This is a subscriber-only article
ICSA members stopped livestock entering Kepak's Athleague factory in Co Roscommon from 2pm this Sunday afternoon ahead of a farmers' protest there on Monday.
Protesters were actively blocking farmers and hauliers from dropping off livestock at the lairage area for slaughter the next day.
At the protest, ICSA sheep chair Seán McNamara said farmers were not going to take any more lamb price drops. "We are not going to take anything less than €5.20/kg for lambs," he said. "We are prepared to go as long as it takes, we will be here all day tomorrow," McNamara said.
He added that base quotes from Kepak Athelague had fallen to between €4.80/kg and €4.90/kg.
"We're nearly €25/hd under last year," said McNamara. "Who would take a €25 cut on a product? Nobody."
Beef Plan
McNamara said the ICSA was also calling for beef price cuts to be reversed and Michael McManus from the Beef Plan said his movement was attending the ICSA protest to "support fellow farmers."
McManus called for the four-movement rule and the 30-month age limit to be scrapped. He also believes a regulator is required in the beef industry as well as more price transparency at each step of the process.
On the Mercosur trade deal, McManus said it beggars belief that beef from thousands of miles away is going to be shipped to European countries given the current emphasis on reducing the climate impact of agriculture in Europe.
"Irish beef is four times more carbon efficient than beef coming from those south American countries," McManus argued. He also highlighted the poor traceability systems in those countries compared to Ireland.
Additional reporting by Thomas Hubert.
SHARING OPTIONS: