Farmers welcome EC plan to introduce pigmeat aid plan
APS is a market support measure that can be introduced when pig prices are low. It facilitates processors to buy up and store pigmeat for a specified period. At the end of the period, the storer receives aid at a rate fixed in advance. The amounts payable are determined by reference to the market situation prevailing at the time. IFA Pig Committee chairman Pat O’Keeffe said it was a timely recognition by the commission that the pig price for producers at present is not sustainable and must be improved.
“Given that there was no pre-Christmas increase in prices despite strong demand from the retail sector, I now expect this to be the stabilising factor for pig prices post-Christmas,” he said. Mr O’Keeffe said the IFA Pig Committee was not in favour of the scheme when it was first suggested in November as it felt the timing was wrong. But APS could be of benefit to producers as they move into January by holding prices at the current level of 1.25 per kg on average. “The future for pig prices has improved significantly over the past week with the introduction of the APS scheme and reports from Britain showing little frozen pork in cold stores. This compares with 200,000 tonnes last year. Whilst much of this could have been cull sow meat from Britain, awaiting export post foot and mouth disease, it does mean significantly less stored product to unload onto the market in the New Year.”
