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Beef Plan Movement (READ OP BEFORE POSTING)

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,640 ✭✭✭kerryjack


    It's gone as bad in all sectors, I work off farm for a large utilities company and I am the lad you see down a chamber or up a pole and there is about 4 other fuccks up the line creaming it and ringing me with stupid complaints about my driving or my diesel card or some other shhite on a daily basis. Farming is the same the working man is being rode to death.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    if the IFA leveraged the money they wasted over the years they would have enough to buy every factory in the country with support from the farmers, they have been asleep at the wheel while the beef industry was taken over by criminals and beef farming almost destroyed, anyone who defends their action or inaction must be on Larry's/IFA's payroll

    We delivered plenty over the years, It's a democratic organisation and open to any farmer who thought they could do better, they have four or five organisations now to go to if they want to get off their arse to improve things, Thankfully I'm no longer depending on farmers to protect my income.
    Jokes on you now I'm afraid


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    I am keeping out of posting in this as I find that a lot of the posting descend into rhetoric with no actual analysis of either what happened to the IFA or why BP existed and its influence is still felt indirectly.

    You are right in a way Punch it very hard for anyone organisation to represent all farmers. IFA feels all other organisations should be subservient to it. The last CAP round where it GS went to a meeting in the west of Ireland and threatened regionalisation of CAP funding when that section were pushing for payment convergence blew the organisation apart without many in the higher echelons realizing.

    We all know at this stage that CAP funding will continually reduce. REPS funding for many farmers helped the imbalance, however the dilution of REPS into GLAS type funding with very little extra in the budget left farmers with poorer quality designated land with out adequate compensation. Instead these farmers saw larger dairy farmers as well as older semi retired farmers in better quality land area's accessing this along with having higher payments. In the last 15 years I have seen farmers that turned there noses up to REPS in the late 90's early noughties now in GLAS these farmers payments have been virtually uneffected because of this or maybe a bit better off. At the same time a farmer in a SAC may have seen 10-20 percent of the land he claimed on in the reference years now declared ineligible even though it has not changed in structure along with a GLAS payment that is 3-5k less than REPS. Add to this due to a combination of beef price and loss of punches attached to a bulls ear pre 2002 his calf not only failed to close the gap but is worth less in real terms. While IFA is not entirety to blame some of it lies with Department bureaucracy and political choices it has left a large cohort of smaller farming operations disillusioned with IFA. Whether you consider it there own fault or that they are in capable of farming is immaterial.

    To these farmers deals for road compensation, inheritance tax agri relief and leasing tax refief is immaterial. They consider IFA is lobbying against them. When you look at the last Presidental elections where we had the three candidates all dealing with payment convergence as to be dealt with as upward only and then add in the reality if CAP funding staying the same at best or reducing these farmers are no longer willing to tolerate this. Now you come to the argument about changing IFA from within. The problem with this is no part-time farmer can become a County rep. Therefore at higher levels of the IFA you have only full-time deciding policy . While IFA was always afraid that dealing with convergence of payments and money being directed to environmental schemes within its structure would blow it apart, it did it anyway.

    After all that you had the IFA pay scandal along with a lot of beef farmers finally realizing about the factory/mart deduction to IFA. I could never understand the rational where a beef animal could be collected on 2-3 times while a gallon of milk or a kilo of grain could be collected only once. A lot of beef farmers especially with not just the way beef prices were going but the debacle over horse meat and its effect it had on bull beef prices. IFA gave the processors a free ride on that but beef farmers paid the price. From all this Beef plan and Hill and natura farming organisations were formed

    I think that many thinking that they have gone away or had no effect on the system is disillusional. First off anyone thinking that we are worse off now as beef farmers than before BP is Not looking at the bigger picture. While price has not completely recovered neither are processors continually dropping prices. Grading improved during the summer but has fallen back a bit over last 4-6 weeks. Political pressure on processor's by Independent TD's such as mcNamara, O'Donoghue, Harkin and Fitzmaurice has been telling over the last 6-12 months and lobbying in Europe is forcing a change in direction of payments. Some of this is haveing an adverse reaction on dairy farming in particular and on intensive farming in general but its a result of IFA not dealing with these issues in house.

