Ireland: Deepening crisis in sheep sector requires urgent action

Published Mar 29, 2023

Tridge summary

Sheep farmer leaders in Ireland are calling for urgent action from the Minister of Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, to address a crisis in the sector. They say prices this year are significantly lower than last year and input costs are not decreasing, leading to margins being slashed and a vulnerable situation for farmers. The farmers are seeking direct supports to offset input cost increases and are advocating for a sheep farmers support to be increased to €30/ewe. They also emphasize the need for support for store lamb finishers and hill sheep farmers. The farmers are urging the Minister to outline his plans and to utilize the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to support the sector.

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Original content

He said prices this year are still 70c/kg behind last year with input costs on sheep farms showing no signs of reducing. "Last year’s margins of just €7/ewe as presented by Teagasc at the national IFA Sheep meeting in Athlone at the end of January clearly highlighted the extent of the problems on farms in 2022. With prices running almost €16/lamb behind last year’s levels, sheep farmers are facing into a critical situation if urgent action is not taken by the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue", he said. Kevin Comiskey said the Minister convened the Food Vision Sheep Group over a month ago to put forward proposals to address the crisis in the sector. "The sector is in crisis. Sheep farmers need immediate direct supports to offset the enormous input cost increases experienced on farms and the unviable prices returned from the market place". Sheep farmers supports must be built to €30/ewe to sustain this low-income vulnerable sector that contributed over €475m in export ...

Source: EuroMeat