Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. September 2025
    2. August 2025
    3. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    4. July 2025
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Buildings supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    13. January 2025
    14. December 2024
    15. November 2024
    16. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    17. October 2024
    18. September 2024
    19. August 2024
    20. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    21. July 2024
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    28. March 2024
    29. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    30. February 2024
    31. January 2024
    32. December 2023
    33. November 2023
    34. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    35. October 2023
    36. September 2023
    37. Health Supplement
    Featured

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025
    Recent

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Ireland announces €7 million support package for pig producers

Guest WritersBy Guest WritersFebruary 22, 20225 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Irish Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced a €7 million support scheme for the country’s struggling pig producers, writes Alice Cooke. 

The fund will be distributed through a flat rate payment of a maximum of €20,000 per individual commercial pig farmer sending more than 200 pigs per annum to slaughter.

While Defra Secretary George Eustice repeatedly rejected calls for a fund to support farmers in England, this was the latest of a series of emergency support packages brought in by governments across the UK and EU. Ireland has now joined Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland by introducing measures to help its pig farmers struggling due to ‘low pig meat prices and extraordinarily high input costs’.

The price of feed and energy has skyrocketed, in line with a drop in the market price received for pigs. As a result, Irish pig farmers are currently losing between €35 and €40 a pig.

Explaining the reasoning behind the introduction of the package, the Irish Agriculture Ministry said: “The pig sector is of significant importance to the national and rural economy.

“It is the third largest of the livestock sectors after dairy and beef. It accounts for 6.3% of the output value of the agri-food sector and generated exports valued at €930 million in 2021. Furthermore, the sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs.”

Reaction

Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Ulster-north Leinster regional chair Frank Brady welcomed the funding, thanking the Minister for seeing that there is a major problem in the sector. But added that further aid is needed, describing the €7m emergency pig fund as a ‘token gesture’, which he said should act as a ‘stepping stone’ to further support for the sector.

He suggested that instead of the €20,000 allocation per farmer, the fund should have been paid per pig sold.

He said: “That’s only three days’ feeding for some pig farmers. While this funding is appreciated, it’s putting a bandage on a giant wound.”

IFA president Tim Cullinan acknowledged the ministry’s efforts but added: “It is important that this funding is deployed quickly and without excessive bureaucracy.

“Unfortunately, there is no sign of a light at the end of the tunnel on this crisis. While today’s announcement will certainly help, it will not be sufficient unless there is an unexpected turn in the market.”

‘Unprecedented challenges’

Charlie McConalogueOutlining the new measures, Minister McConalogue said: “Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient, but I am acutely aware of the challenges they are facing at present. 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.

“I am, therefore, pleased that the Government has this morning approved my proposal for a €7 million scheme to provide emergency support to commercial pig farmers. This 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. I am pleased to have been able to deliver this package following thorough engagement with the IFA and its national pig committee.”

“My colleague Minister Martin Heydon has played a key role in bringing this scheme to fruition especially his important work as chair of the Pig Roundtable.”

Minister of State Martin Heydon added: “As outlined by Minister McConalogue, our pig sector has faced an extremely difficult set of circumstances. We have been in close contact with all stakeholders throughout and we will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure a coordinated response. The package we are announcing today will help to support farmers through this period.”

The package

Minister McConalogue stressed that this scheme is ‘part of a series of measures’ to support the sector.

Finance

Minister McConalogue noted that he and Minister of State Martin Heydon recently met with the main banks and SBCI specifically to discuss the crisis, and that the key messages emerging was that farmers experiencing cash flow difficulties should engage with the banks as soon as possible to discuss options and that the banks remain committed to supporting their customers in the period ahead.

The Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which are financed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, can be used for working capital and include features which will assist the current financial needs of pig farmers.

Promotion

Bord Bia has intensified its efforts to promote quality assured Irish pig meat in the domestic and export markets with dedicated TV, radio and national print media advertising campaigns planned for Q1 2022. Bord Bia has two EU programmes that have significant funding allocated towards pig meat promotional activity. These programmes are currently running in China, Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Advisory

Teagasc has intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options potentially available to them.

Stakeholder engagement

The Pig RoundTable, chaired by Minister Martin Heydon TD, provides a forum for strategic engagement by stakeholders in the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in the time ahead, and particularly the strategic actions identified for the sector in the Food Vision 2030 strategy.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAHDB to promote UK red meat at Japanese trade show
Next Article Eustice sets out details of animal health and welfare pathways
Guest Writers

Read Similar Stories

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025

Wildlife Trusts report ‘lacks context and hard evidence of pig sector environmental damage’ – NPA chief exec

September 2, 2025
Latest News

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: A commitment to welfare excellence

September 3, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1773 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1772 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1771 Australia

    • Queensland, Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.