A number of farmers have gathered this morning (Monday, October 15) outside the gates of the Dawn Meats factory in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, in protest over the current state of the beef price.

This is the second protest organised by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, frustrated farmers brought ABP’s plant in Clones, Co. Monaghan, to a standstill.

Farmers have been gathering in Ballyhaunis since early this morning and the protest got underway at approximately 8:00am.

It is believed that up to 40 farmers have gathered already this morning for the protest and it is understood that this number will increase as the morning progresses.

The ICSA is calling on processors to pay farmers a fair price for producing quality beef on a consistent basis.

Speaking briefly with AgriLand this morning, the president of the ICSA, Patrick Kent, outlined that both the retailers and the processors need to know how much farmers are struggling to survive and that a fair price needs to be forthcoming in order to sustain family farms dotted throughout Ireland.

Stay tuned to AgriLand for more coverage of the protest during the course of the day.