Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister claimed it is not possible to access the EU Solidarity Fund. Can he revisit that, as it is my understanding that the fund was previously used to assist Austrian farmers who faced a fodder crisis ten years ago?

The weather broke at the end of May last year and has not settled since. This is the problem farmers are facing. Unless they can get some sort of silage harvest this year, then there will be serious problems down the road. Every effort must be made to assist them. I welcome the Minister’s announcement he is extending the time for the spreading of fertiliser under the nitrates regulations. It will help in some way but provisions need to be put in place to ensure adequate fodder can be got in on the understanding that we are heading into a winter with little fodder saved this year with the same likelihood in early next year. I welcome the Minister putting in place a strategic management plan in this regard.

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