    I not really interested whether people agree or disagree it just an analysis, it not a blame the IFA and I am not interested in retorts that it all BP fault. But the situation is that because of its actions IFA will have a huge swaths of different farming agenda's now lobbying directly like the hill farmer's or indirectly by farmers that support/no longer support BP through TD's or MEP's

    When I decided to specialise in sheep, I worked out if lamb price stayed at €70 I'd be a lot better off than beef farming, Where are we now, lamb price up 50% and no whingeing at the gates. Is there a message there.
    There's usually 30 -35 dairy farmers at the IFA dairy meetings as well as probably in the majority at national Council meetings, I'd be very surprised if they missed a trick.
    County reps can be part time farmers. even have some here on boards


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    wrangler wrote: »
    We delivered plenty over the years, It's a democratic organisation and open to any farmer who thought they could do better, they have four or five organisations now to go to if they want to get off their arse to improve things, Thankfully I'm no longer depending on farmers to protect my income.
    Jokes on you now I'm afraid
    A foolish man thinks he knows everything, a wise man knows he doesn't


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭Dinzee Conlee


    A foolish man thinks he knows everything, a wise man knows he doesn't

    What do you think should happen Declan?
    Let’s offer a bit more to the discussion than the one liners ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    What do you think should happen Declan?
    Let’s offer a bit more to the discussion than the one liners ;)
    The IFA in the short term should leave no stone unturned in making sure the factory in Banagher opens.
    Long term they need to separate themselves from the factories.
    Farmers need to control the process from birth to belly.
    Farmers have assets worth north of €100bn, we should be able to buy or build factories tru the IFA,
    We need someone like Denis Brosnan to lead the IFA


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭Dinzee Conlee


    The IFA in the short term should leave no stone unturned in making sure the factory in Banagher opens.
    Long term they need to separate themselves from the factories.
    Farmers need to control the process from birth to belly.
    Farmers have assets worth north of €100bn, we should be able to buy or build factories tru the IFA,
    We need someone like Denis Brosnan to lead the IFA

    Not wanting to have a go at you now - cos I asked you for your ideas, and you put me up...

    But how you see funding for the IFA working if they don’t collect at the factories, combined with a lowering membership level...
    Then, how do you propose the funding for factories happens?

    Personally, I don’t think farmers funding a meat factory is a good idea at all...
    They would be expected to pay more, whilst also expected to carry a higher cost base due to better working conditions, etc. And then, the factory would also be expected to deliver huge profits...
    I just don’t think it would work... :(

    On your last comment - should the IFA give up electing a farmer as president, and just get someone in?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,298 ✭✭✭alps



    On your last comment - should the IFA give up electing a farmer as president, and just get someone in?

    They do have a Cheif Executive or Director General but have always taken the view of being more effective putting the farmer face forward.

    Most other representitive organisations put the paid professional up front.

    It's a tactical decision that has its pros and cons. The farmer is backed up by very professional coaching and advise, but for sure, today's media platform is not an easy pitch to perform on against some very senior players.

    Best effort will come from those that have more to risk..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    Not wanting to have a go at you now - cos I asked you for your ideas, and you put me up...

    But how you see funding for the IFA working if they don’t collect at the factories, combined with a lowering membership level...
    Then, how do you propose the funding for factories happens?

    Personally, I don’t think farmers funding a meat factory is a good idea at all...
    They would be expected to pay more, whilst also expected to carry a higher cost base due to better working conditions, etc. And then, the factory would also be expected to deliver huge profits...
    I just don’t think it would work... :(

    On your last comment - should the IFA give up electing a farmer as president, and just get someone in?

    They're so small minded they'd just throw him out
    Pat smith was good, he turned around the finances of IFA when he was director of Operations, brought them from broke to circa €15m, you mightn't like his methods but that's business, Farmers are such holy joes (yea right) of course that they expect IFA to have morals to fight companies that don't


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    alps wrote: »
    They do have a Cheif Executive or Director General but have always taken the view of being more effective putting the farmer face forward.

    Most other representitive organisations put the paid professional up front.

    It's a tactical decision that has its pros and cons. The farmer is backed up by very professional coaching and advise, but for sure, today's media platform is not an easy pitch to perform on against some very senior players.

