Even sixth- and seventh-generation farmers were quitting beef, said Cavan suckler farmer,: “There is a lot of anger out there; despondency and frustration with the beef industry.
“There are very low margins; 2018 was a very difficult year. Farmers are losing between €30,000 and €40,000 a year; it’s a massive pay cut to take,” said Mr Woods, who is the Irish Farmer Journal’s beef editor. “Costs are a lot higher now than in the past and an increase in price to match is needed but that hasn’t come. Input costs are rising; output costs are decreasing,” he said.which is calling for higher prices said they decided to picket this evening’s event as most of the key stakeholders in the beef industry will be in the same place, a rare occurrence.