Talks between beef industry stakeholders resumed at 11am on Monday 19 August at the Department of Agriculture’s campus in Backweston, Co Kildare.
The focus of the discussion will be on criteria for cattle to qualify for the in-spec bonus.
These criteria include the 30-month age limit on steers and heifers, the four-movement rule and the 70-day single farm residency requirement.
Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Beef Plan Movement member David Whelehan said the group deemed such criteria as "anti-competitive".
Whelehan said there was no scientific evidence to back up the specifications and it meant there was no level playing field for the farmer.
Price
While he believed there would be a positive outcome from the meeting, he acknowledged that “the elephant in the room is pricing”.
“Unfortunately, under competition authority rules, we’re not allowed to discuss that [pricing].”
Whelehan said the industry had been in complete denial about the state it was in.
Farmers did not want handouts, they just wanted a fair share of the retail price, he said.
Farm organisations, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and officials from the Department of Agriculture will all be in attendance at the talks, which will be chaired by Michael Dowling.
Review
On Monday of last week, talks went on for over 12 hours.
The first round of talks resulted in an agreement to review the beef grid. MII also committed to weigh cattle before the kill line at factories and to provide written agreements to farmers on quotes and kill dates.
If a farmer wants stock to be weighed at the factory before the kill line and wants a written contract, the farmer will have to request that.
Read more
‘Beef grid review must reflect dairy expansion’ - ICSA president
‘QPS is not fit for purpose’ – ICOS
Factories commit to weigh cattle pre-kill and agree to contracts with farmers
Talks between beef industry stakeholders resumed at 11am on Monday 19 August at the Department of Agriculture’s campus in Backweston, Co Kildare.
The focus of the discussion will be on criteria for cattle to qualify for the in-spec bonus.
These criteria include the 30-month age limit on steers and heifers, the four-movement rule and the 70-day single farm residency requirement.
Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Beef Plan Movement member David Whelehan said the group deemed such criteria as "anti-competitive".
Whelehan said there was no scientific evidence to back up the specifications and it meant there was no level playing field for the farmer.
Price
While he believed there would be a positive outcome from the meeting, he acknowledged that “the elephant in the room is pricing”.
“Unfortunately, under competition authority rules, we’re not allowed to discuss that [pricing].”
Whelehan said the industry had been in complete denial about the state it was in.
Farmers did not want handouts, they just wanted a fair share of the retail price, he said.
Farm organisations, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and officials from the Department of Agriculture will all be in attendance at the talks, which will be chaired by Michael Dowling.
Review
On Monday of last week, talks went on for over 12 hours.
The first round of talks resulted in an agreement to review the beef grid. MII also committed to weigh cattle before the kill line at factories and to provide written agreements to farmers on quotes and kill dates.
If a farmer wants stock to be weighed at the factory before the kill line and wants a written contract, the farmer will have to request that.
Read more
‘Beef grid review must reflect dairy expansion’ - ICSA president
‘QPS is not fit for purpose’ – ICOS
Factories commit to weigh cattle pre-kill and agree to contracts with farmers
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