Irish Beef & Lamb Association – IBLA – has called on the Minister for Agriculture to reconvene the Beef Market Taskforce next month.
The group said the taskforce is “the only forum available to farmers to have their grievances aired concerning tactics in the meat industry”.
Reconvene Beef Taskforce
In a statement, an IBLA spokesperson said:
“No sooner was it said in July that it may be the last taskforce meeting when it was mooted that there was a unilateral withdrawal of feedlot buyers from marts.”
“This, in turn, has filtered through to an unjustified price pull by meat factories. IBLA sees this as opportunistic and a strategic attempt to further reduce cattle prices going into the weeks and months ahead.”
“We are consistently told that the UK market is our main market for beef, with 50% of our beef exports entering the UK market annually.”
“From IBLA observations, we can see that consistent price increases for beef in the UK, a smaller pool of cattle being currently available, and an increased demand for and consumption of Irish beef, the reduction of ten cents by factories is unjustifiable.”
IBLA believes factory representatives and Bord Bia must attend the next taskforce meeting to “explain this manipulation of the marketplace”.
The spokesperson said this is a disadvantage to farmers and “an advantage to others” along the supply chain.
They stated it is “abundantly” evident that there is a need for an independent meat regulator with statutory powers to police Ireland’s meat industry.
Convergence
Earlier this week, the group shared its views on convergence in the following article:
Under the 85% convergence model, cattle rearing farmers will benefit the most and also under the 100% convergence model.
This sector has always been at a disadvantage. It is now time for these farmers to voice what they want.
We live in a democratic society, and as many farmers as possible should register for the town hall meetings, which Minister McConalogue is running on August 10th, 11th & 12th.
IBLA suggests that as a farmer, you request a ballot on the options for convergence and front loading.
Read the full article.
