Collins welcomes extension of scheme to help farmers during fodder shortage

Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy, Áine Collins, has welcomed the extension of the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme (IFTS), which will now run until 10th May, saying it will go some way to alleviating the pressure on farmers who are struggling as a result of the fodder shortage.

“The decision by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, to extend the duration of the IFTS by one week will give farmers breathing room in attempting to deal with the shortage of fodder which has resulted from the bad weather and subsequent poor grass growing conditions.

“The Minister has been extremely proactive in putting solutions in place to deal with this situation and in ensuring that no animal in Ireland dies from starvation. The entire farming community has really come together in recent weeks to assist one another and make sure that farmers who are in danger of running out of fodder do not have to do without.

“It is encouraging to learn that maize silage is eligible under the scheme and that large quantities of maize silage are being sourced for early delivery to Ireland. Work has also been continuing to ensure that credit facilities are available to farmers during this time of need. Minister Coveney has spoken to the banks, which was met with a favourable response, and the dairy co-ops have put a range of measures in place, such as interest free credit for fertiliser purchased during the month of May and reduced prices for feed supplies to help assuage the concerns of farmers.

“Significant volumes of hay are expected to arrive to Ireland in the coming days and I would urge any farmer who is experiencing difficulty to call the emergency helpline number on 1850 21 19 90 for assistance or to contact their local co-op who should be able to provide access to feed.”

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