The expected announcement that Libya had agreed to a resumption of the live cattle trade with Ireland failed to materialise yesterday. However, a Department of Agriculture spokesman said there was "increasing optimism" that the announcement would be made this week. The resumption could take 50,000 Irish cattle off the market before Christmas.
Mr Frank Allen, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association President, led a delegation to the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, seeking help for farmers hit by falling beef prices and a fodder shortage in some areas.
Mr Walsh said he will be speeding up headage and premia payments to assist farmers with their cash-flow situation. Headage payments will be made in the last week of this month and will continue through October.
He said he had sought changes in the EU regulations to allow an increase in the advance payments on suckler cow and special beef premiums by 20 per cent. This means an additional £45 million would be paid in November and December.
He promised an additional £6 million on certain premiums where top-up payments were due and said Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments falling due will be processed urgently.
He acknowledged there was a fodder problem on some farms caused by the weather but better August weather and the reduced cost of feed rations had eased this somewhat.
The Minister said he welcomed the move by Teagasc to hold a series of winter fodder clinics and he will quantify the problem with Teagasc.
On the issue of falling beef prices, Mr Walsh said he had been in touch with the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, detailing the need for urgent action on cattle prices and the beef export markets.
However, Mr Walsh's statement said beef exports were running 6 per cent ahead of last year and the number of live exports had trebled.
Mr Allen said the meeting had been positive and that Mr Walsh had told him he had asked the EU to suspend sales of beef from intervention stores. He also predicted the re-opening of the Libyan live trade.
The drystock farmers association president, Mr Albert Thompson, yesterday called for immediate help for beef farmers and said the 80p pence per lb currently on offer is totally unsustainable.