Speaking on RTE Radio 1 this Saturday morning, IFA livestock executive Kevin Kinsella put the argument used by protesting beef farmers this week to the factories: "Where did the 20p go?" he asked, pointing out that beef prices in our main UK export market had increased that much since the summer, while Irish prices were in freefall.
Meat Industry Ireland director Cormac Healy replied that the UK price increase had not applied to Irish beef.
"85% of beef on British shelves is British," he said. "There's always a premium for domestic product."
He added that increased production from cattle killed across Europe since the summer drought had put pressure on prices.
Suckler payment
With the Government due to announce Budget 2019 on Tuesday, Kinsella renewed calls for a suckler payment.
In response to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed's reluctance to re-introduce coupled payments because they would go against the quality and climate change objectives promoted through BDGP, the IFA executive said the association was calling for a targeted suckler payment funded from the underspend in other rural development schemes, rather than a coupled payment taken from the BPS budget.
Read more
Watch: ICSA protest outside ABP
In pictures: ‘Farmers are on their knees’ – ICSA beef protest
Downward beef price pressure 'to be expected' - EU outlook
Beef prices are competitive in current marketplace – MII
Speaking on RTE Radio 1 this Saturday morning, IFA livestock executive Kevin Kinsella put the argument used by protesting beef farmers this week to the factories: "Where did the 20p go?" he asked, pointing out that beef prices in our main UK export market had increased that much since the summer, while Irish prices were in freefall.
Meat Industry Ireland director Cormac Healy replied that the UK price increase had not applied to Irish beef.
"85% of beef on British shelves is British," he said. "There's always a premium for domestic product."
He added that increased production from cattle killed across Europe since the summer drought had put pressure on prices.
Suckler payment
With the Government due to announce Budget 2019 on Tuesday, Kinsella renewed calls for a suckler payment.
In response to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed's reluctance to re-introduce coupled payments because they would go against the quality and climate change objectives promoted through BDGP, the IFA executive said the association was calling for a targeted suckler payment funded from the underspend in other rural development schemes, rather than a coupled payment taken from the BPS budget.
Read more
Watch: ICSA protest outside ABP
In pictures: ‘Farmers are on their knees’ – ICSA beef protest
Downward beef price pressure 'to be expected' - EU outlook
Beef prices are competitive in current marketplace – MII
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