More EU and Government funding and supports will be needed for beef farmers who are in dire straits as the threat of a no-deal Brexit continues to increase, the IFA has said.
Speaking in the wake of the final details for the €100m beef fund, IFA president Joe Healy said while the scheme covered losses from September 2018 to May 2019, prices had deteriorated since then. He said base prices were now down by 45c/kg or €160/head.
Healy welcomed the fact that animals controlled by factories would be excluded but expressed concerns that the conditions put in place by Minister Creed could lead to an underspend.
Concerns
IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said: “The minister has said that the payment rate to farmers might be cut if the scheme is overspent. We want a commitment from the minister that if the money is underspent, that he will re-look at some of the limits and restrictions, or increase the payment rate.
“It would be a travesty if some this funding went unspent due to restrictions put in place by the minister.”
As the threat of a no-deal Brexit increased, Healy said farmers needed a clear roadmap from Brussels and Dublin as to how they would support the agricultural sector.
Supports
The IFA is calling on the Government and European Commission to:
Secure further direct aid support for farmers to deal with losses incurred post-May 2019 due to the decline in the value of sterling and market disturbance arising from Brexit uncertainty.Make the €1bn EU fund available immediately to stabilise the Irish and EU beef market.Ban the importation of 270,000t of beef from South America, which “has consistently failed to meet European standards in audits by the EU food and veterinary office”.In the event of a no-deal Brexit the EU must make structural and adjustment funding available and set aside state aid rules.Secure increased funding for the next CAP. Read more
BEAM: €100m beef fund payment and application details revealed
Cut to beef herd may be necessary - Creed
More EU and Government funding and supports will be needed for beef farmers who are in dire straits as the threat of a no-deal Brexit continues to increase, the IFA has said.
Speaking in the wake of the final details for the €100m beef fund, IFA president Joe Healy said while the scheme covered losses from September 2018 to May 2019, prices had deteriorated since then. He said base prices were now down by 45c/kg or €160/head.
Healy welcomed the fact that animals controlled by factories would be excluded but expressed concerns that the conditions put in place by Minister Creed could lead to an underspend.
Concerns
IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said: “The minister has said that the payment rate to farmers might be cut if the scheme is overspent. We want a commitment from the minister that if the money is underspent, that he will re-look at some of the limits and restrictions, or increase the payment rate.
“It would be a travesty if some this funding went unspent due to restrictions put in place by the minister.”
As the threat of a no-deal Brexit increased, Healy said farmers needed a clear roadmap from Brussels and Dublin as to how they would support the agricultural sector.
Supports
The IFA is calling on the Government and European Commission to:
Secure further direct aid support for farmers to deal with losses incurred post-May 2019 due to the decline in the value of sterling and market disturbance arising from Brexit uncertainty.Make the €1bn EU fund available immediately to stabilise the Irish and EU beef market.Ban the importation of 270,000t of beef from South America, which “has consistently failed to meet European standards in audits by the EU food and veterinary office”.In the event of a no-deal Brexit the EU must make structural and adjustment funding available and set aside state aid rules.Secure increased funding for the next CAP. Read more
BEAM: €100m beef fund payment and application details revealed
Cut to beef herd may be necessary - Creed
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: