Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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33. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a fodder aid package to assist farmers in difficulty in view of the heavy rain in recent weeks. [41621/17]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister is aware, we have had extremely bad weather since the middle of August and all through September. We have a huge problem in many parts of the country. In the north west, where we have very high levels of rainfall every year anyway, a particular crisis is developing at the moment and many farmers, certainly those in my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim as well as those in counties Donegal, Cavan and all that area, find that they cannot get their second cut of silage. As they cannot get the second cut of silage they cannot get their slurry out, which is another issue that I know has been brought to the Minister's attention and needs to be dealt with as well. This issue concerns fodder. There is the potential of a fodder crisis. As this is an ongoing thing every year, can a proper scheme be put in place to ensure it is dealt with?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I accept that weather conditions in recent weeks have been challenging and this has created difficulties for farmers. My Department has been monitoring grass growth rates, weather conditions and feed supplies across the country. Grass growth rates are currently substantially ahead of recent years but there are difficulties in utilising grass in some regions due to above average rainfall levels.

The European Commission has recently agreed to my request for an advance payment of the 2017 basic payment scheme. This has been prompted by the protracted inclement weather conditions and also market difficulties caused by currency fluctuations. This means an increase from 50% to 70% in the rate for the basic payment scheme to those applicants whose applications are confirmed fully clear with effect from 16 October, with balancing payments being made with effect from 1 December. There will also be an increase permitted to the advance for Pillar 2 rural development schemes.

These payments and the payments under the areas of natural constraints scheme, which commenced recently, will inject up to €800 million into the Irish rural economy in the coming weeks and will provide a very welcome boost for Irish farm families, and also funding for fodder purchase where required.

Taking account of this, there are no plans at this time to establish a fodder aid scheme. I understand fodder supplies remain available nationally and my Department will continue to monitor the situation.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I am aware of the advances in the basic payment scheme. However, farmers would have been getting that anyway. They know that money is coming and they have already budged for it. The farming supplement of theIrish Independenttoday reports that prices are plummeting in the cattle trade because of the bad weather. Many farmers realise that they cannot keep their cattle as they will not have the fodder for them and they cannot put them out on the grass because the land is too wet. This is an annual crisis. Last year we had a similar situation. It did not develop to as bad a situation as farmers had feared. Some, however, were left in a dicey situation and found it hard to get enough fodder to get through the winter. Many parts of the country are currently waterlogged and farmers cannot get their cattle out. They have housed them. They have not got the fodder and they cannot do anything about it. It is time to look slightly differently at this issue. I appreciate that the Minister said last year he would deal with it on a case by case basis but it will need something a little more focused on this occasion to ensure it is sorted out. We need to see a fodder aid scheme put in place for farmers where there is clear evidence they have what could turn into an animal welfare crisis, which we do not want to see happen. It is quite appropriate for the State to step in to ensure an animal welfare crisis of this nature does not develop.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I concur with the Deputy that the last thing any of us wants to see is any welfare issue arising on Irish farms, and we will take all steps necessary to avoid it. That has always been the position of the Department, and remains so. We have a dedicated animal welfare line in respect of farmers who may be facing individual problems. Individual holdings may have a problem and I appreciate the weather has been difficult. Ground conditions are not what we would like them to be at this time of the year. That gives rise to a whole range of issues, not least in terms of those who are trying to cut second-cut silage. However, we are in the first week of October and it is premature at this stage to speak of a fodder crisis. My Department continues to remain vigilant on the matter. Avenues are available to individual farmers and the Department will help where there are fodder and animal welfare issues combining to give rise to specific circumstances requiring the intervention of the Department. However, to speak at this stage about the need for a uniform, nationwide fodder crisis is premature.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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With respect, I disagree. We spoke about this last year. Last year we said that we would deal with it on a case by case basis. When we speak about this issue, we are speaking about certain areas of the country. The Minister says "nationwide", but I am sure that in many parts of the country there is not the same level of crisis. Every year, we have a huge level of rainfall in the north west compared to, say, the south east or other regions of the country. The reality is that this is about the timing of that rainfall for many farmers . We have had an awful lot of rain in recent weeks and, in fact, in the past two months practically. It has led to a situation where farmers are not able to get their second-cut silage. I know the Minister is saying the weather may improve, but when we are talking about taking second-cut silage in the last weeks of October, it is of poor quality. That is the reality facing farmers. We need to ensure that a scheme is put in place so that farmers will know with confidence that they will not be let down. They cannot be required to go with a begging bowl, one by one, asking, "What can you do for me, please, Sir?" That is not appropriate. The farming community needs to have something proper put in place. The farming organisations are recognising it. I am sure some of them also will be lobbying the Minister on the issue. We saw the situation in County Donegal with the deluge of rain and the damage it did to the agriculture sector. We need to ensure that there is a full and proper scheme put in place to deal with this every year, if and when it occurs.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy made the point that we were in this position this time last year. However, we did not have a fodder scheme subsequently. The responses that were available by my Department in terms of animal welfare issues were adequate to deal with any issues that arose. The Deputy is making this point in the first week of October. While I appreciate that we have had a difficult year and that ground conditions are difficult, there is no evidence of a fodder crisis at this stage. As I said, my Department remains vigilant in terms of the matter and we will continue to monitor the situation. Notwithstanding the fact that there are individual farmers who have had cattle in, some full-time, some in by night, because of ground conditions, there is no fodder crisis.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Some farmers are selling them because they cannot keep them.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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At the moment, however, there is no evidence of a fodder crisis or an animal welfare crisis.