Farmers are set to benefit from a new silage support scheme that is being brought to the Cabinet for approval by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue later today.

Under the proposed scheme, farmers will be entitled to a payment of €100 per hectare of silage they cut, up to a maximum of 10 hectares.

The scheme, worth up to €55m, is to encourage farmers to store sufficient fodder for animals next winter.

With ongoing prices increases in feed, fuel, fertiliser, and other agriculture inputs, beef and sheep farmers have been demanding help from the Government, with many saying the viability of their enterprises are threatened.

A recent Teagasc analysis of Irish farming found that beef and sheep sectors are facing severe losses due to production costs, with family farms suffering income declines between 13% and 25% in 2022.

The Teagasc report, which was published last month, found production costs on cattle farms are 24% to 30% up compared to 2021, with cattle prices expected to rise 12-16%.

It said sheep meat prices are forecast to rise 10% but production costs of 30% are expected.

This year, the Minister for Agriculture has already announced €20m in supports for pig farmers, €12m to encourage farmers to till extra land and €3m to support the horticulture sector.

Irish Farmers’ Association President Tim Cullinan said it was important that Minister McConalogue had come forward with the scheme, but more will be needed to cover the “sky rocketing” increase in costs of production.

“Sky rocketing input costs are putting huge pressure on farmers and we are already behind time in encouraging farmers to maximise grass growth,” he said.

Mr Cullinan added: “There are real food security concerns emerging from global agencies and it’s important that Irish farmers are helped and supported to produce food.”

Jarlath Walsh, a dairy farmer from Knock and chair of the Mayo branch of the Irish Farmers’ Association, has welcomed the proposed silage package.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said: “Time is of the essence. Farmers need to know now if they’re going to invest the huge amount of money that is being asked of them in fertiliser in order to grow the silage for the winter.”

Mr Walsh said May is the main grass growing month and if farmers “are being asked to pay over three times the amount for fertiliser, there will be a break in the supply and the food supply, which can’t be rectified later on and farmers need to know now whether to invest this money in order to get the return later on.”

He said fuel price increases are having an effect as costs rise.

He said the earlier €12m investment in tillage is only for that sector and it was announced a bit late, so this announcement is needed now.

“It’s the 11th hour to get grass growing and we need the minister to announce this scheme straight away so that farmers will take up this scheme further for the remainder of the grass growing season”, he said.

Article Source – €1,000 for farmers to help prevent fodder shortage – RTE – Joe Mag Raollaigh

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