Farmers relieved to receive fodder delivery

Sean McMahon

With the fodder crisis is beginning to bite deep in the Border region as the protracted wet weather takes its toll on heavy drumlin soil, the sight of the first shipments of Lakeland sourced fodder from the UK arriving in the townland of Annagharnet, Killinkere last  Friday, was a welcome one for stressed farmers. Lakeland Dairies has over 1,000 tonnes of fodder currently on route from the UK and destined for the areas where most needed amongst their suppliers.
Where farmers have an immediate need for fodder, Lakeland are asking them to make contact with their agri representative, members relations department or dedicated fodder fodder helpline which is 042 9694 341.

Chief executive of Lakeland Dairies, Michael Hanley, told The Anglo-Celt that the bad weather is putting pressure on every farmer who had fodder up to the middle of April and thought they were in good shape.
“That will now be tested by the wet and cold weather conditions,” said Michael Hanley.
Mr Hanley revealed that they have also sourced fodder right across Ireland as this crisis could run up to May day, as farmers are now seeing the back walls of empty silage pits.
“We have contacted all our farmers to ascertain how much fodder they have – how long will it last – are they actually out of fodder or has people fodder for sale. We are trying to match up buyers and sellers. Hopefully there will be some guys with some surplus fodder.”
 

Farmers delighted to receive fodder

Shortly after the first lorry of imported Lakeland Fodder arrived in the Killinkere area, The Anglo-Celt spoke with the local farmers who were rolling up on their tractors and trailers for bales.

Derek Byers from Cargagh, Killinkere was picking up some of the bales of haylage from the UK and informed the Celt that he had been buying pit silage for the past three weeks.
“I am out of silage myself completely this week and I am giving €50 a tonne for that pit silage dropped in the yard. The person that is delivering it to me, is arriving every four days in the yard with 14-15 tonnes.”

That silage has been sourced in the general area.
“I will feed this haylage to dairy cows and see how they get on with it. They are the most important at the minute, I was mixing the pit silage I was buying with straw combined with a diet feeder, in order to stretch the fodder,” said Derek.

For more news and reaction, see Wednesday's Anglo-Celt newspaper.