Sheep farmers in Sligo and Leitrim are at their wits end over what’s been described as a lack of certainty on getting an adequate price for their produce.
With lambing season underway in earnest, farmers are said to be in limbo as to what return they will get for their efforts.
Members of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, politicians and farmers protested outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday, calling on the government to provide financial support for sheep farmers who are facing difficulty due to a combination of factors, including high input costs and weak factory prices.
The issue was raised in the Dail by Independent TD Marian Harkin who called on the Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue to come to the table with a tailored aid package.
Responding on behalf of the Agriculture Minister, Minister of State Martin Heydon says they are continuing to monitor the situation and are targeting the US market to open up more opportunities for them:
