Prices reported to IFA

Comment: The Irish pig price remains stable at €1.58c/kg this week. Spot loads have been paid in excess of this price and there are many suppliers that have done deals to supply pigs to their processor at higher prices. Official prices reported to the Department of Agriculture show that prices are down on the same week in 2016, and as all pig producers will know only too well, 2016 was a particularly difficult year for pig farmers. While prices have been generally positive for the first half of 2017, no pig farmer is generating profit at today’s current prices. IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan called on all stakeholders in the industry and Government to be cognisant of the delicate financial position of Irish pig producers. Hogan also commented on the very worrying reports circulated last week of pigmeat being included in the latest offer to South Americans in the Mercosur trade negotiations. Any inclusion of pigmeat would jeopardise our indigenous EU production.