Prices for suckler bred stock must be re-set say ICSA

ICSA Suckler chair Jimmy Cosgrave has said suckler prices will have to be reset to take into account increased costs plus the fact that the average suckler only farmer makes around €9,000 per annum.

“Suckler farmers have been hit hard with rising costs especially with the unsustainably low incomes in the sector. Both weanling prices and factory prices for suckler stock must be reset to reflect these facts,” he said.

Mr Cosgrave was reacting to comments made by Kepak’s Agriculture Director Jonathan Forbes at recent Kepak-organised farm walk.

“Mr Forbes spoke about lots of things re-setting, from beef and sheep markets to feed prices. However, the only thing that needs to be re-set are the prices suckler farmers are getting paid for their produce.

“The reality is that prices will have to increase for suckler farmers to stay going.”

Mr Cosgrave said it’s all very well Kepak advising farmers to ‘try and buy an animal that is going to return the best price in the market’ but their focus should be pointing the other way – towards markets. “€6m has been pumped into Bord Bia over the last three years to do research on a suckler premium brand. It’s about time the processors translated this research into a better price for suckler beef.

Those markets where the research suggests a premium price can achieved need to be developed and the premium achieved must filter back to suckler farmers. We cannot allow this investment to go to waste.”