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An immediate increase to beef price is one of several IFA priorities for beef talks, which are due to reconvene tomorrow.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed confirmed a second round of talks would begin on Saturday.
IFA president Joe Healy said the Minister and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) must come forward with concrete proposals to resolve the crisis.
The IFA proposals were put forward by the national council and livestock committee this week.
Proposals
On price, the IFA said it was clear cattle prices could be discussed at the talks.
It added that farmers could not continue to produce beef below the cost of production and said it will call on factories to provide forward price contracts.
On quality, it said farmers must be rewarded for quality.
This meant the quality assurance (QA) bonus must be paid on all prime cattle from a QA farm and a price-based bonus for suckler beef.
On specifications, the IFA is calling for a full independent review of the QPS by Teagasc.
It said unless an agreed in-depth review of in-spec bonus specifications on age limits, movements and residency showed they were required by the market, they should be removed.
Transparency
There were also proposals for a statutory investigation by the Minister into the beef sector.
This would include price competition, full price transparency of the chain, processor and retailer margins, specifications, factory feedlots, rendering and the fifth quarter.
The IFA also made a price index, a ban on below-cost selling and an independent regulator for the sector a priority.
Healy said it was time to put a stop to grandstanding and posturing: “We can’t afford to spend any time on posturing and game playing. We need to get this solved this weekend.”
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