The protest, likely to take place in the midlands, will be focused on targeting the processor and retailer links in the beef production chain.

It comes in response to farmer anger and frustration, given voice at Tuesday’s meeting, at over 10 months of falling prices. Farmer fury centred on continuous changes to processor specifications this spring and prices falling by 20% on last year’s levels, leading to heavy losses from beef finishing enterprises.

IFA President Eddie Downey highlighted a lack of action by Minister Simon Coveney since the recent Industry Beef summit as totally unacceptable. He said the Minister cannot stand by and continue to wave becoming involved in the current beef crisis. “Let’s be very clear, the Minister has not engaged enough. We cannot say that we have markets in Japan, markets in America that might evolve. We have markets in Northern Ireland and markets in the UK that are far more important and there is nothing being done about it. The Minister for Agriculture must stand up for farmers.”

Retailer power

In addressing the beef price differential between Irish and British prices, farmers were left concerned at Padraig Browne of Dunbia’s admission that retailers in the UK can set and change their required specifications with processors having little power to resist changes.

“If British retailers make a decision they are going to buy British beef, that’s their choice. Irish beef has always been accepted at lower prices. If you want to do business, you have to accept it. If you don’t, you can go elsewhere.”

Browne reported a similar situation in processors negotiating on retailer specifications. “British product is getting preference and they are selecting their own product first. Some of our plants are cutting on weight, some on age. Some of them are talking to us and one wants to go down to even 14 months for young bulls.

“One retailer has a strategy for 2020 that only wants under 24-month steers and heifers. The issue we have is if we don’t work with them, they’ll get someone else.”

On Wednesday, Meat Industry Ireland said: “Statements made last night were in the context of a reflection regarding the longer-term trend in the marketplace that animals are finished at younger ages. For the foreseeable future, there are no changes to specifications. MII is working on a comprehensive response to the Dowling recommendations to be issued soon.”

Bord Bia’s Joe Burke said that an additional 112,000 cattle represents a 12.5% increase in the kill so far this year. With higher carcase weights, this translates to a 15% increase in beef available for export. “The 15% extra beef represents the same amount of beef that Ireland exports to France and Germany. With 1.5% extra beef also around in the UK, and EU production also up, it’s hard to find a market for this.”

Burke said that finished cattle supplies are likely to stay strong until October/November, with a significant tightening thereafter (see page 33).

Farmers left the meeting with no long-term market security. A focus back to live exports and tightening cattle supplies as the best long-term prospect for finishers means talk of Food Harvest 2020 is fading fast.

Farmers heading into the autumn weanling and store sales need more than hope to invest heavily in winter finishing again this year.