‘Farmers must come together’
FARMERS across Kerry are being urged to sign up for the a beef producer organisation - one of which, the Irish Beef Producers Organisation (IBP), was discussed at a meeting by the Kerry Beef Plan Movement on Saturday night.
Up to 150 farmers attended an information meeting at the Killarney Heights Hotel on the evening to hear about how the newly formed producer organisation will help farmers and also to hear about the changes that are now in place following the round-table talks after the summer beef protests.
The meeting was organised by the Kerry branch of the Beef Plan Movement led by Chairman Dermot O’Brien who said that the evening was about presenting all the information to farmers so they can benefit from the changes that have been made.
Irish Beef Producers (IBP) director, Eoin Donnelly, told farmers that the organisation aims to help farmers achieve a better price for their animals by allowing them to collectively negotiate a price for their cattle. Mr Donnelly, who is chairman of the Western Beef Plan Movement, said that the IBP will allow farmers to leverage their strength in numbers instead of negotiating with factories in ones and twos – but that it was up to each individual farmer to decide how they wanted to sell their beef. However, such an organisation gives power to farmers.
It was also claimed at the meeting that farmers are being ‘ blacklisted’ by factories following the protests during July and August.
The Irish Beef Sector Agreement of September 15 was also discussed and explained in particular the right for farmers to have a contract from the factory outlining price and weight. Farmers can also request that animals are weighed live and can appeal manual grading in the factory.
Farmers were urged to use the changes to help them get a better price for their beef – the ultimate aim of the beef plan movement. The beef taskforce, which includes Mr O’Brien, also needs to meet, to further make progress in the beef sector, the meeting heard.