    Best effort will come from those that have more to risk..

    Pat Smith was heavily criticised by famers for being too much to the forefront of IFA, farmers haven't a hope now

    This is from Irish times 2016
    When you measure Smith’s pay packet up against the €45 million in tax breaks he helped secure over the past two years alone, it starts to look like reasonable value by the warped metrics of private sector executive pay.

    Few Irish executives could claim to have delivered €45 million for 88,000 shareholders over the past two years.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    Not wanting to have a go at you now - cos I asked you for your ideas, and you put me up...

    But how you see funding for the IFA working if they don’t collect at the factories, combined with a lowering membership level...
    Then, how do you propose the funding for factories happens?

    Personally, I don’t think farmers funding a meat factory is a good idea at all...
    They would be expected to pay more, whilst also expected to carry a higher cost base due to better working conditions, etc. And then, the factory would also be expected to deliver huge profits...
    I just don’t think it would work... :(

    On your last comment - should the IFA give up electing a farmer as president, and just get someone in?
    Kerry group started in a caravan and look at it now
    Theres no reason why a farm body cant be funded by farmers, there are loads of reasons why it shouldn't be funded by Larry.
    We need a leader with a vision, a new vision, we have tried farmers at the top of the IFA, same result every time.
    I dont think farmers would expect higher beef prices and huge dividends from the factory, I'd say say they would be more than one of these.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    Not wanting to have a go at you now - cos I asked you for your ideas, and you put me up...

    But how you see funding for the IFA working if they don’t collect at the factories, combined with a lowering membership level...
    Then, how do you propose the funding for factories happens?

    Personally, I don’t think farmers funding a meat factory is a good idea at all...
    They would be expected to pay more, whilst also expected to carry a higher cost base due to better working conditions, etc. And then, the factory would also be expected to deliver huge profits...
    I just don’t think it would work... :(

    On your last comment - should the IFA give up electing a farmer as president, and just get someone in?
    Do you have any ideas beside knocking mine


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    Kerry group started in a caravan and look at it now
    Theres no reason why a farm body cant be funded by farmers, there are loads of reasons why it shouldn't be funded by Larry.
    We need a leader with a vision, a new vision, we have tried farmers at the top of the IFA, same result every time.
    I dont think farmers would expect higher beef prices and huge dividends from the factory, I'd say say they would be more than one of these.


    Larry started very humble too and look at him now,
    No matter what you do you won't get more for beef than the european price


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    wrangler wrote: »
    Pat Smith was heavily criticised by famers for being too much to the forefront of IFA, farmers haven't a hope now

    This is from Irish times 2016
    When you measure Smith’s pay packet up against the €45 million in tax breaks he helped secure over the past two years alone, it starts to look like reasonable value by the warped metrics of private sector executive pay.

    Few Irish executives could claim to have delivered €45 million for 88,000 shareholders over the past two years.
    can you breakdown the €45 million?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    can you breakdown the €45 million?

    Just quoting the Irish Times, I know from working with smith he knew where to look for opportunities, his replacement now is useless and they've employed an assistant and the two of them together wouldn't equal smith.
    Mc donald was In IFA before, I knew the way it'd be as soon as I heard his name.
    The joke is definitely on farmers in that case


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    wrangler wrote: »
    Larry started very humble too and look at him now,
    No matter what you do you won't get more for beef than the european price
    I dont think any other producer would have that attitude if they had total control over the supply side of the equation


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    I dont think any other producer would have that attitude if they had total control over the supply side of the equation

    If Ireland sent meat into England with a 10% increase in price it wouldn't be long before someone would undercut


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    wrangler wrote: »
    If Ireland sent meat into England with a 10% increase in price it wouldn't be long before someone would undercut
    most of our beef in British supermarkets is in special offer section of the meat fridges, we need to aim a bit a fair bit higher, our beef is high quality food.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,225 ✭✭✭charolais0153


    most of our beef in British supermarkets is in special offer section of the meat fridges, we need to aim a bit a fair bit higher, our beef is high quality food.

    In a foreign market, they'd obviously buy the British beef before the Irish beef at the same price, polish beef is below ours, do you know how markets work


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    most of our beef in British supermarkets is in special offer section of the meat fridges, we need to aim a bit a fair bit higher, our beef is high quality food.

