Stronger beef prices required

A strengthening of beef prices is needed as finished cattle continue to bring heavy losses for farmers, Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) beef and lamb chair Crosby Cleland has said.

Cleland said that the prices of 360p/kg being paid this time last year are needed for most farmers to break even. Without the usual lift in prices in the run up to Christmas, many farmers are being left with losses around £200 per head.

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While processors blame poor demand for low prices, Cleland pointed out that upwards of 35p/kg more was being paid for cattle in Britain compared to here.

“There is no justifiable reason for this, especially when you consider that the difference was only 5p/kg this time last year,” Cleland said.

He also highlighted that in recent weeks processors have had to pay prices ahead of official quotes as farmers are refusing to sell at the low prices on offer.

He urged farmers to negotiate hard with factories when selling stock.

AFBI uses drone technology

Scientists at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) have commissioned an unmanned aerial vehicle, known commonly as a drone, to help extend work on developing the use of geographical information systems and remote-sensing technology.

The drone can be used to collect accurate information on variations in a range of crops at high resolutions. The fixed-wing unit is powered by a single electrical motor and flies at 100m above the ground at a speed of 40km to 90km/hr. Data from an area of 12km2 can be collected over the flight time of 50 minutes.

Alex Higgins from AFBI said that the use of drones to monitor field studies will assist in the understanding of crop responses to fertilisers, pesticides and other inputs.

Agri-food on new year honours list

There are only two local people recognised in the Queen’s new year honours list for services to the agri-food industry.

Receiving the highest honour after a knighthood is the recently retired former DARD finance director Gerry Lavery, who receives a CBE for services to the agri-food industry in NI.

Receiving an MBE is Mike Johnston, the chief executive of the Dairy Council, for services to the dairy industry in Northern Ireland.