'It's costing €500 a day' - farmers counts dry spell cost
No grass growth due to the prolonged dry spell is costing many dairy farmers around €500 per day, as they have to eat into their winter fodder supplies to feed their herds.
Prolonged dry spell is causing significant financial strain for dairy farmers in parts of Ireland, with the cost reaching approximately €500 per day. The lack of rainfall has severely impacted grass growth, leading farmers to rely on winter fodder reserves for their herds. In Laois, dairy farmer William Cassidy reported that his 130-strong herd is now consuming full winter rations after six weeks of no grass growth, costing him an additional €4 per cow daily.
Similar issues are affecting farmers in Carlow, where soil moisture deficits have reached up to 94mm, resulting in scorched land and significantly reduced crop yields. Teagasc Crop Specialist Shay Phelan highlighted the negative impact on crop size and quality due to the lack of moisture, which could lead to smaller and lower-quality produce.
Irish Farmers' Association President Francie Gorman called for government intervention, including subsidies for fodder movement and support from the banking sector, to help farmers navigate the current crisis.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
