IFA committee chairman Michael Doran believes that to achieve the beef and livestock growth targets of 20% (or €300m per annum) set out in the 2020 Food Harvest Report, the minister for agriculture Brendan Smith must take urgent action to halt the decline in the national suckler cow herd.
He said this level of reduction in beef cow numbers amounts to an output loss close to €150m each year.
He called on the minister to fully restore the payment rate of €80 per cow under the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme and that there are no cuts to any direct payments to farmers in the next budget.