The Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA) national sheep committee chair Kevin Comiskey has highlighted the fact that weeks have passed since the Wool Feasibility Study was published, yet farmers are entering another clipping season without any government support. As such, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Minister of State Pippa Hackett has been called on to support sheep farmers in combatting the enormous cost of shearing.
The study recommended the formation of an industry-led council, but to date, the Government hasn’t committed to directly supporting sheep farmers, or help them to offset shearing costs.
Mr Comiskey is calling on Ministers to come forward with proposals on how they plan to offset costs. At the present time, farmers receive 20c/kg for wool, a price which he says provides “no incentive for farmers to present the wool for further added value use.”
In his view: “The recommendations of the report are another tactic to delay supporting farmers for what is a huge cost burden on sheep farms. €100,000 has been spent and a lot of time lost for a report that merely confirms what industry and farmers already know. The ministers must now come forward with their proposals to support sheep farmers directly for the shearing costs with incentives to ensure the wool is presented in optimal condition for further added value uses for this clipping season.”