ICSA seek Brexit impact support for Irish beef

ICSA president Patrick Kent has welcomed comments by EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan that sets out some detail on how the EU Commission will support farmers in the event of no deal Brexit but the association is insisting that beef farmers need help, deal or no deal.

 

"ICSA spoke to Commissioner Hogan on Tuesday in Brussels and made the case that beef farmers are already taking a massive hit on Brexit. We estimate the cost of Brexit impact on beef price is already costing Irish beef farmers some €4 million a week on the prime cattle kill alone with knock on impact for calf and store producers. ICSA has asked Commissioner Hogan to make immediate representations to the budget commissioner for a support package for the beef farmers who are the most affected by Brexit, regardless of whether it's a no deal Brexit or some other outcome. The ongoing uncertainty around Brexit with the never ending confusion in London is doing a massive amount of harm to the beef farming sector with prices now way below the cost of production.”   

 

Beef prices at € 3.70/kg for steers compare badly with the average annual price for R3 steers of €4.20/kg that was available in 2015. In turn the average 2015 price was a lot lower than the peak €4.40/kg available 2013.   “ICSA argues that the cost of production is now at least €5/kg when labour is costed. If the Brexit uncertainty continues to keep prices down at current levels, Irish beef farmers will not survive.”