Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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458. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the application form and full details of the transport scheme as announced to ease the farm fodder crisis will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/18]

John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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473. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the fodder transport scheme to fodder imported from 1 September 2017 instead of to 1 December 2017 in view of the fact the crisis dates back to then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5603/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 473 together.

I am aware that weather conditions for much of last autumn were challenging for farmers in some parts of the West and North West in particular. Difficulties in harvesting fodder in some of these areas were compounded by the need to house livestock earlier than usual, resulting in additional pressure on fodder supplies over the course of the winter.

I prioritised the payment of farm supports to assist farmers with cash flow. The European Commission agreed to my request, informed in part by the poor weather conditions of last autumn, for an advance payment of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme and Agri-environment schemes. These payments commenced after the earliest date possible which was 15 October 2017, and balancing payments issued in early December 2017. These payments together with those issued under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, injected over €1.3 billion into the Irish rural economy by the end of last year and are providing a very welcome boost for Irish farm families and will help to finance additional fodder purchase where necessary.

However, in order to provide additional assistance to those livestock farmers severely affected by ongoing fodder shortages, mainly in parts of the West and North West, I have introduced a targeted Fodder Transport Support measure operated through the Co-operative structure. This measure applies only to fodder purchased in the period from January 29 2018 until April 20 2018. Application forms and full details on the operation of the measure are available on my Department’s website.

Farmers, who have an identified fodder shortage, having completed a fodder budgeting exercise with their FAS agricultural advisor, will be eligible to receive a financial contribution towards offsetting the costs of transport of fodder in excess of 100 km. As fodder is traded between farms on a regular basis, it is essential that the support measure is targeted at those who most need it and does not impact on the normal functioning of the market for fodder and for this reason a minimum transport distance applies. Eligible applicants will receive a transport contribution of €8 per standard bale of hay or straw for feeding, and €12 per standard bale of silage or haylage.

Financial assistance under the Fodder Transport Support Measure is payable in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013 on de minimisaid in the agricultural production sector.

While this measure builds on my early supports to farmers through prioritisation of farm payments, and the convening of a Fodder Group, I urge affected farmers to avail of the additional fodder budgeting support being provided by Teagasc.