'Hill sheep farming has to be recognised as a public good'

Lack of profitability was the main issue highlighted at the IFA national hill sheep farming forum took place on Monday evening in Westport, Co Mayo.

Before the forum started, delegates visited Joe Scahill’s leased farm just outside Westport.

Scahill is a local hill sheep farmer, renowned in the area for the excellent management of his hill sheep flock. With better breeding and management, he has increased average lamb carcase weight by 4kg. He has moved away from the store lamb trade and diversified to producing more ewe lamb replacements for lowland flocks and finished lambs.

Despite the improvements, he still finds that his farm income is poor. “It’s sad to think that I am producing 1,000 lambs per year and turning over 30 store cattle and I still have to work off farm,” said Scahill.

These sentiments regarding low incomes were echoed at the forum later on in Westport town. “In 2008, farmers saw a €50m cut to their income and that needs to be restored in full,” one farmer demanded.

“We are taking at least €10 less for our store lambs this year. We need at least €10/ewe payment to make up for it,” another farmer said.

IFA national hill farming chair Flor McCarthy argued that the Government, Fáilte Ireland and others have to realise that hill sheep farmers are providing a public good by grazing and managing the hills. He said land will be abandoned and let go wild if no support is given.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring made assurances that hill sheep farmers have his support. “I will work with Minister Creed to get the best possible outcome,” he said.

Markets for hill lamb were also topical on the night. Declan Fennell from Bord Bia said that the hill sheep sector accounted for 45% of the national ewe flock (2016 census records).

“I realise the importance of the sector as a public good for the management of hills but we need to have a collective ambition on how to increase weight and fat cover of hill lambs to create a more saleable product,” he explained.

Kildare Chilling Company’s Seamus Finucane said diversity is key in the processing world to allow access to more countries. “We can’t rely on carcases any more because that limits our market. Greater market access means we can turn around to the French man and say ‘no’.We can do better elsewhere,” he explained.

IFA president Joe Healy launched the IFA’s 10-point plan for hill sheep farming. The plan emphasises that sheep farmers are not prepared to carry the €2m cost of EID and states that Minister Creed must fund the additional cost involved by €1 per head.

It also states that farmers selling store lambs destined for slaughter should not be penalised with the additional costs of two tags. In the plan, there is a call for an additional €5 per ewe payment from the underspend in the Sheep Welfare Scheme and extra national resources.