Warning on any move to end the beef 'bonus'

e Chairman of Beef Plan

Eamon Corley has warned that any attempt to end a bonus for cattle over 30 months will be like "waving a red ag at farmers".

Everybody had a tipping point and 2019 [the Beef Plan strikes] was a tipping point for farmers, he said.

"One of the outcomes of this movement was the 8c bonus which was stuck in there for cattle from 30 to 36 months. I really think that the factories, if they do try and push on and remove that, they will be basically waving a red ag at farmers and running the risk of putting them back at the tipping point again.”

His warnings come after Dale Crammond, Director of Meat Industry Ireland (MII), at the launch of its Irish Beef Sector Sustainability report, said MII would be looking at ways to incentivise a reduction in the slaughter age. "It certainly may have to be part of the conversation. e idea of paying bonuses on animals over 30 months, how consistent is that with the direction of travel we want to go with?”

He also told the Farming Independent that "early nishing of cattle has been identi ed as a key component of the Government's Climate Action Plan. MII and its members will work constructively with all stakeholders to proactively drive this free, unlimited support groups on relationship issues. e support groups are facilitated by a mental health professional who o ers guidance on how to improve relationships and how to e ectively communicate needs, expectations, and boundaries.

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