LIVESTOCK farmers and meat processors clashed yesterday over cattle prices.

A FARM adviser who has devoted a lifetime to working with farmers in the county was glowing in his tributes to the talent and co-operation of sheep producers he worked with when they honoured him on his retirement.

Marts: The timing and outcome of inspection of beef-producing farms in Brazil by the EU Food and Veterinary Organisation holds one of the critical keys to the impact of the ban on delivering higher returns to producers in this country.

IFA National Livestock Committee Chairman John Bryan has welcomed the view expressed by Professor Patrick Wall, the Chairman of the European Food Safety Authority, that “concerns raised by the IFA about imports of Brazilian beef into the EU are reasonable as similar standards must apply for EU and non-EU producers if consumers’ health is to be adequately protected”.

PENALTIES of more than €1,000 have been imposed on a number of farmers due to stocking rate discrepancies uncovered in on-farm inspections by Department of Agriculture officials.

FARMERS have questioned the cost of nearly four million BSE tests carried out in Ireland since 2001.

LIMERICK IFA has asked the association’s National Council to investigate the insurance levy collected on all livestock slaughtered at meat plants.

IFA National Livestock Committee chairman Derek Deane has warned the Department of Agriculture that it must immediately pay out all outstanding suckler cow and slaughter premium payments owed to farmers regardless of their special beef premium application.

THE Irish beef industry, which recorded exports valued €1.19bn last year, could benefit substantially from new technology being developed at the Teagasc National Food Centre.

The Irish Farmers Association has alleged certain beef imports into Ireland are being passed of as Irish.

Meat factories, which have imported cheap German beef in recent weeks have come under fire from the Irish Farmers Association.