Any decrease in the national suckler herd will hurt rural communities and have an impact on overall economic output.
The president of the IFA Joe Healy was addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture on Tuesday 18 December.
He cited figures which pointed to loss in beef output of €145m and a loss of total output in the economy by €305m if the national suckler herd contracted by 10%.
Study
An IFA-backed study by Professor Thia Hennessy of UCC also showed that the beef sector accounted for over one third of all agricultural output and over 20% of total Irish food and drink exports.
Every €1 from direct payments leads to a benefit of €4.28 to local communities
Healy said that the suckler herd was vital to the rural Ireland, as every €1 from direct payments leads to a benefit of €4.28 to local communities and the wider economy.
Lack of competition, continued low incomes, Mercosur and Brexit all posed a threat to Irish suckler farmers and Healy said that the government needed to do more to support them.
In particular, the tough weather conditions of 2018 led to a 19% drop in cattle-rearing farms – with the average income coming to just €10,175, according to Teagasc.
He pointed out the environmental, as well as the economic, good farmers provided.
Supports
Increased levels of competition and efficiency are needed to improve prices for farmers, the IFA delegation in the Oireachtas stated.
While welcoming the €40/cow Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) Scheme to be introduced at the start of 2019, IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said the group had campaigned for €200/cow and that more needed to be done for the industry.
Bogged down in unnecessary bureaucracy
He also called for a review of the Beef Data and Genomic Scheme (BDGP), claiming that the scheme “got bogged down in unnecessary bureaucracy”.
“The scheme has completed four years and has two more to run to 2022," Woods said.
"Now is the time to complete a review of the scheme, work out how it can be changed and simplified, and plan for its future continuation."
He stressed the need for strong live export trade, a price premium for suckler beef and a targeted direct payment of €200/cow.
He also said that increasing payments under pillar II of CAP was "essential" and opposed any potential cuts to the overall CAP budget.
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Any decrease in the national suckler herd will hurt rural communities and have an impact on overall economic output.
The president of the IFA Joe Healy was addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture on Tuesday 18 December.
He cited figures which pointed to loss in beef output of €145m and a loss of total output in the economy by €305m if the national suckler herd contracted by 10%.
Study
An IFA-backed study by Professor Thia Hennessy of UCC also showed that the beef sector accounted for over one third of all agricultural output and over 20% of total Irish food and drink exports.
Every €1 from direct payments leads to a benefit of €4.28 to local communities
Healy said that the suckler herd was vital to the rural Ireland, as every €1 from direct payments leads to a benefit of €4.28 to local communities and the wider economy.
Lack of competition, continued low incomes, Mercosur and Brexit all posed a threat to Irish suckler farmers and Healy said that the government needed to do more to support them.
In particular, the tough weather conditions of 2018 led to a 19% drop in cattle-rearing farms – with the average income coming to just €10,175, according to Teagasc.
He pointed out the environmental, as well as the economic, good farmers provided.
Supports
Increased levels of competition and efficiency are needed to improve prices for farmers, the IFA delegation in the Oireachtas stated.
While welcoming the €40/cow Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) Scheme to be introduced at the start of 2019, IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said the group had campaigned for €200/cow and that more needed to be done for the industry.
Bogged down in unnecessary bureaucracy
He also called for a review of the Beef Data and Genomic Scheme (BDGP), claiming that the scheme “got bogged down in unnecessary bureaucracy”.
“The scheme has completed four years and has two more to run to 2022," Woods said.
"Now is the time to complete a review of the scheme, work out how it can be changed and simplified, and plan for its future continuation."
He stressed the need for strong live export trade, a price premium for suckler beef and a targeted direct payment of €200/cow.
He also said that increasing payments under pillar II of CAP was "essential" and opposed any potential cuts to the overall CAP budget.
Read more
Breeding healthier sheep with lower greenhouse gas emissions
Farmer writes: finishing beef is like trying to hit a moving target
Mart boards 'the fastest way to TB eradication'
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