5 August 2018
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
New Government funding will support tillage farmers to maximise additional short term fodder production, a Fine Gael Senator has said.
Senator Tim Lombard has welcomed an incentive measure for tillage farmers to produce additional feed this Autumn through a financial commitment of up to €2.75 million.
Senator Lombard
Senator Lombard said: ‘We are all acutely aware of the need to prepare for the winter ahead.
‘Fodder production has been significantly impacted by weather events to date this year, and I have been in constant communication with my Fine Gael colleague, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, highlighting concerns from the farming community in Cork.
‘Minister Creed has assured me that he has worked closely with the Fodder Group and through their work, maximising production of home grown fodder is a collective priority this autumn.
‘This incentive will encourage tillage growers to actively engage in the fodder market’.
This measure will provide an incentive of €155 per hectare for tillage growers who grow a temporary crop of short rotation grasses for fodder production over the winter months and €100 per hectare for those growing catch crops such as fodder rape, turnips etc. Currently over 23,000 hectares of catch crops are supported under the Agri-Environment Scheme, GLAS. This additional funding commitment aims to incentivise a doubling of this area.
Senator Lombard added: ‘This year has been a challenging year for both Livestock and Tillage farmers. This measure will support Tillage farmers to supply into what is a strong market for fodder.’
