Once again farmers have been left carrying the can when it comes to taking the hit on autumn purchases.
Asking farmers to take on this level of risk is unacceptable and reckless on factories’ behalf. The IFA made a good suggestion last week of a master beef finishing contract, but getting factory buy-in will be key.
On the other side, both factories and retailers have been able to protect their margins through a combination of reducing prices paid to farmers and increasing prices on shop shelves.
Speaking at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food last week, Meat Industry Ireland made the audacious claim of pointing to high live cattle exports to Europe as being part of the reason the current pressure exists on the Irish trade.
Italian young bulls are selling for €7.43/kg so how could this be putting pressure on the Irish price? In reality, more weanlings should have been exported given the situation Irish finishers currently find themselves in.
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