Factories Must Move On Price And Price Grid Issues
IRELAND - The meat factories must move urgently to resolve a number of issues for farmers selling cattle under the Quality Payment system, according to Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President John Bryan.
26 January 2010
2 minute read
Mr Bryan said the priority is that cattle prices must move on and lift by at least to 15c to 20c/kg in order to halt the losses being incurred by winter finishers. He said, “with strong UK and EU beef prices and sterling back at less than 88p/€1, there is major scope in the market for factories to lift beef prices.”
He said at a meeting with the factories, IFA has set out the changes the factories must make to the Quality Payment system in order to make it work in practice for cattle farmers. He said it is up to the factories to respond this week.
The IFA President said 4= must be part of the base price on a permanent basis. The price cut on 4+ is too severe, particularly for heifers and must be reduced by at least 6c/kg.
In addition, Mr Bryan said factories must print the base price clearly on the dockets and identify the cattle that are receiving the In spec Quality Assurance bonus. IFA has also raised issues with the factories on movements, residency and marts with regard to the In spec QA bonus.
"IFA is not going to allow a situation to continue where the Quality Payment System is impacting unfairly on cattle farmers. The factories have to move this week to address the issues on the QPS, and particularly the issues of 4= at the base price and reducing the severity of the cut on 4+ cattle," Mr Bryan concluded.
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