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IFA livestock chair Angus Woods has called on the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to backdate the promised farmer support package.
Irish farmers are expected to be the worst hit by a hard Brexit, with tariffs expected to devastate farm profit margins.
The price has been stuck at a base of €3.75/kg
Minister Michael Creed has said that his Department is currently working on a financial support package with the European Commission, but Woods has insisted that given consistently low beef prices that that package must now be backdated.
“Cattle farmers have faced a barrage of negativity on the price since last autumn.
"It is incredible that the price has been stuck at a base of €3.75/kg for steers and €3.85/kg for heifers since last September,” Woods said.
Woods pointed out that prices in the UK (Ireland’s main export market) were £3.46 (€4.24) /kg for the week ending 9 March. In contrast, the official steer price in Ireland was €3.84/kg.
He said that Irish farmers urgently need to see a “tangible response” from Brussels now.
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