Meat plants called on to lift prices as UK market is ‘flying it’
FARM leaders have again called upon on the meat plants to increase their prices given that Ireland is now lagging behind UK levels by over 80c a kg.
Connacht IFA Regional Chairman, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that there could be no justification for such a price difference given that the same meat plants had operations both here and in the UK.
“There is absolutely no doubt about it, but that Irish farmers should be getting more for their cattle from the factories than they are receiving at present.
“It seems to be the old story – the meat plants taking advantage of the situation that has arisen with the bad weather and the difficult situation at the marts due to COVID,” said Pat Murphy.
He said that there was no doubt in his mind that the market leeway was there to significantly improve the prices being paid for Irish cattle with the approach of the busy Christmas market season.
IFA National Livestock Chairman, Brendan Golden, has called on the meat factories to reflect the favourable market conditions in the UK in higher prices for Irish farmers.
He said that last week, prices in the UK continued to edge upwards and reaching the equivalent (VAT included) price of €4.47/kg for R4L steers. Here, the equivalent price being paid was €3.60/€3.65 per kg.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.