Pig producers being forced out by factories

He was speaking following yet another refusal by the country’s two main pigmeat processors to increase prices this week in line with other EU countries. According to Mr O’Keeffe “There is a deep level of frustration and anger growing among pig producers whose livelihoods are being threatened by the bloody-minded refusal of the two largest pigmeat processors in the Republic of Ireland to increase prices in line with European trends.

Their actions are a clear and blatant abuse of their position as price setters in the country.” “I am on record since early May pushing Glanbia and Dawn hard on prices, yet in this period the price for Irish pigs increased by a miserable 3c to 4c/kg, and this was only because of a threatened producer protest.

In the same period, EU prices increased as follows: – Spain +30c/kg, France +29c/kg, Germany +19c/kg, Holland +14c/kg, Belgium +12c/kg and Denmark +6c/kg.” Mr O’Keeffe added “This inept market performance would not be tolerated in any business nor can it be tolerated in the pig sector.

I will be calling on the Chief Executives of both Glanbia and Dawn Meats this week to meet with producers and agree to increase pig prices with immediate effect to bring them into line with other EU countries and to provide fixed price forward contracts for 6 or 12 months, to inject some much needed stability into the sector.”

Source: Irish Farmers' Association - 14th June 2005

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