Minister McConalogue announces €2.1m in payments to 669 farmers
- Published on: 17 October 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today announced the commencement of payments under the Fodder Transport Support Measure. This measure was introduced by the Minister to provide targeted support by way of a transport support contribution to farmers having to purchase fodder over longer distances due to the prolonged and unfavourable weather conditions on farm this spring.
The Minister said:
“Due to the difficult spring and localised fodder shortages, I introduced the Fodder Transport Support Measure. I was acutely aware of the pressure farmers were under and the increased costs as a result of having to move fodder over longer distances.”
The Minister continued:
“I’m pleased to announce that payments will issue to Co-Operatives in the coming days and these payments will then be passed onto farmers who applied for and have been accepted into the scheme. I would like to thank the Co-Operatives for working with my Department to ensure that farmers were supported at a difficult time.”
The movement of 48,132 bales and 19,114 tonnes of fodder has been supported by this measure, with 24 Co-Operatives participating in the scheme. Payments totalling €2.1m will issue to 669 farmers through their co-ops in the coming days.
Concluding, the Minister said:
“I would actively encourage any farmers who have not yet completed a fodder budget to do so to ensure that they have adequate fodder supplies on hand for the coming winter. Where shortages are identified it allows farmers, in consultation with their advisors, to put in place a plan for the coming winter”
Payments will issue to the Co-Operatives along with a detailed breakdown of the eligible farmers for payment following the completion of the relevant verification checks and inspections.
Any farmers or Co-Operatives that have queries regarding this measure should contact officials at the
Helpdesk on 057-8674422 or alternatively foddertransportmeasure@agriculture.gov.ie
ENDS
Note to Editor
• The Fodder Transport Support Measure was introduced for holdings with livestock that required forage to be purchased and transported over 75 km and utilised on the holding from 1st April 2024. The scheme closed for applications on 15th May 2024
• The following table outlines the transport support contribution that is payable on each bale/tonne of forage complying with the terms and conditions of this measure.
| Forage Material | Bale Size | Transport Support per Bale/Tonne € |
| Hay/Straw | 4 X 4 | 20 |
| Haylage/silage/maize silage | 4 X 4 | 30 |
| Hay/Straw | 8 X 4 X 4 | 35 |
| Hay/Straw | 8 X 4 X 3 | 30 |
| Haylage/silage/maize silage | 8 X 4 X 3 | 40 |
| Hay/Straw | 6 X 3 X 2 | 8 |
| Pit Silage | Per Tonne | 40 |
| Fodder beet | Per Tonne | 40 |
Transport support contribution on other standard bale sizes will be calculated pro rata
All payments will be subject to the EU rules on de minimis aid as laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013 regarding de minimis aid in the agricultural production sector. While the payment will be made to the Co-operative the eligibility for de minimis payments will be assessed at applicant level.