The Fodder Transport Measure has received just 22 applications, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.

The scheme was announced at the end of January by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, in response to the fodder shortage in the north-west of the country predicted by Teagasc.

The minimum distance requirement is reduced to 50 km

However, from its inception, the scheme was mired in controversy, being only available to farmers in certain counties and only applying for fodder hauled over 100km from the farm where it was required.

Minister Creed has recently relaxed the rules on the scheme, in the hope that it will help to ease the national fodder crisis that is affecting the country.

“The flexibility of this measure has been enhanced in light of the on-going weather difficulties. Specifically, this national measure now applies to all counties, removes the need for a fodder budget and the minimum distance requirement is reduced to 50km,” a spokesperson for the Department stated.

Fodder imports

Last week, a number of co-ops took action to help farmers experiencing fodder shortages and began importing fodder from the UK.

Farmers have reported queuing for fodder at co-ops and rationing has been put in place in a number of co-ops due to strong demand for imported fodder.

This initial allocation will support the importation of up to 20,000t of fodder

Minister Creed, announced a Fodder Import Scheme to help support fodder imports after the co-ops confirmed that fodder from the UK was expected in the country.

“Support under the measure will substantially reduce the cost to farmers of imported fodder. This initial allocation will support the importation of up to 20,000t of fodder into the country and this will be kept under ongoing review until the current crises is over,” the Department stated.

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