Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses today and I thank them for their contributions and the work they have done through the crisis.

My initial question is to the witnesses from Teagasc. I ask that they do not get me wrong. We are where we are and it is not about a blame game. Perhaps they would consider this as constructive criticism. When we took the Minister on, from as early as last October, he referred always to Teagasc's good advice and the advice of the standing committee. He was, however, in denial that the situation was a fodder shortage. He almost blindly walked from a fodder shortage into a fodder crisis. At all junctures the answers we got back from the Minister were based on the advice he received from Teagasc. As I have said, I am not in the blame game, and while we are a long way from solutions or back to normality, based on experience we are out through the other side. I presume that Teagasc has had a debriefing and has analysed everything that has happened over the past six or seven months. What would it do differently if we were to face a similar situation at the next harvest?

Other members have commented on the suggested ideal of an eight-week reserve. It was pointed out here, and it is as obvious as the day is long, that we are now in the middle of May and there are still cows and cattle grazing on what would normally be silage ground and which would normally be cut in the next two to three weeks. This ground is still not stripped due to the fact that the cows had to be turned out because there was no feed left in the yard. Farmers are currently at a minus one situation as they start out to build up that reserve. What advice or plans would Teagasc give to its advisers to help the farmers? I cannot see how we will build up a reserve. I am familiar with the exact situation of some farmers on the ground and I cannot see how they will get to a situation where they will have enough fodder going into next winter, even if it turned out to be a short winter, let alone have an eight-week reserve. What advice is Teagasc giving to farmers to try to overcome this deficit? Other members have said, quite rightly, that it is due to stock density and that numbers may have become too big. The numbers are there, however, and we will not get rid of them between now and September. Has Teagasc a plan of action for farmers who are in deficit with regard to fodder and who are now two or three months behind when it comes to forage requirements for next year?

Do the representatives from ICOS see a major credit crisis coming down the tracks? While we have turned a corner and the grass is growing, the 30, 60 or 90 days on the ICOS accounts will start to show regardless of whether farmers will be in a position to pay the money they owe for the extra feed and fodder they needed to get through the crisis. What will be the knock-on effect of this come next September and October when the 2018-2019 winter commences? How will ICOS help in that regard? I compliment ICOS on the support it has provided to date.

I have stated previously that unless we handle this situation properly and manage it correctly for the next four to six months, we will be at the commencement of the fodder crisis of 2018-19 and both organisations here today will have a major role in trying to avert and avoid that. We are depending on the imponderable, which is the weather. We have no idea, as we could be lucky next year. It could be a short winter and people might be able to get their feet back on the ground. The situation with farming and weather is that we have to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Can the witnesses envisage many farmers being able to turn the corner and get the reserves, both financial and fodder wise? I know of farmers who are in far greater credit difficulties with the organisations before the joint committee than they normally would be or would have had any intention of being in at the start of the year. They have no way of paying the extra money they owe to them. While they would have planned for X amount of fodder or meal, in some cases they had to purchase twice as much but their income will not double. Do the witnesses foresee a major crisis when it comes to the dates for those payments being due with the merchants?