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Pig prices have taken a turn for the worse, with Rosderra Meats and Kepak dropping 4c/kg and fears that other processors will follow suit this week.
The current price of around €1.40c/kg is at least 10c below the cost of production, according to IFA pig committee chair Tom Hogan, who fears that a number of farmers will be forced to leave the industry.
“Lads would be calling me and asking should they pull the plug or sit it out for another three months and wait for better prices,” Hogan said.
Frustration within the industry is growing, and Hogan highlighted he expected more from Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
“We had a meeting a couple of weeks back with Minister Creed but it wasn’t great.
“We were hoping that he’d outline more investment for the pig industry but he seemed to kick it down the road until next spring.”
Higher meal costs have also hit pig farmers, and Hogan asked consumers to ensure they bought Irish and demanded the industry to be more supportive of farmers.
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