25 MARCH 2020

ICSA sheep chairman Sean McNamara has said that hogget price has taken a serious hit this week with quotes now at €5.30, well below the typical price in excess of €6 over the past few weeks.

“Covid-19 seems to have hit the sheep trade really bad this week. ICSA is calling for an explanation from meat plants as to the exact cause of this. It is not good enough to collapse price without so much as an outline of what is happening. We also need an explanation as to why processors are continuing to import lambs from the North at this time. There is no excuse for bringing in lamb when market demand is falling. Bord Bia too need to step up and outline what is going on in markets. While we understand that some volatility is a consequence of Covid uncertainty, this is a savage drop and farmers want answers

Mr McNamara said he would fight very hard to resist the price collapse. “However, we need Minister Creed to understand that Covid is now having the biggest impact on the sheep sector and we need help urgently. It needs to be part of the discussion at today’s (Wednesday 25) EU Farm Council talks.”

ENDS