Mart money ‘had kept rural Ireland going’
THE government decision to close all livestock marts on foot of the coronavirus pandemic has come as a “shock” to farmers across the region, according to Sligo IFA chairperson Kathleen Henry.
The announcement of their closure came as the government implemented more measures in an effort to combat the spread of Covid-19, but the lack of mart activity means farmers are now without one of the main avenues to sell their stock.
Though marts had introduced a number of guidelines in line with HSE and government advice, their closure presents a major problem for farmers as the busy spring season continues.
“It came as a shock and saddened a lot of people. There is devastation amongst some people,” Ms Henry told The Sligo Champion.
“Farmers need to get cattle sold at this time of year. We had been in the marts last week and they were doing everything right.”
The widespread shutdown of marts across the north west means farmers in Sligo and beyond will need to find alternative ways of sourcing income to help cover costs.
However, it is understood that as of last week, discussions between relevant stakeholders and the Government were to take place to devise a system whereby livestock could be sold outside of the normal mart structure.
“Marts are such a vital part of farming life,” Ms Henry continued.
“They are so important to ensure the economic viability of farming, and it’s very important for farmers to sell to get money to cover the cost of fertilisers at this time of year, and others may also be buying lime.
“Many farmers need to get cattle out of sheds at this time of year too.
“As well as that, with marts gone there are staff and wages in the marts and the wider community benefitted from them as well. That money kept rural Ireland going.”
The decision to close marts came after many had sought to implement strict guidelines to ensure hygiene and social distancing was carried out on their premises since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
However, Ms Henry says they should have been given further opportunity to see how these measures worked.
“They should’ve given it a chance,” she says.
“Each mart only got one day of the new measures. They were keeping you apart - no sellers, just buyers, there was social distancing, you got gloves and there were hand sanitisers.
“They were trying to do more.
I think if they gave it a chance it would have been better.”
With farmers options to sell now severely restricted, Ms Henry argues that support is needed urgently from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to aid farmers left with little or no income as a result.
“Agri-business during the last recession kept the economy going, and we need support now.
“There needs to be ways set up so people can buy cattle. Marts guarantee the sellers money.
“Maybe we could revisit the issue of closing marts.
“I think they need to come out and look at what they [farmers] have done. Farmers are the backbone of rural Ireland.
“We have to try and get cattle sold. There are schemes to keep within lines and the Department needs to look at our stocking level.
“There needs to be a level of pragmatism shown to farmers that is shown to others levels of society.”