now should avoid being complacent and address any shortage before Christmas.

“A 10% fodder shortage is equivalent to two weeks worth of feed. There is an assumption that the feed problem is solved on some farms, “he said.

“Farmers should avoid complacency, implement feed and stock plans early and continue to monitor feed stocks in early January.”

National deficit

Outlining the details of the survey, Dr Siobhán Kavanagh of Teagasc said that the overall nationwide deficit stands at 1%.

Of the farmers surveyed, 33% of respondents said they have a fodder deficit, with the average deficit per farm standing at 15%.

Of those who reported a deficit, 42% have a deficit of between 1% and 10%, while 33% said they are short between 10% and 20%.

Worryingly, 15% of the reported deficits are between 20% and 30%, while 10% said they were short of fodder by over 30% – the equivalent of six weeks’ feeding.

Of the farms that reported a deficit, 40% are dairy farms and 60% are dry stock.

On the farms with a deficit, it was on average 15% on both drystock and dairy farms.

Teagasc also asked farmers if they had sold stock to alleviate fodder shortages.

Some 22% of farmers said they had sold stock already, with 25% agreeing that they would sell stock to alleviate future fodder problems.