National Fodder and Food Security Committee review fodder situation as growth resumes after drought
A meeting of the National Fodder and Food security committee took place in Oak Park, Carlow, today, 7 September, to review the continuing impact of the 2026 drought on grass production and fodder supplies and to consider the actions that can be taken now to support farmers through the autumn and into next spring.
The meeting, chaired by Mike Magan, heard an updated assessment from Teagasc on grass growth, fodder availability and the ongoing advisory activities response to the drought, followed by contributions from farm organisations, industry, advisors, financial institutions and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Opening the meeting, Chairman of the committee, Mike Magan, said; “Events have adjusted and changed since our last meeting. This forum is useful to meet to assess the recovery in grass growth on farms. The message to our fellow farmers is that we are here to help them, and it’s important that we help each other across the farming community. Maximising the feed production on farm for the remainder of the growing season is now a critical issue for all farmers.”
Teagasc data presented to the meeting showed that grass growth has recovered significantly over the past 10 days following recent rainfall. However, cumulative grass production for 2026 remains behind normal levels. PastureBase Ireland farms have grown an average of 9,219 kg DM/ha year-to-date, which is 412 kg DM/ha below the five-year average, 1,148 kg below 2025 and 1,072 kg below the ten-year average. The data highlights that there is no room for complacency, and that individual farms should continue to assess their fodder stocks as we approach the winter housing period.
The meeting heard that the recovery is not uniform and that the South-east remains the area of greatest concern, with many farms having experienced considerably larger grass-production deficits and continuing to use significant quantities of supplementary feed.
Current PastureBase Ireland fodder budgets from 595 farms indicate an average of 4.3 months of conserved feed available, with Leinster averaging 4.2 months compared with 4.5 months in Munster and Connacht/Ulster. The Carlow-Kilkenny-Laois-Kildare area recorded the lowest regional figure in the dataset at 4.0 months. Of course, average figure always masks the range across individual farms, which again highlights the need for individual farms to review their own situation and act now as needed.
Recent feeding information also illustrates the continuing pressure. Across 1,815 farms reporting on 4 September, supplementary feeds accounted for approximately 44% of the diet, with higher levels of silage feeding evident on many farms in the drought-affected eastern and south-eastern counties.
Focus on Action Now
A strong theme from the meeting was the continued importance of farmers acting now rather than waiting until winter or spring.
The Committee highlighted the importance of farmers:
- maximise production of feed on farm for the remainder of the autumn by making the most of the current recovery in grass growth and by measuring farm cover and planning grazing through the autumn;
- using fertiliser and slurry sensibly and judiciously within the existing application periods, taking account of both agronomic requirements and water-quality considerations;
- completing and regularly updating fodder budgets, while also preparing financial budgets for the months ahead;
- maximising the appropriate use of existing catch and cover crops where these can contribute additional feed – including where opportunities arise after early harvesting of maize;
- identifying fodder shortages early and facilitating the movement of fodder from areas where supplies are available to those experiencing deficits; and
- maintaining contact with advisers, neighbours and support services, recognising the additional financial and personal pressures being experienced by some farm families.
The meeting re-iterated current fertiliser advice for farmers to consider the application of chemical nitrogen on grassland over the next week before the 14th, and the judicious use of slurry over the next month to grow grass. Where grass growth rates are above 35 kgs DM per hectare consider applying 25kg N/ha (20 units N /acre). Where growth rates are lower consider applying 15 kg N/ha (12 units N /acre). The meeting also re-iterated the importance of farmers taking into consideration that declining day length will soon start to curtail grass growth and that excessive fertiliser applications will not be used efficiently as a result.
Teagasc has intensified its advisory response in the areas most affected by the drought. To date, five regional fodder webinars have attracted 278 participants, more than 20 fodder clinics have been held with 334 farmers attending, and fodder budgeting messages have been supported by local radio, social media, mart activity and other advisory communications.
Chair of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee, Mike Magan, said: “The situation has improved in some respects since we last met, particularly with the recovery in grass growth, but the underlying fodder challenge has not disappeared. There are areas, particularly in the South-east, where farmers remain under very considerable pressure.
“The strongest message from today is that there is a lot that can still be done now. Farmers should assess their own position, make the best possible use of grass growth over the coming weeks, complete both fodder and financial budgets and address any likely shortfall early.
“There is no single solution to this challenge. It will require sensible management on farms, movement of fodder where it is available, good advice and communication, and continued cooperation right across the industry. One of the real strengths of this Committee is the willingness of organisations to work together and help farmers through a difficult period.”
Committee attendees also proposed and discussed a range of additional measures and supports which they considered could assist affected farmers. These included the cost and logistics of transporting fodder between regions, access to finance and possible financial supports, greater utilisation of catch crops, potential regulatory flexibilities, and arrangements which could provide greater confidence to farmers producing or selling additional fodder.
The importance of farmer wellbeing and mental health was also strongly emphasised. Members encouraged farmers experiencing pressure not to deal with problems in isolation, but to speak with family, neighbours, advisers, farming organisations or appropriate professional support services.
The movement of fodder sooner rather than later was advised and opportunities for the sector to work together on transport options, and utilising backloads on existing journeys for other products, was discussed and encouraged.
Stress on farmers who have had to feed winter stocks to livestock this summer was acknowledged. Several participants at today’s meeting highlighted the importance of talking to other farmers, advisers and professionals, and that a problem shared is a problem halved.
Chairman Mike Magan said; “longer-term, there is a need to build greater resilience into the farming system. Those farmers that carried over fodder stocks from last winter have been better positioned to cope with the summer drought.”