Persistent rain hits farmers badly
Record and persistent levels of rainfall over several months is having a severe impact on farmers in North Tipperary, the local IFA Chairman Baden Powell has informed this newspaper.
Mr Powell was speaking to The Guardian last Thursday as he prepared to attend an online meeting with IFA top brass and officers from all over the country who discussed what action to take to try to address the crisis.
He said farmers in North Tipperary were trying to cope with a dire shortage of winter fodder as stocks ran out.
This was happening because fields are so wet that farmers had delayed letting their stock back on sodden grassland.
“A lot of farmers have grass in their fields but they just can’t let their livestock out on the land because of the very wet condition,”said Mr Powell.
“On top of that their fodder supplies are exhausted and they are trying to source scarce bales of hay and silage from neighbours.”
Because farmers were being forced to keep their stocks in sheds much longer than usual, their slurry tanks were filling up and they were encountering difficulties spreading slurry on their lands because their tractors were bogging down in the wet fields.
Tillage farmers were in particular difficulty because fields had remained unploughed and farmers had reported that it was now too late in the year to consider planting out some crops.
“It looks like there will be less corn sowed this year due to the heavy rainfall,” said Mr Powell, who attributed the persistent rain over several months to climate change.
He reported that co-ops were giving subsidies to dairy farmers on feed purchased to try to help them through the crisis.
EXHAUSTION
ICOS President and Thurles based dairy farmer Edward Carr said that farmers are currently grappling with mental and physical exhaustion, financial stress, fodder scarcity, unworkable ground conditions,and significant concerns regarding the health and productivity of their animals.
Mr Carr, who also serves as Chairman of Arrabawn Co-operative, added: “The unprecedented weather conditions have led to a dire situation with reduced grazing, delayed fertiliser application, and the potential for long-term impacts on milk production, breeding and soil fertility.
“Emergency supports are required until weather conditions are more conducive to cattle getting outdoors to graze.
“We need a multi-faceted approach to support the agricultural community during this challenging period.”
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly called on the Government to introduce a comprehensive fodder support scheme to help farmers through the harsh winter and spring period.
“In light of the exceptionally long and wet winter that has burdened our farmers, it is imperative that we prioritise their well-being and provide them with the necessary support,” stated the Fine Gael MEP.
He said: “The prolonged housing of livestock due to adverse weather conditions has inflicted significant challenges on farmers, leading to cash flow constraints and delays in essential farm activities.”
Kelly stressed the need for inclusive support for all farming sectors.
“It is essential that any forthcoming scheme acknowledges the diverse needs of our farmers, spanning across dairy, beef, sheep, and tillage sectors.”
Up to last week, precipitation levels were running at an average of 115 per cent higher than normal after successive months of heavy rain that began in and never really stopped since July last year.
IFA National President Francie Gorman said the tillage sector was at “breaking point” due to the wet weather and other factors such as the war in Ukraine.
Like MEP Sean Kelly, he too has called on the Government to provide an aid package for farmers who are struggling as a result of the persistently wet weather.