Farmers from the floor proposed multiple ways for the €100m Brexit beef fund to be paid at the fifth IFA regional meeting on the subject in Macroom on Wednesday night.
Some maintained that there should be a flat rate paid to all farmers, while others encouraged the department to make use of the Animal Identification and Movement (AIMS) data to ensure the money goes to those directly affected.
IFA livestock committee chair Angus Woods and IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said the organisation opposed any reduction measures regarding the suckler herd.
Consensus
A large crowd gathered in the Minister for Agriculture's home turf to hear presentations from Woods and the IFA livestock director Kevin Kinsella.
There was agreement in the room that money needs to be directed to those finishing cattle and to the suckler herd. However, getting consensus on how this fund will reach farmers won't be an easy proposition.
Views
There were suggestions from the floor with a range of differing views. Some argued there should be a cap on the amount an individual gets, while other farmers queried the point that, if the fund is to cover losses incurred because of Brexit then it should cover the amount of money individual farmers have lost.
Given that pressure has come on the young bull market again in recent weeks, there was a call from finishers to ensure that cattle affected by the latest price drops are catered for when the fund is being paid out.
A number of speakers from the floor spoke of their frustration at the difficulty in selling young bulls since the beginning of June.
Colin Draper, Ballineen
Colin Draper, Ballineen, at the IFA Brexit fund meeting in Macroom.
“Well done to IFA for getting the money. It’s great to get it. How to divide it out will be the hard part. It has to go beyond the 23 March cut-off. I would be disappointed if the 2018-born bulls killed in April to June aren’t included.
"Those bulls should be supported so the buyer will go back and buy this year’s calves in the autumn. Otherwise the suckler farmer will get a hit again this year."
Tim Mulcahy, Glanmire
Tim Mulcahy, Glanmire, at the IFA meeting.
“Money was always a decisive issue, the lack of it was never an issue. Money should be given to those that suffered the most. It’s important we don’t get mixed up between this €100m fund and the ongoing income crisis.
"The €100m that the IFA got is not the sole factor that will cure the poor prices going forward. We still need to get target funding towards the suckler herd in order to create viability.
"I would be very worried about the terms and conditions attached to the fund from Europe.”
Chris Hayes, Rosscarbery
Chris Hayes, Rosscarbery, at the meeting in Macroom.
“I’d compliment the organisation for achieving this fund. There’s a lot of work gone into it. It’s certainly welcome but it won’t solve the problem but will go some way towards easing it.
It has to go to those who suffered most, the finishers and the suckler farmers who are providing the raw material. It can’t go to factories or factory-controlled feedlots.
"Absolutely no way should there be conditions attached to it. This is a fund for the losses that have been incurred. We’re not entertaining talks of reducing the suckler herd.”
Read more
Farmers losing €3m a week on beef prices
Cattle slaughtered after mart sale should get compensation – ICOS
'Blanket payment, everyone gets the same' - farmers on €100m Brexit beef fund
Farmers from the floor proposed multiple ways for the €100m Brexit beef fund to be paid at the fifth IFA regional meeting on the subject in Macroom on Wednesday night.
Some maintained that there should be a flat rate paid to all farmers, while others encouraged the department to make use of the Animal Identification and Movement (AIMS) data to ensure the money goes to those directly affected.
IFA livestock committee chair Angus Woods and IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said the organisation opposed any reduction measures regarding the suckler herd.
Consensus
A large crowd gathered in the Minister for Agriculture's home turf to hear presentations from Woods and the IFA livestock director Kevin Kinsella.
There was agreement in the room that money needs to be directed to those finishing cattle and to the suckler herd. However, getting consensus on how this fund will reach farmers won't be an easy proposition.
Views
There were suggestions from the floor with a range of differing views. Some argued there should be a cap on the amount an individual gets, while other farmers queried the point that, if the fund is to cover losses incurred because of Brexit then it should cover the amount of money individual farmers have lost.
Given that pressure has come on the young bull market again in recent weeks, there was a call from finishers to ensure that cattle affected by the latest price drops are catered for when the fund is being paid out.
A number of speakers from the floor spoke of their frustration at the difficulty in selling young bulls since the beginning of June.
Colin Draper, Ballineen
Colin Draper, Ballineen, at the IFA Brexit fund meeting in Macroom.
“Well done to IFA for getting the money. It’s great to get it. How to divide it out will be the hard part. It has to go beyond the 23 March cut-off. I would be disappointed if the 2018-born bulls killed in April to June aren’t included.
"Those bulls should be supported so the buyer will go back and buy this year’s calves in the autumn. Otherwise the suckler farmer will get a hit again this year."
Tim Mulcahy, Glanmire
Tim Mulcahy, Glanmire, at the IFA meeting.
“Money was always a decisive issue, the lack of it was never an issue. Money should be given to those that suffered the most. It’s important we don’t get mixed up between this €100m fund and the ongoing income crisis.
"The €100m that the IFA got is not the sole factor that will cure the poor prices going forward. We still need to get target funding towards the suckler herd in order to create viability.
"I would be very worried about the terms and conditions attached to the fund from Europe.”
Chris Hayes, Rosscarbery
Chris Hayes, Rosscarbery, at the meeting in Macroom.
“I’d compliment the organisation for achieving this fund. There’s a lot of work gone into it. It’s certainly welcome but it won’t solve the problem but will go some way towards easing it.
It has to go to those who suffered most, the finishers and the suckler farmers who are providing the raw material. It can’t go to factories or factory-controlled feedlots.
"Absolutely no way should there be conditions attached to it. This is a fund for the losses that have been incurred. We’re not entertaining talks of reducing the suckler herd.”
Read more
Farmers losing €3m a week on beef prices
Cattle slaughtered after mart sale should get compensation – ICOS
'Blanket payment, everyone gets the same' - farmers on €100m Brexit beef fund
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