Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins has said farmers across Roscommon especially North Roscommon are finding the worsening soil conditions very difficult to deal with.
Senator Hopkins said “I have received a number of calls from farmers and members of farming organisations who have been forced to house animals due to saturated soils. Many of these farmers have been unable to empty their slurry tanks and have requested assistance with securing an extension to the slurry spreading date beyond October 15th. I have communicated these concerns to Minister Creed over recent weeks encouraging him to explore the possibility of extending the slurry spreading date".
Senator Hopkins continued, "I have also made representations to Minister Creed on behalf of a number of Tillage farmers whose crops have been badly affected by the wet weather. Some have managed to harvest crops but yields and quality are very poor and some farmers have been unable to harvest some of their crops."
"I have asked the Minister to explore ways of assisting these farmers. Establishing these crops incurs very high input costs so decimation of the crop or poor yields is crippling financially for these farmers".
Senator Hopkins concluded by saying “Minister Creed has assured me that he and his Department is aware of the impact the prolonged bad weather is having on tillage farmers and on farmers who still need to spread slurry especially those on marginal land.
"He is aware the October 15th deadline is fast approaching and he knows many farmers are very concerned. I have strongly encouraged him to do everything possible to help affected famers during this period".
