The IFA has reached an agreement with the Irish Sugar Company about arrangements for beet growers following the recent closure of the Carlow sugar factory.
The Chairman of the IFA Sugar Beet Section, Jim O'Regan, said that 24 hours of intense negotiations had finally produced a deal.
Mr O'Regan said reaching agreement was particularly difficult due to the closure of the Carlow sugar factory, leaving 2,000 growers having to make alternative arrangements to transport their beet to Mallow.
The agreement provides for a four-year transport subsidy deal including a two-year price deal, agreement on early and late delivery allowances, the introduction of a new tare scheme, the introduction of sugar quota management and agreed principles covering future restructuring of sugar beet contracts.
The IFA Chairman said the contracts for the 2005 beet crop will be available for signing from Irish Sugar from Monday next.
