A delegation from the Ulster Farmers’ Union have met with the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters’ Association (NIMEA) to discuss a number of pressing issues, including the substantial drop in beef prices within the last three weeks.
UFU President Harry Sinclair, who led the Union delegation last week to meet NIMEA, said; “Beef quotes have tumbled in recent weeks from their peak at 382p/kg to around 364-366p/kg. Northern Ireland beef producers are receiving significantly less for their British farm quality assured beef than their counterparts in Great Britain who are currently earning around the £4/kg mark. At the meeting we challenged NIMEA to justify these lower prices being paid to Northern Ireland farmers but we feel that their reasons are totally unfounded.
“Farmers in Northern Ireland are fed up with the endless excuses proffered by Northern Ireland meat processors. Last year the weather was too cold and too wet which supposedly caused beef prices to fall because of the lack of BBQ demand. Now and at long last we are enjoying an overdue spell of hot sunny weather and the BBQ demand is soaring yet this is allegedly the reason behind the recent fall in prices. One naturally starts to wonder what exactly the optimum weather for beef prices is.
“Coincidentally the weather across the water has been even warmer with temperatures rising to 30 degrees Celsius in parts of GB and yet beef prices appear to be holding well. This begs the question, what is really going on, because it seems as though we are being fobbed off with another excuse and it simply screams of opportunism.
“As always we would remind producers not to just accept the first price offered. Whilst quotes provide a rough guide for producers, higher prices are available and should be sought.
“We intend to meet with NIMEA again in the near future regarding this and the outlook for the beef industry particularly in light of the Agri-Food Strategy Board report, as we have already raised concerns about the need to secure the family farm structure which has been the back bone of Northern Ireland agriculture. The AFSB report is called Going for Growth and calls for profitability along the entire food chain, however once again we see Northern Ireland beef being discounted and our producers being disregarded as the price differential remains between here and GB."
