Suckler farming remains the backbone of our €3bn beef sector
supports €4.28 in economic output;
of the cows in the West are suckler cows.
CAP 2020
On CAP 2020, IFA is fighting at European level to reverse the budget cuts proposed by the Commission.
We want Member States to increase their contributions to protect direct payments and farm incomes, and take account of inf lation.
Direct payments are critically important to livestock farmers and increasing targeted payments under Pillar II is essential.
Increased support for sucklers must come from a larger Pillar II and additional national resources. It cannot involve any cut to the Basic Payment scheme.
In the Mercosur trade talks, IFA has fought hard against beef imports which fail to meet EU standards.
Reward for quality
Farmers should get rewarded for quality. Under the current structure, farmers with better quality animals get a reward of 6c/kg for each grade subclass and an additional 12c/kg or about €43 per head in spec bonus. Again, this is not enough.
We are working with Bord Bia and the processors to drive an additional premium for suckler beef.
The IFA livestock committee also lobby hard for a strong live export trade to drive competition and alternative markets in Turkey and Italy.
Italy took 21,621 prime suckler weanlings so far this year, but has the potential to take up to 70,000.