Latest news with #IrishCattleandSheepFarmers'Association
Agriland
2 days ago
- Politics
- Agriland
Claim that emissions targets could lead to less food production
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) has warned that Ireland is at risk of meeting its emissions targets at the expense of rural communities, food security, and the future of farming. ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan was speaking following the Agriculture and Climate Change Conference, which was held at Dublin Castle this past week (Thursday, June 5). 'It is all very well defining success by hitting targets, but what happens when we look around and realise there are no farmers left on the land?' he commented. 'We cannot afford to lose the people, the communities, and the generations of farming knowledge that make food production possible in this country. 'There appears to be a complete lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to reaching our climate goals. 'Farmers are being squeezed from all sides – expected to cut outputs, and compete for land with energy production, solar farms, biomass, and rewetting etc. At the same time, sectors like aviation face little scrutiny,' he said. The ICSA has questioned why Dublin Airport Authority is not held accountable, for instance, when it wants to increase passenger numbers by 25%. 'It all adds up to farmers becoming increasingly frustrated by a system that demands more and more from them, with little in return,' Phelan added. 'There is an excessive fixation on agricultural emissions, while the carbon being sequestered every day on farms – through hedgerows, grasslands, and soils – is being completely ignored. 'The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in particular, shows no real interest in acknowledging this reality. It's a clear case of not being able to see the forest for the trees, and farmers are expected to just accept that policy is being shaped without seeing the full picture.' Food production The farm organisation has said that food security must not be forgotten in the climate debate and that policymakers and the public cannot lose sight of the fact that there is a growing global population to feed. 'We need climate plans that reflect the complexity of land use, respects the role of farmers, and gives them real tools to be a bigger part of the solution,' Phelan stated. 'Farmers want to play their part, but that goodwill will evaporate if they continue to feel vilified rather than supported.'
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Minister urged to retain tax relief for farmers
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) is urging the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe to retain key tax relief for farmers ahead of Budget 2026. ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan has said that the retention of key tax reliefs for farmers is absolutely vital, particularly in the context of generational renewal and the need to provide greater certainty for family farms. 'These reliefs – such as the Young Trained Farmer stamp duty exemption, Agricultural Relief from Capital Acquisitions Tax [CAT], and Farm Consolidation Relief – are not just technical tax measures,' Phelan said. 'They are essential supports that underpin efforts to improve farm viability, encourage land mobility, and, crucially, to support young people to enter and remain in farming. 'There should be no disincentives to farm transfers,' he said. The ICSA was responding to comments made by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, who confirmed in response to a parliamentary question, reported by Agriland, that several farm-related tax relief schemes are currently under review ahead of Budget 2026. According to Minister Donohoe, a number of tax reliefs are due to 'sunset' at the end of 2025. The first scheme under review is the Accelerated Capital Allowance (income tax) for slurry storage. The second scheme the minister mentioned was the Young Trained Farmer (stamp duty) Relief. The Farm Consolidation (stamp duty) Relief is also under review and the minister also mentioned Revised CAT Agricultural Relief. Phelan said the looming expiry or 'sunset' of these schemes at the end of 2025 must be addressed with clarity and urgency. 'ICSA is calling on the Minister for Finance to commit to the long-term retention of these reliefs in Budget 2026,' the ICSA chair continued. 'Farmers need certainty to plan for succession, make investment decisions, and meet environmental obligations. The absence of a firm commitment to extend these measures risks creating unnecessary hesitation at a time when we should be incentivising action. 'The other targeted tax reliefs mentioned by Minister Donohoe – Farm Restructuring (CGT) Relief and the Accelerated Capital Allowance for slurry storage – are equally vital for improving both environmental performance and economic sustainability on farms,' he added. The farm group has said that all of these measures align with national goals around climate action, biodiversity, and generational renewal. It added that removing or weakening them would send the wrong message at a time when the sector is being asked to do more than ever.
