Specific Details
Beef Suckler Sector
Intended results
To highlight that Ireland's beef sector is the largest farm sector by farmer number with over 100,000 farmers involved.
To emphasise that the single most important component of this sector is the suckler herd with 60,000 farms. The sector generated €2.52bn in export value for the economy in 2022 an increase of 18% in value exporting 512k/t of primary beef to the UK, EU and international markets.
To highlight that, as a direct result of Government failure to provide meaningful levels of direct targeted support for suckler cows, these suckler farm numbers and numbers of suckler cows on these farms continue to decline.
To make Government aware that the rate of decline continues at approx. 3% per year with suckler cow numbers fast approaching a critical point where this national resource will no longer be the mainstay of our beef sector, fundamentally changing the landscape of Irish beef production and the production systems on which access to key high value markets has been secured for Irish beef.
- The latest Teagasc National Farm Survey show incomes on these farms in 2022 averaging just €9,408 a drop of 13% income, of which direct payments accounted for 152% of the income, this low-income vulnerable sector does not have the capacity to absorb this level of direct income loss.
To highlight that these latest income figures on suckler and beef farms further highlights the market failures to return margins to primary producers, in the year beef export values increased by 18%, suckler farmer incomes took a cut of 13% while cattle rearing farms recorded a modest increase of just 9%. Suckler and beef farmers and the economic activity they generate in their rural communities are an integral part of the economic, social and environmental sustainability in these areas.
To emphasise that, while food security and food sovereignty has now become a real concern for policy makers at EU level, in the context of the climate ambition at EU and national level Irish suckler and beef farmers are optimally positioned to deliver on these two critical objectives, however there must be a more cohesive policy approach to achieving these.
To highlight that Ireland has one of the most environmentally sustainable beef farming systems in the world, Irish suckler and beef farmers are a key component in the country meeting its climate ambitions while continuing to grow our positioning as a producer of beef from farms with the highest environmental, health and welfare standards.
To demonstrate how suckler and beef farmers are the most exposed to the impact of Brexit and have already experienced directly in incomes the effects. For example, spanning Sept 2018 – March 2019, estimated lost trade for the beef sector was c.€101m, with further revenue loss evident end 2019 (c.€8.3m) and early 2021 (c.€12.5m).
Trade deals completed by the UK and starting to come into effect will have a significant impact on suckler and beef farmers with 43% of our export's dependant on this high value local market.
To highlight that it is evident from the decline in suckler cow numbers the levels of direct funding are not adequate to sustain our suckler herd and must be built on. Of particular concern is the increased pace of this reduction over the past 5 years. The economic sustainability of suckler farms is based on direct supports. Suckler farms are dependent on direct payments for 152% of their family farm income, the most dependant of all farming sectors.
To emphasise that farmers must be paid in full on all eligible animals in the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme, which has had over 20,000 farmers apply accounting for approx. 500,000 cows indicating the importance of supports for suckler farmers, their dependence on them but also the resilience of farmers in the sector and their commitment to suckler farming.
To highlight how the BEEP-S scheme proved very positive among farmers with over 25,000 applicants annually throughout the duration the scheme. The scheme design must be practical, reflect and support existing good practice on farms and avoid unnecessary leakage of the monies for actions that are new to farms, cost prohibitive and do not add any value in real terms for suckler farmers.
To demonstrate huge concern about recent reports of potential measures under consideration for the BEEPs replacement scheme. The primary objective of this scheme must be to provide suckler farmers with direct financial supports for actions on their farms that are practical to implement and add value to their farm.
To emphasise that the scheme must have the ambition and funding to return a minimum of €90/cow for all cows as committed by you following last year's budget with minimum leakage through compliance costs. IBR testing as a component of the new scheme is unacceptable to IFA and a gross misuse of funding committed to suckler farmers.
Inclusion of this measure will leave suckler farmers merely as conduits for this money to be passed on to veterinary practitioners and testing laboratories while adding no value to the farm in real time.
To demonstrate concern that such a measure would be considered in this way in the absence of a national programme being agreed by AHI, which is the body established by Government to address non- statutory diseases, in particular BVD, Johnes and IBR.It is the strongly held view of IFA that including this measure in the new scheme would be a serious error, effectively undermine the work of AHI and transfer vital funding from suckler farmers to service providers.
Consideration should also be given to the implications for farmers and for the Department of Agriculture if suckler farmers are required to test for IBR with no follow up actions and the liabilities for these farmers when selling their weanlings depending on the results received.
To request a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to discuss in detail the concerns raised in relation to potential measures in the new suckler scheme before it is finalised to ensure this scheme provides meaningful direct financial supports to farmers.
To highlight the negative impact of the new suckler cow scheme (SCEP) on young farmers looking to expand their herd.
Amii McKeever
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Billy Kelleher
MEP (European Parliament)
Carol Nolan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Claire Kerrane
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Colm Markey
MEP (European Parliament)
Leo Varadkar
Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
Maria Walsh
MEP (European Parliament)
Mark Hackett
Councillor (Offaly County Council)
Pippa Hackett
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Bill Callanan
Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brian Leddin
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Denis O'Donovan
Senator (Seanad)
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Joe Flaherty
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Lynn Boylan
Senator (Seanad)
Martin Browne
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Matt Carthy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Collins
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Fitzmaurice
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Ring
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Kehoe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tim Lombard
Senator (Seanad)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)