Last week the suckler sector hit the headlines again with the launch of the Jim Power report on the Irish beef industry. One of the resounding sentiments was the need for support payments to the suckler sector. While there have been support payments to the industry over the past few years in the form of BDGP, BEEP and BEAM, many have seen these as papering over the cracks. We are lacking an overall plan for the industry.

Some commentators have forecast a drop in suckler cow numbers to 600,000 as our dairy herd expands on the back of high profits. We have seen this starting to happen, especially in the eastern half of the country where dairying is an option. Has anyone asked the question as to what this will mean for marketing our beef and what the likely implications are for Irish beef finishers?

If our Government chooses not to support the industry and allows it to wither and die over the next 10 years, what impact will that have on rural Ireland, our marts, our rural businesses, our communities? The time for reports is over. Either our policymakers should develop a roadmap for the future of the sector or develop an exit plan for farmers and come up with an alternative plan for rural Ireland.

In this week’s suckler focus Declan Marren takes a look at the Scottish beef industry and the challenges that exist within it, many similar to the Irish challenges except they are operating on a beef price equivalent of €4.02/kg. An interesting point is the coupled payment of €92-€98 for suckler-bred calves with no payment criteria except that the calf is beef bred and lives beyond 30 days.Ten questions with the farm managers" target="_blank"> Matthew Halpin talks to a number of demonstration farm managers to see how spring is going and we take a look at Tullamore Farm 2019 bull performance " target="_blank">the 2019 Tullamore Farm bull beef performance to date.