Stephen Cadogan: TTIP yet another worrying ‘last straw’ for beef farmers

Cattle farmers looking for higher prices at the beef factories have often welcomed a step forward, only to find there were two steps back in the following weeks.

Now, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and other industry leaders could be forgiven for frustration at the stop-go fortunes of the industry.

They need to get out front and spell out how the Irish beef industry can proceed, in harmony with two overwhelming processes which threaten to steam-roller cattle farming.