Sep 8th, 2009

Disastrous weather conditions require urgent and unprecedented actions say ICMSA

The recent absolutely atrocious weather conditions are impacting on all farm sectors and require an immediate and urgent response from all groups involved in the Agri-Food sector in order to avoid a total disaster for farmers in 2009, according to Mr. John O'Leary, Deputy President of ICMSA.

The Killarney farmer said that dairy farmers already have had to contend with historically low milk prices while poor cattle prices and a very expensive spring period meant that many throughout all farming sectors now find themselves facing winter with unpaid bills and inadequate winter fodder. This, pointed out Mr O'Leary, is the second year in a row that farmers have had to deal with very wet conditions and every assistance must now be given.

It was certainly time that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food reviewed the schemes under his control with a view to assisting farmers through this difficult period. In particular, Mr. O'Leary said, that the Minister should do the following:

- All payments due to farmers must be paid out in accordance with
the Charter of Rights for Farmers. Delays simply cannot be tolerated given
the pressures on farmers and payments must be made as agreed under the
Charter.

- Where a farmer cannot carry out a required task under REPS due to
weather conditions, the farmer should not be penalised for this provided the
task is carried out in 2010.

- Where land is damaged due to poaching/machinery, no penalty should
be applied where the farmer did his/her best to minimise the damage under
both REPS and Cross Compliance.

- The slurry spreading close period should be suspended for 2009 and
farmers should be allowed spread for the rest of the year provided weather
conditions are suitable. The reality is that some farmers have livestock
housed since July and must be given some leeway to spread slurry when land
and weather conditions permit.

- No penalty should be applied where a farmer fails to spread
farmyard manure stored on grassland.

- If weather conditions improve, a farmer should be allowed spread
artificial fertiliser after 15 September in order to boost grass growth and
thus reduce pressure on winter fodder supplies.

- Where a farmer had land sprayed for reseeding but failed to sow
grass due to poor ground conditions, he/she should not be penalised for this
under the various farm schemes.

- Cross Compliance ideally should be suspended but if not, they must
take account of the practical difficulties facing farmers at this time and
appropriate tolerances allowed.

- Where a penalty has been imposed on a farmer under any scheme, the
farmer at the very least should be allowed to postpone payment of same for
at least twelve months.

There are huge pressures on farmers at present due to the weather in both financial and farm-management terms and the Minister must implement the measures outlined above to alleviate some of these pressures and he should do so immediately.

'Others must also take action. Teagasc must provide a free advisory service to farmers who are in extreme difficulty due to weather while the banks must also step up to the mark by being extremely flexible in providing credit and allowing loan restructuring/moratoriums without additional interest charges. If banks do not step up to the mark then our Government should insist on greater flexibility. Our Co-ops must return the maximum possible milk price to their suppliers and should also provide low cost rations to farmers to get them through this winter when fodder supplies are expected to be extremely tight', said the ICMSA Deputy President.

Finally, Mr. O'Leary said that any farmer who finds him or herself in difficulty should not suffer in silence and should make their concerns and difficulties known to others who can help. 'In most cases some assistance and solutions can be provided', ICMSA will certainly endeavour to help in any way we can', concluded Mr O'Leary.

BACK TO 2009 ARCHIVES