A media blackout has been put in place for day three of the beef sector reform talks taking place today, Tuesday, August 20, in Co. Kildare.
This development was communicated to the farm organisations involved in the talks earlier this morning, AgriLand understands.
This publication also understands that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, is now expected to meet with each of the farm organisations on an individual basis.
So far in the talks, all the farm organisations – the Beef Plan Movement, Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Irish Natura Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA), Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), Macra na Feirme and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) – had been airing their concerns in a united manner.
Intervention
The minister’s intervention on talks came this morning following negotiations coming to “a significant impasse” at the end of day two of the marathon beef sector reform talks last night.
These issues specifically relate to: the use of an upper age limit to influence the price offered for steers and heifers; the use of an upper limit on herd-to-herd movements to influence the price offered; the 70-day single farm residency requirement for recognition as a Bord Bia quality-assured animal.
Speaking to AgriLand after the meeting, Eoin Donnelly – who is the lead negotiator for the Beef Plan Movement – stated that agreement must be reached on these points.
We’re not accepting the position that the retailer spec is a consumer requirement.
“That position is supported by the surveys we have done on consumers. The consumer indicated to us that they have no appreciation or understanding of what these requirements are.”