Parlon is confident of extra EU aid to beef, pig producers

The president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), Mr Tom Parlon, yesterday expressed confidence that extra EU aid to beef and pig producers would be provided.

Mr Parlon, who led a delegation to meet the Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, said the collapse by 10 per cent in cattle prices in the State in the last three weeks had taken £50 a head off small cattle and £70 off larger animals.

Also on the delegation were the chairman of the IFA's National Livestock Committee, Mr Ray O'Malley, its secretary-general, Mr Michael Berkery, and its EU representative, Mr Michael Treacy.

Mr Parlon said producer problems with the appalling summer weather had been compounded by the crisis in Russia. Irish beef represents half of all the EU beef exports to what had been an important market.

He said they had asked the Commission to increase from 60 per cent to 90 per cent the advances on beef premiums due in November and to bring forward the advances on ewe premiums. They had also sought increases of 2.5p in the £on export refunds and had received a sympathetic response from the Commissioner.

He said he was confident that such changes would be made and insisted that any increase in refunds would be passed on immediately to producers.

The IFA is also hopeful that the Commission on Tuesday will introduce subsidies to private storers of pigmeat which will ease the market glut.

Mr Fischler also indicated that he was seeking a detailed report on the serious fodder problems faced by farmers in the west of Ireland.