Following on from the round table discussions on the Beef crisis the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association have welcomed the commitment given at the meeting by Bord Bia to assist the sector in developing a suckler beef brand. This proposal which was included in the final draft on the insistence of the INHFA delegation is, stated their spokesperson Brendan Joyce “critical as it is the first time we have had an acknowledgement of the need to recognise this brand."

In addition to this, the organisation also welcomed the commitment by Bord Bia to seek EU funding of €3m in delivering a promotion campaign for suckler beef in key European markets and “in the event of the EU funding not being realised we need a commitment from the national exchequer to fund the proposal.” added Mr Joyce.

Currently stated Joyce “while these talks have focused on delivering improved outcomes for finished stock which is something we are happy to support, we also need to ensure better outcomes for suckler farmers that may not be selling through the factories.”

Suckler farmers he continued “are on their knees and feel attacked from all sides which explain the very high level of frustration as illustrated through recent protests.” These farmers he added “need to be given a clear plan that can deliver an improved return which can be achieved through the re-branding of our naturally reared suckler beef.”

He concluded by pointing to increased public awareness around climate change concerns and animal husbandry and stated “how the re-branding of our suckler beef can address both of these concerns while delivering for our farmers.”

The President of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) Colm O’Donnell is calling for a mediator to be appointed to break the deadlock position currently unfolding between the Beef Plan movement, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

On the one side you have the Beef Plan holding a peaceful protest picketing a number of factories and MII putting a precondition to suspend the picket prior to the onset of talks. Added to this the Minister for Agriculture has offered round-table talks to the Beef plan but again conditional on a temporary lifting of the picket, which according to the media is being rejected.

If this is the case then a professional mediator must be appointed immediately to meet all parties, set terms of reference for talks to commence as the current impasse is having a devastating impact on all fronts.

Sheep farmers by default have become embroiled in the dispute particularly in the North West where you have the highest number of new season lambs now fully fit for Slaughter and in danger of falling out of factory specification on weight and fat score. While these farmers continue to support and respect the picket, as a matter of urgency these farmers genuinely need to have access to the market without delay. This is unacceptable given that sheep plants in other parts of the country are unaffected.

In conclusion the farmers Leader again reiterated that a mediator be put in place without preconditions to set terms of reference for dialogue to commence without further delay.

Following detailed analysis of the recently published report by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) INHFA President Colm O’Donnell has called on Minister Richard Bruton to suspend the advisory committee pending a review. In recommending a possible cut of up to 52% in suckler cow numbers while giving the dairy sector a free pass O’Donnell stated “that the credibility of the CCAC has being damaged and we now need to reassess all aspects relating to this committee including their science.”

In addressing the findings from the report O’Donnell stressed the need to clarify the analysis conducted in reaching the final conclusions. With regard to our suckler sector he questioned “if there are any Irish studies conducted in relation to green house gas (GHG) emissions on suckler systems that also factors in what carbon these lands sequesters and if there are similar studies for our sheep and dairy sectors.”

With regard to the dairy sector he added “how we need a full explanation on how emissions in this sector are calculated and if they include the full life cycle of the dairy cow or is it only based on milk solids produced through her lactation periods. In addition to this we need to see if, other embedded emissions generated throughout dairy products total life cycle are included such as the feeding of soya bean, higher electricity costs involved in cooling, transportation costs and production costs of any final product that should also factor in packaging, disposal and recycling.”

The contradictory nature of the report continued O’Donnell “is very evident in its call for a reduction in the national suckler herd to address an issue caused mainly by the dairy sector that being the reduction of GHG emissions to help combat localised environmental degradation on farms where intensive production and high ammonia emissions are polluting the atmosphere.”

Another issue in this report the organisation finds unacceptable is their proposal for a reduction in the suckler sector based on its profitability. On this O’Donnell first pointed to the organisations 10 point plan to develop our suckler sector. In this he stated “how just one aspect of this, namely the rebranding of our suckler beef to recognise a naturally reared product with a lower carbon footprint has the potential to address many of the issues around profitability.”

In addition to this he questioned why profitability is even being used and suggested “that coal is still the most financially efficient means of producing electricity but no one is suggesting this as a viable option in terms of addressing the climate change challenge.”

The farm leader concluded by, reiterating his call for the suspension of the CCAC pending a full assessment of all facts relating to agriculture.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have engaged with the Department of Agriculture, highlighting the need for flexibility and exemptions to the proposed requirements for a 5% reduction in organic manure produced on Suckler farms. This is a requirement in order to qualify for a payment in the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM), according to President Colm O’Donnell.

The Minister for Agriculture now needs to clarify whether or not suckler farmers with legally binding minimum stocking densities relating to the Nature Directives and Commonage Framework Plans(CFP) and farmers participating in the Glas Commonage Management Plan (CMP) will be required to destock numbers in order to meet the conditionality attached to BEAM.

Mr O Donnell stated "it would be unacceptable if suckler farmers are discriminated from joining the temporary exceptional aid measure because of being unable to meet the proposed criteria due to legally binding stocking minimums for existing schemes. Unless Minister Creed includes flexibilities in drawing up the terms and conditions of the new scheme, these farmers simply will be unable to apply".

Concluding the INHFA President said "I genuinely feel that funding draw down will be left behind unless all suckler farmers can apply and a further insurance the Minister should consider is a top up payment on the first 10 cows for all participants so that no money will be sent back to Brussels ".

In responding to a recent report calling for a reduction in suckler cow numbers the INHFA have stated how it is totally unacceptable that the suckler sector is targeted while the dairy sector that has seen massive growth gets a free pass.

National Vice President John Moran outlined how climate change will be a major factor for our farming sector as we try and reduce our carbon emissions. However stated Moran "in targeting the suckler sector will further undermine many parts of rural Ireland and fail to deliver positive outcomes in terms of climate change and biodiversity. "

In opposing the findings of the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) review Moran stated "how the report rewards a very intensive farming model that is unsustainable ahead of an extensive farming model that delivers for rural Ireland and the environment as illustrated in the Burren." John also asks the question " Has Climate change now become a factor of economics, i thought climate change was about the environment and doing what was best for to protect and enhance our biodiversity.

He concluded by stating "how the INHFA have adopted the policy of fairness not favouritism in relation to Irish Agriculture as this is what we strive for. With this in mind we cannot understand how a Climate Change Advisory Council can effectively write a report undermining the farmers that are actively trying to sustain the environment on land that off sets the greenhouse gas emissions of other larger so called ‘productive industries’ like the dairy industry"