The Midlands and Western Charolais Club is organising a beef and suckler event for Friday 12 February in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, at 8pm.

The event themed ‘‘Keeping Farmers Farming’’ aims to address challenges facing the industry such as the low profitability of enterprises and static farm-gate prices.

Topics include live export performance, their prospects for 2016 and issues facing the sector, presented by Darren Carty, Irish Farmers Journal livestock specialist.

IFA national livestock chair Henry Burns will give an update on current market performance, while Kepak Group procurement manager Jonathan Forbes will outline its purchasing policy. Suckler and beef farmer Joe Gilfillan will discuss challenges facing his 200-head suckler/beef enterprise, while Justin McCarthy, Irish Farmers Journal editor will discuss what changes need to happen to make suckling and beef enterprises profitable.