Small Farmers Missing Out On Winter Fodder Scheme

It has come to my attention in recent weeks that farmers who are held up with reactor cattle and who may have an off farm job, be it a few hours a week or even working a full 39 hour week are being refused the winter fodder grant. These farmers, because they are small farmers, need this winter fodder fund where the sale of weanlings has been held up. Obviously it is the same type of politics going on again as with the CAP deal, if you are a big farmer with no off farm job then you get the winter fodder grant, but if you are small farmer with a part time job you don’t qualify and it is extremely unfair and I will be raising this matter this week with Minister Coveney.