DEAR SIR: The magnitude of the income pressure on suckler farmers was very evident at the Newford Farm suckler herd open day in Co Galway last week.

With a very high level of management, advice from the top experts and operating on some of the best land in the country, this 100-cow suckler cow herd made a net loss of €3,145 in 2017 and that’s without taking account of any payment to the farm manager or providing for any land costs.

It is positive that Dawn, Teagasc, McDonald’s and the Irish Farmers Journal have undertaken this project because it proves to Dawn and McDonald’s that current beef prices are not viable or economically sustainable for suckler beef farmers or the future of their businesses, a reality we have been highlighting for a long time.

The project also proves that suckler farming, even at a very high level of efficiency, needs substantial, targeted direct payment.

That is the fundamental basis of our campaign in IFA for a targeted payment of €200 per cow.

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and his officials in the Department would do well to read the financial report on the Newford Farm and take appropriate action in the forthcoming budget in October.

The IFA recently commissioned a comprehensive report from Professor Thia Hennessey in UCC on the economic and societal importance of the Irish suckler beef sector.

A key finding was that a 10% contraction in the suckler cow herd would lead to a loss in beef output of €145m and a loss of total output in the economy of €305m.

Over 2,000 jobs would also be lost.

Minister Creed must take action on the €200/cow payment in the budget on 9 October.

Read more

Newford Farm Open Day 2018: Maintaining focus in a difficult farming year

Farmer writes: the lunacy of suckler farming