Virus impact on farming sector under scrutiny

WHILE the farming sector as a whole, as-of-yet, hasn’t been adversely affected by the effects of the coronorvirus the Chairperson of Wexford IFA, James Kehoe, told this newspaper that the situation is being monitored closely.

He made his comment in the wake of his organisation’s Annual General Meeting in the IFA Centre in Enniscorthy.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy President of the IFA, Brian Rushe, and the Leinster Regional Chairperson, Tom Short.

Mr Kehoe confirmed that an impact has been felt within the pig sector especially in terms of price reductions.

‘ There has been a price reduction because the Chinese market is very important [for that sector],’ he said.

‘When we export so much produce all over Europe and the world it’s become a big concern,’ he added.

Mr Kehoe said beef prices remain low but added they have been for some time now.

‘ The virus is not an issue but there could be a spike in food because people think ‘well I have to have food’ and that might maintain prices of food for farmers,’ he said.

This is particularly relevenant for the likes of world market grain prices.

However, Mr Kehoe said the impact of the virus is very likely to be felt within the tourism sector.

‘Other than that I do not see the virus having a big impact,’ he said.

He also said that when the swine flu epidemic occurred China had to get rid of a lot of pigs and had to increase imports.

‘We then filled those markets,’ he said.

‘All we can do is hope for the best,’ he added.

However, he did comment that any decrease in beef prices would have a serious affect on rural Ireland.