Rock-solid prices poor consolation for sellers

The rock solid status of the official beef prices at the factories this week is poor consolation for farmers who had expected better for mid-April supplies of finished cattle.

But the only leeway they are getting from processors is a minimal top-up on official quotes which some farmers have successfully negotiated.

Although quoted prices at factories have been stable over recent weeks, the average base price actually paid to farmers, as recorded by the Department of Agriculture, has shown a slight increase.