Beef processors turned the screw again on finishers this week, with prices slipping further, and bad weather boosting the cattle supply to the factories.

Imports of beef by the UK in June were up 2% compared to 2016, with shipments from the EU driving this increase, despite the steady strengthening of the euro against sterling since mid-April.

Ireland maintained its UK beef import market share of 69% in May, shipping 14,600 tonnes, which was marginally up on a year earlier, according to the UK’s Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

UK wheat exports probably will be the smallest since 1979 this season after soggy weather hurt production, while improving prospects for the next harvest mean shipments may rebound next year, the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board said.