While Ireland’s attempts to achieve European glory in soccer have kicked off with a sense of deflation (Monday night’s match was a match we should have won), it’s anything but deflation on our farms right now.

Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association (ICSA) beef chairman Seán Scully has said that beef is still too cheap and that farmers must get a €1 more than they did this time last year just to stay in beef production.

Marts: Cattle supplies to the factories continued very strong, well above earlier expectations, as the pre-Christmas kill entered the last full week of operation before the festive holidays yesterday.

Marts: Two West Cork livestock farmers shares top awards at a show and sale of store cattle at Bandon Mart yesterday where up to €350 over €/kg was paid for heavy store bullocks.

Marts: Although the factories continue to pay over the quoted prices for cattle, 6c/kg (2p/lb) has now been wiped off the average price in two weeks.

There was a sharper tone to the trade for store cattle — both bullocks and heifers — at the marts where prices for the quality stores were stronger by up to €25/head yesterday.

There was a mixed trade for bullocks at yesterday’s mart sales, some centres reporting an improvement of up to €20/head for bullocks and heifers, while the trend through the week of an easing of prices continued at other locations.

Marts: Bullock prices averaged over 100p/lb for R3s at the factories last week, the first time in years for the benchmark price to be paid to producers countrywide, as returns to beef farmers continue to edge upwards with half the processors paying over 101p/lb average.