Marts can arrange marketing of animals - ICOS

FARMERS wishing to buy or sell livestock are being urged to contact their local mart manager to arrange for the marketing of animals, albeit it not through the sales ring.

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Ltd. (ICOS), in a statement this evening, said the government’s blanket closure of all marts is 'disappointing' given that the marts that had remained open had put significant effort and finances into staying open in a safe way while still enabling farmers to trade their animals.

The statement set out: 'Co-op marts are owned by farmers and exist for farmers. We urge any farmer wishing to buy or sell livestock to contact their local mart manager as we can still arrange for the marketing of animals, albeit, as the government has decreed, we cannot market them through the physical auction sales ring.

'Marts have significant contact databases of buyers and sellers and we have a long and proud history of honouring payments to farmers. We will continue to offer these services to farmers.

'ICOS mart managers will be considering how we can best serve our customers during this difficult time.'

The ICOS is also calling on the government to reconsider the ANC retention periods, as a matter of urgency, as if marts are now closed to a minimum of April 19 as complying with the current seven-month retention period will be a problem.

This would allow farmers a longer timeframe to purchase the animals needed to comply with the stocking density requirements of the scheme, greatly assisting their economic viability.