Are farmers not covered by the Competition legislation?

johnwilliams said:

bit puzzled farmers states they are losing money on beef ,this has been going on for years so why do they still do beef ,most companies would have given up and moved onto something else ,what does their bank managers think of this ,surely they would advise them to try something else?

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In short - under subventions from the taxpayers via CAP, farmers make an income, that's why they do it. The farm itself doesn't even wash its face (is a loss making operation before the subsidy). The farmers have become dependant on these payments so continue doing what they are doing.
Plus the lobby groups/corporate interests keep telling farmers that we are somehow unique in growing grass and feeding cattle that way (whereas the truth is we need massive feed and chemical fertiliser imports to maintain cattle numbers).

rob oyle said:

In short - under subventions from the taxpayers via CAP, farmers make an income, that's why they do it.

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Call it what it is; welfare payments, handouts. Farming is like a massive FAS course supported by the German taxpayer. On a FAS course you can keep and sell the chair you reupholstered. The Farmers can keep or sell the animals or plants they grow but in reality they get their income from their fellow citizens via handouts.

Purple said:

Call it what it is; welfare payments, handouts. Farming is like a massive FAS course supported by the German taxpayer. On a FAS course you can keep and sell the chair you reupholstered. The Farmers can keep or sell the animals or plants they grow but in reality they get their income from their fellow citizens via handouts.

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+1
While the chair of the CCAC would be willing to say this about peat mining and usage, I doubt anyone in a position of influence would be willing to say the same think about 'the lifeblood of rural Ireland', regardless of the evidence available to them.