Farmers enticed to join beef scheme

A NATIONAL campaign has been launched by Bord Bia to entice more farmers to join its quality beef assurance scheme.

Participation in the scheme is seen as a vital tool in the promotion of the €2.5 billion beef industry.

The Government has approved a special €1.9 million allocation to fund the expansion of the scheme during this year.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan outlined the support when she endorsed the campaign at Agriculture and Food 06, a major Teagasc event at Kildalton College in Co Kilkenny yesterday.

The message directed at the country’s 100,000 livestock farmers was that the scheme was hugely important to the industry.

Ms Coughlan said quality assurance schemes that are independently verified by third parties are central for market edge and continued consumer confidence into the future.

Welcoming the Government’s support, Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said the scheme was the cornerstone to maintaining and expanding Ireland’s share of the higher price beef export markets.

“Quality assurance is an absolute prerequisite in supplying leading retail, food service and manufacturing outlets.

“Competition for prime outlets in Britain and continental Europe continues to intensify and quality assurance schemes are being operated by most of our competitors,” he said.

Mr Cotter acknowledged the full support of the major farming organisations and Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the body that represents meat processors and exporters.