Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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967. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a series of matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the fodder crisis will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35969/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I note the contents of your letter addressed to me from Monaghan County Council dated 10 April 2018 attached to your PQ and in this connection I would like to confirm that my office replied to this letter on the 16 April 2018 with the information current at the time.

Now, however I would like to give the Deputy a full account of the additional actions and measures I have put in place since that time to meet the challenges in this sector.

Following the fodder difficulties of last winter and spring I formed a representative group chaired by Teagasc, including stakeholders such as Co-ops, banks, farm bodies, amongst others, to coordinate advisory messages to farmers this Summer around replenishing depleted stocks of fodder. I have requested the group to co-ordinate advice on managing grazing and fodder conservation through this extended period of extraordinarily dry weather.

On the 26^thJune last I launched a national fodder survey to be compiled by Teagasc through its client network as well as clients of the other fodder group stakeholders, with another survey currently being undertaken with interim results expected to be available next week.

I met with Commissioner Hogan on the 24^thJuly last and briefed him on the impact on Irish Agriculture of the dry spell. I have secured agreement from the Commissioner to pay higher advance payments this autumn. As a result, advances for Pillar 1 and 2 payments will be increased to 70% and 85% respectively, resulting in €260 million in additional cash flow for farmers at a vital time of the year. I proposed to Commissioner Hogan certain flexibilities for participants under the GLAS scheme which will replenish their fodder stocks for the winter period.

I am very pleased to have secured the agreement of the European Commission for these flexibilities which are now in place since 1^stSeptember and which together bring a potential additional 270,000 hectares into fodder production.

Furthermore on the 3^rdAugust I announced a €2.75 million Fodder Production Incentive for Tillage Farmers to encourage tillage growers to actively engage in the fodder market. This measure will provide an incentive of €155 per hectare for tillage growers who grow a temporary crop of short rotation grasses for fodder production over the winter months and €100 per hectare for those growing catch crops such as fodder Rape, Turnips and Brassica crops. Currently over 23,000 hectares of catch crops are supported under the Agri-Environment Scheme, GLAS. This additional funding commitment aims to incentivise a doubling of this area. I am confident this measure will support Tillage farmers to supply into the market for fodder. Tillage farmers are a critical part of our agricultural sector, supplying the brewing and distilling industry, grain to the feed industry and straw to the livestock sector, whilst also delivering other benefits.

Also, following consultation in August with my Government colleague the Minister for Planning, Housing and Local Government Mr. Eoghan Murphy T.D., flexibility has been granted on an extension to the closed period for spreading of chemical and organic fertilisers in order to capitalise on autumn grass growth for fodder production. This extra two weeks granted by Minister Murphy will allow application up to the 30^thSeptember and 31^stOctober respectively and again maximise the opportunity for Autumn production.

On the 22^ndAugust I announced a €4.25million Fodder Import Support Measure for Autumn 2018. The measure seeks to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage, that is: hay silage, haylage, alfalfa and others from outside the island of Ireland. The measure will operate through the Co-operatives/registered importers and will cover forage imported from 12^thAugust 2018 to 31^stDecember 2018 and will of course be subject to EU State Aid (de-minimis) rules.I wish to confirm that while the measure will operate through the Co-operatives/registered importers, the actual beneficiaries will be farmers who need supplies of fodder.

I know that the range of measures introduced by me to-date taken together and targeted at producing as much fodder as possible from our own land provide the most effective response to a fodder shortfall. I can assure you that I will continue to closely monitor and engage on this significant challenge during this difficult period.