Future MEPs quizzed on farm issues
THE growth of the Beef Plant Movement (BPM) over the past year has highlighted the fears of cattle farmers across the West of Ireland for the future of their enterprises, according to Fianna Fáil European Election candidate Anne Rabbitte.
She told a meeting of Euro Election candidates with BPM that there was now a growing number of farmers who felt that their livelihoods were at risk due to the ongoing income price crisis in the beef sector.
“All these farmers are looking for is to ensure that they have a fair standard of living and this can be easily achieved if the Government would commit to introducing fair trading policies for their produce.
“It’s important farmers see that their work is worthwhile and they’re not being undercut or undersold while others unfairly prosper. A recent survey from Beef Plan found that many farmers are of the belief there’s a cartel in operation and that price fixing is an issue. More transparency is needed,” she said.
Galway BPM Chair, Kevin O’Brien, told the Farming Tribune that while he had expected more candidates to have turned up for their meeting in Athlone on Thursday night, he felt that they had got a fair hearing.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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