Eric Driver, secretary of Associated Livestock Marts (ALM), the umbrella group representing privately owned marts in Ireland, says the Department of Agriculture needs to take greater consideration of the viewpoint of marts when introducing new legislation. Eric is referring to the recently announced changes to the extension of electronic tagging across the entire sheep flock and the new mart licencing regulations announced earlier this year.

Eric says: “Associated Livestock Marts has always been proactive in engaging with the Department of Agriculture when it comes to discussing proposed new regulations. Unfortunately, it seems that the minister and his Department are willing to listen to marts but not pay any heed to our concerns.

‘‘Marts were one of the first groups to promote electronic tagging but what we have now is a system where our loyal customers will be penalised from 1 June 2019 if they trade slaughter-finished lambs through mart sales.”

The Department of Agriculture is offering grant aid of 40% to a maximum spend of €25,000 to allow marts to invest in equipment to become a central point of recording. While Eric welcomes the funding, he believes that many marts will not be in a position or have the appetite to make such an investment.

“The reality is that marts are disillusioned with the minister and the people responsible for bringing in the new legislation. They had our full backing and have missed an opportunity to introduce what ourselves and ICOS feel would be a more simplified system to streamline movement recording and reduce paperwork involved.

‘‘Many members are questioning investing in a business that appears to be disregarded in all engagements and is facing more bureaucracy.

“This is not the first time this has happened. ALM and ICOS had extensive dialogue with the Department on new licensing arrangements and the next we heard was an announcement in the media from Minister Creed without any advance notification.

‘‘At the end of the day, marts are trying to run businesses as efficiently as possible so the introduction of new legislation in this manner is disappointing.”

EID tagging for cattle

Eric is hoping that there will be more constructive discussions surrounding the introduction of EID tagging for cattle which now appears to be gaining more traction.

“We will unfortunately have to be more cautious given what has happened with EID tagging in sheep. We have no issue with the concept and welcome the potential it can bring. But we need to see how it will be introduced both inside and outside of marts first to ensure that it is a level playing field for all.”

Promoting live exports

The level of mart trading carried out in the last six weeks has been greatly curtailed by drought and farmers delaying presenting cattle in mart sales.

Activity is picking up again in recent days but there are signs of a challenging trade developing for plainer-quality cattle and, in particular, crossbred cattle from the dairy herd.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the export trade with currency fluctuation in key export markets.

Eric believes that a Government-backed insurance scheme, which works with live exporters to underpin live exports, could be a significant aid in helping to keep a floor under the trade and help to reduce a growing fodder deficit.

The ALM group has 16 members and represents the views of privately owned marts.

The chair of the group is Michael Fox, the assistant chair is John Doyle, secretary is Eric Driver and treasurer is Antoinette Daly.