News

July 20, 2010

EU Ombudsman's report critical of Commission on Brazilian beef following ICMSA complaint 

The unprecedented criticism of the European Commission by the European Ombudsman on the Commission's management of Brazilian Beef imports comes at a very crucial time as the Commission tries to push through a Mercosur trade deal.

July 19, 2010

ICMSA welcome 2020 Report but say proposed volume of milk increase is 'very optimistic' and say all depends on viable farmer income

Commenting on the launch of the 2020 Report, the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that while it was welcome and could serve as a blueprint for the sector, the danger was that the aspirations and recommendations contained within the Report would remain just that – aspirations and recommendations – unless they were backed up by real action and investment.

July 12, 2010

ICMSA meet Minister Smith in Brussels as critical decisions required in dairying, single farm payment and threat to beef sector 

Speaking after meeting Minister Brendan Smith in Brussels this afternoon, the ICMSA Deputy President, John Comer, said that rarely has there been so many critical issues up for decision at the same time and with so much riding on Ireland's ability to defend her interests. July 09, 2010

Voluntary Code of Practice as useful as Anglo-Irish shares

Mr. Jackie Cahill, ICMSA President, who had a meeting today with the Government appointed expert on the regulation of the food sector, has said that the idea that a voluntary code of practice would deliver both for the farmers and the consumer was   grossly naïve.

June 29, 2010

Grocery prices – Milk suppliers say regulatory system is chaotic

Commenting on the survey that shows that our groceries are the second most expensive in the EU, the President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Jackie Cahill, said that nobody familiar with the chaos that is our regulatory and monitoring system could be surprised by the findings.

June 18, 2010

ICMSA seek appeals system for farmers dissatisfied with cattle grades

June 16, 2010

High Level Group Provides No Solution to Dairy Sector Problems  -  ICMSA

June 9, 2010

Cahill says Teagasc farm income survey shows who really paid for systematic
mishandling of farm sector - “dairy income collapse a clear result of
idiotic policy”    

Commenting on the Teagasc farm incomes survey, the President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, said that comment on such a disaster was superfluous and the figures showed who had really paid the price for the systematic mishandling of the farm sector over the last decade..

June 9, 2010

Cahill describes High Level Group draft report as “another lost opportunity” and warns against futures market    

ICMSA have stated that the High Level Group on dairying looks likely to represent yet another lost opportunity to move the European dairy sector onto a basis of sustainability and stability.

June 9, 2010

ICMSA issue Bluetongue warning    

It is absolutely essential that all farmers heed the advice of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding the importation of animals and the possible dangers of bluetongue according to Mr. Kevin Connolly, Chairperson of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Committee.

June 9, 2010

ICMSA say Kerry’s 30c/litre is the new benchmark    

Dairy markets were again stronger in May and these improvements have been acknowledged by the Kerry decision to set a milk price of 30 cents per litre for last month’s milk, according to Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA’s Dairy Committee.

May 19, 2010

ICMSA issue warning on release of dairy intervention stocks    

The ICMSA have again expressed their concern that recent recovery in the marketplace for dairy products could be undermined by a premature and ill-considered decision to release stocks from intervention.

May 14, 2010

ICMSA say Cohabitation and Civil Partnership issues should be dealt with separately    

In advance of the Dail resuming its consideration of the Civil Partnership Bill and the question of co-habitation within that Bill, ICMSA has now proposed that these two matters be dealt with separately.

 May 14, 2010

Food Chain Information document - "Another piece of pointless paperwork"   

The Food Chain Information document required for all cattle being slaughtered from Monday, 17 May 2010 has been described as another pointless piece of paperwork by Mr. Kevin Connolly, Chairperson of ICMSA's Beef and Cattle Committee.

May 13, 2010

ICMSA predict that April milk price could reach 30 cents per litre   

Following the IDB announcement of product prices for April, ICMSA has stated that they calculate and expect that the price for April milk should increase by 3.2 cent per litre.

May 10, 2010

The ICMSA statement on today's Glanbia vote  

Speaking on the outcome of today's vote. The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, said:

"The shareholders have spoken and it's now up to the boards of the Co-op and the Plc to work out the arrangements that best further the interests of the farmer-suppliers and the Glanbia group going forward".  

