IFA leads pig price protest
“Farmers have suffered a 42c/kg drop in pig prices in the last six months,” said IFA president Eddie Downey during a protest at the Dublin headquarters of Ibec member Irish Association of Pig Meat Processors.
“This price drop of €34 [per animal] has left every producer in the country in a loss-making situation, with many farms facing ruin.”
The IFA wants agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to push for the introduction of new market measures to remove excess product from the EU.
The IFA says it accepts pig prices have come under pressure in the EU due to the Russian ban, but says continental EU farmers are enjoying lower feed prices than Irish farmers.
IFA pigmeat chairman Pat O’Flaherty said: “Irish feed prices have not dropped in line with the EU. The majority of our EU neighbours held pig prices stable over the Christmas period and spot prices in our largest market, the UK, actually increased in the first week of the new-year.”
The IFA said that, despite prices rising elsewhere, some Irish factories dropped prices by 8c/kg over the Christmas period. The IFA claim today’s price is 20c/kg below the cost of production.
Joe Ryan of the Irish Association of Pig Meat Processors said current Irish pig price remains ahead of the European average pigmeat price as it has done over the last 12 months.
“While prices have come under pressure throughout the second half of 2014, this is in line with the trend across Europe. Nevertheless with Irish prices currently 140-145c/kg (depending on grade), this price level is 10-15c/kg ahead of our European competitors,” he said.
“The post-Christmas market remains very challenging,” said Mr Ryan. “This is exacerbated by the ongoing absence of the Russian market which was a very important outlet for Irish and European pigmeat.”
Mr Ryan said this shift is reflected in recent calls from the main pig-producing member states, including Ireland, for the European Commission to take action to support the market. This point is acknowledged by the IFA themselves, he noted.
