IFA in talks to ease pig industry ‘crisis’

THE Irish Farmers Association has put forward three specific proposals to Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to tackle what it termed the serious crisis that pig producers are now experiencing.

It has sought a Government decision to press the European Commission to approve maize, gluten and soya bean imports from the US, a direct cash injection to Bord Bia for an extensive promotion campaign to lift consumption levels and measures to encourage the use of pig manure on REPS and tillage farms.

The IFA said the minister indicated her concern for the survival of the pig industry and undertook to come up with an early response.