May 07, 2010

ICMSA SETS A PRICE OF 30 CENTS PER LITRE FOR APRIL MILK  

Following the IDB announcement of product prices for April, ICMSA has stated that they calculate and expect that the price for April milk should increase by 3.2 cent per litre. Pat McCormack, Chairman of the ICMSA Dairy Committee, said that a minimum price for April milk based on market returns for butter and skim milk powder was 29 cents per litre, but he pointed out that Co-ops with a diversified product mix should be well capable of paying 30 cents per litre or higher.

May 04, 2010

ICMSA say farmers should insist on option to sell cattle 'off' beef grid

In light of the fact that Meat Industry Ireland admitted on 10 March 2010 to the Dail Committee for Agriculture and Food that between 20-30 percent of cattle were being sold off the grid before that date, all farmers should now insist that they too have the option to sell their cattle off the grid according to Mr. Kevin Connolly, Chairpersons of ICMSA's Beef and Cattle Committee.

April 30, 2010

ICMSA recommend acceptance of Glanbia deal

The President of ICMSA has issued a 'Yes' recommendation to his members involved in the sale of Glanbia Plc's milk processing and agribusiness operations to Glanbia Co-op on the grounds that on balance the offer is potentially better than the present arrangements within Glanbia.  

April 22, 2010

ICMSA looking for substantial increase on Irish Dairy Board returns for April milk

Dairy markets over the past few weeks have moved rapidly in a positive direction and these improvements must be acknowledged in full when the Irish Dairy Board sets its April returns to Co-ops, according to Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee.  

April 21, 2010

ICMSA survey shows that Republic's farmers pay €1,000 per annum more for vet medicine than northern counterparts 

The Deputy President of ICMSA has claimed that farmers in the Republic milking 70 cows are paying up to €1,000 per annum more for veterinary medicines than their counterparts in Northern Ireland .

April 09, 2010

Irish Milk Prices Must Rise to Reflect Improved Markets   

With SMP and WMP prices reaching 12 month highs on the world market and Dutch quotations increasing week on week, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee said that the March payout from milk processors to farmers should increase to at least 27 cents per litre to reflect the improved returns from the marketplace and given the huge financial pressures on farmers at this time.  

April 09, 2010

Turf Cutting Ban Lacks Commonsense

The Chairman of the ICMSA's Rural Development Committee, Mr. John O' Donnell, has called on Minister Gormley to adopt a commonsense approach to the ban on turf-cutting.  

April 07, 2010

Carbon Tax is a Direct Tax on Farmers and Rural Dwellers 

The Deputy President and chairperson of the ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee, Mr. John Comer, has stated that the proposed carbon tax due to come into effect on 01 May is a direct tax on farmers and rural dwellers.

April 07, 2010

Cahill says Minister Gormley should 'cop-on' and drop Wildlife Bill 

The President of the country's second largest farmers' organisation has given his association's full support to the RISE (Rural Ireland Says Enough) campaign against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010. Jackie Cahill, President of ICMSA, said that farmers and the general rural population were astonished to see Minister Gormley devoting valuable legislative time and public resources to a matter that could only be described as utterly insignificant when set against the size and scale of the problems facing the country generally and farmers particularly.

April 07, 2010

Grassland Sheep Scheme Welcome Boost to Sheep Sector – ICMSA

The Chairman of the ICMSA's Sheep Committee, Mr. Denis Carroll, has welcomed the announcement today by Minister Smith that €54 million in unused CAP funds will be allocated to the sheep sector over the next three years through the Grassland Sheep Scheme.

March 31, 2010

ICMSA welcome Kerry milk price rise but caution against reckless release of intervention stocks

The Chairman of ICMSA's Dairy Committee, Pat McCormack, warmly welcomed the Kerry decision and said that dairy markets were now beginning to regain the strength lost over the last two years. Mr McCormack said that it was no exaggeration to say that dairy farmers had never needed a milk price rise more and the Kerry decision must be considered as a vital move towards restored viability.

