The support package offered to sheep farmers in next week’s budget will be a clear indication of Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and the Government’s support for the sector, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has said.

IFA sheep chair Adrian Gallagher said the ball is firmly at the foot of the Minister for Agriculture to show leadership and a willingness to stop the collapse of the sheep sector in Ireland.

Gallagher said, to date this year, throughput in sheep-processing plants is back over 350,000 head, following a drop of over 360,000 last year.

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Over the past two years, that’s a reduction of 700,000 sheep processed.

'Startling'

“The figures are startling and there for all to see. Unless there is significant long-term direct support for farmers lambing ewes, we risk losing the second-largest farm sector in the country,” he said.

The sheep chair added that Minister Heydon must build on the €22m package provided for this year’s Sheep Welfare Scheme. This, combined with the CAP Sheep Improvement Scheme, allocated a payment of €25/ewe to sheep farmers.

This must be built on to bring payments to a minimum of €30/ewe and €40/ewe for hill farmers, he said.

Gallagher stated that it is a critical point in time for the sector. If we continue to lose numbers at the rate of the last two years, he added, we will not have a competitive processing sector or be able to retain key blue-chip customers for those who remain.

“The Minister and his Government colleagues must come forward with a long-term strategy for the sector, starting with firm funding commitments in the upcoming budget for targeted sheep supports for next year of a minimum of €30/ewe,” he said.