NORTHERN IRELAND.
Beef producers urged to market strongly
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has urged local beef producers to market their cattle strongly and take advantage of favourable market conditions.
UFU Beef and Lamb Chairman William Taylor spoke out following this weeks meeting of the Unions livestock committee. He said; "The beef market is currently much stronger then some producers might think. We would encourage every farmer to question their factory quotes, because better prices are often available. Farmers not receiving higher prices should look closely at the live trade prices and deadweight prices reported in the LMC bulletin; better prices are clearly available".
The UFU highlighted that in last weeks LMC bulletin, paid prices for cattle were at least 8p/kg above quoted prices for the previous week. The UFU Beef and Lamb Committee state that smaller producers may be losing out, and advised them that whilst factory agents are sometimes a simple option for selling cattle from their farms, there are also market agents willing to take their cattle from farm at present.
The UFU Beef and Lamb Committee also highlighted producers frustration that prices on offer are much higher in other parts of the UK. The prices being paid for local R4 cattle are 10-20p/kg behind the rest of the UK and indeed up to 18 pence per kilo less than prices on offer in the Republic of Ireland.
William Taylor said; "We continue to hold the view that a price differential of this magnitude is unjustifiable. We would also remind local producers that currency is very much in our favour at present and they should also be using this fact to press for stronger prices for their cattle".