Minister sympathises with farmers over wet summer weather

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA said today that she has great sympathy with farmers who are battling to save their crops in the face of a very wet summer.

And she announced that she has asked her officials in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide targeted advice to farmers throughout the industry.

The Minister said: “It has rained for 42 out of the 62 days in July and August and there has been little time for farmers to get onto the land. Even when they have done so there are problems with wet and waterlogged fields.

“I am pleased that the weather forecast suggests a change for the better in the coming days and I hope that this will allow machinery into the fields to allow harvesting to take place.”

“I have instructed officials to draw up relevant advisory campaigns to ensure that farmers get the best possible results in the coming days and weeks.

“To date nearly all winter barley has been harvested and the vast majority of straw saved. However this is only 15% of the entire cereal crop and much of the remainder is still in the fields. A lot of intensive work will be needed to get the rest of it in. I am sure that communities will work together to achieve this.

“The potato sector is also facing difficulties. The planting season was late and routine spraying was difficult with many crops now having major blight problems. Costs, including that of fertiliser have been high and prices are uncertain. Here again I can understand why farmers are hoping that the talk of better weather will turn out to be a fact.

“There is also a lot of anxiety among farmers who may be short of winter feed due to the housing of stock so early. A fine spell of weather is urgently needed to improve ground conditions and allow the opportunity for normal grazing to recommence, the remaining second-cut silage to be harvested and slurry to be spread.

“Vegetable growers will also be looking anxiously at the barometer as the coming days will be vital to getting crops harvested.

“The weather has obviously affected the different farming sectors and different areas in various ways with specific local problems. My Department through its CAFRE advisers will work closely with farmers to try and address their problems through the provision of tailored bulletins and on-farm workshops.

"I realise that some farmers will be disappointed that we weren't able to make SFP advances. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, it was not possible for us to take advantage of the EU's decision on earlier part payments. We are working to match our 2008 target and pay out 80% of SFP claims by the end of December. We are also hoping to pay Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) earlier in 2010.

“I believe that the payment of 100% SFP to as many applicants as quickly as possible was a better approach than trying to make part payment at this stage.”

Notes to Editors:

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