Saturday 26 May 2012
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11/02/2009 15:27:26
FUW ures farmers and auctioneers to stand firm on BSE test costs
Farmers’ Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today commended the decision by Pembrokeshire auctioneers J J Morris to cancel a Red Market sale at Whitland rather than give in to demands by buyers to levy farmers for BSE testing.
Mr Vaughan also called on farmers and auctioneers to stand firm against aggressive moves by processors and supermarkets to pass their overheads on to farmers via the auction markets.
The Whitland sale was due to have been held today, and would have involved the sale of some 120 cattle from farms under TB restrictions.
However, when J J Morris refused to bow to demands by supermarkets and abattoirs to impose a £7.50 levy on farmers, to pay for BSE testing of cattle over 48-months, buyers made it clear they would boycott the mart - leaving the auctioneers no option but to cancel the sale.
"The cancellation of Wednesday’s Red Market at Whitland comes as a huge blow to Welsh farms that are under TB restrictions and had animals booked in to the sale" said Mr Vaughan.
"These businesses need to move animals off their holdings as soon as possible in order to alleviate the huge pressures that accompany TB movement restrictions, and the decision by buyers to boycott the market will add significantly to the problems in the area, and could even affect the Welsh Assembly’s TB control programme," said Mr Vaughan.
"However, the industry should not give in to this kind of intimidation by supermarkets and abattoirs, and I commend the stance taken by the livestock auctions.
"Moves by abattoirs and supermarkets to levy farmers, whether via the livestock markets or otherwise, should be resisted. If we bow to this it could be the thin edge of the wedge.
"At what point will the auctioneers then be asked to deduct fixed charges to cover water and electricity bills, or other abattoir or supermarket overheads?
"The bottom line is that this is a public health issue, and should either be picked up by government or passed down the chain to supermarkets and other customers."
Mr Vaughan added that he was deeply suspicious about the apparently coordinated way in which the livestock auctioneers had been asked to levy farmers.
"The way in which some appear to have stood together on this issue smacks of collusion. Companies that work together in order to manipulate the market place risk falling foul of the law, and we shall pass on any evidence of such practices to the Office of Fair Trading."
"It is disgraceful that the supermarkets and abattoirs may make the TB situation worse due to tactics that are effectively designed to drive farmgate prices down."
Ends
Out of hours press contacts:
Peter Roberts - Swyddfa/Office: (01970) 820 820
Ffon Symudol/Mobile: 07787 530141
Cartref/Home: (01974) 241656
Menna Davies - Swyddfa/Office: (01970) 820820
Ffon Symudol/Mobile: 07831 539332
Mr Vaughan also called on farmers and auctioneers to stand firm against aggressive moves by processors and supermarkets to pass their overheads on to farmers via the auction markets.
The Whitland sale was due to have been held today, and would have involved the sale of some 120 cattle from farms under TB restrictions.
However, when J J Morris refused to bow to demands by supermarkets and abattoirs to impose a £7.50 levy on farmers, to pay for BSE testing of cattle over 48-months, buyers made it clear they would boycott the mart - leaving the auctioneers no option but to cancel the sale.
"The cancellation of Wednesday’s Red Market at Whitland comes as a huge blow to Welsh farms that are under TB restrictions and had animals booked in to the sale" said Mr Vaughan.
"These businesses need to move animals off their holdings as soon as possible in order to alleviate the huge pressures that accompany TB movement restrictions, and the decision by buyers to boycott the market will add significantly to the problems in the area, and could even affect the Welsh Assembly’s TB control programme," said Mr Vaughan.
"However, the industry should not give in to this kind of intimidation by supermarkets and abattoirs, and I commend the stance taken by the livestock auctions.
"Moves by abattoirs and supermarkets to levy farmers, whether via the livestock markets or otherwise, should be resisted. If we bow to this it could be the thin edge of the wedge.
"At what point will the auctioneers then be asked to deduct fixed charges to cover water and electricity bills, or other abattoir or supermarket overheads?
"The bottom line is that this is a public health issue, and should either be picked up by government or passed down the chain to supermarkets and other customers."
Mr Vaughan added that he was deeply suspicious about the apparently coordinated way in which the livestock auctioneers had been asked to levy farmers.
"The way in which some appear to have stood together on this issue smacks of collusion. Companies that work together in order to manipulate the market place risk falling foul of the law, and we shall pass on any evidence of such practices to the Office of Fair Trading."
"It is disgraceful that the supermarkets and abattoirs may make the TB situation worse due to tactics that are effectively designed to drive farmgate prices down."
Ends
Out of hours press contacts:
Peter Roberts - Swyddfa/Office: (01970) 820 820
Ffon Symudol/Mobile: 07787 530141
Cartref/Home: (01974) 241656
Menna Davies - Swyddfa/Office: (01970) 820820
Ffon Symudol/Mobile: 07831 539332
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