Fodder planning is more important than ever

Not for the first time, Irish livestock farming has been placed under immense physical and financial pressures by nature. The extended drought conditions across much of the country, which began with an absence of rain from late June in many regions, cost farmers dearly in terms of output reductions and increased input costs. While the strong grass growth in April, May, and June delivered higher fodder stocks, these have been literally eaten into in the intervening months. By mid-August the need for accurate statistics around fodder stocks was clear, with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon requesting cooperation from farmers in compiling data around fodder reserves, generally, and estimations of fodder resilience on individual farms for next winter. Only with accurate data could actions and strategies be implemented.
While there are comparisons with previous drought impacts, most recently the 2018 experience, there are also differences. Output prices, especially on dairy farms, were higher in 2018, allowing farmers, as far as possible, to ‘buy’ their way through the crisis. This time around, because of low milk prices, the necessary cashflow is absent on many farms for this strategy, putting significant financial pressures on individual farms. That’s where timely financial and fodder planning is paramount. Yes, that may include short-term borrowing to secure additional fodder stocks for anticipated winter-feeding shortfalls. The co-ops have been proactive in providing extended credit terms, as well as reducing prices of concentrate feeds. While an element of this is to ensure that processing facilities continue to have strong milk flows into the autumn, there is a strong altruistic commitment as one would expect and appreciate, from farmer-owned cooperative ventures. Nevertheless, additional fodder bills have built up on farms and must be repaid over time.
The straw incorporation measure (SIM) continues to be fully subscribed. The agronomic benefits are clear and measurable. Soil fertility is improved, and carbon is stored. As has been highlighted in these pages previously, the case for a more integrated approach should be considered. Incorporated straw is a potential base fodder material for livestock when a deficit in winter feed stocks is anticipated. The challenge is in accurately predicting fodder deficits in time to redirect surplus straw production. More broadly, and putting the current fodder stresses to one side, should there be a formal mechanism put in place to allow a virtuous circle to be created where straw residues in the form of used bedding material or excreted manure can be reincorporated onto tillage lands? This already happens in an ad hoc manner where farms have both tillage and livestock enterprises and where localised arrangements are in place between livestock and tillage farmers. A broader and more formalised system would benefit everyone involved in livestock and tillage farming. The SIM is already in place. Tillage farmers are rightly vocal in protecting this funding. There should be a process to allow them to continue to benefit financially while also addressing the bigger picture.
Meanwhile, many farmers were proactive in securing additional straw stocks to buffer higher nutrition silage stocks. That, again, reflects the absolute necessity for farmers to measure and monitor their livestock feed requirements. There was some misguided criticism of Minister Heydon’s insistence on developing an accurate data bank on fodder stocks in the middle of a drought before any interventions or actions were considered. It was the correct strategy and one that was mirrored by individual farmers calculating their short- and longer-term fodder requirements, the totality of stocks in place, and addressing any identified fodder deficits. Fodder security is not an occasional practice to be addressed in times of weather extremes. It is a constant requirement to ensure that our livestock sector remains sustainable across all possible challenges.