March 30, 2010

ICMSA welcome funding for new Agri-environment scheme as 'first phase

continuation of REPS' 

The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has welcomed the announcement of funding for the new Agri-Environmental Scheme and described it as being an essential scheme to bridge the gap being particularly experienced by those farmers whose REPS 3 contracts are coming to an end.

March 16, 2010

ICMSA tells Department that a real successor to REPS is still possible 

Speaking following a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, John Comer, Deputy President and Chairperson of ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee said that the new REPS scheme being proposed by the Department will simply be impractical for most farmers and it will be next to impossible for mainstream, active, farmers to generate the much touted €5,000 from the scheme.

March 11, 2010

CALL TO ACT ON CREDIT CRISIS IN FARMING

ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill has called on the new Financial Regulator to urgently address the credit crisis in farming and SMEs.   We cannot afford any more delay while we wait the full establishment of the Financial Regulators team.   Mr. Cahill, who is meeting the Tánaiste this afternoon in Dublin said that for over a year now the ICMSA has made proposals to the Financial Regulator and the Minister for Finance on the need for action to address the credit problem in farming.  

March 09, 2010

All Co-ops Must Raise February Milk Price   -   ICMSA    

Commenting on the decision of Glanbia to raise its February milk price to 26 cents per litre, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee said that all other Co-ops should immediately follow suit and increase their February milk price in order to alleviate some of the financial pressures on farmers and to reflect the improved market situation.

 March 02, 2010
ICMSA lash Department's 'ridiculous' bias in quota allocation  

Commenting on the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of yet further support for new entrants to dairying, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee, said that he was very disappointed that the Minister had decided to continue with a policy of discrimination against existing small scale milk producers who are already struggling badly due to the deregulation of the dairy market so enthusiastically supported by the same Minister.

February 23rd, 2010
ICMSA comment on the meeting between Minister Smith and Commissioner Ciolos 

Commenting on the meeting between Minister Smith and Commissioner Ciolos, the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that Minister Smith was perfectly right to emphasise the need for the careful release of stocks built up through the operation of intervention measures during last year's price collapse.

February 22nd, 2010 

ICMSA say €580 per dairy farmer is "practically useless"

Commenting on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 's announcement that a payment of €580 per dairy farmer will be made from the €11.5m Dairy Compensation Fund, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee , described the payment as 'practically useless' and he pointed out that if farmers were to be truly compensated for the disaster that was 2009 – which was largely a result of incompetent national and EU policy – then a payment of €580 per dairy cow would be needed.  

February 19th, 2010
ICMSA call for immediate introduction of new Farm Investment Schemes 

Speaking after a meeting with Department of Agriculture officials in Portlaoise, the Deputy President and Chairman of the ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee, Mr. John Comer, has called on Minister Smith to immediately implement all schemes identified on the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme programme.

February 11th, 2010
ICMSA say new beef price grid is "an abject failure"

The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has said that the new QPS beef grid has failed abjectly and been roundly rejected by farmers right across the country to an extent that means it must be withdrawn.

January 29th, 2010
ICMSA say fury over REPS 4 chaos mounting
The Deputy President and Chairperson of the ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee, Mr. John Comer, has expressed his fury over the number of REPS 4 applicants still awaiting payment and has called on Minister Smith to immediately step-in and sort out the shambles that REPS 4 payments have become yet again this year.

January 19th, 2010
€11m dairy fund must be paid immediately and on a flat-rate per farmer say ICMSA
The new Chairman of ICMSA's Dairy Committee, Pat McCormack, has called on Minister Smith to recognise the extremely precarious current position of dairy farmers and immediately begin the payment of €11m fund agreed in late 2009. 

January 15th, 2010
ICMSA meet the Livestock Producers and Suppliers Association and agree on the new price grid 
ICMSA representatives met officials of the Livestock Producer and Suppliers Association last Friday in Portlaoise and both sides agreed that the new price grid would inevitably lead to lower prices being paid to farmers

January 14th, 2010
Cahill calls on Teagasc to follow the logic of their own 'Outlook 2010' report
Commenting on the figures and analysis contained in the Teagasc 'Outlook 2010', the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that the catastrophic collapse of dairy farmer margins and the level of their personal debt was now set out for all to see.

