24/09/2014

Govt Urged To Take Action To Defend Beef Farmers

Sinn Féin has called on the government to take action to defend beef farmers, "before our industry is destroyed by the action of unaccountable beef barons".

The party's agriculture spokesperson Martin Ferris made the call at the Ploughing championship on Wednesday, saying: "I am sick and sore listening to farmers telling me stories about what they are tolerating from the beef barons who run the industry.

"It seems that they are unaccountable and can do what they like to manipulate the market. There are farmers who paid high prices for cattle last year who are getting crucified by the prices they are getting for them this year.

"Every beef farmer who spoke to me here can point to manipulation and sharp manoeuvring which is destroying the industry. The processors are putting a sell by date on live cattle.

"There must be regulation imposed on the processors before more farmers are forced out of beef and this valuable industry is lost altogether."

(MH/CD)

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