‘Marts will be shut down unless rules are followed’

Department officials call on farmers and marts to comply with Covid-19 measures

Margaret Donnelly and Ciaran Moran

MARTS will be shut down if management and farmers don’t adhere to capacity and social distancing guidelines introduced to halt the spread of the coronavirus, Department of Agriculture officials have warned.

“We have been in contact with all the marts and we see them as fairly essential in trying to keep farming moving,” Martin Blake, chief veterinary officer with the Department of Agriculture, told the Farming Independent.

However, he said he had received reports of some marts continuing to operate without adhering to guidelines that indoor gatherings should not exceed 100 people.

“The reality is social distancing and capacity needs to be adhered to, and some of the reports would suggest that is not happening. If that is the case, there is a danger marts could be taken out of the equation.”

He said it is essential that food supply continues in a sustainable manner and added that it is the Department’s intention to ensure that where animals need to be sold, they can be sold.

Meanwhile, a number of marts in Donegal have cancelled sales, amid reports of coronavirus cases in the county.

Donegal Mart manager Eimear McGuinness called on the Department to issue stricter guidelines for marts. “I do not feel the guidelines of stating less than 100 people is adequate or sufficient guidelines for the operation of marts.

“All marts and mart organisations need to work together now to implement appropriate measures in order to facilitate the sale of livestock in the safest possible way,” said Ms McGuinness, who is chairperson of the Mart Managers of Ireland association.

“All sales rings differ in size, so while 100 people might fit adequately in one sales ring, it is too many for another.