Beef group says contracts can work for half year

The legal option for Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to rule that all beef cattle be purchased by written contract has been invoked by Michael Dowling, chairman of the Beef Activation Group which has set the target for a 40% increase in the value of beef output.

Farmers and processors should work towards a much greater proportion of supply on a contractual basis, especially, but not only for the winter/spring period, Mr Dowling told this week’s beef roundtable.

He said there is little appetite in Ireland for the optional EU legislation to make contract purchasing mandatory, but recommended that contract supply become the dominant practice, in addition to the existing 30% or more of cattle purchased from January to May.