Additional direct payments to support the suckler cow herd and sheep flocks, access to the BDGP scheme for all suckler farmers with greater flexibility on the six-year rule, reduced genotyping, accommodation of three-, four- and five-star animals and stocking rates have been identified as key priorities by the IFA national livestock committee chair Henry Burns and national sheep committee chair John Lynskey.

The men were addressing TDs at a lobbying day in Dublin. In money terms, the IFA wants €200 per cow and €20 per ewe.

The beef price gap with Britain, the threat to competition from the ABP Slaney acquisition and carcase specifications are also areas where IFA is holding a strong line with the minister and factories.

Beef price gap

On the beef price gap, Henry Burns is calling on the minister to be more supportive of the live export trade and to secure uninhibited access to our nearest and highest-priced market in Northern Ireland and Britain.

A resolution to EU labelling issues has also been called for.

Competition

Burns said that the Government should make a submission to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CPCC) through the Minister for Agriculture on the importance of guaranteeing competition in processing and rendering for farmers.

This issues is of equal concern to the sheep sector, according to John Lynskey, with ICM currently having up to 40% of the lamb kill at its two plants in Camolin, Co Wexford and Navan, Co Meath.

IFA sheep Chairman John Lynskey had this to say about the day: “We had a great session, with very good engagement. We had our management committee with us and a whole range of TD’s showed up, the premises was hardly big enough.”