Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed with the Minister's reply. We had this fodder crisis in the spring and I could quote to the Minister what was said then. He mentioned the idea of a census for food. There is no food because it has stopped growing. We all enjoy this hot weather but it is having a huge impact on grass, which is not growing. Second-cut silage has been cut to feed the animals and root crops such as corn, spring cereals, sugar beet, fodder beet and potatoes are in an awful crisis. The time for censuses and counting is over. That is only waffle. We can see that the fields are barren. They will hardly get much growth back now. We need real, cohesive action. Counting the amount of fodder in September is quite plainly an insult to farmers because they have opened the silage pits and are feeding their animals with what they had saved in the first cut. If the second cut grew, it is wilting. I saw them cutting it last week because it was melting away. They had to bring it in earlier than usual and more of them are cutting grass to feed the cows on a daily basis.

Counting is an insult to farmers; they need support. The Minister referred to the banks giving them support. The banks do not support farmers. The Minister also mentioned Teagasc. Teagasc is responsible and has to step up to the plate. It has advised many young farmers to be way overstocked in terms of their cows. The next question, which is from Deputy Eamon Ryan, is relevant in this regard. Teagasc advised farmers to overstock and the banks threw the money at them. However, the banks are not there now to support them in the way the Minister has outlined. It is action we need, not counting fodder. It is an insult for a farmer to count what he or she does not have. Such an obligation belittles farmers. They are good, decent people who are suffering stress and mental health problems because of what is happening. This is an unprecedented crisis. We need action, not counting as if the Minister was playing bingo.

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