There has been no kneejerk reaction from marts, co-ops and other processors following the move to an opt-in levy payment system by ABP last Wednesday. The levy issue was simmering prior to the IFA pay scandal in November last year and mart managers concede that altogether there is an estimated drop-off of up to 50% in levy collection.
“I would say 25% to 30% have dropped off since November and I would say that there probably would have been 10% to 15% who dropped off before that,” said Carnew Mart manager David Quinn, adding that he will continue to collect the EIF levy as normal.
“Going back to last November or December, when the trouble came, I felt that perhaps the IFA would have to take a look at the whole system and I suppose that this is probably going to concentrate the minds again.”
Similarly in Tuam, mart manager Marian Devane has witnessed a drop-off but said that “farmers need somebody to fight in their corner. Farmers need the IFA so they will have to fund it some other way, like increasing the yearly fee.”
On the processing side, Dawn Meats said it “has no plans to change existing levy collection arrangements unless asked to do so by farmers or the farm organisations”.
Other large processors including dairy co-ops and grain merchants declined to comment on ABP’s decision.
The ICSA does not receive funding from levies but has called for a review to examine the justification, fairness and value for money across them.
“Why should farmers pay for marketing a product that they do not own?” ICSA president Paddy Kent asked, referring to the Bord Bia levy.
“No other industry operates on this basis, so how come we are stuck with these bills?”
In a poll of 300 people on farmersjournal.ie, 65% said that they would not opt to pay the EIF levy.
Read more
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Levies back under scrutiny two months after June approval of status quo
Levy collectors must stand over their accounts - Bergin
Levies back under scrutiny two months after June approval of status quo
Ongoing dispute sparks big reaction from farmers
Larry and the levies: the IFA responds
Don't reply to Larry's letter - Healy
Larry Goodman and the IFA - a history
The governance of all farm organisations
Editorial: ABP must now deliver full transparency
There has been no kneejerk reaction from marts, co-ops and other processors following the move to an opt-in levy payment system by ABP last Wednesday. The levy issue was simmering prior to the IFA pay scandal in November last year and mart managers concede that altogether there is an estimated drop-off of up to 50% in levy collection.
“I would say 25% to 30% have dropped off since November and I would say that there probably would have been 10% to 15% who dropped off before that,” said Carnew Mart manager David Quinn, adding that he will continue to collect the EIF levy as normal.
“Going back to last November or December, when the trouble came, I felt that perhaps the IFA would have to take a look at the whole system and I suppose that this is probably going to concentrate the minds again.”
Similarly in Tuam, mart manager Marian Devane has witnessed a drop-off but said that “farmers need somebody to fight in their corner. Farmers need the IFA so they will have to fund it some other way, like increasing the yearly fee.”
On the processing side, Dawn Meats said it “has no plans to change existing levy collection arrangements unless asked to do so by farmers or the farm organisations”.
Other large processors including dairy co-ops and grain merchants declined to comment on ABP’s decision.
The ICSA does not receive funding from levies but has called for a review to examine the justification, fairness and value for money across them.
“Why should farmers pay for marketing a product that they do not own?” ICSA president Paddy Kent asked, referring to the Bord Bia levy.
“No other industry operates on this basis, so how come we are stuck with these bills?”
In a poll of 300 people on farmersjournal.ie, 65% said that they would not opt to pay the EIF levy.
Read more
Analysis: €50m in levies taken from farmers
Levies back under scrutiny two months after June approval of status quo
Levy collectors must stand over their accounts - Bergin
Levies back under scrutiny two months after June approval of status quo
Ongoing dispute sparks big reaction from farmers
Larry and the levies: the IFA responds
Don't reply to Larry's letter - Healy
Larry Goodman and the IFA - a history
The governance of all farm organisations
Editorial: ABP must now deliver full transparency
SHARING OPTIONS