Widening Beef Price Differential Unacceptable
UK - The widening differential between Northern Ireland and GB farmgate prices for beef is totally unacceptable, the Ulster Farmers’ Union said today.
6 September 2007
2 minute read
"Nothing can justify price differentials of this magnitude; and worse still the gap is widening."
UFU Beef and Lamb Policy Chairman William Taylor
The UFU says latest independent figures from the Livestock and Meat Commission highlight that beef prices paid to farmers in Scotland are 28 pence per kilogram (15%) higher than for local farmers. Prices in the North of England are 25 pence per kilogram higher than for local producers.
UFU Beef and Lamb Policy Chairman William Taylor said the figures highlighted the scandalous way in which local beef producers were being treated by the meat and retail industry.
William Taylor said; “Nothing can justify price differentials of this magnitude; and worse still the gap is widening. Our main market for beef is the UK high street so why should our beef producers be paid around £100 per animal less than their Scottish and English colleagues, who are supplying the same retail market?”.
The UFU also highlighted that while beef retail prices have grown this year, farm gate price have decreased.
William Taylor said; “Recent TNS figures have shown that consumers have increased their spend on beef by 5% over the last year, but local producers have seen absolutely no benefit, in fact their prices have been falling. Under these conditions, and with feed costs soaring, local beef producers are in a completely unsustainable position”. The UFU is to raise these issues with retailers in a series of meetings. The Northern Ireland Red Meat Task Force is due to publish its findings on 3 October.
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