DEAR SIR: It was well documented in last week’s letters to the editor, how in Ireland we collectively threw the baby out with the bathwater in looking for the resignation of European Commissioner for Trade Hogan. Irish beef farmers will feel the pain most, with Ireland losing such an important role in Europe and now we are at the risk of repeating a similar mistake with the PGI for Irish grass-fed beef, an opportunity for Irish farmers that, coincidentally, Hogan also initiated over a year and a half ago.

The ongoing criticisms of the application for an Irish grass-fed beef PGI, have at this stage been well answered by Bord Bia and are now doing a disservice to commercial beef farmers, who desperately need to extract a better price for Irish beef out of the marketplace.

The challenges facing the sector look like they are only going to get stronger

As a country that exports 90% of its beef and can rightly claim a unique advantage on the basis of its grass-fed beef, sheep and dairy production, we are being extremely short-sighted in passing up any possible advantage in the market that we can claim.

The challenges facing the sector look like they are only going to get stronger as we face into the combined market threats thrown up by COVID-19, Brexit and Mercosur.

As a suckler farmer bringing steers and heifers as well as young bulls through to slaughter, I cannot understand how we would not back a PGI that should help us get better prices for the majority of our beef.

In my understanding of what a PGI is, it protects the status and name of products that are unique to a place and have earned a reputation for excellent quality

Any suckler farmer will benefit from this PGI on the basis of the grade profile of their prime stock as well as cull cows that will qualify for a PGI.

In my understanding of what a PGI is, it protects the status and name of products that are unique to a place and have earned a reputation for excellent quality.

Having hosted many visits over the years involving groups of foreign buyers and journalists, it is clear to me that the Irish beef image that these visitors always want to see and discuss is based around cattle raised on our grass-based system.

Again and again, their interest is in seeing whether the image they have of Irish cattle roaming on lush green pastures, which is so different from intensive beef production systems in their own countries, is actually authentic.

In my opinion, all Irish beef farmers who want to get better prices for their beef from the market should first support the case for the EU to approve this PGI for Irish beef

In fairness, this is exactly what I see described in the description of the Irish grass-fed beef PGI. In my opinion, all Irish beef farmers who want to get better prices for their beef from the market should first support the case for the EU to approve this PGI for Irish beef, before we fight for our fair share of any benefit that would arise from it.

If not, I would fear that we will once again throw away a rare opportunity in Europe to gain some advantage for Irish beef farmers.