Beef price cuts ‘irresponsible and reckless’ – say the IFA
'Winter finishers have invested heavily in stock and inputs to have supplies for factories at this time of year'
IFA LIVESTOCK chairman Declan Hanrahan said the “relentless cuts to beef price by processors is opportunistic, irresponsible, reckless and without basis”.
He said at a time when beef supplies in the UK and across the EU are extremely tight and demand is strong in these key markets, the “behaviour of factories here is unacceptable and must stop”.
“We are told by Bord Bia and the factories we must be Quality Assured to compete. We have delivered the standards on our farms.
"Winter finishers have invested heavily in stock and inputs to have supplies for factories at this time of year. We have played our part, delivered on our commitments but factories and Bord Bia have yet again come up short for farmers,” he said.
Irish prices are currently the worst in the EU, he continued.
“We are lagging behind the latest Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark Price by 24c/kg, a gap in real terms that is more likely over 30c/kg behind the markets when recent cuts are factored in,” said Mr Hanrahan, who added that compounding the issue for beef farmers is current input cost inflation, uncertainty and volatility for supplies, prices for key inputs for year ahead.