Latest news with #BeefPlan
Agriland
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Beef Plan ‘frustrated' at exclusion from TB eradication forum
Beef Plan Movement representatives were not invited to the recent meeting of the tuberculosis (TB) eradication forum, chaired by Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Martin Heydon. Beef Plan Movement chairperson, Eamon Corley, has expressed deep annoyance at this state-of-affairs Corley said: 'I would like to thank everyone who contributed with their feedback to Beef Plan, regarding TB. 'We compiled a submission based on the views that were expressed to us. It was submitted to the minister, Martin Heydon, ahead of the TB Forum meeting.' Beef Plan has 2,300 farmer members and is committed to the retention of a viable suckler sector in Ireland. Corley continued: 'While we are grateful that the minister has accepted our submission, we are frustrated and find it very unsatisfactory that the people who are making decisions on TB eradication have not invited our representatives to the forum.' According to the Beef Plan chairperson, there were stakeholders at the forum representing badgers, deer, vets, and factories, yet he said an organisation specifically representing beef and suckler farmers was excluded. 'Whatever decisions that were taken will affect our beef and suckler farmers and those who make these decisions will not make make any progress in reducing TB levels in cattle by excluding key stakeholders. 'They should realise after 70 years of failure that measures to reduce TB will continue to fail without buy-in from farmers. 'They should also realise that they won't get buy in by excluding them: they are also forgetting who foots the bill,' Corley said. Beef Plan's TB submission Beef Plan's proposed TB eradication submission is based on three guiding principles – that an evidence-based strategy should be developed; that this strategy should be scientifically supported; and that the strategy should also prioritise the protection of farms and public health over the profits of the industry. The organisation's submission references a number of key actions that must be taken by all relevant stakeholders. These include the need for further clear and unambiguous research, as well as a thorough debate on the potential role of TB vaccines must take place. In addition, the proposed restriction on the sale of fat cows to factories only will be strongly opposed by the organisation. In regard to the control of TB in wildlife, Beef Plan contends that progress on the reduction of TB in cattle will never be successful without a more effective approach than the current one. The organisation also proposes that no further restrictions on cattle and farms should be forced on farmers until a radical overhaul in the control of TB within wildlife populations is achieved. Beef Plan is also calling for the issue of TB resistance within cattle populations to be carried out as a matter of priority.
Agriland
09-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Beef Plan Movement appoints a general manager
The Beef Plan Movement has appointed Nadaline Webster to the position of general manager, which is a new role for the organisation. A native of Moneygall in Co Tipperary, Webster comes from a strong farming background and has a strong professional competency in the development of business start-ups. Webster will be working on a part-time basis. Her mandate will be to further develop the role and significance of Beef Plan within Irish agriculture, focussing on three initial priorities. Beef Plan general manager: Nadaline Webster These are: driving greater levels of efficiency within the organisation's beef producer and procurement groups; securing government recognition for Beef Plan as an officially recognised stakeholder group; and communicating a 'more accurate' picture of the Irish beef industry to the public at large. Webster told Agriland:'The need to secure a viable beef industry for the future has never been greater. Too many farmers are leaving the sector at the present time. And they are not being replaced. Webster said the last government laid down a number of criteria that the group was asked to meet in order to secure official stakeholder status, which it 'responded to in kind'. 'All of this was driven by the previous farm minister: Charlie McConalogue,' she said. 'We recognise that a new government is now in place. So, it's important for us to find out if the criteria previously agreed remain in play, where the new farm minister is concerned.' The beef farmers' group currently has 2,300 members. Webster stated: 'Beef Plan will play a key role in communicating the needs of beef farmers across the country. In order to make this happen, the organisation must secure official stakeholder accreditation. 'Beef Plan can look forward to a strong future and I look forward to being part of it. Commenting on the appointment of a general manager, Beef Plan chairperson, Eamon Corley said: 'We are pleased to welcome the appointment of Nadaline, whose skills we intend using to better the plight of Ireland's beef farmers and to assist them in their quest to be treated fairly by all the stakeholders in our beef industry.' 'The Beef Plan Movement was established to provide complete representation for beef farmers in Ireland. 'We provide three main services to members: a reduction in the cost of their inputs; genuine representation for all aspects of beef farming and providing the highest prices possible through the Emerald Isle Beef Producer Organisation,' Corley added.
