Sheep farmers ‘need support package’

A MAJOR package of support measures is needed for sheep farmers, the IFA told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture yesterday.

It said this must include an incentive payment for producers to implement the Malone Report on the industry, which is worth €400 million to the economy.

IFA president Padraig Walsh said his group’s proposals included a demand for a payment equivalent to €15 per ewe for the sector.

IFA sheep committee chairman Henry Burns said Teagasc figures show producers make a net loss per ewe of €2 before the single farm payment.