Beef prices looking good

ANY upward trend in beef prices for the later half of September is a positive development, and 2007 now looks to be one of the seasons that is moving in that direction.

Official quotes for beef are improved by at least 3c/kg (1p/lb) at a number of the factories this week, while a majority of the factories remain very anxious for stock, which is a good indicator of the market situation given that intake appears to be increasing slightly after two weeks of lower supplies.

While the most recent outbreaks of FMD in Surrey has delivered a big boost to lamb prices, it would not be expected that beef would benefit to the same scale. Nevertheless, any curtailment on supplies to the markets in Britain or the continent will have a spin off effect for the Irish exporters.