IFA accuses Govt of U-turn on feedstuffs

IFA President Padraig Walshe has accused the Government of hypocrisy and double standards in failing to support an EU proposal to accept scientifically approved maize and corn gluten for circulation in the EU.

The IFA President further accused the Government of playing politics for the optics, with no consideration for the damage they are doing to Ireland's livestock industry, especially pigmeat and poultry producers.

Mr Walshe said the Government is collectively responsible and "I do not accept Fianna Fail passing the buck and blaming the Greens. After all, it was the Taoiseach who brought the Greens into Government with their two seats at Cabinet compared to Fianna Fail's 12 per cent".

He added: "I am disgusted with Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan's abstention in yesterday's [last Thursday's] crucial vote at the EU Council of Ministers in Brussels. The Minister was actively in favour of the EU proposal last June and she had the full support of IFA.

"This U-turn has damaged Ireland's credibility in Brussels and assurances given by Minister Coughlan last June now count for nothing.

"Irish pig production, which is worth over €400m to the economy and directly employs 7,000 people, is now facing wipeout, with producers losing at least €15 on every pig sold.

"Our poultry industry will be handed over to Brazil and Thailand. Winter beef finishers too are facing crippling feed costs and will be forced to leave their sheds empty, while winter milk producers are also being hard hit."

Meanwhile, in other IFA news, Meath's Rural Development Chairman Tom Brady is reminding farmers - who are applying for derogation in order to farm at a stocking rate of up to 250kg organic nitrogen per hectare as per the Nitrates Directive - they have now until 12th October to apply. He advised any farmer who thinks they might be tight or exceed the 170kg level to make an application.

Finally, Meath IFA Livestock Chairman Fergal O'Brien  has welcomed the recent EU Commission proposal that the age limit for the BSE test be raised from 30 to 42 months for slaughtered animals for countries that have low BSE and have also implemented a testing scheme based on traceability and identification.