Every farmer hit by weather deluge claims Laois IFA Chairman

Just a few weeks after taking over as Chairman of Laios IFA  Henry Burns is already dealing with a problem that he says is impacting every farmer.

For Mr Burns and many other farmers, March was the latest but perhaps worst month of a bad weather spell for agriculture that they can trace back to last summer.

It's a busy time of year but March should be the start of the busiest months. But farmers are stuck in the mud.

Fodder problems for livestock have grabbed the headlines. Mr Burns says some farmers are running short but supply is available. He says the issue is financial.

He said calving happens this time of year and it is also a highly productive period dairy stock. This requires a higher quantity of feed but farmers normally respond by putting cattle out to graze.

“Grass is growing and there is grass out on fields but the reality is that it is proving very difficult to access grass,” he said.

He said this is costing farmers.

“A dairy cow that calves in February or early March would be building towards peak milk yields. That means the cattle are at highest demand for energy. Farmers now have to replace grass with concentrates that costs a lot more money,” he said.

Mr Burns added that milk prices are not high at present which he agrees makes tight margins. 

Apart from the financial issue, he said farmers have to work longer and harder. 

“It puts an awful lot of extra workload on farmers because cows are in sheds a lot longer.

“While we are used to long winters, the problem is that this year's winter started around the time of the last Ploughing Championships,” he said.

 He said grazing might be possible on farms with draining land but even such farmers are finding it difficult to let cattle graze.

He said beef farmers also depend on getting cows on fields with sucklers. The same for their young cattle. He estimated that a young store animal aged 12 months old can cost up to €3 a day to feed. The cost to feed the same animal on grass drops  to about 60c a day.

He believes that such extra costs are hitting the bottom line on already low-margin beef farm enterprises.

“It's difficult. The fodder is available while the meals and concentrates are there to be bought but it's the financial issue. We are not saying farmers can't afford to feed their animals - they can but it's just the impact of an exceptionally long winter,” he said.

While the beef and dairy sectors are facing difficulties, the Laois IFA Chairman believes damage has already been done in the tillage sector.

“Some of the sowing windows for crops have passed with no sowing. The sowing window for winter and spring wheat has passed.  Spring beans have become quite a big crop in Laois and Offaly but it could soon become uneconomic.

“Our big crop in Laois is malting barley. It makes the premiums of tillage a lot better if you make your premiums. The issue is can specs be met on malting barley sown after April 10 - that is questionable,” he said.

Mr Burns said the protein levels in barley needs to be low to satisfy the drinks sector.

He said there is a difference of up to €80 a tonne less in what will be paid for good quality malting barley and barley that has a high protein content but that would only be of use for feed.

“That's the difference between make or break,” he said.

As to the help on offer, Mr Burns said the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) has met but the Minister for Agriculture did not attend.  He said this group must meet again with  Minister Charlie MacConallogue in attendance.

“So far what the fodder committee done is to create an analysis of the position farmers are in. It has not taken any action,” he said.

He said the IFA has proposed a 2-3c a litre hardship payment from the dairy companies. Beef factories have also been called on to pay the maximum price they can. 

Another move called for to ease stress on farmers is the suspension of non-essential inspections.

He questioned new HSA inspections backed by Minister Martin Heydon. 

“It's tone deaf,” he said.

Mr Burns also called for any outstanding payments on the various schemes to be paid immediately. He also said some payments should be brought forward. 

The Mountmellick based farmer said a standalone support package is unquestionably needed. He said Kieran McEvoy and the IFA's tillage committee has put together a proposal for help.

“They've said it's about keeeping farmers in business following what was a most difficult year last year.

“The Minister has an ambition to grow the tillage sector but we can only see the tillage sector shrinking,” he said.

Without a support package, he said the tillage farming would contract further.

“That's bad for the country, seed and straw supply and bad for malters. 

“It is also well proven that tillage is the most carbon-neutral way of farming,” he said.

As to the stresses on strains the situation has placed on farmers, he said the IFA is there to help anybody needs help will be there. He urged individual farmers to be also ready to help their neighbours show signs of strain.

“If you are indoors with animals and looking at them wondering will they every go out on the fields it does diminish your optimism. It can get on top of people and a lot of farmers do work alone...We are only human and that is why we are asking the Department to take a nuanced view,”he said.

Mr Burns said trying to get work done on his own farm has at times proved to be “soul-destroying” with weather interrupting jobs or delaying things.

"Nothing can progress. There is not a farm or farm enterprise that is not affected by this,” he said.

He said that while farmers are now equipped with better machinery and technology, this year has shown that one factor is vital to success.

“We still have to have the weather at certain times. It's like the windows for sowing crops,” he said.

Mr Burns said dairy and beef farmers are already looking ahead hoping there are better conditions for the next crucial stage of the farming year.

“The next big window for the beef and dairy farmers is to get ready for next winter's silage. They would be starting to spread fertiliser for that around now but the ground is probably too with for that,” he said.

The Laois IFA chairman believes farmers will do what they need to do to get through the problems and even few dry days would make a difference.

He also believes that a close eye needs to be kept on the situation as each week presents a different set of issues for farmers. He cautioned that problems will grow as long is the poor weather continues.