Farmers protest against beef prices at factories nationwide
Members of the Irish Farmers Association, keep warm around a fire while holding a 24 hour protest outside Meadow Meats in Rathdowney in County Laoise
Irish beef farmers angry over being paid €350 less per head than their UK counterparts
Print28 October 2014
Farmers have gathered at 30 meat plants around the country from 3pm yesterday afternoon (Monday, 27 October) in support of the Irish Farmer Association’s (IFA) 24-hour beef price protest. IFA president Eddie Downey said farmers are very angry over the €350 per head cattle price gap that has now opened up with our main export market in the UK. “Beef farmers have had a very tough year, and with our main markets now recovering strongly they are not prepared to tolerate loss-making prices any longer,” he said.
Downey said nobody can explain to farmers why our beef prices are €350 behind those paid to farmers in our main UK market. In the last number of weeks, prices in the UK have increased by over €100 without any increase in Irish prices. Irish prices are now below the EU average, which he described as very unfair.
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.”
Downey added that 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 added that the most recent Teagasc National farm Income survey data shows that incomes on livestock farms are extremely low. Teagasc has confirmed that livestock farm incomes are down 13% to 22% last year, ranging from €9,469 to €15,595.
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