There has been a huge fodder shortage for animals for the majority of this year.
There is little sign of the shortage letting up, ensuring a winter of uncertainty for many farmers.
The Irish Grain Growers Group wish to seek a derogation for GLAS farmers on the use of cover crops from 1st of December to 1st of October.
This will allow livestock farmers to utilize cover crops and to alleviate some of the potential fodder requirements for the coming winter, by extending the grazing season.
They request that farmers in GLAS and indeed all tillage farmers willing to grow catch crops, get a derogation to use fertilizer in excess of the annual farm limits on these crops to further their growth potential.
The Irish Grain Growers Group also request mono-crop seeds such as redstart, westerwolds, ryegrass or fodder rape be used on their own to give a bulky forage crop to graze or to ensile. Currently those in GLAS must use a minimum of 2 seed types to participate in the scheme.
These measures could be of great benefit to the livestock sectors in the Autumn.
They will give a much needed cash boost to the tillage farmers still reeling from the extreme weather in 2018.
SEE ALSO – Irish Grain Growers Group to host a public meeting on the future of tillage farming
