This is a subscriber-only article
The standoff between Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs) and the Department of Agriculture is causing a major backlog and having a particularly negative impact on pig farmers.
“It’s causing serious stress for farmers,” IFA pig chair Tom Hogan told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“Pig farmers already had a tough year in terms of lower prices, but now some factories are telling them they can’t take pigs and it’s creating a backlog.
“There are also major cashflow problems, especially when feed prices have increased so much.
“Pig farmers pay €1.30/pig as a levy and many farmers feel aggrieved since they already feel like they’re paying for a service they’re not getting now.”
TVIs are currently working on a work-to-rule basis and not covering additional shifts that would be needed to maintain the regular work in some factories.
It’s understood that Edenderry is one of the plants worst affected by the work-to-rule decision.
Hogan has urged the Department of Agriculture to solve the situation before pig farmers are pushed out of the industry through cashflow issues.
SHARING OPTIONS: