Several farm organisations have confirmed that they will be involved in a major protest this month against the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement.

The protest is being held in Athlone, Co. Westmeath and is scheduled for Saturday, January 10.

The action is being organised by Independent Ireland, and has been described as a "national community protest" by Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice.

Several farm organisation have confirmed to Agriland that they would be at the protest in an official capacity to support the anti-Mercosur deal message.

Francie Gorman, president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said that the IFA had confirmed to Independent Ireland prior to Christmas that the organisation would be represented at the protest.

A spokesperson for the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) told Agriland that the organisation would be participating, and senior officers of the ICSMA would be in attendance.

Hugh Farrell, general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) said that the organisation would be giving "good strong support" to the protest.

Farrell said that the agriculture sector recently stood together on the effort to retain the nitrates derogation, and that he now expects the whole sector to do likewise on expressing opposition to the Mercosur deal.

The ICSA general scretary also said the issue should be of concern to the wider public, claiming that the quality of agri-food products from the Mercosur bloc cannot be guaranteed.

The president of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA), Pheilim Molloy, told Agriland that his organisation would "definitely" be there for the protest, and was in the process of finalising arrangements.

Protest support

Meanwhile, the president of the Irish Charolais Cattle Society, Aiden MacHale, has called on all farmers to support the anti-Mercosur trade deal protest in Athlone.

In a statement to farmers, the Charolais cattle breed society president said: "As president of our society, I'm asking for all pedigree breeders, suckler farmers and beef farmers to attend the rally on January 10 in Athlone against the Mercosur deal."

Speaking to Agriland this morning (Friday, January 2), MacHale, who is farming in Ballina, Co. Mayo, said he expects at least five full 50-seater buses of farmers from Co. Mayo to attend the protest.

He believes that if the Mercosur deal goes ahead, the decline in suckler beef cattle numbers in Ireland will increase further.

Mercosur deal

The EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, which would allow an additional 99,000t of beef from the Mercosur countries - mainly from Brazil - enter the EU at a much reduced tariff, was supposed to be finalised in December, but this was postponed due to a large farmer demonstration in Brussels.

It is understood that the European Commission will seek to ratify the trade deal early this month.