Factories and retailers warned of need to offer finishers viable prices

MEAT factories and retailers are going to have to offer contracts at economically viable prices to secure cattle supplies next winter, the Irish Farmers Association has warned.

Livestock Committee Chairman Michael Doran said farmers are not going to finish cattle and lose money again for the 2010-2011 season.

Announcing details of a major IFA beef finishers’ meeting for September 13 in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois at 8.30pm, he said feeders are facing much higher costs this year.

But they are not going to spend another winter working for nothing, with the factories and retailers getting all the benefits including some of the single farm payment, he said.

Mr Doran said the IFA meeting will focus on the higher costs facing feeders and a Teagasc speaker will present a full analysis of the budgets for finishing.

A speaker from Bord Bia will outline the numbers in respect of the projected tighter cattle supplies in 2010/2011 and also present an overview of the market requirements and opportunities in both Britain and across the EU.

IFA president John Bryan will outline the IFA work on protecting the single farm payment in the Common Agricultural Policy 2013 negotiations and the discussions at EU level on future direct payments.

Inviting cattle finishers from all over the country to attend, he said this meeting will set out the key issues and demands of finishers for the 2010-2011 season.

It will also provide feeders with the facts and economic realities and most importantly it will make it abundantly clear to factories and retailers that viable price contracts are essentials to secure adequate supplies of beef, he said.