"It's a box-ticking exercise for Minister Creed."

This was Joe Healy's sum-up of the beef forum, which is set to have its next meeting on Wednesday 3 October.

The executive council of the IFA along with the Livestock Committee decided yesterday that they would withdraw their support from the beef forum talks and instead protest outside.

"We have participated for four years now and its nothing only a talking shop," commented Healy.

Minister Creed has demonstrated his lack of action on low cost loans and continuously dismissed the need for a targeted support payment for the suckler sector

When asked how the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has received existing calls for a targeted support payment, Healy says the Minister response has been 900,000 suckler cows x €200/cow is €180m.

Listen to "Joe Healy on the IFA's decision to pull out of the beef forum talks" on Spreaker.

"Where will I get the money from? Well I want to tell the Minister something; if he doesn’t support the suckler sector and introduce new funds, he will be paying the same money out in social welfare cheques for all the people that will exit this industry."

Anger

Healy also spoke of mounting frustration among beef farmers on the ground.

"Farmer after farmer came into the IFA stand last week at the Ploughing Championships and told us their story about being angry and frustrated with the beef industry and how if things don’t improve they will sell their sucklers and do something else.

"Farmers are also extremely disappointed in the Ministers' performance. Minister Creed has demonstrated his lack of action on low cost loans and continuously dismissed the need for a targeted support payment for the suckler sector.

"Minister Creed now has a massive opportunity to redeem himself in the upcoming budget and support an industry that’s worth €3bn to the Irish economy."

The IFA are calling on all farmers to show solidarity and demonstrate their support for the protest outside Agriculture House next Wednesday 3 October at 10am.