IFA president Joe Healy has said that the IFA is very strong in its view that vulnerable low-income sectors such as suckler farming must be strongly supported and prioritised for increased targeted direct supports of up to €200 per cow.

He said that Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and the Department cannot continue to ignore the severe income crisis in livestock. Saying no to proposals to try to improve suckler incomes is not an option. “The IFA has not proposed a straight coupled support of €200 per cow involving a reduction in basic payments. Based on the exceptional low-income levels of €13,000 a year in suckling, it is essential that direct supports for suckler cows are increased. This can be financed through CAP Pillar I, Pillar II and national funding.”

Healy pointed out that when the IFA first proposed a strong targeted direct payment for sheep farmers there was also a negative reaction from some Government sources. However, since his appointment, Minister Creed has overseen the new €25m sheep welfare scheme introduced in the last Programme for Government.

Healy said our 1m head suckler cow herd is vital to the livestock sector. It provides the marketing image on which our quality beef exports and access to the higher-priced retail market outlets are secured.

Healy said that the €52m Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) secured by the IFA was a positive start in terms of supporting the suckler cow herd and he called on Minister Creed to immediately reopen the BDGP to allow new applicants in 2017, in line with the commitment given in Budget 2017.

Based on the fall-off from the original applications in 2015, there is adequate funding to reopen the scheme at this stage.