As a proposed multi-million euro crisis fund for the agriculture sector could be reviewed by Cabinet next week, an attempt has been made to pacify farmers worried about upcoming fertiliser supplies. This comes as some of co-ops and merchants have suspended sales due to a scramble for supplies for grain and silage crops.
Concerns were raised at last week’s National Fodder and Food Security Committee, where Pearse Kelly, Teagasc head of drystock, advised farmers to buy fertiliser now and aim to have 75% of their planned silage in the yard by mid-June.
However it was said that fertiliser importers have regular contact with the Department of Agriculture around supply, and that while levels are back on last year farmers “are going out to get fertiliser regardless of price, so there should be no panic”.
Another issue raised was that some farmers are stockpiling fertiliser, so there was a call to ensure every farmer has enough fertiliser available for first-cut silage. The committee also heard that with rising fuel prices, contractor costs have doubled for baled silage. Calls were made for fertiliser vouchers and other financial incentives for farmers to grow more crops.
A national inventory of fodder, feed and fertiliser could take place soon as the committee looks to support the response to an “unfolding national feed, fertiliser and energy supply crisis”.
A call was also made for less intensively stocked drystock farms to provide land for increased tillage production for fodder. And other participants referred to GM maize from Argentina as a source of feed later in 2022.
LSL News.