Ulster Farmers’ Union, deputy president, Ivor Ferguson has accused Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) officials of being 'out of touch' with beef producers over the gap between prices in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain and of pursuing the wrong issue for the local beef industry.
Mr Ferguson says he is 'alarmed' by a letter to a local MP from DARD. “It is clear from this that they have no interest is addressing this differential – despite it taking more than £17 million out of the pockets of hard pressed farming families,” he said.
The UFU has been working with local MPs to lobby over the price differentials for beef, lamb and pork. But it says DARD officials are supporting processors over farmers. “Last August DARD came out in public support of processors in relation to the lamb price differential. Now it is clear they are taking the same approach when it comes to beef,” said Mr Ferguson.
Despite a plunge in farm incomes last year DARD's stance is that because local beef prices are amongst the highest in Europe farmers have no legitimate cause for concern. “This is an insult to farm families struggling with cash flow problems because of poor returns. We accept that the price is the price but DARD cannot simply ignore the issue of why we are paid less for the same quality assured beef, when the beef is destined for the same supermarket shelves in the same packs,” he said.
The UFU believes DARD has a responsibility to pursue fairness and transparency in the supply chain, and has accused it of 'fobbing this issue off' as a commercial concern that is of no interest. “This is a ridiculous stance. DARD should be seeking justification from retailers and processors for the price differential while pursuing ways to increase the number of live cattle exported from Northern Ireland,” said Mr Ferguson.
DARD officials have suggested that the minister, Michelle O'Neill, is more focused on trying to agree a voluntary all island label for beef. Mr Ferguson said that while the UFU would not dismiss efforts to tackle the nomad cattle problem, the wider commercial implications of an all island label have not been discussed with producers or processors here.
“In reality most beef farmers would rather see the minister prioritising a price differential that took £17 million from producers here last year. That would be the real prize, if the minister and her officials are serious about improving profitability on local beef farms,” said the UFU deputy president.
He added that DARD had set up a supply chain forum, with one of its objectives tacking poor profitability in beef production. “An all island label for beef will not cure this, but if the minister used that forum to address the price differential it would be welcomed by all producers and would have the potential to transform industry profitability,” he said.
