Thomas Lyons 
Irish farmers are struggling to find an incentive to finish their cattle earlier due to stagnant beef prices, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA). Edmund Graham, the association’s beef committee chair, stated that farmers were receiving €5.10/kg for heifers and €5/kg for steers in mid-December. However, since then, prices have not increased enough to encourage farmers to finish their cattle earlier. Despite a decrease in throughput numbers and factories operating on a four-day week, market demand for beef remains strong. The ICSA had hoped this would result in farmers receiving a fairer price, but prices have remained stagnant.
Graham pointed to “conservative estimates” from Teagasc, which suggested that prices would need to be around €6/kg by early spring to cover the basic costs of production. However, prices have been languishing around €5.20-€5.30 for months, despite repeated assurances that prices would increase significantly in early spring to offset inflated winter feeding costs. Graham argued that any extra money spent on trying to finish cattle earlier would have been a waste, as farmers would not have achieved the price they needed to justify the investment.
The ICSA beef chair called on meat factories and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to engage in a real debate with farmers on how to provide sustainable prices for winter finishers. Graham stressed that environmental sustainability cannot be achieved by ignoring economic sustainability considerations.
Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called for the introduction of a new €100m aid package to support beef farmers affected by Brexit. The IFA’s national livestock chair, Brendan Golden, stated that Brexit had caused significant disruption to the beef sector, with prices falling by up to 30% in some cases. Golden argued that the proposed aid package would provide much-needed support to farmers who had been hit hard by Brexit.
The IFA has also called for the introduction of a new €50m scheme to support the live export of calves. The scheme would provide financial support to farmers who export calves to other countries, helping to boost the sector and provide a new source of income for Irish farmers. Golden argued that the scheme would help to create a more sustainable beef sector, providing farmers with new opportunities to grow and develop their businesses.
In response to these calls, the Irish government has announced a new €50m aid package for beef farmers affected by Brexit. The package includes a range of measures designed to support farmers, including a new €40m beef environmental efficiency pilot scheme, which will provide financial support to farmers who adopt more environmentally sustainable farming practices. The scheme will be open to farmers who produce beef and dairy, and will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil health.
The government has also announced a new €5m scheme to support the live export of calves, which will provide financial support to farmers who export calves to other countries. The scheme will help to boost the sector and provide a new source of income for Irish farmers.
In conclusion, Irish farmers are struggling to find an incentive to finish their cattle earlier due to stagnant beef prices. While market demand for beef remains strong, prices have not increased enough to encourage farmers to finish their cattle earlier. The ICSA has called on meat factories and the DAFM to engage in a real debate with farmers on how to provide sustainable prices for winter finishers. Meanwhile, the IFA has called for the introduction of a new €100m aid package to support beef farmers affected by Brexit, as well as a new €50m scheme to support the live export of calves. The Irish government has responded by announcing a new €50m aid package for beef farmers affected by Brexit, which includes a range of measures designed to support farmers and promote more environmentally sustainable farming practices.
