How do you fill a 10m silage bale fodder shortfall? One bale at a time. There is no magic bullet answer to the fodder shortage. Solving the conundrum facing farming will require planning, ingenuity, discipline, and the invocation of the meitheal spirit.

It will be tillage farmers who provide options for livestock farmers in many cases, and the measures to encourage catch crops that can be grazed or baled is welcome.

The minister’s role will be critical in terms of leadership and of setting the tone for the national effort that must be delivered. Not since the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001 has an agriculture minister faced such a moment of crisis. It’s an opportunity for him to elevate himself alongside Joe Walsh in the memory of farmers, but he must act quickly, and continually, in the coming weeks.

The line the minister must walk is a fine one.

It’s important to convey a sense of urgency and purpose, and to ensure that every farmer understands the scale of the challenge and put in their best effort.

At the same time, the last thing that is needed is to overstate the difficulties that lie ahead and induce panic.

Every bale made will be a bale more.

The farming organisations are reflecting the scale of the problem.

The actions taken last week will be of significant help albeit that the impact would have been greater if the decision had been taken earlier. It’s important that the details quickly follow.

Ideally, any grain field that has been harvested should be planted with a catch crop before this weekend’s rain (clearing the straw away is not proving to be a problem).

Every week of lost growth now cannot be made up in September. Any delay in planting narrows the windows when the crop can be harvested; there is no guarantee that we will have a good October.

Hoping things will turn out for the best is necessary, but we have to grab any opportunity that presents itself, much like the wonderful Irish women’s hockey team did. They fell short, but can take great pride in their achievements and need have no regrets.

Actions taken will only minimise the shortfall in fodder for the coming winter, not eradicate it. That only makes it all the more important that we, as Joe Healy put it last week, “leave no stone unturned” in our efforts.