Dear farmers,

For several months, many young beef farmers have expressed their concerns about their future in the beef industry.

We entered talks on Saturday morning last in an honest effort to reach a deal to secure the viability and sustainability of our young beef farmer members.

We have been reminded consistently that base price cannot be discussed because of the legal ramifications.

Despite this, at those talks, considerable comprise was made on all sides during those negotiations.

Leaving talks at the Backweston campus were Macra officials Jennifer Keegan. Thomas Duffy, John Keane, Derri Dillon.

In the end, seven farmer organisations, including Macra na Feirme, agreed to support the deal and recommend it to their members. As representatives of organisations, we serve at the behest of our members.

That responsibility, however, is two-way – our members must have trust to believe that collectively we as farmer organisation leaders have secured the best deal possible.

In Macra, we are encouraging our members to read the detail in the deal and speak to us should they have any questions

Over the weekend, we reached a compromise agreement which has the potential to reopen factories and increase the amount of money in key categories including over 30 months and O- and 4+ stock going into farmers’ pockets.

In Macra, we are encouraging our members to read the detail in the deal and speak to us should they have any questions.

It includes the creation of a beef market task force under an independent chair.

This task force provides governance oversight to ensure that all parties, including the meat industry and farmers live up to the deal.

Macra also welcomes the inclusion in the agreement of a commitment from the Department of Agriculture to establish an independent regulator following the adoption of the EU Directive on Unfair Trading Practices. This regulator is vital and will provide additional safeguards and protections to farmers in the supply chain.

The longer farmers continue to blockade factories, they risk killing the beef industry by losing key markets

We would encourage all farmers to step back from the abyss. We are at a precipice in the industry.

The longer farmers continue to blockade factories, they risk killing the beef industry by losing key markets. All farmers, including young beef farmers want a sustainable viable income.

A deal has been done, a good honest start has been made but more remains to be done once protests are stood down.

We appeal to those on the blockades to consider the economic impact their continued presence is having on fellow farmers who need to return to normal business.

Macra na Feirme is urging all politicians, to use their influence with protestors to encourage adoption of the agreement

In the spirit of the traditional Irish meitheal of working together, we urge those genuine beef farmers at the factory gates to consider the impact further protests will have on the next generation of beef farmers.

In that same spirit of collaboration, we would call on meat processors to confirm their respective base prices to farmers locally in an effort to conclude blockades.

Finally, Macra na Feirme is urging all politicians, to use their influence with protestors to encourage adoption of the agreement.

Farmers stand to lose substantially more if factories are not re-opened. Payment below the cost of production is unsustainable, as is market share wipeout due to inability to supply key customers. Collectively, we all need our beef industry to return immediately to normal activity.