DEAR SIR: I agree with editorial in the Irish Farmers Journal about the importance of the suckler cow herd. I think the suckler cow herd does have an important role in farming.

Farmers should be able to choose what enterprise they want and not be pushed into large-scale dairying.

The Government climate change strategy should include the suckler cow sector. The dairy sector cannot grow at the expense of the suckler herd.

Also, tillage farmers can not be expected to grow crops for farmers and beef farmers can’t be expected to contract-rear calves.

This year has highlighted a flaw in the dairy plans where you have herds with hundreds of dairy cows with no grass. It looks like the Government policy is to remove the suckler herd so that the dairy herd can increase.

Teagasc has promoted dairy farming and a lot of well known beef farmers have switched to dairying, with many spending heavily on investing in a new dairy enterprise.

I also see that Glanbia is giving credit to dairy farmers over the drought. Are they going to give credit to drystock farmers?

As always when fodder is scarce, prices will be high but I am surprised to see fodder being advertised at hugely inflated prices.

I think the powers that be in farming should make plans to import fodder and provide a balance in fodder prices.

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Editorial: it's time for Government to decide if suckler farming is worth saving

Commissioner Hogan acknowledges suckler cow needs support