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Pics: Thousands of farmers rally at Department of Agriculture over beef price cuts

IFA president Eddie Downey said today that some farmers are “at their wits end”.

THOUSANDS OF BEEF farmers gathered outside the Department of Agriculture in Dublin earlier today to voice their anger about cuts to beef prices paid to them in recent months.

Addressing the protest today, President of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Eddie Downey said Simon Coveney’s Food Harvest 2020 plan is “failing beef farmers”, who face losses up to €175 million this year of prices are not restored.

“The minister must reject the factory cuts and specification changes and act immediately to address labelling and live export issues that are curtailing competition and the movement of stock to our key markets, including Northern Ireland and the UK,” he told the crowds. “The sector needs stability and confidence to be restored without any further delay”.

Some bull beef finishers are at their wits end, unable to get cattle killed. When they do sell them, they are facing price cuts of 50c/kg plus, ranging from €200 to €300 per head. These farmers are facing very real and very substantial financial losses this spring.

Beef farmers protest
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  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Leah Farrell/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
  • Beef farmers protest

    Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Read: Tractors, dogs and sandwiches: 5,000 farmers protest in Dublin>

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52 Comments
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    Mute Bernie O Connor
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:14 PM

    At least farmers have the b..ls to stand up for themselves, not like the rest of us who just take tax hike after tax hike and complain on here but do f..all..

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    Mute keith
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:00 AM

    They have the bal.s because they are all loaded in the first place..fu.k the wealthy farmers we need to start looking after the ordinary people of Ireland who want to eat Irish cattle but can’t afford to these days because the prices of beef is already to high.. This country only looks after the wealthy and shits all over the ordinary people.

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    Mute Sarah Condren
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:12 AM

    That’s a ridiculous comment. The price of beef is “high” to the consumer because of the margin the factories and supermarkets make on it, not because of what the farmers make, as if you bothered to know anything about what you’re commenting on I’m sure you would be aware that the average beef farmer in Ireland is losing money from production. Also the last time I checked farmers are pretty “ordinary Irish people” in general.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:35 AM

    Keith, I hear you. Every other protest in the country is mocked and generally Shay upon. The farmers protest now, because THEIR pockets are being hit. They have been keeping their heads down up until now because things were fairly ok. When is the penny going to drop? Without solidarity ALL protest is doomed to failure (farmers being the exception). Everyone is hurting, but as long as we will only support our own sectional interest the gombeens, the vulture funds, the general ‘powers that be’ continue to win, and to laugh all the way to the Swiss deposit box. When are we going to wake up?

    39
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    Mute keith
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:55 AM

    Check again Sarah you narrow minded fool.

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    Mute Sarah Condren
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    Mar 5th 2014, 1:01 AM

    I’m narrow minded?! Can you tell me what you define as an “ordinary person” please, if farmers are not ordinary people, and hardworking citizens of this country.

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    Mute keith
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    Mar 5th 2014, 1:42 AM

    Yep that’s you Sarah a narrow minded fool,Sarah the farmer can’t understand why daddy is not making as much money anymore and in your narrow mind this is unacceptable.haha I can see through you you fool.

    12
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    Mute Sarah Condren
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    Mar 5th 2014, 9:40 AM

    Did you know that there’s such a thing as women farmers now too?? Maybe it’s nothing to do with Daddy and you’re a troll that has nothing better to do with your time. Great talking to you and getting your insight into the world, still in the dark as to what an ordinary person is though. Ah well, I’ll have to live in suspense.

    16
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    Mute John Hartigan
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:22 PM

    People of Ireland look how the farmers protest for their rights get up of your asses and do likewise

    103
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    Mute Donal
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:13 PM

    @brian. These cattle were bought last year for high prices as the price of beef was high. Now the price of beef has dropped that the farmers won’t even get back the price they payed for the cattle or cover the food costs against the cattle. So get your facts right.

    103
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:18 PM

    But Donal. Then he wouldn’t have anything to rant about..if he got his facts right

    47
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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:20 PM

    Same can be said about people who bought houses before the collapse. Now in negative equity. These householders are told tough s**t.

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    Mute Philip Howlin
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:23 PM

    Donal. Surley the answer is to force the factories to pay a sustainable price. The proper place for today’s protest was the factories. What can the taxpayer do?

    50
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    Mute Kinsaleable
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:29 PM

    Economics Donal. As was said previously it’s Keynesian economics based on supply and demand. Is it not like the situation where people who bought houses at the peak are now repaying mortgages way over the current value?

    18
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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:21 PM

    @begrudgy. If you think that sustainable food production for a growing population, and the mortgages of people who got on the property ladder as quick as possible in order to make a quick buck are of equal importance, well then your showing your lack of understanding of the subject. The one thing that kept this country afloat over the last three years was the agricultural sector but I reckon if some people had their way here they would try take the few measly pound that most farmers get in subsidies and give it out as extra social welfare!

    45
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    Mute Kinsaleable
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:53 PM

    not really Joe. lots of people bought houses at sky high prices to live in them and out of fear that they would go beyond their reach. They have to deal with the economics of those decisions now. Same should be the case for farmers that bought overpriced animals. Its economics.

    21
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    Mute finbarr ocormac
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:14 PM

    Not all farmers are on the gravy train but when Ruiari Quinn tried to go after their assets last year for grant assesments they circled the wagons on Fine gael and got them to tell Quinn where to go….same will happen here

    88
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    Mute johngahan
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:48 PM

    Why don’t the farmers unite and do/acquire their own meat processing?

    Why knock on the door of a factory that is treating you like a fool?

    74
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    Mute Michael Garett
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:57 PM

    That was tried but the big players made sure it wouldn’t succeed.

