ICMSA calls for beef sector help

A PACKAGE of measures to restore confidence to the Irish beef sector and chart a positive future for livestock farmers is being sought by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

Martin McMahon, the Association’s new beef and cattle committee chairman, said it was time for a round-table strategy meeting that would allow every stakeholder in the industry to jointly plan for the future.

Full decoupling had been in place for over a year and, with the negative impact of the nitrates directive becoming obvious, beef producers of both the suckler and finishers categories were now re-assessing their priorities with many looking at scaling back.