RED MEAT MARKETING GROUPS AND CO-OPERATIVES

That this House supports co-operatives and marketing groups representing livestock producers; deplores moves that undermine them by abattoirs and large meat processors which would result in the marginalisation of traditional farming families, leaving them without adequate representation in the market; and is concerned by moves to impose direct payments to farmers, fundamentally changing the basis of the supply chain in favour of abattoirs and meat processors, potentially rendering smaller family farms financially unviable, thus having a devastating impact on the whole farming community and rural infrastructure.