Independent MEP Marian Harkin has called on the Irish government to heed the call of farming organisations and “immediately apply for EU Solidarity funding” to alleviate the worsening fodder crisis.
Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Harkin noted that “in the middle of the worst economic crisis ever endured by Ireland, we have just two beacons of hope on the horizon – the agricultural sector and our exports”.
“Now,” the Ireland North & West MEP added, “the agricultural sector has been hit by an unprecedented fodder shortage due to extraordinary weather conditions. It started during the second half of 2012 and continued into 2013. Large parts of the country – particularly the region I represent, have seen little or no growth and extremely heavy rainfall.
“This means that there is no grass and no first cut of silage, amounting to a desperate fodder crisis which is continuing unabated and could easily drag into next year.
“There are frantic efforts to import fodder from the UK and France but animals are falling, costs have escalated for imported feed, and to make matters worse, there is little or no credit available. In truth, farmers and their livestock are facing ruin.
“Farming organisations have estimated that the fodder crisis will cost Irish farming €1 Billion and in this context I am calling on the Irish government to immediately apply to the EU Solidarity Fund for some respite for the agricultural sector,” Harkin concluded.
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