Livestock scheme splits farm leaders

LEADERS of the country’s two largest farming organisations have clashed over a proposed livestock scheme.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said the strong commitment by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to the proposed suckler cow herd scheme should be welcomed by all involved in Irish farming.

But the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has warned that it would not permit discrimination against the country’s 23,000 dairy herd owners in any new livestock scheme.

The ICMSA said it would expect all the farming organisations to press the minister for a scheme that did not exclude dairy farmers, already reeling from milk price pressures.

But IFA Livestock Committee chairman John Bryan said the scheme is a vital initiative to support the 65,000 farmers with suckler cows who are the backbone of quality beef production in Ireland.

“The successful implementation of this proposal will be the deciding factor for many suckler farmers to continue production of top quality beef cattle,” he said.

Mr Bryan said an IFA proposal to the minister would mean a payment of €100 per suckler cow per year for all participating farmers.

Yet ICMSA leader Jackie Cahill said he is concerned Ms Coughlan will exclude many dairy herds.

John O’Leary, ICMSA deputy president, said the new scheme must be open to beef and dairy farmers. The ICMSA will demand in partnership negotiations the scheme be made available to all 90,000 cattle-breeding herds.