The new chair of the IFA's poultry committee, Brendan Soden, has said that egg farmers' margins have been "eroded."
Mr. Soden, a layer farmer and pullet producer from Stradone Co. Cavann.
He was elected as the chair of the IFA's poultry committee this week, replacing outgoing chair Nigel Sweetnam.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Mr. Soden said that in order for there to be Irish eggs on supermarket shelves, there is a need for a justifiable margin.
He highlighted the rising retail price of eggs, and the risk involved with poultry farming, including bird flu.
Mr. Soden highlighted that the cost of poultry farming has continued to rise in recent years.
Mr. Soden said: "The cost of farming has continued to rise, farmers margins are being eroded.
"At this point, we're getting the lowest returns of margin- compared to retail price- for a long long time.
"In order for there to be Irish egg on the shelf, the farmer is going to have to be paid a justifiable margin, and a decent margin for the risk involved.
"With avian flu, whatever sector of poultry you're in, you carry a lot of risk," Mr. Soden added.
