This morning.
Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
A line of tractors blocking the road to Merrion Square with placards accusing Bord Bia of betraying rural Ireland as part of Day 2 of a farmer’s protest in Dublin.
This morning.
Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
A line of tractors blocking the road to Merrion Square with placards accusing Bord Bia of betraying rural Ireland as part of Day 2 of a farmer’s protest in Dublin.
‘sup?
This afternoon.
Donabate, County Dublin,
Sheep dog Jess (above) among farmers blocking trucks from entering the Tesco central distribution centre to pick up produce for delivery for food outlets – part of the ongoing farmers’ campaign for an increase in beef prices.
Farmers protesting outside a Lidl distribution centre in Ballyhea, Co Cork
This afternoon.
Further to this morning’s farmers’ protest outside a Lidl distribution centre in Ballyhea, Co Cork this morning…
Claire McCormack, in Agriland, reports:
Meat processor ABP has confirmed that it will increase its base price for cattle next Monday, December 9.
AgriLand understands that a minimum increase of 5c/kg is expected.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Friday, December 6, a spokesperson for ABP confirmed the move, whilst also criticising the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) for staging a series of protests on the beef price issue over the last 48 hours.
The spokesperson said: “The company is at a complete loss to understand why Joe Healy, the outgoing IFA president, pursued a course of irresponsible, disruptive and illegal action at retail distribution centres this week.
“The Beef Taskforce met on Tuesday and Joe Healy and the IFA were fully aware that market indications pointed towards a cattle price increase in Ireland. This was reported extensively.”
ABP to increase base price for cattle next week (Agriland)
Earlier: Beefing Up
Pic: C103
This morning.
Naas, County Kildare.
Members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) started a 12-hour beef price protest at an Aldi distribution centre. The farmers are blocking the exit and entrance gates of the centre.
Farmers blockade Aldi distribution centre over beef prices (RTÉ)
Earlier….
Lorry trying to make it past the protesters with the driver saying it’s a container of dry goods – farmers not willing to let them pass @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/6Sv0ZtIL6O
— Barry Cassidy (@BarryJCassidy) December 5, 2019
Gardaí are now directing traffic on the main road with lorry tail backs stretching for over a kilometre now @farmersjournal. Farmers intend to stay here for up to 12 hours pic.twitter.com/aLeI9uzZQt
— Barry Cassidy (@BarryJCassidy) December 5, 2019
The @IFAmedia protest continues here at @Aldi_Ireland. A number of lorries have given up and moved on. However the IFA say this is just the first of these blockade that they will hold over the coming days if beef price doesn’t rise @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/BwyyXO2e5h
— Barry Cassidy (@BarryJCassidy) December 5, 2019
Um.
Farmers blockade Aldi distribution centre over beef prices (RTÉ)
Pics: Barry Cassidy and IFA (third pic)
Members of the Irish Farmers Association protesting outside Meadow Meats in Rathdowney in County Laois last month.
What is their beef?
We have literally no idea.
But we know a newspaper [The Irish Farmers Journal] that might.
Why are beef farmers protesting?
irish Farmers Journal: The simple answer is they are unhappy with the price being paid to them by beef processing factories.Recent analysis by Teagasc shows that farmers need a base price of at least €4.00/kg to be profitable. In the last week of October, farmers were receiving a base price of €3.65/kg for steers and €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg for heifers from beef factories. This means they are producing animals for slaughter below the cost of production.
When did the beef crisis start?
Beef prices began to slip from above €4 mark in late 2013. The problem became most acutely obvious in January of this year when factories began to impose penalties on carcases that were out of spec.
How does the Irish situation compare with the UK?
The difference between the beef price paid in the Republic of Ireland and the UK has reached a 10-year high.Take for example an R4 steer carcase weighing 360kg. Bord Bia analysis shows the UK farmer is being paid €369, or €1.03/kg more than the Irish farmer.
Why are beef farmers selling “out-of-spec” cattle though?
Factories insist their retail clients want beef animals finished at certain carcase weights so that beef cuts fit neatly into the plastic trays that we are familiar with seeing on supermarket shelves. Generally, price penalties can be imposed on carcases that are considered to be too big, i.e. carcases that weigh over 400kg, and therefore not within specification. The specifications over recent years have not changed. However, whether factories impose price penalties on “out-of-spec” carcases has.
It is clear that once cattle numbers increased, processors used carcase specifications as tools to reduce the prices paid for cattle, simply by adhering more strictly to the specifications and introducing a range of price penalties that were not previously imposed. For example, cattle aged over 30 months were penalised with a lower base price.
In most factories, price penalties of 10c/kg are being imposed, (a lot of price penalties are now being wavered such is the demand – carcase limits of 400kg are now gone to 430kg in some plants while others are not imposing right up to 470kg and even 500kg in places) along with the 12c/kg loss in bonus under Bord Bia’s Quality assurance scheme.
Take for example a 420kg carcase: If price penalties aren’t imposed by the factory (which has been the case largely during 2013), at current prices, €1,533 would be paid to the farmer. If penalties are imposed for that carcase being overweight, then €1,440 is paid to the farmer – a price cut of €93. It came as a big surprise to many farmers earlier this year that factories were imposing penalties for out-of-spec carcases.
What happens next?
The IFA have vowed that they will take more action from next week onwards if beef prices do not begin to rise.Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has convened another “beef forum” meeting involving all stakeholders in the beef sector for November 12. Minister Coveney has said he expects significant progress to be made on the market price and specification issues in advance of this meeting.With prices rising in the UK by 30c/kg in the last few weeks, it will take a similar price rise here to appease farmers.
FIGHT!
More here: Understanding The Beef Crisis (IrishFarmersJournal)
(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
Thanks Maura Fay