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Farmers Losing €60 On Every Pig, According To IFA

Monday, 13 June 2022 12:40

Protests were held in Tullamore over the weekend.

Efforts to rescue the Irish pig industry will be made this evening, following protests in Offaly over the weekend.

Farmers, who've been picketing outside Carroll's Meats in Tullamore, say the Ukraine war has left them unable to afford feed for their livestock.

A meeting between farmers, retailers, processors and the Eight Fifty Food Group - the UK company that bought Carroll's back in December 2020 - is taking place this evening, with the IFA calling for prices to be increased to at least €2.50 a kilo to stop the industry from going bust.

Chair of IFA's National Pig Committee, Roy Gallie says the current system means they're effectively losing €60 on every pig:

It comes as applications for the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 (PEPS2) open today.

In announcing the scheme, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said;

“As I have consistently stated, our pig farmers are remarkably resilient, but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges they are facing at present.

Irish pig farmers, alongside others across the EU, are currently facing a combination of low prices and extraordinarily high input costs.

This is why I have targeted €13 million of the €15.8 million EU exceptional aid allocation to support the viability of this important sector.

The scheme will assist pig farmers to make the necessary adjustment to the new market situation and support them as much as possible through this period of major disruption."

A total fund of €13 million is being made available for this voluntary demand led scheme for pig farmers who commit to meeting the conditionality which aims to address the immediate market disturbance by incentivising a necessary adjustment and in the longer-term supports food security by assisting these producers to remain viable.

The scheme is funded from Ireland’s EU funds allocation for exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors which have been impacted by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as announced by the European Commission on 23rd March last.

Minister of State Martin Heydon, who chairs the Pig Roundtable, added:

“This scheme is part of a package of measures to support the sector, including: the finance instruments co-funded by my Department through SBCI, Intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality assured Irish pigmeat in the domestic and export markets, and Teagasc dedicated, ongoing advisory supports."

This scheme is open to commercial pig farmers who have produced more than 200 pigs in the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 inclusive, who are able to meet the eligibility conditions and commit to the conditionality.

Payment to each successful applicant will be based on a graduated payment structure depending on the number of pigs slaughtered, exported or sold in the nominated herd during the reference period.

A maximum pay rate of €100,000 will apply. 

The closing date for applications is 11th July 2022.

You can get more information about the scheme here.

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