USA imports to benefit beef farms
THE Wicklow farming community has welcomed the recent announcement that the US authorities will permit the importation of Irish beef for their ‘Ground Beef ’ or ‘Hamburger’ sector.
The US has agreed to allow Ireland to become the first member of the EU to export manufacturing beef there in over 15 years.
This beef is normally used in burgers and processed foods. Almost one million tonnes of it is imported each year by the US.
Chairperson of Wicklow ICMSA, Shane O’Loughlin, said this development meant that the US authorities recognised that the Irish standards regarding beef are as high and as demanding as in the US.
‘ The announcement was particularly welcome in light of threat posed by recent developments in our major UK beef export market. However, there must be opportunities to develop what could be a significant US market in the high-end, ‘Green’ or grass-based beef for grinding.
‘ The announcement should be followed-up by a concerted marketing drive that stressed the premium credentials of Irish beef and which could, in turn, provide the kind of impetus needed to ‘ bump up’ the US export figures which, I regret to note, have so far, been frankly disappointing,’ said the Aughrim farmer.
Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow, Andrew Doyle, has said that the improved access for Irish beef into the US market will prove to be really good news for Wicklow beef farmers.
Exports of Irish beef to the US in 2015 were estimated at over €14m and the recent announcement is set to considerably increase that figure.
Deputy Doyle states, ‘any expansion of Irish beef into international markets is really good news for Wicklow beef farmers who can seek to maximise their output.
‘ The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, has confirmed that US authorities now recognise Ireland’s raw meat control system as equivalent to that of the US.
‘In principle, this extends our US market access to include manufacturing beef intended for grinding, which is typically used in burgers and similar processed products. There is a really big market for this in the US.
‘Furthermore the US market for grass fed, natural and organic beef, at which Ireland excels in producing, is estimated to be growing at approximately 20 per cent plus per annum.
‘Developing new markets for our beef is a key element of the Government’s Food Wise 2025 strategy.
‘ This decision regarding the US market, which is the result of intensive discussions and negotiations, is a real coup for Irish beef as Ireland is the first EU Member State to achieve this status in the US.
‘ This follows on from Ireland being the first EU Member State since the BSE crisis to be granted access into the US market for our beef in 2014.
There is really significant potential now for Ireland to capitalise.’ Cattle sale Wednesday, July 13 Better selling trade for all types, plainer cattle easier sold.
Some sample prices: Bullocks: 365 kg €920 CH, 550 kg €1200 CH, 530 kg €1230 CH, 660 kg €1100 CH, 735 kg €1360 CH. Heifers: 395 kg €1000 CH, 376kg €820 CH, 505kg €1100 BB, cows up to €1200, bulls up to €1380. Sheep sale Saturday, July 9 At Baltinglass today heavy lambs were easier by €2/head while store lambs met a very strong trade and up €3/head.
50 - 55 kg made from €102 - €113, 45 - 50 kg made from €93 - €100, Lighter lots made from €65 - €90, Cast Ewes made from €60 - €102, Ewes with lambs at foot made up to €140, 2, 3, and 4 y.o. made up to €150. Sheep sale Thursday, July 14 There were 3300 sheep on offer and improved trade for all classes with Beef & Forward up by €1 to €2, store Lambs up by €3-€4.
Prices: Butcher & Factory Hog €97- €111, Store Lambs: over 35kg €75 - €92, under 35kg €65 - €86. Cast Ewes: Heavy Ewes €100 - €122, Lighter Ewes €60 - €95, Breeding Ewes: Hog Ewes €130 - €175, Older Breeding Ewes €105 - €140. Cattle sale Saturday, July 16 There were 720 cattle and 50 calves, good demand and with improved prices for beef & forward cattle. 4 ch blks 680kg @ €1500, 1 bb bull 550kg @ €1440, strong demand for special suckler sale with cows & calves making €1250 - €1700
Beef & Forward Blks 650 - 960 over, Cont Store Store Blks 550 - 850 over, FR Blks 250 - 600 over, Beef Hfrs 550 - 900 over, Store Hfrs 350 - 720 over, Weanlings Bulls 450 - 900 over, Beef Cows 350 - 680 over, Store Cow 170 - 400 over.
Calves: FR Bulls €80 - €180, Cont Bulls €190 - €350, Cont Hfrs €180 - €330. Cattle sale Friday, July 8 Blast of summer sun, stuns the cattle trade with prices easier by €20 for the plainer stores, while beef was in demand prices battled to hold the levels of the weeks past.
Beef & Forward Blks: Fr Types sold from 1.80 up to €2.35 per kg for the inspec continental blks, or up to €920 with the kg 620 kg - €1500.
Store Blks: Plainer types were all little easier by €20 per head but noticeable fewer farmers around the ring side as the sun split the skies. Prices ranged from €1.90 to €2.85, with no change in demand for the good R/U grade continental blk they continue to set the trade, 440kg making €1180.
Beef Heifers: Sold briskly no change to report in market price selling from €2.00 for HE/AA types up to €2.70 per kg for the well finished continentail type.
Store Heifers: No change to report in this section with quality setting the pace. Prices ranged from €2.0 0 to €2.80 with majority selling from €2.25 to €2.45 per kg.
Weanling Bulls: Steady farmer demand for the lighter bulls with prices ranging from €2.4 to €2.75 with up to €3 per Kg paid for E grade shipping bull.
Cull Cows: Trade a little sluggish in this section with no great alteration in prices from last week with feeding cows selling from €100 up to €760 with kg.