Processors should 'stop trying the tricks' and work with farmers on prices — ICMSA
ICMSA says factories should work with farmers to provide fair prices.
Factories announcing downward price pressure on beef prices have met pushback from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), declaring it “a fairy story.”
“We are fed up of calling it out. Processors need to stop trying the tricks and instead build relationships with farmers,” said ICMSA livestock chairperson Michael O’Connell.
Mr O’Connell said there was no basis for these downward price pressure reports, considering the current opportunities across the UK and EU for Irish beef.
He said the impending “downward pressure” is the follow-up "spin" to the factories' previous attempt to talk down price when they were warning of an imminent "correction". Which ICMSA called “utterly baseless” and “without any real credibility.”
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“Over the past month, we have seen the price of the Irish O3 and R3 steer increase by 20c/kg respectively, as well as a notable shift to bigger kill plans to correspond with the increased appetite for prime cattle that has emerged over the past five to six weeks,” Mr O’Connell said.
He said there was an “obvious direct line from the ban on imported beef into the EU to the significantly increased throughput and price” .
He highlighted the ICMSA had already called for an "all industry" approach to capitalise on the opportunities across the EU and UK, and that UK markets seemed “quite anxious” for Irish beef between now and Christmas, with volumes expected to increase.
“UK imports for Q4 of 2026 are anticipated to grow by 3%, which is even more encouraging if you consider the micro-management that the factories have tried to exercise on Irish kill volumes over the last six months.
"We know that instructions have gone out to agents and procurement staff to focus on the prime cattle throughput — and that’s a surefire indication of the strong demand for Irish beef,” Mr O’Connell said.
Mr O’Connell revealed the activity of several factories "ringside", where he observed they are paying significantly more than they would be paying farmers to send the cattle in.
He said factories quoted and paid base prices of between €6.60-6.70c/kg, and even up to €6.80c/kg for steers for the last fortnight.
However, Mr O’Connell said average prices paid ringside for R3 and P3 steers were €7.04c/kg and €6.69c/kg, respectively.
Mr O’Connell said despite the factories “huffing and puffing,” with increased costs for feed, fertiliser, and other variables, factories should not expect farmers and finishers “to fill sheds again paying current prices”.
“If they [the factories] don’t get out there and offer farmers the kind of prices that will convince them to finish cattle over this winter 2026/2027, there won’t be any cattle next spring. Once bitten, twice shy,” Mr O'Connell said.
