Last straw for pig farmers?

WITHOUT help, Ireland’s pig industry could join sheep farming on the slippery slope towards extinction.

In both cases, production by farmers of the raw material is threatened to the point where the critical mass required to sustain slaughter plants, feed manufacturing, and service providers may eventually not be achieved.

Talks next Tuesday between Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith and the farm organisations were expected to result in aid for sheep farmers, with Mr Smith envisaging help for the sector from up to €24 million per year of newly free-up EU funding.