More than 30 farmers have gathered at the gates of ABP in Cahir, Co Tipperary, to protest at the price they are receiving for their cattle.

They gathered at 6pm and say they are prepared to stay “indefinitely”.

The farmers in Cahir told the Irish Farmers Journal they are not connected to the previous Beef Plan Movement protest which ended at the Tipperary plant on Friday, 9 August. The ABP plant is one of a number of factories where protests began on Sunday.

“This is a completely new protest, in no way aligned with the previous protest,” one of the farmers said. He did not want to be named.

“We are independent farmers, we have no leader, we are not part of any organisation and we have no spokesman at the top to talk,” he said. “Who do they talk to now? The government and MII?”

The farmers say they are not happy with the outcome of the recent talks between farm organisations and Meat Industry Ireland.

Unhappy

“We are not happy with what happened in the last talks,” the Tipperary farmer said. “We want the 30-month, 24-month and 16-month age limits removed, as well as the 70-day residency and the four-movement rule.

“The under 30-month is only a very small market, only required by one retailer. There should be a bonus for under-30 month, it shouldn’t be a stick to beat us with,” he added.

“If an animal is born on a quality assured farm, it should stay quality assured through its lifetime.”

There should be a bonus for under-30 month, it shouldn’t be a stick to beat us with

The man added that beef imports into Ireland should be stopped.

“They should be taking it from Irish farmers first, not importing it. They’re only bringing it in to put pressure on volume in this country.”

Legal threat

The farmers also told the Irish Farmers Journal that they were not happy with the legal threat hanging over the Beef Plan Movement leaders from Meat Industry Ireland.

“That legal threat must be removed,” one man said, to nods and sounds of approval from those around him.

“They went to the talks, did what was asked, in good faith, left the protests to talk and nothing came out of it. But the threat of legal action stills hangs over them,” he said.

The talks, which ended in the early hours of last Wednesday morning, 21 August, were prompted by Beef Plan Movement protests at 22 factories.

Talks

Chaired by Michael Dowling, the talks included the Beef Plan, IFA, ICMSA, INHFA, ICSA, Macra and ICOS as well as Meat Industry Ireland representing meat processors.

“We are not happy with the Minister coming out saying that the talks ‘successfully concluded’. They did not,” he said.

Things will escalate a lot quicker this time

“Things will escalate a lot quicker this time,” he warned. “We are asking farmers to support farmers and keep cattle at home and join the picket.”

“The gardaí locally were notified,” he added. “Everyone here is briefed. It will be a peaceful protest and things will be done legally.”

Independent TD Mattie McGrath was present talking to farmers at the protest on Sunday night.

Lairage full

The protesters in Cahir told the Irish Farmers Journal that no cattle were delivered since they took to the gates around 6pm on Sunday evening.

However they believe that the factory had stocked up its lairage with cattle on Saturday and earlier on Sunday.

“It’s full in there, they knew the protests were starting up again,” claimed one farmer.

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