Beef News
Bord Bia has again expressed confidence that the number of cattle eligible to attain ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ PGI status will increase.
Agri Politics
The IFA Livestock Committee chair has said that beef prices have "edged upwards" as supplies tighten on the ground.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) demanded that meat processors be held to account for recent beef price reductions.
Beef
The IFA Livestock Committee chair said attempts by meat factories to offer lower prices for beef cattle are "at odds with market conditions".
Bord Bia has said the beef industry has "already formed ties" with potential costumers in South Korea in advance of the formal approval.
Bord Bia is currently in the process of establishing a monitoring group to oversee the rollout of the PGI for ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that Irish beef prices are now up to 64c/kg behind the UK.
The IFA has accused beef factories of "failing farmers", with average prices 33c/kg behind the Bord Bia benchmark price at present.
Meat processors represented by MII will begin rolling out digital cameras and LED lighting for carcass grading machines from next week.
Management from processors took part in the beef taskforce on Thursday, though some felt their contributions left something to be desired.
Representatives from individual meat processors attended a meeting of the Beef Market Taskforce for the first time today (Thursday, May 3).
A private members motion will be tabled in the Dáil next week on establishing an independent regulator for the beef sector.
Beef farmers could be "losing up to €168/head" due to the lack of accuracy on mechanical beef grading machines, according to Denis Naughten.
Imports of cattle from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Irish meat plants have surged in recent times, according to the LMC.
Beef exports to China have been building in recent years, but account for a relatively small proportion of exports from Ireland overall.
Irish beef exports to China have been temporarily suspended due to the recent discovery of atypical BSE in a cow in Co. Tipperary.
Danny Healy-Rae has appealed to meat processors to "stick with Irish farmers", adding that "now is the time to stand together".
ICMSA is calling on meat processors to observe the four-month notice rule for implementing changes to weight limits.
A number of groups that represent Northern Irish beef farmers will host a meeting focused on beef sector issues next month in Co. Tyrone.
Irish meat factories have issued a warning on the prospects for beef prices this year.
