MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE Simon Coveney has announced that €1 million is to be made available to reduce the price of imported fodder.

The announcement comes as farmers struggle to source fodder supplies following the recent bad weather.

The scheme will apply to hay, silage, and haylage that is bought from outside of Ireland and will cover forage that is imported by the co-ops from 15 April 3 May

While the scheme will operate through the dairy co-operatives (milk purchasers), the department stressed that the actual beneficiaries would be farmers and primary producers who need urgent supplies of feed.

Coveney said that he recognised that “there is a serious fodder shortage in certain parts of the country and I acknowledge the role that the co-ops have played and continue to play.”

Operating this new scheme through the co-ops is the quickest and most effective way of getting the fodder to those who need it. The key issue here is a fodder shortage and my action today is designed to address the shortfall.

Dermot Kelleher of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association welcomed the announcement, saying that it was “better late than never”

Farmers who are urgently looking for forage are asked to contact their local co-op and maintain close contact with their agricultural advisor.

Read: FF calls on Coveney to ‘put his money where his mouth is’ and solve fodder issue >