€2 Million for Targeted Fodder Aid Scheme
IRELAND - €2 million is being allocated for a targeted fodder aid scheme following recent flooding, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith announced yesterday (25 November). This is in addition to a wider humanitarian aid scheme, to which the Government has allocated .
26 November 2009
1 minute read
In addition, €10 million has been allocated for a wider humanitarian aid scheme. The announcement reflects an assessment undertaken by the Department's Inspectorate which indicates substantial flooding of farmland in the West, Midlands and South West. One of the problems likely to arise in this context would be a fodder shortage.
While it is difficult, at this stage, to quantify those losses, the Minister acknowledged that "the damaged fodder may cause a feed shortage problem on some livestock farms which, in turn, could give rise to financial hardship and potential animal welfare issues on these farms."
Minister Smith said that "as a matter of urgency, I have asked my officials to prepare the outlines of a targeted fodder aid scheme to provide some financial support towards the purchase of alternative feed material to replace flood-damaged fodder."
The scheme will require farmers to demonstrate that the fodder was damaged and the extent of that damage and that it is necessary to purchase feed supplies to prevent animal welfare problems.
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