Tipp's Cullinan slams new beef price

The 10cent/kilo price increase from the Goodman factories is meagre, totally inadequate and, in any case, too little too late for beef farmers as the bulk of the autumn cattle kill is now over, IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan has stated.

Mr Cullinan said that the increase, which came into effect on Monday, should be four times what’s coming if it is to put Irish farmers on a par with European counterparts. Even Brazilian farmers have seen an uplift, he said, while Irish prices are close to being among the lowest in the world for the highest quality beef in the world.  Mr Cullinan stated that farmers here have lost €50m already due to the price being kept on the floor.
“The price increase should be more like 40c/kilo rather than the 10c/kilo announced by Goodman,” said the Toomevara-based farmer.
 “I am demanding an immediate beef price of €4/kilo and I am challenging Larry Goodman and his company to pay Irish farmers what the market is delivering in other countries for some time now.
“Larry Goodman’s company has at least another 30c/kilo to go to compete with strengthening cattle prices across the EU and the UK.”
He continued:  “The delay in increasing prices has cost Ireland’s 100,000 livestock farmers over €50m in income losses since September. The autumn kill has ended and the expected 10cent/kilo increase is too little too late.
“Beef farmers in the UK, the EU and even Brazil have seen a massive uplift in prices for many weeks, while beef factories in Ireland stalled any increases to Irish farmers over the past 10 weeks. The meagre 10 cent/kilo increase will do nothing for Irish farmers, who are receiving close to the lowest cattle prices in the world for the highest quality beef in the world,” said Mr Cullinan.

VOTING DETAILS
The two IFA presidential candidates nominated along with Mr Cullinan are Angus Woods Wicklow,and John Coughlan, North Cork.The two IFA Deputy presidential candidates nominated are Thomas Cooney, Cavan, and Brian Rushe, Kildare/West Wicklow.  IFA is encouraging all of our members to attend to have their say by voting at their branch AGM.
The North Tipperary AGMs all start at 8pm and some have taken place already. The remaining ones are Thursday, December 12th: Moycarkey Borris – Muintir na Tire Hall; Lorrha – GAA Hall; Aglish – Community Hall; Toomevara – Community Hall.