Beef Plan Movement meet to discuss talks outcome

Though talks on the future of the beef industry have concluded many parties involved are unhappy with the outcome. Talks to resolve the dispute between farmers and the meat industry over the price of beef and the future of the beef sector here concluded in the early hours of last Wednesday morning with a document provisionally accepted by all sides

The beef talks at the Department of Agriculture’s Backweston Campus in Celbridge, Kildare saw members of the Beef Plan Movement; the Irish Cattle Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA); Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA); Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA); and the Irish Natura Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA); Macra na Feirme; Meat Industry Ireland (MII); and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) negotiate the issue.

Discussions began after several weeks of pickets outside meat plants around the country by members of the Beef Plan Movement. These led to the closure of some plants, a reduction of processing capacity in others and the temporary lay-off of many workers.

Farmers' groups said that while some progress was made, the main issue over pricing remained unresolved. The deal includes a commitment to review how cattle are graded by factories, and the specifications demanded of farmers and producers.

Beef Plan Movement representatives said that they will bring the document back to their members, but will have to assess it in the "cold light of day".

After the meeting the Meat Industry Ireland (MII) issued a statement on comments made prior to negotiations. In it they said: “It is important to set the record straight on this issue. Suggestions that farmers receive 20% of every €10 spent by consumers of beef in retail outlets are inaccurate. In fact, the producer share of retail beef prices is closer to two-thirds.”

They said the same pattern of producer share of retail market price is evident in other EU markets where Irish beef sales predominate.

Though concluded not all parties are happy with where they ended. IFA Presidential Candidate and National Treasurer Tim Cullinan said the beef talks were “a damp squib” and had “failed to address the very serious penalties being imposed by ABP, Dawn Meats and Kepak on beef farmers”. The IFA presidential hopeful said such penalties cost over €30 million per year.

Beef Plan Movement representatives are meeting this evening [Friday August 23] to discuss what the next step should be. Chairman Michael Rafferty accepted that there was disquiet among farm representatives at the talks with the way the talks concluded: “Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath and Dublin are in a specific region. The committee members for that region meet tonight to decide on what we will do going forward.”

“We will be tabling a motion to have farmer meetings early next week. In general there is a feeling that the concessions were not enough to address the problems for beef farmers,” Michael said.

 

 

The measures agreed include:

 

Cattle must spend the last 70 days unbroken on a Bord Bia-certified farm prior to slaughter to avail of a Quality Assured rating and an associated bonus. This 70 days residency is to be reduced to 60 days following the talks.

Teagasc is to revert by end August with specifications for a study on a review of the gird, with input from industry and Bord Bia, with any revisions subject to consideration by farmers and processors.

Bord Bia agreed to a number of beef promotional measures in key EU markets.

An independent study of price composition along the supply chain will be commissioned by the department.

The Department of Agriculture has agreed to introduce an appeal system for carcass classification in manual grading factories.

An expert report on new technology in mechanical carcass classification will be considered by the minister and published in the near future.

Meat Industry Ireland has agreed to allow farmers opt out of paying insurance costs for animals delivered to factories.

The requirement for an independent grocery regulator. This will be considered as part of the public consultation process.