Michael Fitzmaurice Raises Alarm Over 30c Drop in Pig Prices
Michael Fitzmaurice asked whether the government would engage with farming sectors under the Farmer Fox strategy as pig prices fall. He flagged that pig prices have dropped 30 cent to kilo and sought engagement; the Tánaiste said the recent budget provided supports and that the Minister of Agriculture would be asked to engage.
Michael Fitzmaurice referenced the Farmer Fox strategy, saying beef prices are good, dairy may have slipped, and that there is a major problem arising in the pig industry where prices have dropped 30 cent to kilo. He asked if the government had engaged, or would engage, with farming sectors to see how it could help a struggling sector.
The Tánaiste responded that the recent budget did provide significant supports for quite a number of sectors in the agricultural industry. The Tánaiste acknowledged ongoing concerns in tillage and said they would ask the Minister of Agriculture to engage on the pig industry issue.
The Tánaiste noted a recent visit to North Cork where the pig price issue was not raised on that occasion, but said the point would be taken on board.
The exchange ends with a commitment to seek ministerial engagement on falling pig prices, leaving next steps to the Minister of Agriculture to engage directly with farmers on the matter.
Question on farm prices
Michael Fitzmaurice referenced the Farmer Fox strategy, saying beef prices are good, dairy may have slipped, and that there is a major problem arising in the pig industry where prices have dropped 30 cent to kilo. He asked if the government had engaged, or would engage, with farming sectors to see how it could help a struggling sector.
Government reply
The Tánaiste responded that the recent budget did provide significant supports for quite a number of sectors in the agricultural industry. The Tánaiste acknowledged ongoing concerns in tillage and said they would ask the Minister of Agriculture to engage on the pig industry issue.
Local visit noted
The Tánaiste noted a recent visit to North Cork where the pig price issue was not raised on that occasion, but said the point would be taken on board.
Follow-up and engagement
The exchange ends with a commitment to seek ministerial engagement on falling pig prices, leaving next steps to the Minister of Agriculture to engage directly with farmers on the matter.
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Transcript
Tisha, under the Farmer Fox strategy, at the moment, in relation to beef prices, they're good, dairy might have slipped a bit, but it's still not too bad, but there's a major problem arising in the pig industry where prices have dropped 30 cent to kilo. Has your government engaged, or will you engage with the farming sectors to see how you can help a sector that's starting to struggle at the moment? Thank you. Again, I think the recent budget did provide significant supports for quite a number of sectors in the industry, agricultural industry, obviously there are still concerns in relation to tillage, and I'll take on board what you said in respect to the pig industry, although I was in North Cork recently and met with a number that wasn't quite raised with me on that occasion, but certainly I'll ask the Minister of Agriculture to engage with you on it.