Joe Healy slams ‘dysfunctional’ beef grid
He said the grid, in current form, was “stacked in the factories’ favour” and had lost farmer support.
He called for a return to a single base price for all stock as a first step to restoring farmer confidence in the system.
“The beef grid is totally dysfunctional because the factories are picking and choosing the qualifying criteria on age, weight, and breed,” Mr Healy said.
“It’s like trying to hit ‘goalposts on wheels’ as far as farmers are concerned, because the beef factories keep changing the grid specifications.”
Mr Healy said farmers have been adaptable in producing animals for different market requirements, but the grid needs consistency if credibility is to be restored.
