Details needed on beef support package - IFA

The €50m package for beef farmers has been broadly welcomed by the IFA, with the wait for the fine detail providing the only note of caution.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed announced the direct payment package last week, with the latter observing that COVID-19 had caused “ongoing market disturbance” in the Irish beef sector, along with Brexit and other factors.

“Farmers with finished animals have suffered a dual impact over recent months: reduced prices and a reduced kill. This support for the beef sector is an emergency response to a dramatic economic shock, to mitigate the worst Covid-19 economic impacts on these farm enterprises,” said Minister Creed.

The scheme has met the approval of IFA President Tim Cullinan, but he was eager to see the fine print. The Department will be engaging with stakeholders on "the details of the scheme to be developed". This must then be submitted to the EU for state aid approval under the Covid-19 Temporary State Aid Framework.

“The details of the scheme and the small print will be very important," cautioned Mr Cullinan. “IFA is set to meet with the Department of Agriculture next Monday to progress the scheme details further.

“IFA made detailed submissions to Government outlining the strong case for a direct payment support package and our officers around the country have worked hard lobbying politicians. This new package, along with the recent €35m BEEP-S scheme secured for suckler cows is badly needed,” he said.

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said the figures show winter finishers selling cattle have taken a beef price battering in the order of €200 per head, when compared to pre-Brexit and pre-COVID-19 prices.

Brendan Golden said IFA campaigned hard on this all spring and it was good to see a positive outcome.

“Without a direct payment package to make up, in some part, for these price losses, many winter finishers will not survive after this spring, which has been financially horrendous,” he said.

Minister Heather Humphreys donned her blue and white colours to say: “I hope that this support package will go some way to restoring the livelihoods of farmers in Monaghan and Cavan and their families.

“This support for the beef sector is an emergency response to a dramatic economic shock and to mitigate the worst Covid-19 economic impacts on these farm enterprises.

“Beef farming is a significant economic contributor to the local economy here locally and therefore is more important than ever in sustaining our communities as we recover from the economic effects of Covid-19.”

A meeting of the Beef Taskforce is planned for the end of June, to take place by video conference.