The 100 million euros bailout to Irish farmers, designed to support them through Brexit uncertainty, has been described as “adding insult to injury” when Scottish beef prices are at a three-year low.
Scotland’s farmers’ union (NFUS) says the emergency funding from the European Commission and the Irish Government, together with an over-supplied market and Brexit-fuelled apprehension, have contributed to a significant collapse in the market price for beef and risks undermining farm profitability.
NFUS livestock committee chairman Jimmy Ireland conceded the Irish were facing a precarious situation but added it didn’t come close to the current political situation in Scotland and the lack of market confidence it inspires.
He said: “In March, we thought we would be out of Europe, then in April we thought the same, and now we are told that it could be October, and there could be a deal, or maybe not?
“Senior politicians in London and in Edinburgh must recognise the seriousness of the issue facing the Scottish beef sector as it has been damaged by political uncertainty and a crisis which is not of farmers’ making.”
The latest market reports from Quality Meat Scotland reveal the deadweight steer price in Scotland hit a three-year low of 344ppk in March, and while the market showed signs of rallying in April, the gap between 2018 and 2019 prices has widened further in recent weeks.
Mr Ireland also questioned why some supermarket burgers retail for more than 660ppk and Scotch sirloins can cost more than 2,200ppk when prices to the primary producer are so low.
“Somebody is clearly making a living from the Scottish beef sector, but it’s not those producing beef on Scotland’s farms and crofts,” he said.
“Those who finish beef cattle on farm need to have the confidence that they will make a fair return from the market if the whole beef supply chain is to work.”
The poor trading figures come in the wake of this week’s announcement by the Scottish Government of maximum limits for the consumption of red processed meat in school meals and calls by farming organisations that every meal should include Scottish farm produce.
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
