Beef imports into the EU should be suspended immediately as the beef price crisis deepens, the IFA has said.
It has called on European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan to use its “red button” mechanism to stop South American beef entering Europe.
South American imports into the EU have averaged 22,000t per month throughout 2018 and into 2019.
The call comes as Irish cattle prices approach a five-year low. This week’s base price of €3.60/kg is down 10% on last year, according to the IFA.
Prices down
Bord Bia this week revealed that R3 steer prices have fallen 24c/kg or 6% to date in 2019, with R3 young bulls down 10% and O3 cull cows down 16%.
Young bull finishers are now losing €9m per week compared with last year, with prices back 45c/kg or €200/head less than last year. Factories blame the price cuts on increased supply across Europe and lower consumer demand.
IFA president Joe Healy has also called on Commissioner Hogan to make €1bn available immediately for direct aid and market supports, in light of the severe losses being incurred by farmers.
“With cattle prices on the floor and sterling reaching new lows of 90p to the euro, urgent action is needed to deal with the crisis in the EU beef sector,” he said.
In Strasbourg to lobby Irish MEPs and EU officials, Healy said: “We are being constantly told that the Commission has the tools to address market disturbance. It’s time to start using them.”
Read more
Brexit fund should not be diverted to dairy – ICSA
€100m BEAM scheme: what does it mean for my farm?
Beef trends: bull throughput reducing but slowly
Beef imports into the EU should be suspended immediately as the beef price crisis deepens, the IFA has said.
It has called on European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan to use its “red button” mechanism to stop South American beef entering Europe.
South American imports into the EU have averaged 22,000t per month throughout 2018 and into 2019.
The call comes as Irish cattle prices approach a five-year low. This week’s base price of €3.60/kg is down 10% on last year, according to the IFA.
Prices down
Bord Bia this week revealed that R3 steer prices have fallen 24c/kg or 6% to date in 2019, with R3 young bulls down 10% and O3 cull cows down 16%.
Young bull finishers are now losing €9m per week compared with last year, with prices back 45c/kg or €200/head less than last year. Factories blame the price cuts on increased supply across Europe and lower consumer demand.
IFA president Joe Healy has also called on Commissioner Hogan to make €1bn available immediately for direct aid and market supports, in light of the severe losses being incurred by farmers.
“With cattle prices on the floor and sterling reaching new lows of 90p to the euro, urgent action is needed to deal with the crisis in the EU beef sector,” he said.
In Strasbourg to lobby Irish MEPs and EU officials, Healy said: “We are being constantly told that the Commission has the tools to address market disturbance. It’s time to start using them.”
Read more
Brexit fund should not be diverted to dairy – ICSA
€100m BEAM scheme: what does it mean for my farm?
Beef trends: bull throughput reducing but slowly
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: