Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being put in place in view of the concerns, particularly in the north west, about a possible fodder shortage in early 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47271/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been closely monitoring weather conditions, grass growth and feed supplies. It is clear that the weather conditions over the past number of weeks has been challenging and this has created difficulties for farmers in parts of the country, particularly in the Western and North Western regions.

Grass growth rates through September and October were ahead of recent years. Data from Pasturebase Ireland indicates that production is running about 1 tonne dry matter per hectare ahead of last year. Notwithstanding this, grazing conditions did deteriorate from mid August on farms in the Western regions and on heavier land. This has given farmers a number of challenging weeks managing livestock with animals having to be temporarily housed and difficulties with securing later cut silage. I note that there appears to be reasonable supplies of feed and fodder available across the country at present. However, I have asked Teagasc to work locally in areas with fodder difficulties, to support the need for good budgeting of fodder supplies on farms for the winter ahead and into 2018. 

The European Commission 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 advance payment rate for the BPS to those applicants whose applications were confirmed fully clear. These payments were recently issued, and balancing payments will be made with effect from early December. There will also be an increase permitted to the advance for Pillar II Rural Development schemes.

These payments and the payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, are injecting up to €800 million into the Irish rural economy and will provide a very welcome boost for Irish farm families, and also funding for fodder and feed  purchase where required.

Taking account of this, there are no plans at this time to establish a fodder aid scheme. My Department will continue to closely monitor the situation.