Mixed farmer responses to dairy and pig farm supports

Farmers have welcomed aid packages for dairy and pig farmers, but say the supports do not go far enough.

Changes to TB compensation packages will see the income supplement for dairy cows rise from €25.39 a month per cow to €55.

And pig farmers who slaughtered more than 200 pigs last year are to get up to €3,000 to offset market volatility.

ICMSA deputy president Pat McCormack welcomed the TB package changes, but said the scheme for dairy cows still fell short.

He criticised the cut to the depopulation grant for dairy. The EBI co-efficient is to be cut from €1.35 to €0.50.

Meanwhile, IFA pig sector chairman Pat O’Flaherty said: “Though IFA welcomes the [pig sector] payment, it is insufficient to address current cash flow problems.

"Pig farmers have been under huge financial strain in the past 12 months, with the average margin over feed for 2015 at 37c/kg.

"Teagasc estimates this figure needs to be 50c/kg in order to break even. More worryingly, the past five year average margin over feed figure is running at 44c/kg.”