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HomeFarming NewsMilk prices and Teagasc report lock dairy farmers out of €100/ha fodder...
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Milk prices and Teagasc report lock dairy farmers out of €100/ha fodder scheme

Hay/Silage Support Scheme

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has revealed why dairy farmers cannot avail of the Fodder (hay and/or silage) Support Scheme.

Last week, the minister launched the €56m scheme, which aims to incentivise farmers, in particular, drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for the coming winter.

Eligible farmers will receive up to €100 per hectare, up to a maximum of 10 hectares, with the maximum potential payment of up to €1,000.

Sinn Féin Mayo-based representative, senator Rose Conway-Walsh, raised a parliamentary question asking the minister about the scheme.

She questioned if he intends to extend the measure to include small dairy farmers in designated disadvantaged areas.

In response, the minister said:

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“Any Fodder Support Scheme must be targeted towards those farmers facing the greatest difficulty in ensuring they conserve enough fodder for the coming winter.”

“In that context, recent Teagasc survey data showed that half of all drystock farmers had spread no chemical fertiliser on their silage ground whereas dairy farmers had spread their chemical fertiliser.”

“Therefore, the risk of not saving sufficient fodder is more of a challenge for drystock farmers than it is for dairy farmers.”

“In addition, in light of current milk prices, the economic viability of dairy farming, in general, is stronger than either beef or sheep farming,” he added.

Applications

€56 million Fodder Support Scheme now open for applications – Friday 17th June 2022

Last Friday (June 17th), the minister reported that the online application system for the Fodder Support Scheme is now open for applications.

Farmers wishing to apply for the Fodder Support Scheme can do so either themselves or through their advisor up to August 2nd, 2022, by logging on to the Exceptional Aid System on www.agfood.ie

This follows the minister’s announcement days previous to this that the government approved the scheme on June 14th, 2022.

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