The Irish Farmers Journal will hold a beef markets information meeting this Monday 30 March in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix, Co Laois, with registration from 7pm and the talks commencing at 7.30pm.

On the night, attendees will hear a presentation from beef specialist with Teagasc David Argue on beef finishing budgets and increased costs of doing business.

Market intelligence and EU specialist with the Irish Farmers Journal Phelim O’Neill will discuss the global beef trade and how trade deals are changing global beef markets.

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Beef and livestock sector manager with Bord Bia Joe Burke will examine the current beef market and what the outlook for 2026 is like for Irish beef finishers.

Irish Farmers Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman will present on the beef farmer view.

The event will also feature a panel discussion with a question-and-answer session where farmers can ask questions on beef trade.

The panel will be chaired by Irish Farmers Journal editor Adam Woods in conversation with David Argue, Phelim O’Neill, Joe Burke and Francie Gorman.

To register for the event, click here.

Cuts to beef quotes

With pressure increasing on beef quotes in the past few weeks, this meeting will aim to provide farmers with the facts on beef trade and the current outlook for 2026.

Irish Farmers Journal editor Adam Woods said: “Winter finishers are currently facing heavy losses, with beef markets slipping by over 60c/kg in the last six weeks.

"This is translating into losses of between €300 and €500/head, which is mounting into hundreds of thousands of euro on some farms, with real fears now mounting over the future of winter finishing systems in Ireland.

"We want to provide farmers with the necessary facts on the night and provide a forum for answers to some of their questions," he said.

Free-trade deals taking place between the UK and the rest of the world have displaced some Irish product in Britain. However, the EU market, which accounts for roughly half of Irish beef exports, has been performing better in recent weeks, but this hasn’t been reflected in quotes being received by Irish finishers.

The national event is free to attend and you can pre-register your interest at the link here.