Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has reissued a call for protesters to end pickets outside factories, saying “their voice has been heard loud and clear”.

The Minister said a tipping point had been reached and that continuing the protests could be more harm than good.

Ploughing

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, the Minister said: “By continuing the protests, are we doing anything to serve any interest at this stage?”

He said between farmers, factories and their workers, there was a lot of groups affected.

Creed called on protesters to consider the details of the deal agreed at the weekend and to acknowledge a bigger picture, part of which was fellow farmers with cattle to kill.

It is important that we are in a position to meet those contracts

“There’s our international reputation, there’s our retail contracts.

"We export 90% of what we produce and it is important that we are in a position to meet those contracts.

"There are many who would willingly knock us off the perch that we have in terms of retail partners and contracts.”

The Minister said continuing the protests would do real and lasting damage.

BEAM

On the BEAM scheme, he said it would be difficult to make a case for further funds if a demand-led scheme was undersubscribed.

Minister Creed urged farmers to apply in the maximum numbers possible.

However, he said there was no possibility to remove the 5% nitrogen reduction element.

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