Farmers in Roscommon and across the West are being urged to assess winter fodder supplies following a national survey which found significant variation in feed availability after a prolonged period of dry weather.
The latest Teagasc Fodder Survey groups Roscommon with Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal in the Northwest region.
In that region, 12 per cent of farms reported a feed surplus and a further 34 per cent were on target for winter requirements. However, 27 per cent had a deficit of less than 10 per cent, while 17 per cent were facing deficits of between 10 and 20 per cent. A further 10 per cent reported deficits greater than 20 per cent.
This means 27 per cent of farms surveyed in the Northwest were facing fodder deficits of at least 10 per cent.
The position in the West is less severe than in the Southeast, where 40 per cent of farms were in the two highest-risk deficit categories. In the Northwest, the equivalent figure was 27 per cent.
Nationally, 42 per cent of dairy and drystock farms were reported to have adequate or surplus winter feed, while another 27 per cent were within 10 per cent of their target. Nineteen per cent had deficits of between 10 and 20 per cent and 12 per cent had deficits exceeding 20 per cent.
Teagasc said farms had an average of approximately 140 days of feed available, although there was significant variation between individual holdings.
The survey was carried out in early August, after most planned second silage cuts would normally have been completed. However, drought conditions meant a second cut did not materialise on a number of participating farms.
Joe Patton, Teagasc survey co-ordinator, said this year’s results pointed to tighter feed supplies nationally than in recent years.
“Our returns show a tighter supply of feed nationally compared to recent years,” he said, adding that farmers should review their individual position in good time.
The findings were presented to a meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee on Friday, August 21st.
The committee said farmers at risk of a winter shortfall should complete a fodder budget now and consider how much feed will be required through the autumn and winter housing period.
It also advised farmers with limited supplies to identify possible sources of silage, hay, straw or suitable alternative feeds early, while managing autumn grass carefully as growth recovers.
The committee also highlighted the need to plan slurry applications following additional summer housing on some farms, and advised farmers facing higher feed costs to consider the potential impact on cashflow.
Separately, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has called for additional Government measures to increase the availability and movement of fodder.
ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan said a new fodder transport scheme should be introduced with a distance threshold of around 20 to 25 kilometres.
He argued that reducing the distance requirement used under previous schemes would make it easier to move available fodder between neighbouring areas.
The ICSA has also called for support for the production of additional fodder through catch crops and suggested that Teagasc could assist in linking livestock farmers requiring feed with tillage farmers capable of producing it.
Mr Phelan also called for consideration of a derogation for some tillage land currently included in ACRES overwinter stubble measures, which he said could potentially be used to grow catch crops for fodder.
“We need to look at every practical option now,” he said. “Many farmers are already drawing heavily on their winter fodder and if that continues, supplies could be seriously depleted by Christmas.”
