Twelve calf trucks were held up in Ireland this week as there was no lairage space in France for them, Seamus Scallan of Wicklow Calf Company told a Beef Plan Movement meeting in Glanmire on Thursday night.
We're going to be in dire straits over the lairages in France and issues with the boats
He said that he highlighted issues currently faced by calf exporters last October to the Department of Agriculture and to the IFA.
"I explained to them in four months’ time we're going to be in dire straits over the lairages in France and issues with the boats if nothing is done," he said.
"Now it's started this week. Twelve trucks couldn't leave Ireland because there was no place for them."
13 less boats
He said there's likely to be 13 less boats sailing in the coming week due to bad weather forecast.
Two other exporters confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that trucks were held up this week.
Cork exporter William O’Keeffe said that enough calves aren’t getting out and that lairage space is big issue.
The other exporter said that the current issue of lairage space “will continue for the next three weeks or so” and then ease off.
€100 less
Scallan also said: "When the coloured calves come this year, they are going to be €100 less than they were last year because there's no want for them here in this country with people getting nothing for beef and foreign buyers don't want them unless at a certain price."
He encouraged Bord Bia to put more efforts into finding more markets for export calves especially in eastern Europe.
Purchasing groups
Chaired by the Beef Plan Movement's Kerry chair Dermot O'Brien, the meeting was updated by him on the progress the movement has made to date.
He confirmed that purchasing groups were established in a number of counties and the forming of producer groups is under way.
€4.80/kg for U grade beef
The meeting was also addressed by American businessman Cary Languirand.
A resident in Ennis for over 25 years, he said the company he works for, Gloricent International, would pay €4.80/kg for U grade beef, €4.70/kg for R and €4.20 for sucklers.
They had five-year contracts ready to go which would, in time, see up to 300 containers of beef a month go to China.
This beef would be from animals under 30 months and was subject to plants getting official approval.
Tough questions
Unlike the movement's Monday night meeting in Caherciveen, where politicians dominated the question and answer session, this time it was the turn of farmers.
While the sentiment was firmly on the Beef Plan Movement side, some challenging questions were posed.
The meeting became a little fraught as questions were put to Mr Languirand as to the time frame of when he expects to operate, how would he pay for the beef and who was funding him.
Read more
Beef Plan Movement working on deals for its producer groups
Call for a limit on 'exorbitant' CAP payments
‘Minister must roll up his sleeves on live exports’ – Healy
Twelve calf trucks were held up in Ireland this week as there was no lairage space in France for them, Seamus Scallan of Wicklow Calf Company told a Beef Plan Movement meeting in Glanmire on Thursday night.
We're going to be in dire straits over the lairages in France and issues with the boats
He said that he highlighted issues currently faced by calf exporters last October to the Department of Agriculture and to the IFA.
"I explained to them in four months’ time we're going to be in dire straits over the lairages in France and issues with the boats if nothing is done," he said.
"Now it's started this week. Twelve trucks couldn't leave Ireland because there was no place for them."
13 less boats
He said there's likely to be 13 less boats sailing in the coming week due to bad weather forecast.
Two other exporters confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that trucks were held up this week.
Cork exporter William O’Keeffe said that enough calves aren’t getting out and that lairage space is big issue.
The other exporter said that the current issue of lairage space “will continue for the next three weeks or so” and then ease off.
€100 less
Scallan also said: "When the coloured calves come this year, they are going to be €100 less than they were last year because there's no want for them here in this country with people getting nothing for beef and foreign buyers don't want them unless at a certain price."
He encouraged Bord Bia to put more efforts into finding more markets for export calves especially in eastern Europe.
Purchasing groups
Chaired by the Beef Plan Movement's Kerry chair Dermot O'Brien, the meeting was updated by him on the progress the movement has made to date.
He confirmed that purchasing groups were established in a number of counties and the forming of producer groups is under way.
€4.80/kg for U grade beef
The meeting was also addressed by American businessman Cary Languirand.
A resident in Ennis for over 25 years, he said the company he works for, Gloricent International, would pay €4.80/kg for U grade beef, €4.70/kg for R and €4.20 for sucklers.
They had five-year contracts ready to go which would, in time, see up to 300 containers of beef a month go to China.
This beef would be from animals under 30 months and was subject to plants getting official approval.
Tough questions
Unlike the movement's Monday night meeting in Caherciveen, where politicians dominated the question and answer session, this time it was the turn of farmers.
While the sentiment was firmly on the Beef Plan Movement side, some challenging questions were posed.
The meeting became a little fraught as questions were put to Mr Languirand as to the time frame of when he expects to operate, how would he pay for the beef and who was funding him.
Read more
Beef Plan Movement working on deals for its producer groups
Call for a limit on 'exorbitant' CAP payments
‘Minister must roll up his sleeves on live exports’ – Healy
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