IFA expresses frustration at export cattle prices

Farmers are very frustrated that cattle prices have not moved on to reflect higher returns from the country’s main export market in Britain and the strength of sterling, the Irish Farmers Association has claimed.

Livestock Committee chairman Henry Burns said there is real potential for Irish cattle prices to rise but the gap that has opened up is unsustainable.

He called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to immediately intervene through the Beef Forum to deal with the threats on farmers from factories on key issues around weights and specifications.