2030 food strategy

Speaking at the launch of the Agri-Food Strategy to 2030, IFA president Joe Healy said any policy debate about the future of the sector has to be farmer-focused with measurable targets for profitability.

“Agriculture is our most successful indigenous sector and it’s built on the back of farmers. Yet beef, sheep and grain farmers in particular are in dire straits. If we don’t address income levels, there is a real risk that the raw materials needed to achieve the other targets will not be there.”

Retail event

UK Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon will address a conference organised by the IFA next month.

It is part of IFA’s campaign to bring greater transparency and fairness to farmers in the food chain.

The conference takes place in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dublin Airport on 5 November.

Retailers have a dominant position in the food chain and the IFA wants the Government to introduce a retail ombudsman who will have strong independent oversight and regulation of the sector.

Lamb price

IFA national sheep chair Sean Dennehy said the IFA has been in contact with senior management in Kepak Athleague over the imposition of unfair and unnecessary cuts on the grading of lambs and price penalties following the recent factory blockades. Dennehy said that the IFA has made it clear to Kepak that the new cuts of 50c/kg on fat class 5 lambs and heavier lambs is unacceptable and over the top.

“Many lamb suppliers were loyal to Kepak during the recent beef blockades and held their lambs until the factory re-opened.

“It’s totally unfair that these loyal suppliers are now facing severe penalties on heavier lambs, just because they held them for Kepak,” Dennehy said.