Beef and suckler farmers told to withdraw from quality scheme

The ICSA is calling upon beef and suckler farmers to withdraw from the Quality Assurance Scheme in response to the sector’s long-running price battle with meat factories.

ICSA suckler chairman Dermot Kelleher called upon all farmers attending yesterday’s protest outside ABP Bandon to sign up to the ICSA campaign, effectively expressing a lack of confidence in the authorities managing the beef sector.

“The beef crisis is showing no signs of abating, and no-one seems to be listening to farmers,” said Mr Kelleher. “There are people here today who are losing €200 to €300 an animal this year, and whose single farm payment is being swallowed up by these losses. Farmers are telling me that they are now seriously considering getting out of suckling.