ICOS has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture to introduce a long-distance fodder transport subsidy of greater than 75km. According to ICOS, the proposed scheme will help alleviate some regional issues where fodder availability is challenged due to the prolonged wet weather. “Whilst, emergency supports are required until weather conditions are more conducive to cattle getting outdoors to graze fully, we reiterate the unprecedented situation facing farmers, as there is plenty of grass on farms but ground conditions remain very challenging at present.
“There needs to be a strong recognition of the difficulties facing farmers due to the adverse weather situation. Farmers are mentally and physically exhausted due to the stress of managing the prolonged and extra workload, as well as dealing with increasingly excessive regulation on their enterprises.
“We believe a number of targeted measures are urgently required to support farmers, in addition to the transport measure announced today. Co-ops throughout the country are providing rebates on feed purchases and coop advisory teams and mills are working intensively with farmers to identify fodder requirements and are developing appropriate feeding regimes in order to stretch fodder stocks. ICOS believes a government-matched rebate on feed, mirroring the support already provided by co-operatives, should be implemented.”
In addition, ICOS has called on the Government to introduce flexibilities around driver hours for hauliers during April considering the significant demands on Co-ops and merchants related to the delivery of animal feed and the low level of fertiliser movements thus far this year, which will need to increase substantially over the month of April to meet normal demand. “A pragmatic approach by the RSA will prove very beneficial to alleviating the challenging situation, with appropriate safeguards remaining in place.
“ICOS is very conscious of the challenges facing the tillage sector and the need for emergency supports for the sector. There is a strong need for Government to support a collaborative approach across all sectors, support tillage farm incomes and rebuild forage stocks, and ensure flexibility regarding straw incorporation requirements, whilst maintaining supports for the tillage sector.”