Local MP told of beef and lamb price concerns

The effects of the recent sharp fall in beef and lamb prices was highlighted to Ceredigion MP, Mark Williams, when he visited the farm of NFU Cymru members, Huw and Ann Tudor at Tynberllan, Llanilar earlier this week.

Huw and Ann farm 110 suckler cows and 1600 ewes at Tynberllan and also run a further beef and sheep unit 35 miles away on outlying land in partnership with Huw's brother. Huw said, "There is no way that any farmer can make money when we currently receive a beef price of £1.70- £1.80 per kilo deadweight. My fuel, fertiliser and labour costs mean I need to receive at least £2.20kg to break even."

Mr Tudor also felt that while the current lamb price of £2.20kg deadweight (£1 a kilo liveweight) was slightly better than the beef price it still left no money to invest in the enterprise, he continued, "I am currently very disillusioned, I have tried to work closely with my customers to produce the product they want and yet they will not pay me a sustainable price for that product".

Ceredigion NFU Cymru members asked Mark Williams to lobby Government to intervene through a Statutory Retailer Code of Practice.

NFU Cymru County Chairman, Gerwyn Owen said, "Low Commodity prices are not just a threat to farmers but to the whole rural economy of Ceredigion, while regulation should always be a last resort, currently we see no other option to ensure a transparent food supply chain with all partners - farmers, processors and retailers treated fairly."

Summing up Aberystwyth NFU Cymru Branch Chairman, Wyn Evans said "As farmers we adhere to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards, we can even be penalised for cutting our hedges on the wrong day, yet we have to compete for space on supermarket shelves with meat from countries where these concerns are well down the list of priorities."