Farmers and beef processors have declared that they have begun “intensive discussions” after a new initiative within the beef industry was announced last last evening. Farmers implored factories to raise their prices for beef right away.
The talks, involving farmers and processors as well as the Government and McDonald’s and Tesco as two largest buyers, followed this week’s farmer protests about the prices they receive for beef. They blockaded meat factories for 24 hours.
The Irish Farmers Association maintains farmers here are paid €350 less per head of cattle than in the UK and there is no reason for factories to withhold a price increase. Irish beef sales to the UK, which accounts for over half of exports, have risen by 20 per cent this year.
