This is a subscriber-only article
Efforts to get all members of the Beef Market Taskforce around the one table continue, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said.
The Minister added that he is hopeful of progress on it soon.
The first meeting of the taskforce was to take place in Agriculture House on 14 October. However, protesters prevented Meat Industry Ireland (MII) representatives from entering the building and the meeting was postponed.
The taskforce, which was set up following the beef sector agreement of 15 September, has not met since and a date for a meeting is still in the works.
Beef price index
On Thursday, the Minister launched the Bord Bia Beef Price Index, a recommendation of the beef sector agreement.
As a result, farmers will now have a window into where beef prices should be.
The index, which acts as a price tracker, will inform farmers as to how markets are performing. Irish prices will be tracked, while a second strand will show factory cattle prices in those countries that comprise our main export markets.
The price of the fifth quarter will also be tracked.
SHARING OPTIONS: