EID proposals

The IFA sheep committee has made a detailed submission on EID to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, emphasising that farmers cannot be made to carry the cost. Among the proposals included are a €1 per head/tag subvention on the cost of tags. The submission also makes clear that it should not be necessary to extend EID to sheep that go from the farm of origin directly to slaughter and for the date for the introduction to be deferred.

Pig prices

Market improvements in the key EU pig-producing nations provide further basis for a much-needed increase in Irish pig prices, IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan has said. He warned that prices have been below break-even for some time, depleting reserves and if this situation continues, there is a distinct possibility of a long-term crisis in the pig sector.

World Milk Day

Liquid milk chair John Finn took the opportunity of World Milk Day last Friday to urge consumers and retailers to value locally produced fresh milk. He said the specialised production system required is more costly and requires a sustainable price to be paid, especially over the costly winter months, to ensure that producers can continue to supply the quality product we have all come to take for granted year-round.

Agri tax proposals

The IFA has made a submission to the Department of Finance review of agri-taxation. The submission proposes a range of supportive measures for on-farm investment, to encourage new entrants to farming, to increase land mobility and improve the overall structure, efficiency and productive capacity of agriculture. Read the full submission at www.ifa.ie.