The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has “condemned” the decision by two of the country’s leading processors to reduce their pig prices last week, warning that such action will leave farmers with “no choice but to exit the industry”.
The association’s sharp words were directed at processors Rosderra and Kepak, with IFA pigs committee chairman, Pat O’Flaherty, stating that pig farmers in Ireland simply cannot survive with prices at current levels.
“If these unsustainable prices continue, farmers will have no choice but to exit the industry,” he added.
The IFA has subsequently requested meetings with Rosderra and Kepak this week to “make clear” the severity of the current situation facing producers.
The association also stated that it would use the meeting to “insist” on an immediate price rise, adding that Ireland is currently operating at 99% of the EU average price.
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending October 3, 2015, was 59,951 head, according to the IFA. This was 3055 more than in the corresponding week in 2014. Slaughtering’s in ROI export plants are currently 6.5% ahead of the same period in 2014.