Beef summit issues dire warning over sector crisis
“The UK beef sector is at crisis point with the continued downward pressures on farmgate prices creating a dire situation which cannot – and must not – be allowed to continue.”
That was the line taken yesterday at a summit meeting of UK farming leaders held to discuss the current crisis in the beef sector – which they claimed had put the viability of the industry in jeopardy.
Speaking after the meeting which took place at the Royal Welsh show, the presidents of the country’s four farming unions said that urgent and collaborative action was needed across the whole supply chain to support farmers affected by the slide in the price of beef cattle.
NFU Scotland’s Andrew Mccornick joined John Davies, NFU Cymru; Minette Batters, NFU; and Ivor Ferguson, Ulster Farmers’ Union in issuing a joint statement.
“While we accept that this is a complex situation and there are a number of factors affecting this drop in price, beef farmers cannot continue to sustain this decrease any longer.
“Let’s be absolutely clear – the sustainability of UK beef production is at stake here,” they emphasised.
Calling for action across the whole supply chain – farmers, levy bodies, processors, retailers and the food service sector – the presidents announced a five-point action plan aimed at easing the crisis.
The plan included calls for:
• A co-ordinated period of product promotion and innovation by retailers and processors to help stimulate demand for fully traceable, farm assured beef;
• An intensified programme of awareness raising by the levy bodies of the values behind UK beef production, to both the home and export markets.
• Clearer information on origin and sourcing at the point of sale from retailers and food service providers;
• Greater emphasis on UK sourcing by government public procurement bodies;
• A full assessment of the impact on the UK beef market of the €100 million (£90m) cash boost provided to Irish beef farmers. “This crisis must be dealt with swiftly and effectively so that we can focus on the long-term viability of the beef sector,” said the presidents.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Irish Sea, farmers’ representatives there were claiming that the EU and government funding wasn’t enough to save the Irish beef industry.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) called for a ban on the importation of substandard beef – and told the EU that a €1 billion rescue fund for direct aid and marketing was “needed immediately”.
With cattle prices also on the floor in the Republic, IFA president Joe Healy said that the “much needed” €100m emergency package only covered the period from September to May this year: “More aid is needed immediately and a clear contingency plan must be put in place as we lead up to potentially catastrophic no deal Brexit at the end of October.”
He said that the €1bn package offered by farm commissioner Phil Hogan to combat the effects of the Mercosur deal with South American countries should be brought forward and made available now.
“Let’s be absolutely clear – the sustainability of UK beef production is at stake here”
ANDREW MCCORNICK
NFU Scotland