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Sheep farmers dealt a ‘crippling blow'
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) has said that sheep farmers have been dealt 'another crippling blow' this week as factories have cut prices for hoggets, 'slashing a further 50c/kg off the price'. ICSA Sheep chair Willie Shaw said: 'This equates to a drop of over €11 on a typical 23kg carcass – but that is not the full story. 'Compared to this time last year, prices are down by €2/kg and the carcass weight paid has dropped from 24.5kg to 23kg. 'That means farmers are currently receiving just €172.50/hd (23kg x €7.50/kg), compared to €232.75 (24.5kg x €9.50/kg) last year, which is a staggering difference of over €60/hd. 'This kind of wipe-out is nothing short of disastrous. Sheep farmers cannot continue to absorb these kinds of losses while input costs have soared across the board,' he added. The farm organisation has stressed that it is no longer a case of tightening the belt for farmers, but at this stage is a case of not being able to survive, claiming that there is simply no margin left. Shaw said what is making matters worse is that processors are continuing to ramp up imports, compounding the pressure on local producers. 'Based on CSO [Central Statistics Office] figures for January and February of this year, we are looking at total imports rising to over 10,200t for 2025 – that is 600t more than last year, with the bulk of that increase coming in carcass form,' the Sheep chair said. 'It's clear that processors are using carcass imports to make up for shortfalls caused by restrictions on live imports, and in doing so, are keeping a lid on prices and undermining Irish suppliers. 'We need full transparency across the food chain now more than ever, as it is the only way to give farmers a fighting chance. 'We must ensure that the Agri-Food Regulator has all the necessary powers to compel cooperation from processors and retailers and to strip away the smoke and mirrors that allow the big players to hide their margins and spin their import strategies,' he stressed. The ICSA has said that the lack of both price certainty and transparency is 'killing confidence' in the sector. It added that the sheep sector is already struggling to attract a younger generation, and ongoing unfairness in pricing is 'just another nail in the coffin'.
Agriland
06-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Sheep trade: Up to €6.00/kg available for cull ewes
One of the main talking points of the current sheep trade is the strong prices available for cull ewes with 'up to €6/kg being paid to farmers for cull ewes', according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) president, Sean McNamara. The ICSA president told Agriland that up to €9.40/kg is available for spring lambs this week and up to €8.90/kg is being paid for hoggets this week. McNamara said that the equivalent of these prices are being paid in some cases for fat ewes at marts, while some of the smaller sheep processors are paying these rates for cull ewes. Sheep trade: Factory price offers While the official factory quotes for spring lambs remained unchanged this week, both hogget and cull ewe price quotes increased at some outlets. This week, Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.00/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €9.20/kg on offer here – up to 21kg carcass weight. The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based processor is quoting €8.50/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets – leaving €8.70/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass weight. ICM is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes this week. Kepak is quoting €9.20/kg for QA spring lambs and €8.70/kg for hoggets up to 21kg and 23kg carcass weight respectively. The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €5.50-€5.60/kg for cull ewes. Kildare Chilling has no quote for spring lambs or hoggets this week but said that heavy hoggets over 25kg carcass weight will be paid at a top price of €190/head. The processor is quoting €5.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes with carcass weights from 35-43kg, leaving €5.70/kg on offer here. Cull ewes weighing from 25-35kg carcass weight are being quoted at €5.50/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus, leaving €5.60/kg available here. Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow has no quote for spring lambs but is quoting €8.80/kg for hoggets up to 23kg and €5.60/kg for cull ewes up to 41kg.
Agriland
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
ICSA: Uncertainty around GAEC 2 ‘completely unacceptable'
Ongoing uncertainty around the good agricultural and environmental condition GAEC 2 is 'completely unacceptable' as the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application deadline looms, according to Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association's (ICSA). Sean McNamara, president of the ICSA said the current situation is also 'deeply unfair to farmers' as they simply do not know where they stand. GAEC 2– one of several GAEC rules that govern conditionality for payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – is described as a baseline requirement for the protection of carbon-rich soils, including peatlands and wetland. McNamara said: 'There has been no formal approval from the EU Commission on Ireland's proposed approach to GAEC 2, and there is no appeals mechanism for farmers to challenge how their land has been classified – because an appeals process will not even be established until that approval is secured. 'What use is that to farmers? It is outrageous that such a fundamental issue remains unresolved at this critical time'. ICSA According to the president of the ICSA its members are worried about the future for their farms. 'The risk is that these maps, developed for CAP compliance, will be used as a back door to further restrictions under the EU Nature Restoration Law or other environmental designations down the line. 'We are constantly being told that the Nature Restoration Law will be voluntary, but there is widespread fear that if Ireland falls short on its targets, these so-called voluntary measures will suddenly become mandatory. 'If that happens, farmers rightly fear that the GAEC 2 maps will be repurposed to enforce rewetting or impose other land use restrictions in the future. This would be a total betrayal,' McNamara said. Mineral soils The ICSA has again voiced its concerns about mineral soils being included in GAEC 2 mapping. 'Whole land parcel identification system (LPIS) parcels have been designated using a 50% threshold for peat soil content. 'This means large areas of productive mineral soil are being unfairly caught up in GAEC 2 restrictions, limiting agricultural activity and potentially devaluing land,' McNamara said. The organisation said it is now 'demanding urgent clarity'. 'Farmers cannot be expected to make informed decisions about their BISS applications – or their future – without official confirmation of the rules, a functioning appeals process, and certainty about how GAEC 2 will be implemented. 'The department must move immediately to provide clarity on this issue and give clear guarantees that GAEC 2 data will not be used for any purpose beyond CAP conditionality. 'If this clarity cannot be provided in time, then a further derogation must be sought so that GAEC 2 does not come into effect until next year,' the ICSA president added.
