Pig producers in survival plan talks

PIG producers will meet in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, tonight to discuss a survival strategy for their industry which they warn is at serious risk because of high grain prices.

They also claim the failure by EU agriculture ministers last week to approve three genetically modified maizes for use in member states ensures high animal feed prices will continue.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said Irish pig production is facing wipe-out, with producers losing at least €15 on every pig sold.

He accused the Government of hypocrisy in failing to support a EU proposal to accept scientifically approved maize and corn gluten for circulation in member states.

However, the Food and Horticulture Minister Trevor Sargent said his objective was to help farmers by promoting Irish produce as being of the highest quality, while keeping costs as low as possible. He accepted in a statement the reality that two-thirds of raw materials used in Irish compound feed is imported from outside the EU and that 95% of these products come from EU authorised GM crops.

“The decision by Ireland to abstain on the recent EU Council vote on GM animal feeds is in line with France and Italy, which also abstained. France and Italy are huge buyers of Irish produce. Had Ireland voted ‘yes’ it would not have affected the outcome.”