Grass and fodder shortages forcing extra costs on farmers

Farmers should consider early weaning of calves or selling them in an effort to cut costs, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association is advising.

Grass scarcity and fodder shortage following the harsh winter and late onset of spring has left farmers throughout Ireland facing increased costs which is pushing some into financial difficulty.

"Calves born in the autumn can certainly be weaned, even calves born around Christmas time can be weaned," said Dermot Kelleher, the association's suckler chairman.

“The farmer can then prioritise these weaned calves for grass and for concentrate feeding rather than feeding concentrates to the cows in an effort to keep them in milk.”

Calves need less meal than many farmers are giving to cows while those cows will be under less “nutritional stress” if not rearing a calf, Mr Kelleher added.

He suggested it was better for struggling farmers to raise funds by selling a calf off cows and cutting losses than by continuing with current feeding in the absence of adequate grass and fodder.

“It’s better to get €400 or more for the calf and cut your losses if the cost of buying in more and more fodder and meals is putting too much financial pressure on you,” he said. “Obviously, these suggestions only apply to farmers who are under pressure with feeding animals and where costs are getting unsustainably high.

“However, there is no doubt that there are many farmers on the ground in immense difficulty due to adverse weather and growing conditions.”

Meanwhile IFA deputy president Eddie Downey has appealed to farmers with surplus fodder, including straw, to make it available to their neighbours who need feed urgently to get them through the next number of days until grass arrives.

“The week ahead will see a welcome rise in temperatures, which will bring some much-needed grass growth. However, the impact of the prolonged winter weather, and the scarcity of fodder as a result of the dreadful summer harvest last year, is putting many farmers under severe pressure.

“Now that grass growth has commenced, those farmers who have surplus fodder can be more confident that they themselves will not run short and help out neighbours in difficulty,” he said.

He also renewed his call on merchants, co-ops and banks to support their farmer customers by applying the maximum flexibility to requests for extra credit lines.

“In general, commodity prices are strong, with good prospects for the year ahead. There is no excuse not to help out where cashflow problems exist. A speedy turnaround by banks of hours not days is required on credit applications. No farmer can be left short of cashflow to feed their stock.”

The work of the IFA Project Teams in every county on fodder had identified problems, and assisted in the delivery to areas where it was needed.

“I am in constant contact with Teagasc and have asked them to continue the good work in providing backup to farmers. With everyone’s shoulder to the wheel, farm families will get through this very difficult period,” he said.