Thursday’s beef forum, called by Minster Creed takes place against a backdrop of prices last seen in the autumn of 2014. Irish farmers have carried the full cost of the devaluation of sterling since June and have had to look on as UK counterparts enjoyed week-on-week increases in farmgate prices since May, with the gap that had closed to 10c/kg at the start of May opened to 45c/kg by last week.

In addition, UK retail beef prices have fallen over the summer, driven by supermarket promotions, which are a significant outlet for Irish retail beef sales. The IFA, in recent weeks, has been calling on factories to toughen up in their negotiations with UK customers, and pass on the costs of sterling weakening.

IFA president Joe Healy said the forum must address the income crisis situation for livestock farmers and set out a strategy for the sector on viable cattle prices.

Resolution of the beef labelling issue, which discourages cattle sales to the north and prevents them going to Britain, €200 direct support per cow and permanent trim supervision in factories are the other IFA priorities.

ICSA beef chair Edmond Phelan also said price would be the priority point of discussion. “You can blame Brexit and the fall in the sterling exchange rate, but primary producers cannot carry the cost on their own,” he said.

Between extra births and falling live exports, he expects up to 200,000 extra cattle to come to slaughter next year. “I’ll be asking the minister for a dedicated division within Bord Bia to deal with live exports,” Phelan said.

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What farming organisations expect from the beef forum