Latest news with #MichaelO'Connell
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Latest beef quotes described as ‘sneaky'
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that farmers will feel frustrated and disrespected by the 'sneaky' 10c/kg cut in beef quotes late last week. Chairperson of ICMSA's Livestock Committee, Michael O'Connell said the price drop was 'slyly introduced' by procurement staff introducing new base prices from mid-week onwards. 'It's strikingly similar to last year; at the first sign of uncertainty in the trade, factories pull prices by 10c/kg. 'Why does this 'uncertainty' always manifest itself in the form of price cut to the farmer primary-producer?' he added. The ICMSA stated that the only certainty is that beef production is down globally. Noting the record beef prices since the turn of the year, O'Connell pointed out that set against the costs of production and value of store cattle, these price increases were needed. He said that returns for beef farmers in recent years had been very marginal and farmer hopes had been high that this year might see prices provide a 'buffer' against that trend. 'We had hoped that this year would see the kind of beef prices that the market indicated and that long-suffering farmers deserved. But, as usual, factories have 'thrown the toys out of the pram' in an attempt to regain control over the trade with this farcical price cut.,' O'Connell continued. 'When we look at the prices paid to beef farmers this spring, it is perfectly obvious that factories have had the capacity to pay well for cattle when there is a demand. '…In 2019, at the time of the beef protests at factory gates around the country, prices were at an all-time low of €3.40/kg for steers and heifers. Today, we [have] seen base prices of €7.60-7.70 for steers and heifers – more than double. What has changed in this period? 'The answer is the mindset of Irish farmers as well as the cattle herd size across Europe and internationally,' he said. The ICMSA chair said that the numbers of suckler cows has reduced dramatically, while the age demographic of Irish farmers has steadily increased. He stated that farmers are now testing the marketplace by selling factory fit cattle in marts and leaving factory agents and procurement staff to battle it out ringside. Alongside that trend, huge pressure has been put on factories by the increasing number of calves, weanlings and beef cattle being exported into Europe and further afield, according to the ICMSA. 'For the past two or three years, cull cows have insulated and propped up factory throughput. But the latest throughput figures have shown that the cull cow kill has peaked with current figures falling below last year's,' O'Connell continued. 'Young bulls are also falling steadily, but this has been an ongoing trend due to the blatant 'blackguarding' of young bull finishers over the last number of years. 'That group who finished young bulls are falling rapidly at exactly the same time as we see huge developments in live exports. 'And this is where the factories' 'mind games' have caught up with them; they've spent so much time deliberately manoeuvring to keep prices low with reduced kill plans, short weeks and instilling uncertainty in demand that no-one can, or should, believe them.' Reduced kills The ICMSA Livestock chairperson said that reduced kill plans were nothing more than a price controlling measure. 'It creates a sense of panic among farmers to try offload cattle before a further price drop but realistically, it is a method of 'flushing out' the last of the shed cattle,' he said. 'Factories will naturally kill their own feedlot cattle at the expense of farmers' cattle. Most factories are reduced to three to four days per week suggesting that they are trying to stretch out a limited availability of slaughter-fit cattle – and that analysis is supported by the reduction in cow and young bull kill. 'I would urge farmers to sensibly consider their options before giving in to factories and particularly where we're talking cattle off grass. It is very early to kill cattle from grass, with or without feed. 'Cattle may look fleshy and fit, but it is amazing the thrive the cattle would do in the next month, and I believe farmers would be disappointed with returns on these cattle.' The ICMSA is urging farmers, particularly with grass cattle, to consider the mart, as the 'dying power' would not be in these cattle yet. The farm organisation has said that the mart trade this week is ahead of factory trade with beef Hereford and Angus cattle making up to €4.10/kg liveweight. 'No matter what way you add it up, a base price of €7.50 with a breed bonus of 20c and taking your chance on the 'mysterious' grid is not going to come up to €4.10/kg liveweight in the mart,' O'Connell explained. 'Continental steers and heifers are commanding up to €4.30 and up to €4.50/kg in cases of better-quality cattle. I'd really urge those farmers with cattle off grass to consider the marts.'
Agriland
18-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
ICMSA: New EU deforestation law ‘makes mockery' of simplification
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 'makes a mockery' out of the EU's efforts to simplify regulations for farms and businesses. The aim of the EU Deforestation Regulation, according to the European Commission, is to ensure that goods in the EU market do not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation, both within the EU and globally. The new regulation means that companies will only be allowed to sell products in the EU if the supplier provides a 'due diligence' statement confirming that the product does not come from deforested land or has led to forest degradation. The regulation was set to come into effect at the end of 2024. However, this was deferred until the end of 2025, and mid-2026 for smaller businesses. Despite that deferral, the ICMSA has claimed that the commission will 'have zero credibility with farmers on their much-hyped simplification process…if they proceed with the EU Deforestation Regulation as currently structured'. The chairperson of ICMSA's Livestock Committee, Michael O'Connell, remarked that the requirements of the EDUR are 'illogical, dizzyingly complex, make no sense, and place an unacceptable burden on farmers'. 'It is surely not too much to ask the commission to decide one way or the other what they are trying to do. The new level of administration and form-filling involved in the deforestation regulation makes a mockery of the so-called simplification process,' he said. The vast majority of farmland in Ireland has been declared on the [basic payment] system all the way back to 1994, so there's over 30 years of records along with an inspection regime that means the Department [of Agriculture, Food and the Marine] has excellent data on every parcel of land and its usage. 'What the EU Deforestation Regulation will involve is effectively to ignore all this data and implement a new regime where farmers will have to declare annually where their cattle are grazing or their feed is coming? What about the information that we've been giving them for the last 30 years? Why can't they use that?' O' Connell commented. 'We're being asked to start from scratch again and comply with yet another additional administration system; a whole new regulatory regime that will almost certainly cause serious problems when introduced and which ultimately will not achieve its objective,' he added. The ICMSA is calling for the EU to allow the department to utilise this data and use it to pre-approve or reject farmers under the EUDR for 2026. 'They have the data and it is simply a case of verifying it. There should be absolutely no requirement on pre-approved farmers to submit documentation or otherwise and the produce from their farms should be marketed as normal,' O' Connell said. He added: 'ICMSA cannot understand the logic of the EU Commission of introducing a ridiculously complex system on top of the system that's already giving them the data they need to make the decisions.'
