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An immediate price increase for cattle is the first test of the Beef Market Taskforce, according to IFA’s livestock committee chair, Angus Woods. Referring to the taskforce talks that were held on Tuesday, he said: “Positive words need to translate into something that everyone understands, and that is a significant increase in the price of cattle at factories.”
Unless there is a significant price increase in the coming days, the beef taskforce will be seen to fall at the first hurdle
He acknowledged that the positive discussion, particularly from Meat Industry Ireland (MII) should be reflected in immediate price increases for factory sold cattle.
“This will help stock to move in our domestic market and support farm incomes in the livestock sector which have been on the floor for too long,” he said.
“Unless there is a significant price increase in the coming days, the beef taskforce will be seen to fall at the first hurdle. This will undermine the confidence of livestock farmers in its work and prolong the unacceptable income crisis that livestock farmers have been struggling under for too long.”
The first beef taskforce meeting took place yesterday, Tuesday 3 December, after the first meeting in October was cancelled following protests outside the Department of Agriculture.
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