Anxious wait by farmers for factory prices on beef

REPORTS of up to 85p/lb being on offer for R grade bullocks will be put to the acid test today as producers anxiously await quotes for beef for the week from factories now that farmers have ceased their protests against prices.

This week, for the first time in six weeks, no farmer protest action is planned for the beef factories. It's the first of two weeks of a 'cooling period' in the IFA action over low prices for cattle.

Talks between farmers and processors on the price forward are already being underpinned by the IMA claim that "protests over the past five weeks have done severe damage to the industry", impeding their ability to service customers needs and restricting forward sales contracts, adding to industry difficulties.