IFA Launches Fodder Crisis Fund
The IFA has today (Wed) launched a Fodder Crisis Fund of €1m to further support the Association’s efforts in assisting farmers through the worst fodder crisis in living memory. The fund has been put together from the Association’s own resources, and matched with generous contributions from the Irish Farmers Journal, IFAC Accountants, IFFPG, Origin Enterprises plc and FBD Insurance.
IFA President John Bryan said, “Farm families are making major personal and financial sacrifices to ensure that their livestock were fed. Now that imported forage is required in increasing amounts, it is important that costs are kept to a minimum. The fund will be used to provide a transport subsidy to the marts and private merchants, which are importing forage, but have no access to the Government’s transport subsidy scheme which is operated through the dairy co-operatives only”.
For forage imported from the UK by marts and merchants, a transport subsidy of €500 per load will be provided, with €750 per load for imported forage travelling in excess of 250km from the port.
John Bryan said, “Any mart or private merchant wishing to avail of the transport subsidy must pre-clear support through IFA in advance. This support will be maintained until the middle of May, when it will be reviewed.”
The Minister for Agriculture must extend the Government’s own transport subsidy to dairy co-operatives beyond May 3rd until grass growth returns to normal and the crisis abates, and extend the subsidy to marts and merchants importing fodder.
In addition, IFA spent last week in France and have purchased 3,000 tonnes of high quality hay for shipping to Ireland. The crisis fund will be used to cover the transport and shipping costs. The hay will be distributed to farmers, at cost ex-port, by co-ops and merchants when it arrives in Ireland late next week.
The IFA President thanked the generous support of the five agri-related organisations, FBD Insurance, Origin Enterprises plc, IFAC Accountants, IFFPG and the Irish Farmers Journal. He said, “A bank account had been set up in AIB, Naas Road (04408444, Sort Code 93-36-27). Any other agri-businesses that wished to assist the effort were more than welcome to contribute and their support would be acknowledged”.