IFA President Padraig Walshe said cattle farmers must get a substantial beef price increase in the lead into the strong Christmas trade.¼/span>Based on market returns, Padraig Walshe said factories can afford to increase cattle prices significantly from the current loss making base of €2.80/kg.
Padraig Walshe pointed out that cattle prices across the main EU markets are substantially ahead of Irish prices.¼/span>He said in the UK, our main export market, the EU Commission reported prices for R grade animals of €3.36/kg including Vat for week ending November 8th.¼/span>For the same week, R grade male animals in France made €3.29/kg, Germany €3.18/kg and Spain €3.17/kg incl Vat.
The IFA President said the huge price gap between Irish cattle prices and those in the UK and European markets must be closed.¼/span>He said Irish farmers cannot operate at the bottom of the cattle price league selling into the highest priced beef markets.
Padraig Walshe said IFA is discussing a Quality Based Payment System with the factories.¼/span>He said any new quality price grid must be fair and properly reward quality.¼/span>In addition, he said beef farmers have to see greater price transparency from the factories and a closing of the major price gap with the UK and EU markets.
Source: IFA Ireland
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