Minister Has to Honour Commitments Made to Suckler Farmers at Mart Meetings

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has to honour the commitment he has made at mart meetings that he will pay out on every suckler cow that’s applied for in the next CAP.

“IFA set out clear demands for a €300 suckler cow payment and €100/animal payment for cattle rearing and finishing farmers to ensure CAP monies directly support Irish beef farmers for producing beef to the highest welfare and environmental standards in the world.”

“The Minister confirmed in Thurles on Friday, and again yesterday in Granard, that every suckler cow would be approved for funding at the levels announced. What has been allocated so far for Pillar II will not meet that commitment, so the Minister has to find the extra funding needed,” he said.

He said the Minister has the opportunity to directly support these farmers with meaningful, targeted suckler cow and cattle rearing and finishing schemes.

The IFA Livestock Chairman said the Minister has to provide a scheme that directly supports rearing and finishing farmers, as these are some of the farmers who are losing the most through convergence, CRISS and Eco-schemes.

These farms are integral to the beef production systems in Ireland, and the proposed Strategic Plans must include a scheme that delivers €100/animal payment for farmers who rear and finish cattle.

Brendan Golden said the Minister had told farmers he is prepared to listen, and he has got the message loud and clear that €300 for suckler cows, and €100/animal for cattle rearing and finishing, must be provided in the new CAP.

“The Minister has referred to his plans as ‘proposals’. Suckler and beef farmers are telling him loud and clear that he needs to go back to the drawing board. It’s time for him to act on their clear message and provide the funding in the Pillar II schemes to deliver on these objectives,” he said.