The Department of Agriculture offered extra money to knackeries on Monday this week in order to avoid a strike, it has emerged.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture (DAFM) told the Irish Farmers Journal that “enhanced supports” in the form of financial aid were offered to the Animal Collector’s Association (ACA) in talks on Monday.
However on Monday night, the association’s 38 members decided to close their gates across the country today.
The Department spokesman said that its officials and the ACA had been in talks last week about the operation of knackeries and the Fallen Animal Scheme.
“Arising from the discussions, DAFM has made proposals that would further enhance the supports it gives to the important work that knackeries undertake within the agri sector,” he said.
He added that the Department “is willing to continue the discussion with the ACA at any time”.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, ACA chair Michael McKeever said that the financial support knackeries receive from the Department of Agriculture has fallen by 82% since the Fallen Animal Scheme was scaled back in 2009.
Subsidies
Until 2009, knackeries received a €19.30 subsidy for calves under six months, €64.70 for animals aged from six months to 24 months and €68.10 for animals over two years old.
Today, financial support is only paid by the Department on animals aged over 48 months.
In the intervening period, the ACA says the hide trade has collapsed, their work has become extremely seasonal and insurance costs have risen by 45%.
“We handle all of the paperwork, all of the CMMS [computerized maintenance management system] and administration for nothing,” said McKeever.
“We do a huge job for the state in terms of traceability, which we do not get paid for.”
Urgent changes needed – IFA
The IFA has called on the Department to move “immediately” to ensure farmers have a facility to dispose of their fallen animals.
Its animal health chair Pat Farrell said that the IFA fully supports some of the issues raised by knackeries, but the fallen animal collection and disposal system requires fundamental changes.
“It is not acceptable that farmers’ ability to comply with their legal obligations in the disposal of fallen animals depends on the commercial service provision, with effectively what is very limited Department involvement,” he said.
Farrell said that the IFA has spoken to individual knackeries today (Tuesday) and pointed out the very serious implications for farmers of their actions, while recognising the issues of concern for knackeries.
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Breaking: knackeries nationwide to strike on Tuesday
The Department of Agriculture offered extra money to knackeries on Monday this week in order to avoid a strike, it has emerged.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture (DAFM) told the Irish Farmers Journal that “enhanced supports” in the form of financial aid were offered to the Animal Collector’s Association (ACA) in talks on Monday.
However on Monday night, the association’s 38 members decided to close their gates across the country today.
The Department spokesman said that its officials and the ACA had been in talks last week about the operation of knackeries and the Fallen Animal Scheme.
“Arising from the discussions, DAFM has made proposals that would further enhance the supports it gives to the important work that knackeries undertake within the agri sector,” he said.
He added that the Department “is willing to continue the discussion with the ACA at any time”.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, ACA chair Michael McKeever said that the financial support knackeries receive from the Department of Agriculture has fallen by 82% since the Fallen Animal Scheme was scaled back in 2009.
Subsidies
Until 2009, knackeries received a €19.30 subsidy for calves under six months, €64.70 for animals aged from six months to 24 months and €68.10 for animals over two years old.
Today, financial support is only paid by the Department on animals aged over 48 months.
In the intervening period, the ACA says the hide trade has collapsed, their work has become extremely seasonal and insurance costs have risen by 45%.
“We handle all of the paperwork, all of the CMMS [computerized maintenance management system] and administration for nothing,” said McKeever.
“We do a huge job for the state in terms of traceability, which we do not get paid for.”
Urgent changes needed – IFA
The IFA has called on the Department to move “immediately” to ensure farmers have a facility to dispose of their fallen animals.
Its animal health chair Pat Farrell said that the IFA fully supports some of the issues raised by knackeries, but the fallen animal collection and disposal system requires fundamental changes.
“It is not acceptable that farmers’ ability to comply with their legal obligations in the disposal of fallen animals depends on the commercial service provision, with effectively what is very limited Department involvement,” he said.
Farrell said that the IFA has spoken to individual knackeries today (Tuesday) and pointed out the very serious implications for farmers of their actions, while recognising the issues of concern for knackeries.
Read more
Government open to introducing beef regulator - Coveney
Waterproof wheat developed using gene editing
Breaking: knackeries nationwide to strike on Tuesday
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