New Year price support on cards

The European Commission has agreed to reconsider calls to support the pigmeat sector, after ministers at this week’s Farm Council said pig farmers’ financial problems had worsened. 

Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, France, Hungary, Poland and Romania, supported by Estonia and Austria, detailed how the industry has been hit by Russia’s ban on EU pigmeat since February.

It is hoped the Commission will respond with targeted private storage aid for pigmeat in January — although the Commission noted that overproduction in some member states is part of the problem.

IFA says processors this week offer up to 151 cent/kg at export plants (flat rate), and up to 152c /kg at pork slaughter plants and in Northern Ireland. Sow prices stay at 90-100c/kg deadweight. For the first week of December, Irish prices were 107% of the EU average, but only 80% of the UK price.

Bacon sales in the Irish market have risen year-on-year by 4% in volume, with sausage sales up 10%, for the year ending November 9.

And January to September exports are running 12% higher, compared to 2013.