‘Dissatisfied farmers should insist on selling cattle off the grid option’

ALL farmers should insist on having the option to sell their cattle off the grid, according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

ICMSA Beef and Cattle Committee chairman Kevin Connolly said the vast majority of farmers are totally dissatisfied with the new grid system because they know they are losing money under the system.

The reality is that farmers do not know the price for their cattle when they leave their yard, which is simply unacceptable. In addition, meat plant agents are unable to tell the farmer with any accuracy what grid box his/her cattle are likely to fit into.