Local td welcomes opening of beef trade to us

Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the announcement by Minister Simon Coveney of the opening of the beef trade to the United States stating that the Minister and his officials “must be commended in their efforts to open up a major potential market for premium Irish beef”.

“While there is potential to compete directly with US produced beef in the short term, it is also important that we develop a long term strategy to meet the demands of the premium, grass-fed end of the American market,” stated Denis Naughten.

“It is now important that the Minister, in conjunction with Teagasc and the farming organisations, develops a strategy to maximise beef sales into the premium end of this market which are far more sustainable over the longer term.'

“Not only will this have the potential to deliver a higher price for Irish beef farmers, but it is also less vulnerable to price changes than the far bigger US market for manufacturing beef.'

“While new markets are important, higher prices and long term price stability are far more important for the future of farm families and we must now put a strategy in place which can exploit the access that the Minister has now secured into the US market,” concluded Denis Naughten