INHFA welcomes fodder subsidy
The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) is among those who have welcomed the government’s proposed €100/ha fodder subsidy.
The farm group has called on Minister McConalogue to review the overall budget and payment rates to farmers.
According to INHFA president, Vincent Roddy, in the last year:
- The price of fertiliser has tripled;
- Farm film has increased by 50%;
- Disease prices have doubled.
He said the above prices will increase the cost of any silage that farmers make this summer.
He stated: “On a grass crop that produces 10 bales of silage/acre, the cost of making a bale of silage could be as high as €30/bale, which would be an increase of €12/bale on previous years.”
“For farmers that are renting land, the cost will be even higher,” he explained.
In welcoming the proposed government support for silage-making, the INHFA president stressed the need for an increased budget and payment rate.
He stated that “the support the government announced will work out at €4/bale”. However, the increased costs the organisation outlined come to €12/bale, with similar increases applying to pit silage.
Concluding, Roddy stressed the need for the proposed scheme “to be simple and effective” in its administration.
Cost of silage-making in 2022
In February of this year, Keith Fahy, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare, said that silage bale costs would be significant for farmers in 2022.
He looked at potential costings for silage-making on rented land, as outlined below:
Renting land:
| Assuming 10 Bales/Acre | Spreading 1.5 bags Urea and 2500 gallons of thick slurry per acre (91-12.5-80) |
| Fertiliser (1.5 bags of UREA/ACRE) | €7/Bale |
| Slurry (LESS2500 gallons per acre) | €3/Bale |
| Mow/Bale/Wrap – FCI costs | €12/Bale |
| Plastic | €4/Bale |
| Diesel/Haulier bringing in Bales | €1/Bale |
| If renting assuming €100/acre/part of year | (€10/Bale) |
| Total costs (If renting land) | €27 (€37/Bale) |
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