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The chairs of four UK farming unions have called for a beef aid package to support beef farmers.
How a no-deal Brexit would affect the beef market and ongoing weak farmgate prices dominated the agenda of a meeting held in Belfast involving Sam Chesney of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, Wyn Evans of NFU Cymru and NFU vice chair and Jimmy Ireland of NFU Scotland.
For the Northern Irish beef sector the loss was estimated at £27.5m
According to those involved, beef farmers have lost £169.5m (€196.6m) in the last nine months. For the Northern Irish beef sector the loss was estimated at £27.5m (€31.9m).
UFU beef and lamb chair Sam Chesney said NI farmers felt forgotten when farmers in the Republic of Ireland got access to a €100m beef aid scheme.
He said the beef sector had sustained substantial financial losses with primary producers left to bear the brunt of unsustainable prices.
Struggle
“Beef farmers are seriously questioning their future as they struggle to survive on an unfair income generated by low farmgate prices combined with the prolonged uncertainty of Brexit,” Chesney said.
“With an extension date of 31 January confirmed, it does little to reassure our farmers as a no-deal scenario is not off the table just yet and the situation could get much worse.”
The UFU has continually called for full WTO tariffs on beef meat to protect the internal UK market
He called on the government to intervene with immediately and provide funding and also review proposed no-deal tariff policies.
“The UFU has continually called for full WTO tariffs on beef meat to protect the internal UK market. Government have a crucial role to play in securing a positive future for our family run beef farms.”
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