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Southeast regional chair of the Beef Plan Movement Enda Fingleton said a golden opportunity has been missed for farmers to achieve a fair living for their work.
Fingleton said: “It doesn’t stack up. The Minister stated failure wasn’t an option. The talks have failed. How can we believe the so-called specs that are required by supermarkets? Why aren’t they providing data on taste, on quality, where’s the consumer feedback?”
The Beef Plan Movement said agreements and concessions reached after 36 hours of negotiations at beef talks were only a small step forward for the beef sector.
Dysfunctional model
Progress was made on individual points according to the group's national strategy committee, but the overall dysfunctional model remained. As a result farmers remained “in a vulnerable [position] and open to exploitation”.
Consumers are paying the same or more and farmers and paid considerably less
“The question about where the money has gone was not addressed. Consumers are paying the same or more and farmers and paid considerably less. Either processors or retailers are benefiting at farmers expense,” the committee said.
Beef Plan southwest regional chair Dermot O’Brien said the outcome of the talks had been less than favourable as “key control mechanisms in market specifications have not been abolished and/or amended sufficiently".
O’Brien said: “The Beef Plan Movement now calls on Minister Creed and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) to further examine anti-competitive practices and make the requested changes so that Irish beef producers can continue production and in turn contribute to the survivability of our beef industry.”
Agreements reached
Among the agreements were:
1. The need for a fully funded CAP and ensure the level of direct payments to Irish beef farmers was protected.
2. The development of a beef price index model by Bord Bia.
3. The need for an independent grocery regulator.
4. A review of price differentials on the grid by Teagasc in the short term and a full review in the longer term.
5. A reduction in the 70-day residency period to 60 days.
6. In-spec bonus to cover O- conformation and 4+ fat score for steers and heifers.
7. As requested in the Beef Plan's 13 points, an appeal system for manually graded carcases. The Beef Plan said it will continue to push for this to be extended to all factories.
8. Access for farmers to carcase images on request.
9. MII confirmed farmers can opt out at their own discretion of insurance charges.
10. Department to commission study of price composition along the supply chain.
11. Factories to provide weighing services for live animals at a nominal charge. The Beef Plan said it will push for this service to be made free to farmers.
12. The importance of live exports to the industry and a continued strategic focus on this area.
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