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HomeBeefPetition: Suckler cow cap will ‘decimate our industry forever’ – farmer
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Petition: Suckler cow cap will ‘decimate our industry forever’ – farmer

A suckler farmer has organised a petition to show support for the national suckler herd, to object to any potential cap.

The move comes after it emerged that, under the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, participants will not be able to increase numbers during the five-year contract.

Various farm organisations have since issued statements outlining their stance on the potential capping of the Irish suckler herd.

Mattie White contacted That’s Farming, to share his thoughts on the programme under the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CSP).

In this opinion piece, he described the scheme as “an insult to the ability of people who themselves as their families before them have been custodians to the minding of the land, and the rearing of world-renowned cattle, and beef as well as other livestock”.

The Wexford native, who has featured previously on That’s Farming, has since created a petition.

National suckler herd 

In a brief statement, on change.org, he said:

“We, the undersigned and custodians of the land, hereby call upon the minister of agriculture and his department, to retract any and all proposed limitations to be placed upon the national suckler herd under new CAP proposals.”

“We view this action to be totally unsustainable and anticompetitive towards the suckler farmers of Ireland and the communities they help sustain.”

“Irish grass-fed suckler beef is a world-renowned highly sought-after quality meat. A meat that is used by stakeholders and processors alike to establish new markets.

“This reputation has been built upon, through years of dedication and investment, in lines of breeding by our forefathers and their families giving us the type of pedigree and highly saleable stock we as farmers have today.”

“It is our firm belief if this proposed limit is carried into law, it will decimate our industry forever, and the communities it helps to support never again to recover.”

“Ireland, in 2017, had 1.081 million suckler cows. In 2020, it had 983,000 approximately (source: CSO figures). A decrease of approximately 10% in 3 years. If this limit is applied, numbers will decline further at an accelerated rate.”

To find out more information, see White’s petition page.

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