Factories Must Not Ignore Strong Turnout at Beef Price Protests to Highlight €350 Price Gap with Uk

IFA President Eddie Downey said the strong turnout of thousands of farmers at meat plants around the country over the last 24 hours in support of IFA’s beef price protests is a clear indicator of the anger over the massive €350 per head cattle price gap that has now opened up with our main export market in the UK.

Speaking to farmers in Charleville, Co Cork this afternoon at the end of the 24-hour protest, Eddie Downey said, “Since 3pm yesterday, 15,000 farmers have turned out at nearly 30 locations to voice their deep frustration with the factories. Our main markets have recovered strongly and farmers are not prepared to tolerate loss-making prices any longer. MII must address the fundamental issue, which is their refusal to pass back to Irish farmers strong UK market price increases of over 30c/kg (€100 per head) in the last number of weeks”.

The IFA President said for the past 12 months, farmers have being hammered with loss-making prices and specification cuts that have decimated their incomes. “Farmers cannot continue to sell cattle at a loss. Teagasc figures show that on our most efficient farms, producers need a base price of at least €4.00/kg.”

Eddie Downey said farmers are very determined that beef prices at the factories must rise to fairly reflect the very strong increase in UK cattle prices, where Irish beef sales are up 20% this year. Current prices in Britain for R grade steers are running at the equivalent of €4.74/kg incl vat, which is €1/kg higher than the €3.73/kg Irish price.

He called on the meat factories to reflect the improved market situation in beef prices to Irish farmers without any further delay.

IFA National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said livestock farmers are very angry with the failure of the Minister of Agriculture Simon Coveney to tackle the factories on the beef issues that have seriously damaged the sector and farm incomes since last January. He said farmers feel let down on the beef specification issues and the Minister’s failure to insist that the factories implement the Quality Payment System or price grid in a fair way in line with their agreement with suppliers.

Henry Burns said IFA has repeatedly requested Minister Coveney to deal with a number of issues on beef including resolving the problems for the live trade to the North, the need for more competition and transparency in the trade and for increased monitoring and controls on carcase trim, weights and classification for farmers in the factories.