The IFA President, Padraig Walshe, has warned that without focused Government action the €400m pig industry in Ireland faces being wiped out.
Mr Walshe said crippling feed costs and consumer confusion over the origin of pig meat were the main factors.
At a briefing session for Oireachtas members in Dublin, Mr Walshe said the Government must act on a number of fronts if the pig meat sector is to survive.
He said feed costs have risen by €100 per tonne and the average producer is losing €3,000 a week.
The IFA leader criticised the decision of the Minister for Agriculture & Food, Mary Coughlan, to abstain on the crucial vote at last month's meeting of farm ministers to accept scientifically approved maize and corn gluten for circulation in the EU.
Mr Walshe said it is time to end the double standards associated with feed and allow pig producers a margin that will keep them in business.
