The Government’s blanket closure of all marts is disappointing, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) has said.
On Tuesday, the Government announced that all marts are to close in order to try and contain the spread of the coronavirus.
ICOS said the decision was disappointing “given that the marts that had remained open had put significant effort and finances into staying open in a safe way while still enabling farmers to trade their animals”.
Contact your mart manager
The body is urging any farmer wishing to buy or sell livestock to contact their local mart manager.
“We can still arrange for the marketing of animals, albeit as the Government has decreed, we cannot market them through the physical auction sales ring.
“Marts have significant contact databases of buyers and sellers and we have a long and proud history of honouring payments to farmers. We will continue to offer these services to farmers.
“ICOS mart managers will be considering how we can best serve our customers during this difficult time,” it said.
ANC retention periods
ICOS has called on the Government to now reconsider the ANC retention periods, as a matter of urgency, as if marts are now closed to a minimum of 19 April then complying with the current seven-month retention period will be a problem.
“This would allow farmers a longer time frame to purchase the animals needed to comply with the stocking density requirements of the scheme, greatly assisting their economic viability.
“Basic payment schemes and ANCs will never be more critical for farmers to comply with in order to secure these payments and [the Department] should prioritise this change immediately to alleviate this situation,” it said.
Read more
Marts to shut under new restrictions
Mart closures ‘another challenge to the trade’ – Cullinan
Essential retail outlets for farmers to remain open
The Government’s blanket closure of all marts is disappointing, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) has said.
On Tuesday, the Government announced that all marts are to close in order to try and contain the spread of the coronavirus.
ICOS said the decision was disappointing “given that the marts that had remained open had put significant effort and finances into staying open in a safe way while still enabling farmers to trade their animals”.
Contact your mart manager
The body is urging any farmer wishing to buy or sell livestock to contact their local mart manager.
“We can still arrange for the marketing of animals, albeit as the Government has decreed, we cannot market them through the physical auction sales ring.
“Marts have significant contact databases of buyers and sellers and we have a long and proud history of honouring payments to farmers. We will continue to offer these services to farmers.
“ICOS mart managers will be considering how we can best serve our customers during this difficult time,” it said.
ANC retention periods
ICOS has called on the Government to now reconsider the ANC retention periods, as a matter of urgency, as if marts are now closed to a minimum of 19 April then complying with the current seven-month retention period will be a problem.
“This would allow farmers a longer time frame to purchase the animals needed to comply with the stocking density requirements of the scheme, greatly assisting their economic viability.
“Basic payment schemes and ANCs will never be more critical for farmers to comply with in order to secure these payments and [the Department] should prioritise this change immediately to alleviate this situation,” it said.
Read more
Marts to shut under new restrictions
Mart closures ‘another challenge to the trade’ – Cullinan
Essential retail outlets for farmers to remain open
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