    You can sell beef at the market value or sell no beef at the market +10% value, choice is yours.

    Another quote from The Irish times.
    Perhaps the answer lies in the IFA’s rather romantic vision of itself as some sort of national cultural icon, the guardian of rural Ireland and all that.

    When you see it as most of us do - a machine for squeezing money out of the taxpayer for its members - Smith’s salary is no more or less troubling than that of any other successful executive.


    Powerful stuff eh, farmers should've gone Cap in hand to smith before now to get him back...... whaT A JOKE


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    In a foreign market, they'd obviously buy the British beef before the Irish beef at the same price, polish beef is below ours, do you know how markets work
    yeah I have a fair idea how they work.
    Polish beef will never be able to compete with Irish beef in Britain.
    In the British shoppers eye our beef is a very close second to British beef and close to 20% of British shoppers would see Irish beef as equal or superior to British beef, so we shouldn't be underselling our produce.

    Some lads on here are great at knocking Irish beef and knocking any ideas other posters have but never put forward an idea themselves...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    wrangler wrote: »
    You can sell beef at the market value or sell no beef at the market +10% value, choice is yours.

    Another quote from The Irish times.
    Perhaps the answer lies in the IFA’s rather romantic vision of itself as some sort of national cultural icon, the guardian of rural Ireland and all that.

    When you see it as most of us do - a machine for squeezing money out of the taxpayer for its members - Smith’s salary is no more or less troubling than that of any other successful executive.


    Powerful stuff eh, farmers should've gone Cap in hand to smith before now to get him back...... whaT A JOKE

    Will you throw away the Irish Times and think for yourself,
    I'm beginning to think you are Mr Smith


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    yeah I have a fair idea how they work.
    Polish beef will never be able to compete with Irish beef in Britain.
    In the British shoppers eye our beef is a very close second to British beef and close to 20% of British shoppers would see Irish beef as equal or superior to British beef, so we shouldn't be underselling our produce.

    Some lads on here are great at knocking Irish beef and knocking any ideas other posters have but never put forward an idea themselves...

    Why didn't beef plan do what they promised, your statements there are straight out of Beef Plan. They didn't deliver because they just couldn't sell the beef into this wonderful market.
    Underselling or not processors are selling a lot of beef


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    wrangler wrote: »
    Why didn't beef plan do what they promised, your statements there are straight out of Beef Plan. They didn't deliver because they just couldn't sell the beef into this wonderful market.
    Underselling or not processors are selling a lot of beef
    Again same old cd, knock the idea without putting forward any idea yourself


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    In a foreign market, they'd obviously buy the British beef before the Irish beef at the same price, polish beef is below ours, do you know how markets work
    Did you nod off?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    Jjameson wrote: »
    I think this is correct.
    Polish beef is cheap but not cheap enough to knock enough off the retail price to tempt a British consumer.
    And while Irish beef might pass off beside supporting British and so on the Irish beef is more palatable.
    The catering and convenience food sector aren’t as discerning but even Mac Donald’s won’t risk deviation and that speaks volumes.
    Exactly


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,225 ✭✭✭charolais0153


    Did you nod off?

    LOL no, do you think the factories are purposely selling beef to English supermarkets at a discount?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭declanflynn


    LOL no, do you think the factories are purposely selling beef to English supermarkets at a discount?
    I think they almost dont care what price they get for it, they will always take the same gross margin by reducing their purchase price if the sale price comes down.
    Can you see how they work now?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,531 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    Jjameson wrote: »
    I think this is correct.
    Polish beef is cheap but not cheap enough to knock enough off the retail price to tempt a British consumer.
    And while Irish beef might pass off beside supporting British and so on the Irish beef is more palatable.
    The catering and convenience food sector aren’t as discerning but even Mac Donald’s won’t risk deviation and that speaks volumes.

    Mc donalds buy a lot of Polish beef but don't sell it in uk and here for obvious reasons


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,225 ✭✭✭charolais0153


    I think they almost dont care what price they get for it, they will always take the same gross margin by reducing their purchase price if the sale price comes down.
    Can you see how they work now?

    More fool the farmer who doesn't do the same


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