US beef opportunity offers relief to home market pressures
Mr Downey and IFA livestock chairman Henry Burns are part of a delegation currently visiting Washington DC, following the re-opening of the US market to Irish beef exports. He said Minister Coveney has indicated that the US market could take up to 20,000t of Irish beef in 2015, which he describes as “substantial”.
“The opening of the US market is a positive development and its significance will be judged by farmers securing improved beef prices from the marketplace in 2015,” said Mr Downey.
This week’s US trade mission offers timely relief to Irish beef farmers from their protracted negotiations with the meat factories and retailers in Ireland.
After last Friday’s latest Beef Forum, the IFA is still urging Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to take a tough line and insist that the outcomes agreed with meat factories last November are fully implemented.
Eddie Downey said progress has been made across a number of issues on specifications, and prices are moving in the right direction, but adds that there is a lot more work to be done.
Mr Downey the minister commitment that he would see the process through.
“Minister Coveney said he is determined the Forum outcomes will be implemented,” said Mr Downey.
The IFA is still seeking clarity of the following range of issues: movement on the age limit from 30 to 36 months; quality assurance; market price transparency; bull beef production; movement and residency issues; carcase trim; live exports; and contracts.
Henry Burns said: “The Beef Forum must deliver on full market price transparency, more competition and that the factories must fairly pass back market returns in cattle prices back to farmers.
“The age limit must be lifted from 30 to 36 months as set down in the forum. The Department must increase the level of checks on carcase trim in each meat plan as agreed at the Forum.”
Minister Coveney told the Forum that Bord Bia and the factories are making progress on the market price transparency index. He said that Bord Bia, Teagasc and ICBF are working on the age and weight issues.
It was agreed the Department of Agriculture will make changes to the AIMS database to clarify any confusion on counting the number of farm residencies.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said: “New markets like the US offer the best potential for growing sales of Irish beef beyond our traditional market outlets and adding value to our excellent product offering.
“This week is another step along the way in the US in taking advantage of our first mover advantage. We are also making progress in discussions with China. The work to strategically position Irish beef on international markets continues to be a priority of mine.”
