Drystock market unprofitable

SOME of the income statistics relating to the drystock sector in the Teagasc National Farm Survey are a wake-up call to policy makers, food processors and meat processing factories, Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president Malcolm Thompson warned yesterday.

The survey revealed that the market output for the drystock systems is not sufficient to cover production costs and that a major contribution of direct payments is needed to make up the shortfall.

Mr Thompson said there is an obvious structural deficiency in the systems employed by the sector.