Poultry Council Report May 2026
Market Report
The IFA Poultry Committee continues to prioritise the protection of poultry farmers’ margins across all production systems. The sector remains under sustained cost pressure at both farm and processing level. Input costs remain elevated, while labour costs continue to rise across farms, processing plants and egg-packing facilities.
Disease risk remains a critical issue for the sector. Avian influenza looms, however, the level of instances has been kept to a minimum, which is testament to the sector.
The Committee continues its engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), seeking the establishment of a national disease support framework for the poultry sector. For farmers who are inside those zones for instance during a HPAI positive case and cannot be restocked, there is no support presently available for them, which can potentially be very damaging. This is a key ask in the IFA Poultry pre-budget 2027 submission. IFA will meet with Department officials to discuss this in the coming weeks.
Market demand for both chicken meat and eggs remains strong, with supply constraints evident at times at retail level. Despite this, producer margins remain under pressure. Egg producers continue to seek increases of 24c per dozen for free-range eggs and 12c per dozen for enriched cage eggs, reflecting ongoing cost inflation. We have concluded meetings with the 5 main retailers on this but no money has been offered or passed back at this time. The Committee will continue to engage with packers and retail to ensure this happens. IFA has lobbied significantly on this matter for many years and has managed to delay this significantly, but broiler growers have had their FRA removed and are now required to register for VAT. They have been advised to speak with their accountant or tax advisory service on the matter.
Newly established IFA Poultry committee branch with duck producers work is ongoing. Duck producers and Silverhill new payment package still has some further discussions to be had to make the payment package workable for all duck producers.
Activity since last National Council
- Engagement with retailers on the price request increase on eggs – Members of the IFA National Poultry Committee have met with the 5 main retailers to seek this increase. Work is ongoing in this area between IFA, retailers and packers.
- Committee members sit on the Bord Bia Technical Advisory Committee for poultry and eggs, representing farmer interests. Pilot audits have been started but are since delayed.
- Continued collaboration with Teagasc, with upcoming meetings scheduled with Professor Frank O’Meara to request additional sector funding for research and enhanced services.
- Continuous dialogue with processors and egg packers on pricing and other sectoral matters.
- Engagement with the Department, AHI, EPA, IEA, MII, Campylobacter Forum, and Bord Bia.
- Expansion of the IFA National Poultry WhatsApp group to distribute updates and knowledge transfer to poultry producers.
EU/COPA Developments
- The development of the position papers for the welfare of laying hens is currently being lobbied on by the WP for Poultry.
- Engagement with Copa-Cogeca and the Commission continues regarding implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) to ensure a simplified approach.
- The European Food Safety Authority has issued welfare recommendations for poultry transport. The Commission plans to update this legislation, and we are working with DAFM and Copa-Cogeca on this issue.
Upcoming Issues
- Ongoing retail engagement to address persistent cost pressures and margin sustainability.
- Securing DAFM support for a structured national disease support mechanism for the poultry sector.
- Monitoring implementation and impact of biosecurity regulations and Avian Influenza developments.
- IFA Poultry Committee meeting to take place in the Irish Farm Centre, 12th May.
- IFA to meet with Silverhill, Date to be confirmed.
