With some protesters continuing to defy court injunctions some processors sought to obtain attachment and committal orders that could lead to farmers involved in protest action being arrested.

Talks aimed at resolving the impasse between farmers and beef producers were continuing late last night.

THE €100m Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) will open for applications on Monday and close on September 8.

Fianna Fail's Agriculture Spokesperson says the crisis affecting the sector is continuing to worsen as beef prices continue to fall.

A €100m fund for beef farmers experiencing difficulties as a result of Brexit has been dismissed as inadequate by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).

A simplification of some of the requirements of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, in relation to the eligibility of stock bulls, has been welcomed by the Irish Farmers’ Association.

Farmers and Government authorities are collectively pushing the EU Council to take time to fully analyse the implications for agri-food producers before ratifying any Mercosur deal.

Livestock farmers countrywide will discuss the €100 million Brexit beef fund at a series of eight regional meetings starting Tuesday.

The €100 milion Brexit beef package must be targeted to those who need it most – the farmers who have incurred beef price losses.

Beef farmers need clarity on how much compensation they are to receive from Government and the EU to soften Brexit-related beef price cuts incurred since last autumn, said IFA livestock chair Angus Woods.

The threat of EU trade agreements harming Ireland’s main farming sectors has doubled, with negotiations with New Zealand moving forward rapidly.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has said the imposition of tariffs as outlined by UK proposals in a no-deal Brexit would put Irish farmers in a “vulnerable position”, threatening the Irish beef sector and seriously damaging the country’s agri-food exports.

EU farmers opposed this week’s EU move to raise an offer on beef imports to 99,000 tonnes at low import tax rates, in trade talks with the Mercosur trade bloc.

THE beef and livestock sector is the very heartbeat of rural Ireland and must be defended and secured in the face of major challenges.

IFA Livestock Chairman Angus Woods led an IFA delegation which recently brought serious allegations against beef processors to senior officials in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

Cattle prices from €4 to €4.50/kg and mid-season lamb prices of €5 to €6.00/kg are essential to cover the cost of production on the most efficient farms, says IFA president Joe Healy.

With three out of every four sheep and suckler farmers earning less than minimum wage, the sector urgently needs EU relief, greater access to live exports and a review of the retail price, says ICSA president Patrick Kent.

Meat factories are unfairly pulling beef price quotes on the back of the referendum result, even though they are hedged against currency volatility, said IFA livestock chairman Angus Woods.

Cattle prices need to rise for winter finishers to avoid further losses and secure a margin on some cattle sold out of the sheds this spring, said IFA livestock chairman Angus Woods.