Farmers protest at price cuts

AN estimated 800 livestock farmers who protested outside a County Roscommon meat plant yesterday claimed that cattle price cuts by factories will force them out of business.

Meat Industry Ireland warned, however, that any disruption to normal processing activity at beef factories or interference with the orderly marketing of finished cattle will be harmful to the overall beef trade.

It said that protests by beef farmers, supported by the IFA, are misguided and ill-advised. Cattle price is a matter for negotiation between the individual farmer and factory.

Farmers from various parts of the country, who took part in the protest outside the Kepak meat processing plant in Athleague, accused the company of leading the downward drive on prices. Kepak explained, however, that beef prices had been running at between 12% and 15% higher than last year but had weakened rapidly in recent weeks because of a variety of market related pressures.

IFA deputy president Ruaidhrí Deasy claimed the cuts were unjustified and warned that under the new decoupling policy from next January unviable prices will lead farmers to cut cattle production, which in turn will wipe out factory business.

“The factories had cut prices by 22c/kg (8p/lb) or €73 a head over the last six weeks without any reduction in market returns. Farmers cannot make a reasonable income from beef cattle at these prices.

“The cuts must stop. Otherwise they will destabilise the British beef market.”