The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has outlined the compromise proposals it has made to Minister Creed to help resolve the beef crisis. The proposal centres on the payment of the 12c bonus for in-spec animals.

Currently, in order for a farmer to receive the bonus, they have to comply with four key conditions:

  • Farmer must be a member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme.
  • Animal slaughtered must have been on the farm for the previous 60 days. This has been reduced from 70 days as agreed at the Backweston beef talks.
  • Must not exceed four farm movements.
  • Must be under 30 months.

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    Compromise

    INHFA president Colm O’Donnell feels the requirement to comply with all four conditions is “onerous on farmers, but it does also provide for an obvious solution".

    "Through making a bonus payment of 3c/kg on each condition, a 31-month-old animal would still receive a 9c bonus if the other three conditions are met.

    “This can deliver a fair compromise and we are now asking Minister Creed to immediately reconvene talks with a view to getting this agreed.”

    The INHFA president compared his proposal to a precedent that already exists in the organic sector.

    Where organic beef animals remain in-spec up to 36 months, they are eligible for a bonus, which “totally undermines MII’s argument in relation to the 30-month rule,” according to O'Donnell.

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