IFA Launches Fodder Crisis Fund

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has launched a Fodder Crisis Fund of €1m to further support the Association's efforts in assisting 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 fund will be used to provide a transport subsidy to the marts and private merchants, which are importing forage, but have no access to the Government’s transport subsidy scheme which is operated through the dairy co-operatives only."

For forage imported from the UK by marts and merchants, a transport subsidy of €500 per load will be provided, with €750 per load for imported forage travelling in excess of 250km from the port.

Mr Bryan said: "Any mart or private merchant wishing to avail of the transport subsidy must pre-clear support through IFA in advance. This support will be maintained until the middle of May, when it will be reviewed."

The Minister for Agriculture must extend the Government’s own transport subsidy to dairy co-operatives beyond May 3rd until grass growth returns to normal and the crisis abates, and extend the subsidy to marts and merchants importing fodder.

(CD)