Sheep farmers prepare for price protests
IFA leaders are to meet with factory representatives in Dublin today.
Meat Industry Ireland, spokesman Cormac Healy said it is essential that discussions are based on fact and that everyone involved in the lamb sector has a clear understanding of what is happening. Misinformation only fuels mistrust, he said.
IFA Sheep Committee chairman Laurence Fallon said producers are determined to continue the battle for higher lamb prices, which are justified by market returns.
Meanwhile, the IFA claimed that red tape is currently preventing the live export of lambs to higher-priced markets in Britain and France and must be removed.
It also called on Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to review the concession on northern lamb imports.
The IFA is also proposing a mandatory price reporting system for lamb across all the factories to provide transparency on prices and remove what it termed as the propaganda peddled by factories and agents to drive down prices each week.
However, the factories insist that the returns from the French market, which sets the overall tone of the trade, are under serious pressure and that they can only pay a price that reflects market reality.
Meanwhile, the ICSA has again called on the minister to establish a meat forum, to facilitate co-operation between farmers and processors.
