The Irish beef and livestock sector accounts for €6,6 billion in the country’s overall output, but is faced with major challenges, according to the President of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Joe Healy.
Healy spoke at the Tullamore show, a one-day agricultural and livestock show held in August each year near the town of Tullamore. At the event, he described the beef and livestock sector as the ‘very heartbeat of rural Ireland’, but warned of major challenges it faces.
Uncertain Future
With 260,000 tonnes of exports to the UK, Healy said that the beef sector is particularly exposed to effects of the Brexit, and appealed to the Irish Government and especially prime minister Leo Varadkar to keep farming and agriculture at the top of the Brexit agenda in Dublin and Brussels.
In his speech, he also took other challenges into account, such as the Mercosur trade deal, the Common Agricultural Policy reform, as well as falling cattle prices and low incomes for farmers.
“It has never been more important that our new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, along with Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, show strong political leadership in defending the sector,” said Healy.
“Equally, every section of the industry from farmers to factories, and all others involved in the business, must play their part in a united and responsible way to secure a viable future for the sector.”
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Larissa Zimmer
