24 AUGUST 2018

ICSA president Patrick Kent has welcomed progress on easing up GLAS restrictions in order to enable farmers to produce more fodder in the coming weeks and months.  “ICSA pushed very hard to allow Low Input Permanent Pasture ground be used for silage production. It seems that the EU Commission agrees in principle with a request from the Minister, and that definite confirmation should be forthcoming very soon. It is also proposed that off- takes be permitted on a once off basis for 2018 in the period 1 September 2018 (after the nesting season) to 1 December 2018, from land under the Environmental Management of Fallow land measure.”

“These decisions are only common sense given the extreme shortage of fodder and potentially bring 260,000 hectares into play in the battle to ensure adequate fodder for the winter.”

ENDS