IFA welcomes Coveney intervention on meat plant ‘stalling’
FARM leaders have expressed serious concerns that the meat plants are trying to pull back on the main points agreed at the Beef Forum in relation to the dual pricing payments for cattle. Galway IFA Chairman, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that there was both ‘disappointment and anger’ among farmers at the attitude of the factories over the past two weeks.
“A central plank of the Beef Forum agreement was that dual pricing of animals based on such things as quality assurance and age would be removed.
“Yet the feedback we’re getting over recent weeks is that some of the factories are operating a 30 cent per kg. difference between animals that are quality assured and ones that are not,” said Pat Murphy.
He said that he welcomed the intervention of Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, on the issue last week – the Minister called on the factories to implement the Beef Forum agreement without any further delay.
Minister Coveney said that any delay in the implementation of the Beef Forum changes would only serve to undermine confidence between the parties after the major dispute that had arisen.
IFA President Eddie Downey has welcomed the statement from Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney that there can be no delay or sidestepping in the implementation of the outcomes from the Beef Forum.
He said IFA has made it very clear that the Minister must ensure that all of the agreed outcomes from the beef forum are fully implemented, in line with the timeframes laid down.
Mr. Downey said that the Beef Forum agreement was very clear with processors agreeing that there would be no dual base pricing for steers or heifers in individual processing plants, by breed, age or weight or quality assurance status
Henry Burns, IFA National Livestock Chairman, said that cattle prices remained stable with factories paying 5c to 10c over quoted prices.
The Department of Agriculture reported prices for early December showed the average R3 steer price at €3.94/kg and top prices paid of €4.04/4.05 including bonuses, said Henry Burns.
He said the Department heifer prices showed the factories paid an average of €4.07/kg for R3 heifers with top prices including bonuses of €4.19/kg.
“Farmers are also negotiating improved deals on over 30 month stock and bulls with flat prices of €3.90 to €4.00/kg being paid,” said Henry Burns.