Positive market signals suggest there is no reason why Scottish and UK cattle and sheep prices should not remain firm during 2010, the chairman of NFU Scotland’s livestock board said today (Wednesday, 20 January).
Borders farmer, Rob Livesey, was speaking following a meeting of the livestock board chairmen of the UK and Irish farming unions to discuss issues affecting the beef and sheep industry, including the current market situation, CAP post 2013, and the future of the sheep sector.
Mr Livesey said there was acknowledgement that beef and sheep supplies would remain tight for 2010 and this, combined with the current favourable exchange rate, meant there was good reason to believe that the outlook should be positive for the Scottish and UK beef and lamb sectors.
“What our industry needs to bolster confidence is a continued and sustained period of price stability. The discussions at this meeting and the signals we are receiving from across the country would seem to indicate that this is possible,” he said.
The meeting also discussed the CAP post 2013 and the need for recognition to be given to the importance of maintaining grass-based livestock systems that deliver vitally important environmental and public benefits. The meeting talked about the importance of maintaining the CAP budget, ensuring that support was given to active farmers, and making the development and encouragement of young farmers a priority.
Special discussions were also held over the future of the sheep industry, including an application for funding for the promotion of sheep meat in the EU submitted by Copa-Cogeca. The chairmen of the UK Unions’ livestock committees agreed to write a joint letter to the European Commission to support this initiative.
The implementation of EID across the UK and Ireland was also discussed and the meeting agreed an urgent review of the regulation should be carried out at the earliest opportunity.
Notes to editors:
- The meeting was held at NFU headquarters on Friday, January 15 and involved the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, the Ulster Farmers Union and the Irish Farmers Association.
- A photograph of the chairmen is available on request from NFU Scotland.
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006