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Beef farmers have already incurred losses of \u20ac101m since last autumn because of the effects of Brexit, an Oireachtas committee has heard.<\/p>\nBeef farmers have already incurred losses of \u20ac101m since last autumn because of the effects of Brexit, an Oireachtas committee has heard.<\/p>\n
Irish Farmers Association (IFA) president Joe Healy said his organization has calculated that \u201cangry and frustrated\u201d beef farmers have already incurred the \u201cunacceptable\u201d losses since last October, and are crying out for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cFarmers cannot afford to carry this loss and it must be made good by the Government and EU Commission,\u201d Mr Healy said.<\/p>\n
He believes large retailers and meat plants have taken advantage of anxiety around Brexit, which has resulted in a lack of competition for Irish farmers, affecting prices and income for small farms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had previously closed the gap with the average EU price for beef, but with Brexit it has fallen back, due to a severe lack of competition, and powerful retailers dictate cattle price at the expense of the farmer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe minister (for agriculture Michael Creed) constantly reminds farmers he can\u2019t get involved with beef prices, but the Government has a responsibility to ensure a competitive market.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was also proposed that Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments be increased in line with inflation, as income dependency on the payments ran at between 96% and 114% of family farm incomes.<\/p>\n
Mr Healy said the Government\u2019s FoodWise 2025 strategy has failed to address the income crisis for beef farmers and will have to be revisited.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the strategy has delivered substantial growth in the volume and value of beef output, it has not worked for farmers,\u201d he told the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at data over the last seven years, beef exports have increased by 360 million euro, or 19%, but there has been no increase in cattle prices or farm incomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers\u2019 Association (ICMSA), Pat McCormack, told the committee that farming families are living in fear of inspections.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk about transparency but the truth is the primary producer has no confidence in higher up the chain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCosts are another significant issue and it\u2019s escalating. Another cost is veterinary medicines, farmers are saying now they will go across to the six counties (Northern Ireland) to buy their animal medicines.<\/p>\n
People are crossing the border as there is a significant price difference.<\/p>\n
He added that Brexit has added to cost worries as farmers are buying livestock at a reduced rate, fearing losses due to the falling price of beef and dairy: \u201cBrexit has lead to massive loss of confidence, farmers are hedging their bets, there\u2019s a fear, they lost their shirts in 2018, they don\u2019t have it to lose in 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
He called on the Government to address the income crisis at farm level, and implement policies to deliver profitability to beef and livestock farmers.<\/p>\n
The Government has been caught in a row with some rural TDs over the beef industry, as Fine Gael attempts to centre policies around action on climate change.<\/p>\n
The move towards eating less meat and dairy has previously been labelled by independent TD Danny Healy-Rae as an \u201cattack on rural Ireland\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe possibility of replacing cows with trees is tempting, but from previous experience we know quick fixes rarely work,\u201d said Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association director Of operations Vincent Roddy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the INHFA we believe we can have our cows and carbon sequestration, this can be achieved with better supports for agri-forestry to help offset any increased emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n