NI farmers beef about prices

24 January 2000



NI farmers beef about prices

BEEF farmers in Northern Ireland have been picketing meat processing plants
in protest at the prices they receive for their stock.

Around 300 producers formed picket lines at seven plants in a demonstration
organised by farmers group the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers
Association (NIAPA).

NIAPA wants abattoirs to match cattle prices paid in the UK.

Figures on Saturday show R4 steers quoted at 180.4p/kg deadweight on the
mainland, but 160.7p/kg in Northern Ireland.

Members want Northern Irelands agriculture minister Brid Rodgers to set up
an independent arbitration process to investigate how prices are set, and
see whether price fixing is going on.

A NIAPA statement claims: “There is no competition between meat plants. Is
it coincidence that they all quote the same price?”

The association says plants could pay more to consumers without consumers
having to pay more.

Producers are also demanding an end to meat plant levies imposed to meet the
cost of BSE regulations.

But the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA), which
represents the main abattoirs, denies it is ripping off farmers.

A spokesman told BBC Online that farmers in Northern Ireland were getting
60 an animal more than counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.

However, beef farmers in the Republic have just secured an extra 8p/lb from
meat companies after blockading abattoirs for 10 days.

This may encourage farmers in Northern Ireland to believe that they can win
a deal themselves.

While some trucks were prevented from entering plants for a short time
during todays four-hour picket, NIAPA insists there will be no attempt at a
full-scale blockade like those seen in the Republic.

This afternoon (Mon 24 Jan) NIAPA officials held an emergency meeting to
decide what action to take next.

It is thought that picketing would continue.