More EU and Government funding and supports will be needed for beef farmers who are in dire straits as the threat of a no-deal Brexit continues to increase, the IFA has said.
Speaking in the wake of the final details for the €100m beef fund, IFA president Joe Healy said while the scheme covered losses from September 2018 to May 2019, prices had deteriorated since then. He said base prices were now down by 45c/kg or €160/head.
Healy welcomed the fact that animals controlled by factories would be excluded but expressed concerns that the conditions put in place by Minister Creed could lead to an underspend.
Concerns
IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said: “The minister has said that the payment rate to farmers might be cut if the scheme is overspent. We want a commitment from the minister that if the money is underspent, that he will re-look at some of the limits and restrictions, or increase the payment rate.
“It would be a travesty if some this funding went unspent due to restrictions put in place by the minister.”
As the threat of a no-deal Brexit increased, Healy said farmers needed a clear roadmap from Brussels and Dublin as to how they would support the agricultural sector.
Supports
The IFA is calling on the Government and European Commission to:
SHARING OPTIONS