The package is worth €20,000 to around 300 farmers and will be paid out to all finisher pig
farmers who are members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme.
The porcine sector supports up to 8,000 jobs in Ireland It has been absorbing steep losses on
production for months. Rising feed and energy costs combined with low international prices
have resulted in many farmers losing thousands of euro per week.
Minister McConalogue says Irish pig farm families are currently facing unprecedented
challenges due to a combination of low pig meat prices and extraordinarily high input costs,
due to international factors outside their control’
This €7 million scheme aims to provide emergency support to commercial pig farmers. It is an
urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme
current circumstances and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals.
The fund of €7 million will be distributed through a flat rate payment of a maximum of €20,000
per pig farmer sending more than 200 pigs per annum to slaughter.
Last year, the value of pig sector food exports was €930m.
