The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) today launched a Fodder Crisis Fund of €1m to assist farmers through the worst fodder crisis in living memory. The fund has been put together from the Association’s own resources, and matched with generous contributions from the Irish Farmers Journal, IFAC Accountants, IFFPG, Origin Enterprises plc and FBD Insurance.
IFA President John Bryan said, “Farm families are making major personal and financial sacrifices to ensure that their livestock were fed. Now that imported forage is required in increasing amounts, it is important that costs are kept to a minimum.”
The Minister for Agriculture must extend the Government’s own transport subsidy to dairy co-operatives until grass growth returns to normal and the crisis abates.
In addition, IFA purchased 3,000 tonnes of high quality hay in France last week for shipping to Ireland. The crisis fund will be used to cover the transport and shipping costs. The hay will be distributed to farmers and merchants when it arrives in Ireland late next week.
http://www.ifa.ie/News/tabid/640/ctl/Detail/mid/2250/xmid/5697/xmfid/23/Default.aspx
Thanks to Laois Weather for this link