“Farmers are making decisions over the next number of weeks in terms of purchasing cattle that will be either finished off grass this summer and autumn, or finished from the shed next winter.” This is according to Macra na Feirme national president, John Keane, who has raised concerns regarding beef finishers. His comments have stemmed from his call to the Minister for Food, Agriculture and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, in requesting that he fund a beef-finisher scheme.
Keane questioned the feasibility of purchasing cattle this spring, as beef finishers are faced with increasing input costs. According to the Macra president the scheme should be similar to that which was implemented in 2020 and funded under the Covid-19 State Aid Temporary Framework. He continues that “in recent weeks, the rise in feed costs and the uncertainty around availability later in the year has resulted in beef finishers once again facing an uncertain future.” Should the request be considered, the scheme would be able to give certainty to these farmers.
In reaffirming the benefits of such a decision, Keane says that the Minister should take the potential impacts on food security and the supply chain into consideration and adds that action is needed now for this cohort of farmers who for years have been operating in negative margins.