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MEAT factories have hit back at claims that Irish farmers are not receiving the market value for beef exported to Britain, as a stand-off on cattle price gathers pace across the country.
While Irish base prices have hardened to €3.85/kg for bullocks and €3.90/kg for heifers, factories are struggling to secure supplies this week as bigger finishers hold out for €4/kg.
The differential in finished cattle prices between Britain and Ireland, which stands at over €1/kg or around €300/hd, continues to cause difficulties on the ground for meat factories, with finishers convinced that more can and will be paid for beef.
March 10, 2021 10:01 am
The initial findings of a comprehensive evaluation of the Irish beef sector in an independent report by Grant Thornton have shown that farmers receive 80% of total sales revenue earned by processors, according to Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
The findings were presented at yesterday’s Beef Market Taskforce meeting and were welcomed by MII members for what they describe as “exposing the false claims made during the 2019 beef blockades”.
The report was commissioned by the government in the aftermath of the 2019 beef protests.
“During those blockades, false assertions were made and prominently circulated that farmers only get €2 for every €10 spent on beef by a consumer.
Initial findings of a Beef Taskforce report shows that farmers receive 80pc of revenue generated from Irish beef sales, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has stated.
Speaking after the eighth meeting of the taskforce, the meat processor representative entity contended that “false claims made during the 2019 blockages have been exposed” based on the preliminary results of a Grant Thornton evaluation which were presented to stakeholders yesterday.
MII went on to say it supports the appointment of a National Food Ombudsman, adding that the need for current procurement specifications “is driven by market and customer demand”.
On the findings of the Government-commissioned report, Cormac Healy senior director for MII said: “We welcome the Grant Thornton exercise as it provides independent expert confirmation that farmers receive 80pc of the sales revenue processors generate from the sale of beef.
Senior director for MII Cormac Healy. \ Dave Ruffles
The initial findings of an evaluation of the Irish beef sector in a report by Grant Thornton has shown that farmers receive 80% of total sales revenue earned by processors, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has said.
These findings were presented at Tuesday’s beef taskforce meeting and were welcomed by MII members “for exposing the false claims made during the 2019 beef blockades.”
“During the 2019 illegal blockades, false assertions were made and prominently circulated that farmers only get €2 for every €10 spent on beef by a consumer,” an MII spokesperson said.
“The report was commissioned by the Government in the aftermath of the blockades, which crippled the industry for almost eight weeks and undermined the sector’s reputation.”