Farmers will soon have the choice of joining one of two new beef producer organisations (PO), as a second PO is going through the final stages of approval with the Department of Agriculture.

Emerald Isle Beef Producers, based in Co Meath, is now accepting farmers into its group.

In September, Irish Beef Producers became the first beef PO to be approved by the Department. Its directors are the Beef Plan Movement’s Michael McManus and Eoin Donnelly.

The Beef Plan Movement’s Eamon Corley and Kevin O’Brien are the directors of Emerald Isle Beef Producers, along with Jane Holton from Meath, Mary Ryan from Tipperary, Declan Donohue from Galway and Richard Hobson from Wicklow.

It has been listed as a company limited by guarantee, with two listed directors – Gill Hanlon and Hilary O’Brien.

Fees

Farmers who want to join the Emerald Isle Beef Producers will have to pay an entry fee of €100 and a €3/head levy on finished cattle which is to go towards the funding of the PO.

Eamon Corley told the Irish Farmers Journal that the PO will have to employ people.

“To run it right we will have to employ two people. Without spending money, we’re not going to do it right,” he said.

Subject to the market requirements of the PO, all members’ farms must be quality-assured and all feedstuffs must be quality-assured, the draft rules say.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that farmers who wish to join the Irish Beef Producers will be obliged to pay a non-refundable fee of €5/head for each animal traded through the group. The fee is set by its council and will be subject to annual review.

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Emerald Isle Beef Producers seeks Department approval