Worrying times for Longford sheep farmers
Sheep market issues and the blight of dog attacks on sheep flocks were highlighted during last week's meeting of Longford IFA that was hosted by Abbeyshrule IFA branch.
Farmers believe serious action is needed on each front they lobbied local Oireachtas representatives, Deputy Joe Flaherty and Senator Micheál Carrigy, who attended the meeting on the farm of County IFA Chairperson Gavin White.
Deputy Flaherty said Longford sheep farmers are facing a very uncertain and worrying future and he raised the matter with the Minister for Agriculture and supported their calls for a €30 per animal intervention from his department for the sector.
Meanwhile, launching IFA’s 2023 campaign on dog control, IFA President Tim Cullinan criticised the failure of the authorities to tackle what is a growing problem on farms.
The IFA ‘No Dogs Allowed’ campaign will continue until we see meaningful action from Ministers McConalogue and Humphreys in this area.
Caption: Longford IFA Chairperson Gavin White, Cllr Mick Cahill, Deputy Joe Flaherty and Luke Casey (Longford IFA) at last week's meeting, highlighting the financial challenges facing the sheep sector and the scourge of marauding dogs
The latest report on the implementation of the Control of Dogs Act shows only 192,348 are licensed out of an estimated 800,000 in the country. This leaves an estimated 607,652, or 76% of dogs, unidentified.
He said it is not acceptable to farmers, who provide full traceability for the seven million cattle and the four million sheep under their care from birth, and where every animal is individually tagged and traceable, that a similar system is not in place for dog owners.
IFA Sheep Chairperson Kevin Comiskey said all dog owners should take heed that they are fully liable for all damage and suffering caused to farmers and their sheep by their dogs.
“The irresponsible behaviour of some dog owners continues to lead to devastating consequences on farms and must stop.”
He said this is a critical time of year on sheep farms as lambing gets underway. Dog attacks are causing unimaginable suffering for sheep and lambs and huge economic losses for farmers.
Caption: Luke Casey (Longford IFA), Senator Micheál Carrigy, Cllr Paul Ross, Longford IFA Chairperson Gavin White, Longford Lamb Producer Group Chairperson Joe Esler and Cllr Mick Cahill
Meanwhile, following a recent IFA sheep farmers meeting in Tuam, IFA President Tim Cullinan said the income crisis facing sheep farmers has reached a critical stage and requires immediate action from the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.
The IFA President said sheep farming is a low-income vulnerable sector that does not have the capacity to absorb the volatility of the current market situation.
The sheep sector increased output by 10% in volume terms to 75,000t last year, increasing export value by 17% to €476m.
Sheep farmers over the same period saw their margins decimated, falling by 81% to just €7/ewe, which includes the Sheep Welfare Scheme payment.
“Teagasc and Bord Bia expect similar input costs and market conditions for this year, leaving sheep farmers facing the prospect of €7/ewe return for the year, at best.
“This is not sustainable and can only be resolved by immediate direct intervention from the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue,” he said.
Tim Cullinan said the Minister must provide targeted support of €30/ewe to sheep farmers by building on the supports already announced in the Sheep Improvement Scheme of €12/ewe for this year.