Tension between suckler and dairy farmers was highlighted at the Irish Farmers Journal farm leaders’ live debate on Tuesday night as ICMSA president Pat McCormack clashed a number of times with his ICSA counterpart, Dermot Kelleher.

Kelleher called for a 13% clawback of Pillar I funds to deliver a €300/head suckler cow coupled payment, as well as €35/ewe payment and an environmental programme.

He cited the 2019 Teagasc National Farm Survey as justification for coupled payments.

“Dairy farmers averaged €280 (per ha) and suckler farmers averaged €240 (per ha) in direct payments,” he said.

“The dairy man is 30% dependent on direct payments for his income. Our members are 150% dependent,” he said. ?“Honest to God, that can’t be fair. The only way to get that money is to take 13% instead of the CRISS , which is a blunt instrument.”

Unfortunately, some suckler cows are uneconomical

Pat McCormack questioned if the poor efficiency of many suckler cows was to blame for the low income levels in suckler farming. “One would really want to analyse the performance,” he said. “Unfortunately, some suckler cows are uneconomical,” he added.

McCormack also highlighted the fact that the ICSA is now looking for coupled payments, having strongly pushed for decoupling under the Fischler reforms 20 years ago.

The vexed question of dairy beef also was a source of disagreement.

It’s not practical to rear them yokes

McCormack said he saw “merit” in promoting dairy beef. “We’re not talking about the Jersey cross here,” he said.

Kelleher insisted he “could not in my conscience” recommend dairy beef to his members. “I couldn’t ask my members to rear a calf that’s minus on carcase, that’s minus on conformation. It’s not practical to rear them yokes,” he said, adding that the stocking rates required for profitable dairy-beef systems were too high for most extensive suckler holdings.

Vincent Roddy, the INHFA president-elect, agreed on that point.