Farm inspections suspended for now
THE Wicklow Chair of the Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has welcomed Bord Bia’s suspension of all Quality Assurance inspections in response to the outbreak of coronavirus.
Tom Stephenson maintains that the move will help keep farmers safe during uncertain times. Earlier in the week, ICSA President Edmond Phelan complained that the inspections were particularly unsustainable as they lasted for hours and involved a lot of interaction, often carried out in the farmers’ kitchens.
Discussing the suspension, Mr Stephenson commented: ‘Farmers have a vital role to play in keeping our food production systems going, but we must also make every effort to keep ourselves and our families well.’
The drystock and tillage farmer in the Glen of Imaal also hopes the public will continue to support Irish products, and is critical of the amount of chicken being imported from China, Thailand and Brazil, which he feels undermines the viability of Irish farmers.
‘We (ICSA) are calling on all consumers to support Irish food, particularly fresh product like meat, dairy and veg. At times like this, we all need to support each other. I am pleading with consumers to read the label carefully and look for the IE symbol. Special care is needed with manufactured products like chicken goujons which are often made with ingredients from all over the world and in many cases, from countries with totally inadequate traceability systems,’ said Mr Stephenson.
He also welcomes the injection of money into the EU economy by the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB will spend €750 billion in bond purchases to calm down sovereign debt markets.
Mr Stephenson said: ‘ This is a much more effective than making more money available to banks to lend. More may be required. The key point is that unless national governments are able to finance
Covid-19 measures, they will be unable to fully fund the EU budget with knock-on implications for the Common Agricultural Policy. ICSA will be actively pursuing this to make sure that farmers do not end up being left behind in the Covid crisis. After all, it is now abundantly clear that we absolutely have to have European food security and those who took farmers for granted are now being exposed for their short-sightedness.’
He would also like to reassure farmers that ICSA remains in constant contact with officials from the Department of Agriculture and the European Union over day-today developments in the fight to stop Covid-19 from spreading further.
‘ The business of farming is continuing, albeit under very strange circumstances. It is important for us all to follow the guidelines issued by the HSE but it is also important that we keep morale up in our homes and in our communities. Please keep in touch with friends and relatives, particularly those who are elderly or living alone. We must look after our most vulnerable.’
SHEEP SALE - MARCH 14: Hogget easier by €5-€10 per head. Top price of €132. Ewes with lambs at foot making up to €230. Cast ewes making from €71-€145.
Sample Prices: 25x 49kg made €132; 10x 47kg made €119; 12x 55kg made €119; 16x 47kg made €116; 4x 46kg made €115; 8x 44kg made €112; 5x 43kg made €111; 14x 45kg made €110; 6x 45kg made €110; 13x 41kg made €108; 8x 42kg made €106; 6x 39kg made €104; 6x 40kg made €100; 11x 41kg made €100; 10x 37kg made €99; 3x 38kg made €96.
CATTLE SALE - MARCH 18: Smaller number out today due to on going COVID 19. Trade slightly easier on previous week. Sample prices as follows.
Bullocks: 4 x Charolais 513kg made €1,310; 1 x SIM 595kg made €1,260; 2 x Charolais 525kg made €1,250; 4 x Charolais 517kg made €1,220; 1 x AU 585kg made €1,180; 2 x Lim 485kg made €1,170; 1 x AA 580kg made €1,130; 1 x Friesian 605kg made €1,130; 2 x Lm 480kg made €1,130; 1 x Friesian 675kg made €1,120; 1 x HE 585kg made €1,120; 1 x Friesian 605kg made €1,105; 1 x Limousin 555kg made €1,070; 2 x AA 495kg made €1,065; 2 x RM 577Kg made €1,055; 1 x AA 495kg made €1,050; 1 x Friesian 615kg made €1,000; 2 x Ch 277kg made €720.
Heifers: 1 x He 560kg made €1,025; 1 x He 545kg made €1,020; 1 x MO 460kg made €800; 1 x Pt 410kg made €790; 1 x Pt 355Kg made €690; 1 x MO 387Kg made €680; 2 x Lm 245kg made €650; 1 x Lm 310kg made €580; 1 x Lm 245kg made €540.
Fat cows making up to €600 up to €900.
SHEEP SALE - MARCH 21: Also a smaller sale due to on going COVID 19, with prices being influenced by this. 4550KG making from €130-€137; 40-45KG making from €112€130; 30-40Kg making from €82-€112; Fat ewes making up to €105
Sample Prices:14x 50kg made €137; 11x 49kg made €133; 9x 46kg made €130; 4x 42kg made €112; 15x 38kg made €97; 23x 30kg made €82; 2x 33kg made €81; 14x 30kg made €80; 6x 27kg made €77.
CATTLE SALES - MARCH 19: 164 Cattle on offer. Steady trade for all classes with lots of customers for cattle going out to grass.
Cont. Store Bullocks €420 to €640 over €/kg; Her/AA Store Bullocks €300 to €480 over €/ kg; Fr Store Bullocks €140 to €325 over €/kg; Cont. Store Heifers €400 to €600 over €/kg; Her/AA Heifers €310 to €435 over €/kg; Fat Cows €190 to €480 over €/kg; Feeding Cows €100 to €190 over €/kg.
Calves: FR Bulls for Export €20 to €60 per Head; Stronger Fr Bulls €70 to €160 per Head; FR cross Bulls €5 to €20 per Head; HE/AA Bulls €100 to €280 per Head; HE/AA Heifers €80 to €165 per Head.
CATTLE SALE - MARCH 21: Smaller entry than last week with 1030 head on offer including 300 calves and 150 dry cows. The trade was very strong for quality cattle with plenty of grass buyers. Beef cattle were steady at last week’s rates which plainer store cattle were easier by €10/€20. The social distancing rules were adhered to and we received excellent cooperation from all customers.
Bullocks: 1 Belgian Blue 640Kg @ €1,470, 3 Ch 610kg @ €1,390, 4 Lm 512kg @ €1,240, 5 Hd 660Kg @ €1,300, 4 Lm 714Kg @ €1,510, 6 Fm 410Kg @ €660, 5 Aa 560Kg @ €1,010, 3 Lm 410Kg @ €1,060, 3 Lm 465Kg @ €1,110.
Bulls: 4 Ch 438Kg @ €1,110, 2 Ch 410Kg @ €1,100, 2Lm 570kg @ €1,240, 3 Lm 301Kg @ €760, 4 Ch 385Kg @ €910, 4 Hd 410Kg @ €770.
Heifers: 2 Lm 660Kg @ €1,490, 4 Lm 540Kg @ €1,140, 6 Aa 610Kg @ €1,120, 3 Lm 660Kg @ €1,340, 5 Lm 310Kg @ €800, 6 Aa 310Kg @ €630, 3 Ch 445Kg @ €1,010, 3 Lm 400Kg @ €960, 5 Hd 470Kg @ €910 cows: 1 Ch 778Kg @ €1,300, 1 Ch 606Kg @ €1,0702, 3 Friesian 610Kg @ €800, 2 Friesian 710Kg @ €(80, 2 Friesian 758Kg @ €1,080, 1 Friesian 530Kg @ €620, 2 Friesian 574Kg @ €710, 2 Je 510Kg @ €440; calves: an improved trade all around with strong farmer and export demand.