Price was “the elephant in the room” at the beef talks, which concluded in the early hours of Wednesday morning, IFA president Joe Healy has said.

The talks took place on the precondition that price would not be discussed and Healy said farmers will be disappointed that there was no increase on the main issue. He said EU and Government support was urgently required for beef farmers in the middle of a severe income crisis.

With 71 days left to the next Brexit deadline, Healy said: “IFA made it very clear to Minister Creed [that] additional EU and Government Brexit supports and direct aid for farmers are urgently required."

On imports, Healy said: “It should be ensured that imports which do not meet the same stringent standards as EU producers are banned.”

Agreed points

The IFA said it secured a strong position for additional funding for targeted direct support for suckler cows.

Other points agreed were:

  • Bord Bia will develop a beef market price index model.
  • An independent grocery regulator is required.
  • Teagasc will review the price differentials on the grid in the short term and undertake a full review in the longer term.
  • On in-spec criteria, the industry committed to reducing the residency period from 70 to 60 days on the last farm.
  • The bonus will cover O- conformation and 4+ fat scores for steers and heifers.
  • There will be an appeals system for manually graded carcases and the IFA has said it will seek an appeals system for all meat plants.
  • Farmers will be supplied with carcase images on request.
  • Farmers can opt out of insurance charges.
  • The Department will commission a study of price composition along the supply chain.
  • Factories will provide a weighing services to farmers and farmers may be charged nominal fees.

    • Read more

    Beef talks end with payment changes for 200,000 cattle

    Agreement reached in beef talks a step forward, say factories