IFA plan could add up to €450m in extra profit for livestock farmers

THE IFA has identified €450 million in additional profit potential for livestock farmers.

The group’s profit plan has now been submitted to the Food Harvest 2020 Beef Implementation committee.

IFA president John Bryan said: “We have proposed 54 action points and recommendations on beef and livestock for implementation by the Food Harvest committee.

“Profitability at farm level is essential for the beef and livestock sector to achieve the 20% increase in output value targeted in the Food Harvest 2020 report. It correctly identified the closing of the price differential between Ireland and other premium competitors in the UK and EU as the key challenge facing the beef sector.”

The plan’s main points include:

* Processors must close the price gap between Irish and British/EU cattle prices;

* Increased price competition via market access and live export opportunities;

* Cattle price contracts at profitable levels for winter finishers;

* Properly rewarding farmers for quality production;

* An Bord Bia to deliver the Brand Ireland concept;

* A strong government beef and livestock policy securing all direct payments;

* Strong defence of Irish beef in Mercosur talks and on EU import standards;

* Growing Ireland’s one million-head beef suckler cow herd;

* An effective Teagasc programme and ICBF beef breeding strategy;

* Reducing excessive regulation, bureaucracy and costs on production.

Mr Bryan said beef and livestock is Ireland’s largest farming sector, with an output value of almost €2 billion and employing 150,000 people. It includes beef exports of 500,000 tonnes and live cattle exports of more than 300,000 head.

“Given the importance of the beef and livestock sector to the Irish economy, profit and growth at farm level are essential to Ireland’s economic recovery, maintaining jobs and exports.”