James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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555. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to address the fodder crisis here; if he will undertake a county specific fodder analysis or survey to account for the regional variations in rainfall and impact on farmland specifically in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6944/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, 2018 presented the agriculture community with some very challenging conditions in terms of a prolonged wet Spring period followed almost immediately by a period of exceptionally dry, hot weather. However we did see a return to normal growing conditions in the autumn/early winter which provided farmers with an excellent opportunity to replenish fodder stocks.

My priority throughout last year was to support measures to assist in the conservation of as much fodder for this Winter/Spring as possible from within our own resources and to supplement this with necessary imports as required. To this end I introduced a number of targeted measures including:

- a €2.75 million Fodder Production Incentive for Tillage Farmers to encourage growers to actively engage in the fodder market and there has been positive engagement with this measure.

- a €4.25 million Fodder Import Support Measure for Autumn 2018. The measure sought to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage. The measure operated through the Co-operatives/registered importers and covered additional forage imported into the country. I am advised that there remains significant reserves of imported fodder in storage at present through these co-ops.

The most recent national fodder survey conducted in January by Teagasc, on my behalf, and published in the last week indicates that the fodder deficit has receded further. The most recent statistics show that 73% of farmers have sufficient fodder to meet their livestock’s requirements. Additionally the survey shows a steady decrease in the percentage of farms reporting deficits of over 10% since the last survey in October of last year (22% in October versus 15% in January).

In relation to County Wexford, the recent Teagasc survey indicates that currently the level of deficit is below 5%

It is important to stress that while the deficit nationally has been reduced significantly there still remains a fodder deficit on some farms and there is a need for farmers to remain vigilant and avoid complacency. I have urged Teagasc and the other Stakeholders to continue their individual efforts in support of those farmers worst affected and in need of help.

Whilst it is not possible to predict the arrival of the spring and the end of the wintering period, I can assure the Deputy that I, together with my officials will continue to closely monitor the fodder situation.