Beleaguered pig farmers may resort to protests in new year
- Aisling Kiernan -
Pig farmers are considering protests at factories and supermarkets in the New Year as they warn the future of the pork sector is at stake.
Local pig farmers claim that processors have cut prices seven times in the last 18 months while costs in the supermarket have remained static. Many farms are reportedly struggling to survive.
IFA Ulster/North Leinster chairman, Frank Brady – and a County Monaghan pig farmer noted a cross-sectoral meeting had been organised in Portlaoise in early December but processors failed to attend. Over 100 pig farmers had made the journey, and felt they had been snubbed by processors.
That meeting heard IFA National Pig Chairman Roy Gallie outline there had been “seven price cuts in 10 weeks, slicing €25 off each pig”.
Mr Brady said an IFA delegation intend to meet with processors in the New Year as part of a concerted effort to address the price farmers are being paid.
He said that protests outside supermarkets and factories can’t be ruled out in 2024 if retailers and processors continue to pay below cost of production prices to primary producers. Speaking to the Celt he said that while the meeting was well attended by “concerned farmers”, many are disappointed with the stance taken by the processors.
“The big question now is” he says, “is there a future for pigs in Ireland? Numerous farmers have lost a lot of money over the last 18 months and the processors and retailers need to realise that we need to recoup our loses in order to keep our businesses viable.”
Mr Brady also pointed to the last sector crisis when “10%-15% of pig farmers left the industry altogether”.
“If this crisis is not addressed adequately, then family farms will cease to exist in this country,” continued Mr Brady. “That cannot be allowed to happen. Next year, we will be looking at the new food regulator to see if she will examine the prices that are being passed on to primary producers in this country. “
According to the latest IFA pig report farmers reported quotes of €2.10–€2.14/kg available from processors in ROI. The average European price for a grade E carcass pig for week 48 was €2.13/kg which is 3.9% higher than prices for the same week last year according to the Commission, and it is up 0.4% on last month’s prices and is on par with the previous weeks average price.
And, Mr Brady is also warning of the threat posed to the country’s carbon neutrality and food security as a direct result of the low price primary producers in Ireland are paid.
“There is lots of talk about being carbon neutral but the reality is that if this country continues to treat vegetable growers the way it is, then we will have to import all our vegetables. And, if we want to be carbon neutral and have food security here, then we need to be growing and producing our own food,” he concluded.