Irish Independent
05-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
€200/hd price gap drives more cattle to North for slaughter
So far this year there has been nearly a 30pc increase in the number of cattle going from the Republic to NI The Republic of Ireland steer price lagging 53c/kg behind the North Irish equivalent is 'one of the factors' driving an increased number of cattle across the border for direct slaughter, the ICMSA has said. Livestock Committee chair Michael O'Connell said this price gap results in a €212/hd difference for a 400kg carcass.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
9/11 first responders still facing delays despite funding restored to health program
NEW YORK - Staffing reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency have led to major delays in healthcare services for thousands 9/11 first responded and survivors. While funding cuts were reversed in February following public backlash, staffing shortages and long wait times remain an ongoing problem. What we know In February, DOGE implemented a 20% staff reduction within the World Trade Center Health Program, a federal initiative under the CDC that provides medical care to 9/11 first responders and survivors. Although some funding was reinstated following public backlash, many positions remain unfilled, causing prolonged delays in patient services. Michael Barasch, an attorney representing the 9/11 community, highlighted the issue: "The rules are that you can't get treated until you're certified with a 9/11 illness. But if you can't get an appointment to get your illness certified, that's essentially taking away your treatment." The backstory Established to offer free annual health exams and treatment for 9/11-related conditions, the World Trade Center Health Program currently serves approximately 130,000 individuals nationwide. The program's efficiency has been compromised due to staffing cuts, affecting its ability to certify new patients and provide timely care. Retired FDNY Lt. Michael O'Connell shared his experience: "In 2007, I wound up developing a very rare autoimmune disease called sarcoidosis. The World Trade Center Health Program literally saves lives. It saved me." What's next In addition to restoring the funding that was previously cut, advocates for the 9/11 community are now pushing lawmakers in Washington to increase federal support by another $3 billion. They argue that more than two decades after the Twin Towers collapsed, people are still getting sick—and still dying—from 9/11-related conditions.
Agriland
29-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
ICMSA accuses factories of using ‘mind games' to reduce cattle prices
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has hit out at Irish meat processors, who it claims, are using 'mind games' to drive down cattle prices. According to the chair of ICMSA's Livestock Committee, Michael O'Connell, meat processors are currently engaged in the 'manipulation of their supply base in an opportunistic and cynical attempt of trying to regain control over the beef trade from the farmers'. O'Connell said today (Tuesday, April 29) that regardless of record prices recently, the next six to eight months are critical to the Irish beef industry because farmers' livelihoods are on the line as a result of the increased cost of store cattle. The chair of the ICMSA's livestock committee said latest figures released by Bord Bia indicate that there will be a 'further drop in the number of available cattle for the remainder of 2025 of anywhere between 70,000 to 112,000 cattle'. 'Traditionally, we have seen the autumn period as a time where downward pressure would be applied on beef price by the factories as a means of manipulating store cattle price to allow the factories fill their feedlots. 'But these Bord Bia figures indicate that the second half of the year may as rosy for the factories as they might imagine. 'There is huge demand internationally for Irish weanlings, some of which would traditionally be slaughtered in late spring/early summer as under 16-month bulls or into the autumn at around 20 months, there's also a massive cross-border demand for heavy continental steers, heifers and cows,' O'Connell added. As a result he claims it 'may not be the simplest summer or autumn period for processors' and could present an opportunity for farmers to get 'properly paid for cattle'. ICMSA O'Connell is now warning against what he has described as the 'sheer disrespect and negativity surrounding the trade' currently. 'We hear the stories that beef cattle are scarce in the west at the same time as there is so-called 'waiting list' to get cattle slaughtered in the midlands and south. 'There is a geographic divide in terms of price with stronger prices seemingly available in the west and northern midlands. But it seems incredibly difficult to establish the base price of cattle today,' he added. According to the ICMSA chair, while flat prices are still available for cattle, in his opinion there 'was as many interpretations of the grid as there were farmers selling'. He believes that over the coming weeks factory-owned cattle are going to be 'killed at the expense of genuine farmers who will be the losers based on the ridiculous price cuts'. O'Connell today also pointed to the fact that Ireland is currently one of only five EU countries that is clear of bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) which, he believes, 'leaves us in a very strong position in terms of export markets'. 'The factories need to have a chat with themselves, they are trying to undermine that process is unacceptable and more than that it just won't work. 'We can read the data and we won't buy the absolutely made-up manipulation and cynicism. Beef markets remain strong, and farmers should vigorously resist any attempts from the meat plants to cut prices,' he said.
