Coveney ‘must assert his authority with meat factories over price cuts’

As the crisis in the beef sector continues, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has increased pressure on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney ahead of his meeting today with meat-processing factories.

IFA national livestock committee chairman Henry Burns said the minister must assert his authority with the factories and demand that they respect their agreement with farmers on the price grid under the quality payment system.

“The minister must insist that the factories remove the unfair specifications cuts on dual pricing, weights, age and breeds that were never part of the quality payment system,” he said.

Mr Burns said Mr Coveney made it clear when he met the IFA last week that he will get directly involved and play a central role in discussions between factories and farmers to resolve the current problems.

He said the minister told the IFA he expects the processing industry to respond positively to the key issues around the quality payment system and specifications to suit the Irish beef sector.

Mr Burns said contracts from the factories at viable price levels are essential and especially for the higher-cost winter-finishing and bull-beef systems.

“Farmers need to see some progress from all of the work done in opening up markets. There has to be a real benefit in terms of beef prices from opening up Japan and other markets. In addition, we need to see delivery on the US market,” he said.

Mr Burns said livestock farmers are determined to intensify their campaign against the price and specification cuts imposed by retailers and factories.

He again warned all of the major retailers and factories that the anger and frustration of farmers is at boiling point and the unjustified price and specification cuts, which are severely damaging farmers and the Irish beef sector, must be reversed.

lThe next IFA regional livestock meeting takes place in Tully’s Hotel, Castlerea, Co Roscommon at 8.30pm on Thursday.