Coveney appeals for engagement on issues confronting beef sector
He issued his appeal after meeting with the Irish Farmers’ Association about its concerns in relation to the strict application of market specifications, which is impacting on the price farmers are receiving for heavier cattle.
Mr Coveney acknowledged that beef farmers had legitimate concerns. The impact of price penalties for heavier animals was felt, most acutely, by some of the most commercial beef farmers who bred stock for high feed conversion efficiency.
“Processors need to keep efficient beef specialists in this vital export industry, and every effort should be made to ensure that this sector is developed and nurtured.
“It is acknowledged that specifications in our most lucrative markets include a weight component, and this is something that cannot be ignored.
“There is an immediacy to the pressure on beef farmers at present, however, and farmers in any sector need time to adjust to changed market circumstances.
“Farmers and processors now need to step up their engagement on these complex issues.
“In the meantime I think it would certainly be helpful if the industry showed as much flexibility as possible on weight specification in the short term.
“This would allow a window for the kind of constructive engagement between the parties on both immediate and strategic issues that is essential if the sector is to develop to its potential”, said the minister.
Mr Coveney confirmed his intention to continue his engagement with all stakeholders in the sector.
As part of an ongoing response to both immediate and strategic issues, the minister had already convened a forum involving all stakeholders in April and June, which identified a number of issues that needed to be addressed.
IFA president Eddie Downey said he had made it very clear that livestock farmers were angry and frustrated over the way their incomes had been cut this year by price and specification cuts.
“The minister said he fully understands the anger of livestock farmers over what has happened in the beef sector and he is working hard to bring forward solutions,” he said.
Mr Downey said the minister outlined that he would get directly involved and play a central role in discussions between factories and farmers to resolve the problems.
The IFA leader reported that Mr Coveney said he expected the processing industry to respond positively to the key issues around the Quality Payment System and specifications to suit the Irish beef sector.
Mr Downey said the IFA, which is due to meet with the minister and his department again next week, is demanding urgent progress in the process which must deliver real results for livestock farmers.
He said the minister was clear that beef markets were strengthening and prices in the UK and across the EU were recovering.
IFA national livestock chairman Henry Burns said the minister had to remove the roadblocks impeding the live export trade to our nearest market in the North.