January 12th, 2010
ICMSA say ‘buck stops with councils’ on reaction to weather
The Chairman of ICMSA’s Rural Development Committee, John O’Donnell, lambasted the inaction that he said had yet again marked the official response to problems that were easily capable of solution if a concerted effort was made.

January 6th, 2010
ICMSA say ‘growing level of disquiet’ on new beef price grid
The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has highlighted the growing level of disquiet being expressed by farmers at the operation and prices being paid through the new beef price grid.

December 18th, 2009
Cahill re-elected as President of ICMSA
Jackie Cahill has been re-elected as President of the ICMSA after a vote of the 99-member National Council held today at Limerick’s Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel.

December 14th, 2009
Cahill re-elected as President of ICMSA
Jackie Cahill has been re-elected as President of the ICMSA after a vote of the 99-member National Council held today at Limerick’s Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel.

December 14th, 2009
Cahill criticises new MII price grid
“Farmers must be aware of the hidden pitfalls in the proposals made by the Meat Industry on the new pricing system. It most definitely is a situation of ‘seller beware’. I am all for improved breeding and rewarding farmers accordingly but the bulk of dairy cross animals will be suffering penalties of between €65 and €108 compared to a flat rate price. It is not true to say that the there is no differential in the current pricing system. An O4 animal currently suffers a penalty of €55 per head. This is going to be effectively doubled to €108”, stated Mr Cahill

December 9th, 2009
ICMSA WELCOME BUDGET'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CRITICAL ROLE AGRICULTURE WILL PLAY IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY
ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, welcomed the €50 million interim measure allocated to farmers exiting REPS 3 in 2010 which will be paid out at the rate of €5,000 per farmer. This precise measure had been included in ICMSA’s pre-Budget submission and farmers would particularly welcome the inclusion of capital depreciation in the definition of income in 2010 and 2011 when the new social levy kicks in.

December 1st, 2009
Cahill calls for flooding task force
Commenting on the flooding crisis, Mr Cahill said that despite the excellent effort by voluntary and public sector workers on the ground, ICMSA believed that there is need for substantial funding to be directed towards the affected areas. Mr Cahill stated that there are farm families who will need financial support in both the short and long-term. A dedicated task force is required that will co-ordinate remedial organisation for farming communities and accordingly the lead department should be the Department of Agriculture.

November 26th, 2009
ICMSA say Community Officer model should be used to deliver aid directly to flooded farmers
The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, said that while he welcomed the funding being made available for farmers affected by the flooding, there needed to be more urgency about the delivery of aid to the farmers concerned. He complimented the work of Teagasc in their direct help to farmers and their efforts at co-ordination but he said that speed of response was now the top priority and he called for a system similar to that operated by the HSE Community Officers, where decision-making was instantaneous and aid delivered quickly.

November 20th, 2009
Floods must alter slurry regulations say ICMSA
After the exceptional rainfall in recent days, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will have to introduce exceptional measures to allow farmers implement a clean-up operation on their farms and to ensure that adequate slurry storage will be available for the rest of the year according to Mr. John O'Leary, Deputy President and Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee.

November 18th, 2009
Cahill says banks' code of conduct has the force of a 'boy scout's pledge' and legislation is needed
At a Pre-Budget meeting with the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said it was foolhardy to rely on the banks making credit available at a competitive interest rate to the productive sector of the economy. Mr Cahill said that the kind of commitments the state had received from the banks to renew the flow of credit to the wider economy had all the force of a boy scout’s pledge and about as much credibility. The farm leader said that the full force of regulation and compulsion is now the only option left to the Government.

November 13th, 2009
ICMSA say growing gap between Irish and UK beef prices must be bridged
In the month of October, the gap between Irish and UK beef prices has grown by a further €60 per head bringing the gap to over €150 per head at a time when Irish beef farmers are on their knees. There is absolutely no justification for such a price gap between Irish and UK cattle prices and this gap must be bridged immediately by meat processors, according to Mr. Martin McMahon, Chairperson of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Committee.