Bord Bia regards the principle of paying for quality, and rewarding carcasses that best meet market requirements, as fundamental to its support for the Quality Payment System, which was originally agreed between farmers and factories.
While the detail of how it operates is a matter for industry, for the most part the QPS has operated successfully since its inception some four and a half years ago. However, it is clear now that issues have arisen around consistency and transparency in how it is applied and this will need to be addressed if continued farmer support is to be forthcoming.
Bord Bia acknowledges and understands the deep anger and frustration among livestock farmers arising from the current difficulties in the beef market, and which have led to a substantial fall in prices from the historic peak achieved last year. It is fully committed to playing a full and proactive role in working with all concerned towards securing a viable future for the industry and this is reflected in its reallocation of resources to further intensify its promotional campaigns for Irish beef in the UK and Europe.
Bord Bia is particularly concerned that farmers should continue to have full confidence in the role of the Beef Quality Assurance Scheme, which is so vital in retaining access to premium markets and to underpinning a premiumisation and differentiation strategy among retail and foodservice customers. There are currently over 42,500 beef farms certified under the Bord Bia Quality Assurance programme, representing a 25% increase on the numbers certified this time last year while over 90% of all finished beef is sourced from Bord Bia QA certified farms.
As far as market demand is concerned, the need to meet the exacting requirements of premium customers is now more important than ever, and particularly when markets come under pressure, as they have in recent months. Bord Bia is committed to accurately relaying these requirements, including the ideal carcase specification, such that farmers can have full confidence that they are in receipt of market information that is imparted in a transparent, independent and impartial manner.