A meeting has taken place in Belfast between representatives of the respective livestock committees of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the UK’s National Farmers’ Union (NFU) to discuss the impact of Brexit, and the price and income situation in the beef sector both here and across the water.
The meeting was attended by representatives of: the IFA; the NFU; NFU Scotland; NFU Wales; and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU).
The IFA’s National Livestock Committee was represented by its chairperson Angus Woods, who argued that the farm associations both here and in the UK shared many of the same concerns, particularly around the consequences of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, and imports from South America.
“Farm organisations from Britain and Ireland are extremely concerned about the severe consequences of a no-deal Brexit and the possibility of a flood of sub-standard South American imports damaging the beef sector,” said Woods.
On price, the IFA Livestock Committee chair observed: “It is very clear from our discussions that beef farmers all across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are under severe income pressure as a result of unviable, low beef prices.”
According to Woods, the UK farm associations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all agreed that farmers “cannot stay producing beef at below the cost of production”, and that “retailers and processors must respond and return a higher price back to the farmer”.
Next week, European livestock farmer representatives will meet with the European Commission to discuss this issue.
“The facts are these imports fail to meet EU standards and must be banned,” he added.
There was a also a discussion held over the income challengers that are particularly affecting farmers in Wales, which finds itself in a similar position to Ireland where low cattle prices are concerned.