ICSA: Factory price cuts hit sheep farmers hard

Sheep farmers claimed yesterday heir livelihoods are under threat because of price cuts being imposed by processors.

The Irish Farmers Association accused factories of plunging the sector into an income crisis while the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association protested at Irish Country Meats (ICM), Camolin, Co Wexford.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed will be strongly urged by the IFA at a meeting today to challenge the factories on their price-cutting agenda.

Michael Creed

IFA Sheep Committee chairman Sean Dennehy said members are also to meet with a number of the major lamb factories this week to highlight the impact of the excessive price cuts on farm incomes.

He said the IFA has also contacted Bord Bia demanding that promotional programmes be brought forward to take account of the fact that spring lambs are coming to market a lot earlier this year.

ICSA sheep committee chairman Sean McNamara, speaking at the Camolin protest, said there is no way sheep farmers can bear the price cuts.

Our produce has been rendered virtually worthless; we might as well be giving it away for free

- he said.

Mr McNamara added that the price cuts have to be reversed for the sector to have any chance of surviving.