‘Half of county’s cattle to lose out under deal’

A LEADING Kerry farmer has claimed that half of all cattle produced in the county will lose out under decoupling.

John O’Leary, who farms 70 acres at Ballyhar, seven miles from Killarney, and another 130 rented acres, said this loss, together with the projected losses in the dairy sector, could rob Kerry farming of up to €24 million annually.

“The problem for Kerry farmers arises due to the pattern of farming where traditionally, calves and weanlings were produced and sold on to farmers for finishing in the eastern part of the country.

“Of the 75,000 male calves born annually in Kerry only 41,000 are retained and a direct premium paid on these cattle goes to Kerry farmers. Under decoupling, this payment will continue to be paid to Kerry farmers. However, the 34,000 young cattle sold off Kerry farms on which no premium is drawn down are causing a major problem. “Up to now these animals obtained a higher price in the market place to take account of future premium rights which will be paid to the farmer purchasing these animals.

“Under decoupling, this extra payment in the market place will no longer apply and the value of these animals will fall by at least 200 a head. This will cost Kerry farmers €7 million annually with a combined loss in beef and dairying for Kerry estimated at €24 million,” he said.

Mr O’Leary, chairman of the ICMSA beef and cattle committee, said many farmers in Cork, Limerick, Clare and along the west coast would suffer serious losses.

“You can’t be happy coming back to farmers with a worse deal than what they had,” he said.