The protected geographical indication (PGI) status of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ “must add additional value to Irish beef”, according to the livestock committee chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Declan Hanrahan.
Hanrahan said that discussions between the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, and Bord Bia took place over the importance of the status benefiting Irish farmers.
The livestock chair said: “There is no point in the minister for agriculture and Bord Bia talking about the importance of the PGI status in marketing Irish beef, if it does not generate a significant return for farmers.
“The roll out of the PGI for Irish Grass Fed Beef in the coming weeks must add additional value to Irish beef.”
Hanrahan said factories and Bord Bia must ensure the additional value associated with beef sold under the Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI transfers directly into the pockets of beef farmers.
Reflecting on the current beef trade, Hanrahan said “every week that goes by, cattle coming from sheds have incurred higher costs, and factories must reflect this in beef prices”.
Hanrahan said in reality, factories are very anxious for cattle and are freely paying 10c/kg above quoted prices and looking for cattle for next day processing.
The IFA livestock chair reflected on the “buoyancy” in the key beef markets of the UK and the EU is reflected in the Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark Price.
This, Hanrahan said, “has now moved to over 6c/kg above” the Irish prices, as he explained “beef prices in these markets continue to rise driven by strong demand and tight supplies”.
Hanrahan said factories must stop the unjustified weakening of beef prices, and reflect the full value of strong market conditions that are projected to continue in the coming weeks and months with supplies tightening.
He said factories are paying €5.10-5.20/kg for steers and heifers this week, €5.10-5.30/kg for R/U grading young bulls, and from €4.00 to €4.80kg for cows, depending on grade.