Farmers' unions throughout the UK have joined forces to call for higher beef prices to prevent a winter of discontent and many producers going out of business.

In a joint statement, the livestock chairmen of the four UK unions said a year-long decline in the beef price had already left many producers operating below the cost of production. Production costs meanwhile are escalating as a result of rising feed, fuel and bedding prices.

According to the NFU, the UK is now only 70% self-sufficient in the supply of beef. Prices to farmers have dropped to about £2.60 per kg over the last year, while supermarkets are selling beef at an average of more than £5.60 per kg.

Meanwhile, Eblex is allocating an extra £100,000 to help English beef producers with certification needed to tap into nine additional non-EU markets, in effect doubling their number of export options.

Read more
Producers urge Defra to close clone ID loophole (21 August 2010)
Global beef and veal production in decline (14 August 2010)

Topics