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Some stark messages were delivered at the Save Our Sucklers event at Inishowen Mart on Tuesday held by the Irish Farmers Journal in association with the IFA.
Angus Woods said suckler farmers are under severe income pressure and cow numbers are falling. He said the latest figures from ICBF show that suckler registrations are down by 20,272 head in 2017 to 943,503. Since 2012, overall numbers have fallen by 132,207 head, amounting to a 12% reduction from the peak. He told the meeting in Inishowen on Tuesday night that suckler numbers in Donegal are down 7,198 or 16% from their peak.
Woods said that while it will be a major challenge to get €200 for suckler cows, it can be done. An extra €50m was sought from the last minister, Simon Coveney, on the BDGP scheme. He said that while this is worth €80 to €100 per cow, it was “too complicated and got tied up in knots, which turned off many farmers”. He said the IFA also succeeded in securing a €10 per ewe sheep welfare scheme and an additional €25m in ANC payments.
“Minister Creed is telling farmers, under State aid rules he can’t pay €200 per cow. The IFA has been to Brussels and the European Commission is clear that Ireland can make a targeted payment of €200 per cow under the animal welfare option in the CAP Rural Development Plan, which can be financed with exchequer funding.
“The Minister and the Government are looking at a financial surplus of over €3bn heading into the next budget and we are also heading into a possible election this year. The resources are there and it a matter of priorities for Minister Creed.”
The IFA livestock chair also pointed out that 24 countries out of 28 across Europe are already providing specific support for the beef sector.
The odd ones out are Ireland, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Estonia. France has 4.2m sucklers and they have supports of €178 per cow.
Mart meetings
The next demo takes place in Station Road Mart, Cootehill, Co Cavan, on Thursday 22 February at 7pm, where speakers from the Irish Farmers Journal, IFA, local vet Sean Fortune and Dovea Genetics will talk about a range of topics. Admission is free and all events are approved under the Knowledge Transfer scheme. Next week’s events take place in Aurivo Mart, Mohill, Co Leitrim, on Tuesday 27 February at 7pm and Clare Marts, Ennis, Co Clare, on Wednesday 28 February.
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