    45
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:39 AM

    Yeah, well the “big players” might be in a bit of trouble now. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, if workers can gain control of the means of production it can result in benefit to all. Dare to dream, boot Goodman and his like out.

    42
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    Mute Michael Garett
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:44 PM

    Every IFA president holds a march or protest of some kind. Had one 2 years ago. Pure waste of time. Blockade the factories like they did 15 years ago. Factories idle for weeks. Couldn’t kill their own stock even. Best action ever undertaken but nearly broke IFA due to court action. IFA is gone soft lately.

    73
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:04 PM

    Factories being idle for weeks isn’t the solution either. Their customers will go elsewhere and probably not come back.

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:38 PM

    Would the red thumbers like to elaborate so we all could learn?

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    Mute Edward Kennedy
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:31 PM

    IFA get a levy out of every animal killed, hence why there is no blockades

    1
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    Mute patrick
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:28 PM

    Farmers are angry with beef processors for changing what they require the farmers to produce without any notice or lead in period, and then they impose severe price cuts on beef supplied that doesn’t match their speciations.

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    Mute linda o neill
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:30 PM

    Notice how there was nothing on the RTE 9 news about it

    79
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    Mute Brian O'Leary
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:03 PM

    It’s not like the farmers to complain is it ?? Didn’t hear much from them when the price of beef was sky high not so long ago. It’s called market forces .. Supply and demand.

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    Mute Fiachra Pollard
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:09 PM

    I don’t know much about farming but I presume they pay taxes like the rest of us, the bad weather doesn’t help them, we are supposed to have some of the best beef in Europe so why cheapen it! Oh and that after government have done deal with Canada to import their cheap beef! Give the farmers a break.

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    Mute Martina Lavin
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:44 PM

    You’re right farmers don’t sit behind a keyboard and complain!! They get off their bums and go and do something about it! Maybe more people should try it instead of berating those who do! Just a thought.

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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:13 PM

    Why would you hear them complaining when the price was high..?? Idiot

    34
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 5th 2014, 1:13 AM

    Yes, fiachra, it is obvious that you don’t know much about farming – and you ‘presume’ a lot.

    13
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Fair play to them like it or lump it they are putting up a fight

    36
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    Mute David Sherry
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:47 PM

    Farming is a business, and in business nothing is certain. Prices rise and fall, I don’t think farmers should be exempt from this phenomenon

    30
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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:12 PM

    Your a clown. Food production is more than just a business. It’s the one industry that must remain sustainable to guarantee all our futures in the years ahead. It’s not the same as other businesses. There will be ten million people on this planet by 2050, yet we will still have to feed them all from the same area of land. It’s vital for farmers to remain sustainable

    48
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:05 AM

    If there’s only 10 million people on the planet then joe, it’ll be pretty straight forward to feed them.

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    Mute johngahan
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    Mar 5th 2014, 5:38 AM

    @Joe – for a moment there I thought you were describing banking.

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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:51 PM

    They could have marched outside the convention centre this Friday at fine gaels “love in” with Angela merkel.But maybe RTE wouldnt be allowed to make that a news item !

    23
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    Mute Michael Garett
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:19 PM

    No they wouldn’t do that. Don’t you know that Fine Gael was always considered the farmers party.

    16
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    Mute Aoife Ní Chionnaith
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:54 PM

    On the news they were talking about having to raise the number of live exports because of the prices they are getting, not good for those animals’ welfare. Maybe there should be investigation into how much beef we import and why, and the margins/capacity of the main slaughterhouses

    20
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    Mute jimjoryrt
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:56 AM

    Do them complain when the prices rise? Farmers, why don’t we just call it as it is and say farming is a charity and farmers are completely useless yet have egos like they were something

    13
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    Mute Joe Walshe
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:20 PM

    The idea of raising and feeding cattle as a food is un-sustainable and we need to move over to growing more cereals and other foods instead.
    The same with milk. The milk sold by the dairy industry is not like it was years ago and is unhealthy. Ideally people shouldn’t drink milk at all.
    As more and more people turn away from eating processed meat and milk these industries will decline.

    13
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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:57 PM

    I assume your really a wind up merchant??

    15
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    Mute Michael Tobin
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:04 AM

    As more and more people turn away from dairy? Hmmm abolishment of milk quotas in 12 months time, milk price at record highs, sure sounds like the dairy industry is heading for certain crisis

    18
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    Mute Ina Smidiríní
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    Mar 4th 2014, 10:59 PM

    Meat & dairy = slow painful death. Many folk are switching to alternatives.

    12
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:07 PM

    What do trolls eat?

    29
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Mar 4th 2014, 11:19 PM

    Mcgoo, Tripe!

    11
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    Mute Daniel D Waters
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    Mar 5th 2014, 8:39 AM

    In all my life I have never seen a poor farmer oh I hear them complain that they have no money then they go out and buy a new bmw and then go on a 4 week holiday they get billions from the EU they are as bad as the banks.

    7
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    Mute Bernie Whelan Walsh
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    Mar 5th 2014, 8:18 AM

    I have said it a thousand times ! This is what the fishing industry needs to do !

    6
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    Mute Pauline Harney Keogh
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    Mar 5th 2014, 8:42 AM

    Good on them, instead of sitting around moaning they are protesting.

    5
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    Mute jimjoryrt
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:57 AM

    Pity they wouldn’t match off the end if a pier at high tide

    4
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    Mute Mister Crabs
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    Mar 5th 2014, 12:45 AM

    One way to get rid of them – send them to an abattoir.

    3
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    Mute Daniel D Waters
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:04 AM

    unlike some here who live in the concrete jungle I live beside framers and there big houses and bmws and I have see a cow in the flesh not on the telly or dead one in my burger from McDonald’s.

    2
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