Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

566. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a fertilizer subsidy to address the fodder crisis and to assist cash strapped farmers to obtain rapid growth levels of grass in the short to medium term; if he will immediately introduce a nitrates directive derogation and substantially raise the nitrate directive limits of 170 kgs per hectare to more than 200 kg in view of the fact that the grass growth is at least four weeks behind normal growth patterns and these measures will assist in dealing with the fodder shortage in the most practical way possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25431/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In addressing the fodder shortage, I have implemented a number of measures to support the

industry in overcoming the fodder deficit.

On 24 April I the establishment of a €1 million transport fodder scheme to help alleviate the difficulties being encountered by farmers. Following consultation with Met Eireann, Co Ops, the farming organisations, Teagasc and the advice of officials working on the ground, the decision was taken to allow a further two weeks for fodder to be imported into the country with a doubling of the transport subsidy fund to €2 million. Fodder, eligible under the scheme and delivered into the country was covered up to Friday 24 May. I also decided, as an exceptional measure, that any definite purchases that were placed by that date, but which will not be delivered until this week, will be included under the scheme. By the end of this week some 2,300 loads of imported fodder, amounting to about 34,000 tonnes, will have benefited from my Department's contribution to these transport costs. My Department is monitoring the situation on a very regular basis.

It is also important that while continuing to focus on the emergency fodder position in the short term, farmers should also focus on growing and conserving fodder for next winter's needs. We should be maximising production in the coming period and I have asked Teagasc to prioritise this policy in their advisory campaigns over the summer months.

It is clear that the main cut of silage will be delayed this year and as a consequence we need to look at the potential for the growing of additional fodder later into the season. In this regard myself and my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan, T.D., have announced a temporary and targeted adjustment of two provisions of the Nitrates Regulations to support additional fodder production on Irish farms in the coming months. The adjustments involve: a discounting of some concentrate feeding when calculating the overall level of phosphorus allowed on grassland farms in 2013 and 2014; and an extension of two weeks to the period during with chemical fertiliser can be applied to grassland.

Phosphorous is essential for grass growth. In order to ensure sufficient allowance of phosphorus for grassland application this year and 2014, some meal feeding in 2012 and 2013 will be discounted. The period during which chemical fertiliser can be applied to land this year has been extended by two weeks up to and including 30 September 2013. These measures will provide every opportunity to farmers to maximise grass growth and conservation into next Autumn.

For many farmers concerns regarding access to credit and flexibility around loan repayments have been a significant issue. I have been in contact with banks, co-ops and feed merchants to urge flexibility and co-operation at this challenging time. I am happy to note that a number of co-ops have introduced measures to support fertiliser usage, such as interest free credit terms for a period.