There are reports of milk not being collected from some dairy farmers around the country, according to Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon.
Minister Heydon has condemned the fuel price protests, saying they are “now impacting farmers and threatens animal welfare issues arising”.
In relation to situations where milk tankers are not collecting milk from dairy farms, he said this is “denying them a means to make their living”.
He added that “the blockage of the ports by protestors who are stopping the transportation of feed ingredients to feed mills and merchants has serious potential implications for pig and poultry farmers in particular”.
Minister Heydon is due to meet agri-food stakeholders on Friday.
“We are maintaining close and continuous engagement with farmers, fishers, processors, and industry representatives to ensure we fully understand the challenges they are facing and can respond appropriately,” he said.
Current supports in place for the sector include assistance for exporters to identify alternative routes to market, while the Government says it is engaging with financial institutions to secure access to short-term finance and overdraft facilities.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called for the introduction of a Temporary Farm Fuels Support Scheme for farmers and farm contractors, as well as the expansion of the farm-diesel carbon tax relief.
The IFA is also seeking to suspend the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on fertiliser.
The group representing dairy farmers, the ICMSA, has said if Government introduces measures to ease price pressure on fuel or fertiliser for farmers that it must do so soon.
“The current protests are happening in advance of a six to eight-week period on farms that will see the most intensive use of fuel and fertilisers with crops being sowed and silage being harvested – and consequently, the most serious costs,” ICMSA President Denis Drennan said.
“That’s why we need to see actions and measures aimed at relief now – not in two months’ time,” he added.
