The number of dead animals collected in Clare as the result of the worst fodder crisis in living memory has increased by an estimated 60% this year, according to a local farm leader.

Clare IFA chairman Andrew Dundas revealed the number of animals collected by knackeries operating in the Mid-West has jumped significantly for the first few months of 2013 by as much as 60% compared to the same period last year.

A spokesperson for Leonard Mullins, which is based in Clarina, County Limerick, confirmed the number of dead animals it collected in the county had jumped by 45%.

Fifty tonnes of free pit silage and 1,200 square bales of hay have been distributed to welfare cases as identified by the Department of Agriculture throughout Clare.

Stressing there is no shame in running out of fodder after a sustained period of bad weather conditions and poor grass growth, Mr Dundas appealed to Clare farmers who had surplus fodder to help out their neighbours.
Meal concentrate producers are working around the clock to meet the unprecedented demand for alternatives to hay and silage. In fact, the cost of meal for farmers has almost doubled up to €70 a tonne, which has resulted in huge feed bills.

Mr Dundas believes the level of meal being sold has reached record levels.

Some farmers are selling round bales for up to €60, which normally cost €20.

“The scale of the fodder shortage is the worst I have ever seen. The last major fodder crisis was back in 1999 after the bad summer in 1998. However, a lot of fodder came in from Wexford and the South-East, which is not available now. Hay and fodder has to be brought in from England this year.

“The food bill for farmers has doubled in a lot of cases. Food bills are astronomical. The longer the poor growth continues, more and more Clare farmers are running out of fodder on a daily basis.

“The lack of cash for farmers is a big problem. Banks say they are open for business but if a farmer is experiencing financial difficulties, they fear they will not get any credit.

“This fodder crisis is taking its toll on farmers and is causing huge stress. Very few farmers haven’t run out of fodder at some stage. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

“Farmers need to pull together to help each other out because it could be their own story next year,” he said.

ICMSA representative,  Martin McMahon warned another cold spell over the weekend would be very damaging for farmers already struggling to get fodder.

He called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to secure funding from the EU hardship fund in Brussels to ease the huge financial burden on farmers.

“Any farmer with high stocking density is under fierce pressure. I would be concerned about the mental well-being of farmers. Every farmer loves his animals and he can’t bear to see them hungry if he hasn’t got the money to feed them.”

ICSA representative, Eddie Punch, in welcoming the provision of €1m to defray the cost of transporting fodder into Ireland, expressed concern about local cattle and sheep farmers who had no fodder, no grass and no cash.

He said lending institutions had to show some understanding for the unforeseen circumstances facing farmers and provide a quick response when it came to lending and providing credit for purchasing fodder. He warned it could take cattle and sheep farmers between two and three years to recover from their current losses.

 

Big demand for fodder helpline

Clare farmers with fodder to buy or sell are being urged to contact a special helpline number, which has been established to deal with the crisis

This initiative was established last week by Teagasc in association with Clare IFA, Clare ICMSA and ICSA to support farmers in bridging the gap to grass. The Helpline number is 091 845852.

Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy says a newly announced Government funding scheme will deliver cost reductions for farmers who are being forced to purchase hay and silage from outside of Ireland.

€1 million is being allocated to an imported fodder transport scheme, which will operate through the county’s dairy co-operatives (milk purchasers). It will cover forage imported by the co-ops from April 15 to May 3 and will be subject to EU State Aid rules.

If this scheme reduces the cost of a bale of hay by one third, Deputy Michael McNamara predicted it would ease the burden for farmers with a cash flow problem.

Deputy McNamara said the IFA in Clare has done good work by distributing hay and silage to animal welfare cases but that other agencies also have responsibilities, including banks, co-ops and feed merchants.

ICMSA representative Martin McMahon, however believes this scheme is totally inadequate to deal with the scale of the crisis and the financial hardship experienced by farmers.

Apart from the new scheme, the Department of Agriculture is continuing to operate its Early Warning System whereby emergency assistance may be provided to farmers whose animals are experiencing serious welfare issues and where the farmer him/herself is unable to cope.