“Explain the advantages of having two groups. Is that not going to encourage a split?”
This was the final question at a Beef Plan Movement meeting in Dunmanway during the week. It is something farmers have been wondering about since the emergence of two producer organisations from the group.
In response, southwest chair Dermot O’Brien said: “It wasn’t causing a difficulty for Beef Plan. It gives people the opportunity to select whatever PO they want to join. It’s important to give people a choice. In France they have 700 producer organisations and they can work together under a title called an ABO.”
We have to develop a relationship with meat factories because we’re going to have to work with them
The Kerryman also said the Beef Plan Movement is the first organisation to start producer organisations despite legislation being in place since 2016.
There was a big turnout at the meeting.
Speaking to a full house of over 200 farmers, the organisation’s co-chair Eamon Corley said: “There should be no conflict between the POs. They’re both designed to do the same job. I think there should be a lot more.”
Producer organisations
Southwest vice-chair Helen O’Sullivan said this the first meeting where both producer organisations were advertised the same night. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from both Emerald Isle Beef Producers (EIBP) and Irish Beef Producers (IBP).
Helen O'Sullivan speaking at the meeting.
EIBP director Eamon Corley said the group had been going around to various factories with a negotiating document. He gave an update on how he got on with the Cork-based plants.
“I don’t know what you did to the factory in Bandon but they weren’t very receptive. But the good news is Dawn Meats have expressed an interest in talking to us.”
Corley said that from his experience, “we have to develop a relationship with meat factories because we’re going to have to work with them. We’ll have to listen to them as well as tell them what we want. A couple of the factories we have talked to have told us what they would be prepared to pay a bonus. There’s at least two factories have said they are willing to deal with us.”
Regarding prices that the PO could get, Corley said in the short term, “maybe getting them to give us 5c/kg more than a farmer can get on his own. The reality is that’s probably all we’re going to get at the moment.”
Contracts
Dermot O’Brien told farmers they are entitled to a written contract when dealing with factories and a text or WhatsApp message would suffice. Farmers needed to ask for four simple pieces of information from the agent they are dealing with. He cautioned that factories might be reluctant to give it.
Date for the kill.Agreed price per kg. Number of cattle. The time for delivery. Read more
Monaghan IFA hustings: Beef Plan’s rise and mapping issues raised
Beef Plan at a crossroads
“Explain the advantages of having two groups. Is that not going to encourage a split?”
This was the final question at a Beef Plan Movement meeting in Dunmanway during the week. It is something farmers have been wondering about since the emergence of two producer organisations from the group.
In response, southwest chair Dermot O’Brien said: “It wasn’t causing a difficulty for Beef Plan. It gives people the opportunity to select whatever PO they want to join. It’s important to give people a choice. In France they have 700 producer organisations and they can work together under a title called an ABO.”
We have to develop a relationship with meat factories because we’re going to have to work with them
The Kerryman also said the Beef Plan Movement is the first organisation to start producer organisations despite legislation being in place since 2016.
There was a big turnout at the meeting.
Speaking to a full house of over 200 farmers, the organisation’s co-chair Eamon Corley said: “There should be no conflict between the POs. They’re both designed to do the same job. I think there should be a lot more.”
Producer organisations
Southwest vice-chair Helen O’Sullivan said this the first meeting where both producer organisations were advertised the same night. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from both Emerald Isle Beef Producers (EIBP) and Irish Beef Producers (IBP).
Helen O'Sullivan speaking at the meeting.
EIBP director Eamon Corley said the group had been going around to various factories with a negotiating document. He gave an update on how he got on with the Cork-based plants.
“I don’t know what you did to the factory in Bandon but they weren’t very receptive. But the good news is Dawn Meats have expressed an interest in talking to us.”
Corley said that from his experience, “we have to develop a relationship with meat factories because we’re going to have to work with them. We’ll have to listen to them as well as tell them what we want. A couple of the factories we have talked to have told us what they would be prepared to pay a bonus. There’s at least two factories have said they are willing to deal with us.”
Regarding prices that the PO could get, Corley said in the short term, “maybe getting them to give us 5c/kg more than a farmer can get on his own. The reality is that’s probably all we’re going to get at the moment.”
Contracts
Dermot O’Brien told farmers they are entitled to a written contract when dealing with factories and a text or WhatsApp message would suffice. Farmers needed to ask for four simple pieces of information from the agent they are dealing with. He cautioned that factories might be reluctant to give it.
Date for the kill.Agreed price per kg. Number of cattle. The time for delivery. Read more
Monaghan IFA hustings: Beef Plan’s rise and mapping issues raised
Beef Plan at a crossroads
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