By Cian Molloy - 09 April, 2018
Spring comes late to wet Irish countryside. Photo: Gráinne Treanor
In response to the continuing fodder crisis that is affecting livestock farmers, Bishop John Buckley has called on the government to “generously and quickly” address the problem.
Across Ireland, beef and dairy farmers in particular have been affected by the long winter and the continuing bad weather. Many fields are waterlogged and there is little spring growth, if any, to be seen in grasslands.
The Bishop, who is from Inchigeela in West Cork, is known for being ‘out and about’ among the people. This weekend he said: “I have been travelling the diocese before and during Easter and have been talking to farmers and to their families. Due to lack of feed, animals are suffering great stress during this difficult winter and late spring.
“I am calling on government to monitor this crisis situation closely and to generously and quickly address the feed requirements of animals. This emergency situation has resulted in reports of animals dying on farms.”
According to the Bishop, many farmers have approached him asking for prayers, so on Friday he announced: “I am asking all Masses in the diocese to offer prayers this weekend for the farming community and to pray for an end to the wet and unseasonably cold weather. Over the past few weeks I have witnessed great hardship in the farming community. This is particularly true of West Cork. Let us remember them in our prayers.”
This Sunday saw the first day of warm weather in a long time. No one would declare the sunshine to be a miracle, but it certainly was a blessing.
