The prospect of no-deal Brexit before the end of March is alarming for all farmers, IFA president Joe Healy has said. He called on the Minister for Agriculture and An Taoiseach to come forward with a comprehensive programme of supports that will address the real issues around market supports and cattle prices.

“The problems with currency volatility and the euro and sterling exchange rate has already hit cattle prices. We are down 20c/kg or over €70 per head on this time last year, when prices had already been hit,” Healy said. “If the UK crashes out in March, we are facing a far more serious situation and the potential wipe-out of beef production in this country.”

In an interview in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, Minister Creed said he believes the European Commission will step in to help Ireland in the event of a hard Brexit. He said Brussels is aware of the impact 280,000t of Irish beef looking for a home outside of the UK would have on the European market.

Furthermore, Minister Creed has said he intends to make Irish aid a key agenda item when the EU farm council meets in Luxembourg in early April, after the Brexit deadline.

But “bolting the door after the horse is gone is too late for farmers”, Healy said. “We need a support plan in place long before then. The situation is now urgent.

“The minister has finally acknowledged that farmers are ‘losing their shirts’ at current prices. He needs to get on the pitch now and set out what exactly he will be seeking for Irish farmers. It is also imperative that whatever package is introduced will support farmers and that we don’t end up with aid going to factories rather than to farmers,” he said.

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'A hard Brexit is not a pretty picture' – Creed

No details of contingency plan for farmers