Agriland
24-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Beef Plan: ‘Realistic' Irish cattle prices must be maintained
Beef farmers 'have been waiting for ten years to secure realistic prices' according to John Maloney, vice chair of Beef Plan. Maloney also hopes that strong farm gate returns will be 'maintained'. But the vice chair of the beef farmers' organisation has also warned that a poor Mercosur deal could hold Irish beef prices below the waterline. He also fears that the Irish government could 'cave in' to pressure from other EU member states, who want to get a Mercosur agreement reached either before the end of this year or early in 2026. Cattle prices The Beef Plan vice chair added: 'Talk that a trade deal with the Mercosur block would see only 99,000t of South American beef coming into the EU is not really the issue. 'I have no doubt that Mercosur countries will target Europe with high-end beef cuts, for the most part. And this eventuality would almost certainly harm Irish beef prices. 'What's more, talk that a Mercosur deal will open up dairy export opportunities for Irish exporters is nothing more than a red herring. Hopefully, this is a reality that the Irish government will fully recognise.' Given this backdrop, Beef Plan has started a petition, through its social media channels, for farmers and other members of Irish society to confirm their opposition to a Mercosur deal. According to Maloney, approximately 1,500 people had signed up to the petition within hours of it going live., with the plan to circulate the final results amassed to all irish MEPs and TDs. 'The time to protest against a Mercosur deal is now,' he said. The video accompanying the Beef Plan petition highlights lower beef production standards allegedly in place across the Mercosur region, relative to those legislated for in Europe. In addition, the aforementioned 99,000t of beef imports from South America would come into the EU free of tariffs, which will further impact prices. The Beef Plan video also suggests that while the EU wants to cut cattle numbers in the face of climate change, many South American countries continue to cut down rainforest to facilitate higher levels of beef production. Meanwhile, Beef Plan has cautiously welcomed the decision by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon to boost funding levels for the 2025 Beef Welfare Scheme by 25%. Maloney said: 'It is vital for suckler farmers to be adequately supported into the future.'
Agriland
23-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Beef Plan urges farmers to sign petition against EU-Mercosur deal
Beef Plan is asking farmers to sign a petition calling on MEPs to reject the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal in its current form. The farm organisation said that the deal 'threatens the livelihoods of Irish and European beef farmers by allowing large-scale imports of lower-standard beef from South America'. The trade agreement, if ratified, would allow Mercosur countries to export 99,000 tonnes of beef to the European Union under a preferential tariff. In December, a political agreement was reached between the EU and the four founding members of Mercosur – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. However, this agreement still faces many hurdles and has been the subject of strong criticism from Ireland, France, Spain and Poland. Beef Plan Beef Plan believes that the current deal would result in unfair competition as Mercosur beef is not produced to the same standards that are required for farmers in the EU. The farm organisation added that the deal would undercut local producers who 'adhere to stricter environmental, animal welfare, and food safety regulations'. Analysis previously carried out by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) found that once the deal is fully phased in, Mercosur exporters will be better by €400 million per annum. Beef Plan also claimed that the deal 'highlights the hypocrisy of the European environmental lobby', as 'increased beef imports could accelerate deforestation in the Amazon, undermining EU climate goals'. The farm organisation's petition demands that MEPs oppose the ratification of the EU-Mercosur deal 'unless it includes strong, enforceable safeguards for farmers, consumers, and the environment'. It added that European agriculture should be protected by ensuring any trade deal guarantees fair competition and equivalent production standards. 'If this deal goes through family farms will vanish, rural jobs will disappear, our communities will suffer,' Beef Plan claimed. The petition, which is available to sign on the Beef Plan social media channels, will be forwarded to Irish MEPs. The farm organisation told Agriland that it is also not ruling out forwarding the petition to MEPs in other EU member states.
