Meaningful Support Needed in Budget to Stop Decline in Sheep Sector

IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said the ball is firmly at the foot of the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to show leadership and a willingness to stop the collapse of the sheep sector in Ireland.

He said the support package the Minister will provide in next week’s Budget for sheep farmers will be a clear indication of his and the Government’s commitment to sheep production in the country.

Adrian Gallagher said to date this year throughput in sheep processing plants is back over 350,000 head, following a drop of over 360,000 last year.  Over the past two years that’s a reduction of 700,000 sheep processed.

“The figures are startling and there for all to see. Unless there is significant long-term direct support for farmers lambing ewes, we risk losing the second largest farm sector in the country.”

He said the Minister must build on the €22m package provided for this year’s Sheep Welfare Scheme which combined with the CAP Sheep Improvement Scheme allocated a payment of €25/ewe to sheep farmers. This must be built on to bring payments to a minimum of €30/ewe, and €40/ewe for hill farmers.

Adrian Gallagher said we are at a critical point in time for the sector.  If we continue to lose numbers at the rate of the last two years, we will not have a competitive processing sector or be able to retain key blue chip customers for those who remain.

“The Minister and his Government colleagues must come forward with a long-term strategy for the sector, starting with firm funding commitments in the upcoming budget for targeted sheep supports for next year of a minimum of €30/ewe,” he concluded.