Support package urgently needed for sheep sector- Harkin

The Sligo Leitrim TD called on Minister McConalogue to recognise the huge increases in input prices sheep farmers are paying. “To make matters worse, factories are imposing weight cuts on lambs, thus driving down prices and leaving many sheep farmers on the very edge of viability,” she said, “exceptional aid is needed in the form of a €30 ewe payment in the immediate future as well as support for lamb finishers.

“The current sheep improvement scheme at €12 per ewe is not sufficient and the current national ANC envelope of €250 million per annum is, in fact, less than what was being paid in 2007,” Deputy Harkin concluded.