Farmers frustrated at prices lagging behind Britain hears cross border meeting

Meat factories on both sides of the border have been urged to immediately halt the slide in beef prices and stabilise the trade.
The call was made after an IFA and Ulster Farmers' Union livestock meeting held in Dublin last week.
IFA National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said farmers in the North and the Republic remain frustrated that prices continue to lag significantly behind those in Great Britain and factories simply cannot justify the massive price gap in the order of €250 per head that they have opened up with our most important market.

Lamb

On lamb prices IFA National Sheep Chairman James Murphy said the lamb trade both North and South has stabilised at prices of €4.90 to €5.00/kg. He said supplies are tight as a result of weaning and compliance with fly strike controls.

James Murphy said it is essential there is no soft selling of lamb and farmers should fully finish their lambs to maximise returns. He said more of the forecasts for the second half of the year are pointing to tighter supplies in Ireland and across the UK. In addition the latest figures emerging from New Zealand are predicting numbers to be back several millions as a result of the severe drought earlier this year.
On lamb sales and consumption, James Murphy said it is vitally important retailers continue to positively push lamb sales and Bord Bia and the LMC continue to strongly promote lamb.

CAP reform

On implementation of the recent CAP Reform, the IFA/UFU meeting agreed that there must be strong targeted support for the livestock sector geared at suckler cows and breeding ewes. IFA National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said the real issue is about maintain our suckler cow herd and national ewe flock, together with the associated €6bn in economic output, exports and jobs that they deliver to the national economy. He said coupling is only part of this debate. The bigger picture is maintaining the largest and most important farming sector on the island.
The Livestock delegation from the Irish Farmers Association included National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns, National Sheep Chairman James Murphy and Kevin Kinsella Director of Livestock. The Ulster Farmers Union delegation included Robert Davidson UFU Beef and Lamb Chairman, Crosby Cleland UFU Beef and Lamb Committee and Gill Gallagher UFU policy officer.