ICSA Beef Chair Edmund Graham has this week advised farmers to fight for the best prices possible as factory beef prices are hardening.
“This week has seen a marked change with factories actively looking for cattle and quotes have increased by as much as 10c/kg. It is now time for farmers to toughen when selling cattle and seek higher prices,” he said.
Mr Graham said prices have been far below the level paid in our export markets for most of the summer and that factories have taken excess profit.
He also said the situation has been even more dire when Irish prices are compared to those in the UK.
“The last time we saw prices here on par with UK prices was back in January of this year. Since then, a significant price gap has opened, and UK prices have remained consistently higher than what is being offered to Irish producers,” he said.
