ICSA Beef chair Sean Sherman has said beef farmers are "losing their shirts" as factory prices continue to slide while the value of Irish beef exports continues to rise. "Factory prices are slipping by around 10c/kg week after week and farmers simply cannot keep taking these hits. People are losing their shirts trying to keep beef systems going while costs remain high and prices are being dragged back," he said.

Mr Sherman said farmers are now asking serious questions after new figures showed Irish beef exports increased in value by almost €70m in the first three months of 2026 despite lower export volumes. "We are seeing reports showing Irish beef exports rose from €775m to almost €843m in the first quarter of this year even though export volumes actually fell. Farmers are fully entitled to ask where that money is going because it certainly is not coming back to the farmgate."

 Continuing, Mr Sherman said, "What is frustrating farmers most is that there is endless talk about the science of farming. Farmers are being told to improve efficiency, cut emissions and meet ever higher standards, but nobody seems interested in the maths. There is only so much farmers can do at farm level. They are producing a top-quality product and doing everything being asked of them, but they are not being properly paid for it. The figures are simply not adding up for the people producing the beef."

 He said one of the biggest problems facing beef farmers is the complete lack of certainty around pricing. "Farmers are trying to run businesses without any clue where prices will be from one week to the next. Prices can suddenly start slipping with very little explanation and farmers are left taking the hit. Farmers are at their wits' end trying to manage costs and keep going while the goalposts keep moving."

 He said, "Bord Bia told farmers earlier this year that tight European supplies and reduced EU production would support prices. Farmers made decisions based on that outlook. Now prices are going backwards and farmers are entitled to ask what changed."

 Concluding, Mr Sherman said, "With these export figures, farmers can clearly see the market is delivering strong returns yet factories continue to cut prices relentlessly. Farmers are asking who exactly is cashing in on the success of Irish beef because it certainly is not the people keeping the sector going. They are also asking what exactly Bord Bia is doing to make sure the value of Irish beef actually reaches the farmers producing it. In the meantime, farmers need to stand firm and fight for every cent because there is clearly money in the market and factories will make any cut they think they can get away with."