
Factories urged to ‘take longer term view on beef prices'
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) livestock chair, Declan Hanrahan, has also called on factories to 'reverse the recent price cuts they are attempting'.
According to the IFA supplies of finished cattle are 'extremely tight with numbers' – based on Bord Bia projections and the strong live export trade – expected to be down almost 100,000 cattle for processing between now and year end.
Hanrahan today also said that beef production is also down in Ireland's key markets, chiefly the UK and the EU, and this supply demand balance 'must be utilised to benefit Irish and EU beef producers'.
The IFA livestock chair said that he is aware that factories are very concerned about supplies for the coming weeks and months and are 'actively ringing around farmers in attempts to secure cattle for this period'.
Beef prices
He also stressed that the UK and EU markets are the 'most important outlets' for Irish beef and warned of the threat to posed to Irish beef farmers and long-term viable beef prices from 'trade deals that give access to these markets to cheaper beef'.
Hanrahan pointed to recent trade deals concluded by the UK which he said gives more access for beef to their markets and to ongoing Mercosur concerns and the prospect of discussions re-starting with Australia and the EU.
He believes any 'additional access for cheap beef to these markets would only serve to undermine our prices' and has urged the Irish government to stand firm in rejecting any deals that provides more access to the EU market for beef.
According to Hanrahan beef prices in Ireland have only reached levels that reflect the 'actual production costs on farms' and reflect the quality of product Irish farmers are producing.
He believes that it is important for the long-term viability and sustainability of suckler and beef farmers that they are retained.
'To deliver long term viable prices to suckler and beef farmers factories, Bord Bia and our government have key roles to play, factories can and must stand firm in the market place, beef supplies are tight, demand is strong and they must maximise the opportunity that exists to return higher beef prices to farmers supported by Bord Bia highlighting the standards our beef is produced to,' he said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
SImon Harris to push for national day of solidarity for Gaza
Táiniste Simon Harris has stated he will work to make a national day of protest for Gaza a reality. The claim was made in response to a letter written by a Mr. Michael Cush which was published in Thursdays Irish Times. The letter stated that the Irish government has been strong in its condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, but that the government and the people of Ireland are growing frustrated as they feel 'helpless' to prevent the ongoing conflict. Táiniste Simon Harris says he will talk to his colleagues about how to make a national day of protest for Gaza a reality. Pic: Olivier Hoslet/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Simon Harris said: 'The people of Ireland stand with the people of Palestine. We stand for human rights, for international law, for a two state solution, for aid to flow, for hostages to be released. We stand for peace. We stand for an end to genocide'. Michael Cush had also said in his open letter to the newspaper that 'If the Government were to call a national day of protest, the turnout would likely be enormous' Today, Simon Harris posted the letter on his social media, alongside a statement endorsing the suggestion made by Michael Cush. The letter stated that the Irish government has been strong in its condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, but that the government and the people of Ireland are growing frustrated as they feel 'helpless' to prevent the ongoing conflict. Pic: by Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images He went on to add: 'The suggestion for a national day or moment of solidarity made by Michael Cush in the letter above is sensible and a good idea. 'It could be powerful if many countries did it together. I will now talk to colleagues on how to make this happen.' The Irish government has been one of the few within Europe that have labelled Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide', while internationally the world looks on as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, and the population face the very real threat of starvation as the war continues. The claim was made in response to a letter written by a Mr. Michael Cush which was published in Thursdays Irish Leah Farrell/ Earlier this month, Tánaiste Simon Harris said 'careful consideration' was given to a number of visa applications from a group of Palestinians, adding that the granting of a visa was a 'very important legal document.' The GAA Palestine group were set to arrive in Ireland later in July for a GAA tour. The group of 47 people included 33 children between the ages of nine and 16 years old. Ahead of the visit, The Journal revealed that the visa applications for the group had been refused by the Irish Immigration Service due to 'insufficient documentation.' 152 families in Ireland had signed up to host the group when the were due to arrive on July 18. Tour organisers admitted they were 'devastated' following the ruling, adding that they had included the required information such as detailed itineraries and financial arrangements. In an official statement released on Instagram the following week, GAA Palestine announced that their planned summer trip to Ireland cannot proceed as it is no longer possible to acquire visas and depart on time.


RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'Optimism but no certainty' as Trump and von der Leyen to meet in Scotland
Tomorrow's meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump in Scotland is being treated as a "final negotiating session". According to a senior official in the EU delegation, there is "optimism but no certainty" that a trade deal can be reached. The meeting is being treated as a "president-to-president" negotiating session. It's understood Ms von der Leyen will also be joined by the European Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, in Turnberry. In the event that a deal is reached, it will be an agreement in principle, with a final document likely to be produced in the days afterwards. Mr Trump spent much of his day today playing golf at his Turnberry resort, ahead of high-level bilateral sessions with Ms von der Leyen tomorrow, and also British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney on Monday. Meanwhile, protests against the visit of Mr Trump to Scotland took place this afternoon. Organised by the "Stop Trump Coalition", the demonstrations were held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Those involved said that they wanted to convey the message that they did not believe Trump should be welcomed to Scotland. Tight security around the Trump Turnberry course meant no demonstrators were seen when the president took to the greens this morning. Dressed in black, with a white cap that said USA on it, Mr Trump could be seen driving a golf buggy, flanked by a fleet of security personnel, as he played on the famous course which he bought in 2014. However hundreds gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen - near the site of Mr Trump's other Scottish golf resort - to make their opposition to the president known. As the visit got under way Scottish First Minister John Swinney announced public money to support a tournament at the Trump International golf links in Aberdeenshire. The 2025 Nexo Championship - previously known as the Scottish Championship - is set to take place there next month, supported by £180,000 of public funding. Mr Swinney said: "The Scottish Government recognises the importance and benefits of golf and golf events, including boosting tourism and our economy." But Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie likened the awarding of public cash to the tournament to "handing some pocket money to the school bully". Mr Trump will head to his golf resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire later on in his five-day long private visit. As part of his trip he will also hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where the two men will refine a trade deal between the UK and the US that was agreed earlier this year. The president is also expected to talk trade with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen tomorrow. But with no talks apparently scheduled for today, the president, who is well known for his love of golf, was free to take to the famous course at Turnberry. A major security operation surrounded him, with police officers and military personnel seen scouring the grounds ahead of Mr Trump teeing off. After touching down in Scotland in Air Force One last night, the president was seen on the course at Turnberry this morning - although security fencing had also been erected around the resort, with road closures also in place to help protect Mr Trump, who last year survived an assassination attempt. Police Scotland has asked for support from other forces across the UK to bolster officer numbers for the high-profile visit - with Mr Swinney appealing to people to protest "peacefully and within the law". In Aberdeen, Green north east Scotland MSP Maggie Chapman told the crowd of hundreds: "We stand in solidarity not only against Trump but against everything he and his politics stand for." Speaking about the US president, Ms Chapman said: "He believes that climate change isn't real, he believes that cutting services for those in the world with the least is the right thing to do. "We say no to all of those things, not in our name, never in our name." With Mr Trump having last year been convicted by a New York jury of falsifying business records, she said the president was a "convicted felon". "He is not welcome in Scotland, he is certainly not welcome in Aberdeenshire," she said. "We know that he is a convicted felon. "We also know that all of the promises he has repeatedly made to Scotland have come to nothing, there hasn't been the development of jobs or houses that he promised when he opened his course in Aberdeenshire a few years ago." Mr Harvie was also critical of the president, saying: "He's attacking our renewables industry once again, one of the success stories of Scotland, and he is trying to attack and undermine it.


Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Simon Harris on Gaza solidarity day
Táiniste Simon Harris says he will talk to his colleagues about how to make a national day of protest for Gaza a reality. He was responding to a letter written by a Mr. Michael Cush which was published in Thursdays Irish Times, and stated that the Irish government has been strong in its condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, but that the government and the people of Ireland are growing frustrated as they feel 'helpless' to prevent the ongoing conflict. Taking to Instagram today, Simon Harris said 'The people of Ireland stand with the people of Palestine. We stand for human rights, for international law, for a two state solution, for aid to flow, for hostages to be released. We stand for peace. We stand for an end to genocide'. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos Michael Cush had also said in his open letter to the newspaper that 'If the Government were to call a national day of protest, the turnout would likely be enormous' Today, Simon Harris posted the letter on his social media, alongside a statement endorsing the suggestion made by Michael Cush. He went on to say 'The suggestion for a national day or moment of solidarity made by Michael Cush in the letter above is sensible and a good idea. It could be powerful if many countries did it together. I will now talk to colleagues on how to make this happen.' The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Pic: AFP via Getty Images The Irish government has been one of the few within Europe that have labelled Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide', while internationally the world looks on as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, and the population face the very real threat of starvation as the war continues.