CALL FOR HARDSHIP FUNDING FOR FARMERS TO DEAL WITH SEVERE FODDER SHORTAGE

Ministers say government is taking action to deal with the problem

Michael Fisher

The severe shortage of fodder has led to the gravest situation ever faced by farmers, members were told at Monday’s meeting of Carrickmacross Castleblayney Municipal District. Fianna Fáil Cllr Padraig McNally called on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to make hardship funding immediately available to assist the farming community. He said that in the light of what had been one of the worst droughts ever, there was now a shortage of fodder estimated by someone he met recently working for Teagasc to be up to 5 million tonnes. This will not or cannot be made up now with at least 60% of the growing season already passed. It was in the lap of the Gods whether they could make up…