Brexit is hanging over the mart trade at the moment, with mart managers reporting a lot of uncertainty in the trade.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal this week, George Candler of Kilkenny Mart said that there is a lack of clarity on Brexit.
“There is a lot of uncertainty. Brexit and Mercosur are having something to do with it.
"The immediate problem is with Brexit. There’s a lack of clarity around it.
Buy now or wait
“Over fifty-two per cent of our beef goes to UK and if that market was closed, how do we plan ahead [to combat that]?” he said.
Candler said that some buyers are questioning should they buy now or wait.
“The returns are so small, some people are cutting back on numbers.
“I’ve never seen as many questions over the trade in my time. If we had some clarity on Brexit it would be something.
You’ll hear someone in the same sphere saying it’s not that hard
“Some factories are saying that they are finding it hard to sell beef, having said that you’ll hear someone in the same sphere saying it’s not that hard.
“There’s a lack of trust between factories and farmers, it’s broken down. There’s uncertainty all round.
"Unless it’s clarified very quickly, there will be a casualty.”
Candler also said that he is worried ahead of autumn weanling sales.
“Of all years, it is nigh on impossible to read the trade,” he said.
Headford Mart
In the west, Headford Mart manager Joe Wynne said that some cattle are coming into the ring earlier.
Ahead of weanling sales, he said he doesn’t know if buyers will come out this year in their usual numbers.
“Numbers are back. Brexit will happen at the busiest time of the year, when people are selling.
“There is great uncertainty. We’re all worried, we need some kind of guaranteed price.
"I was talking to a few people that buy in stores in September and October, a few said they don’t know what to do this year. There’s no clarity in anything,” he said.
The mart will hold a special sale for continental bullocks, heifers and weanlings on Saturday 27 July.
Elphin Mart
In Roscommon, Elphin Mart manager Gerry Connellan said he is also worried about the mart trade.
“It’s all Brexit at the moment. I’m truly worried for autumn.
"Beef has to be settled at a reasonable price, if it was up around the €4/kg mark, it wouldn’t be too bad. Lads can’t take that for cattle,” he said.
He reported a fall-off in numbers around the ring at the moment.
“Weanlings and cows are down an awful lot, to very small numbers.
"Lads are afraid they’re not going to get enough money.
“I’m truly worried. It’s heading for the worst I’ve ever seen it,” he said.
Read more
In pictures: strong trade for store lambs at Dowra Mart
Young bull price collapse threatens weanling trade
Ringside Comment: quality light stores a steady trade
Brexit is hanging over the mart trade at the moment, with mart managers reporting a lot of uncertainty in the trade.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal this week, George Candler of Kilkenny Mart said that there is a lack of clarity on Brexit.
“There is a lot of uncertainty. Brexit and Mercosur are having something to do with it.
"The immediate problem is with Brexit. There’s a lack of clarity around it.
Buy now or wait
“Over fifty-two per cent of our beef goes to UK and if that market was closed, how do we plan ahead [to combat that]?” he said.
Candler said that some buyers are questioning should they buy now or wait.
“The returns are so small, some people are cutting back on numbers.
“I’ve never seen as many questions over the trade in my time. If we had some clarity on Brexit it would be something.
You’ll hear someone in the same sphere saying it’s not that hard
“Some factories are saying that they are finding it hard to sell beef, having said that you’ll hear someone in the same sphere saying it’s not that hard.
“There’s a lack of trust between factories and farmers, it’s broken down. There’s uncertainty all round.
"Unless it’s clarified very quickly, there will be a casualty.”
Candler also said that he is worried ahead of autumn weanling sales.
“Of all years, it is nigh on impossible to read the trade,” he said.
Headford Mart
In the west, Headford Mart manager Joe Wynne said that some cattle are coming into the ring earlier.
Ahead of weanling sales, he said he doesn’t know if buyers will come out this year in their usual numbers.
“Numbers are back. Brexit will happen at the busiest time of the year, when people are selling.
“There is great uncertainty. We’re all worried, we need some kind of guaranteed price.
"I was talking to a few people that buy in stores in September and October, a few said they don’t know what to do this year. There’s no clarity in anything,” he said.
The mart will hold a special sale for continental bullocks, heifers and weanlings on Saturday 27 July.
Elphin Mart
In Roscommon, Elphin Mart manager Gerry Connellan said he is also worried about the mart trade.
“It’s all Brexit at the moment. I’m truly worried for autumn.
"Beef has to be settled at a reasonable price, if it was up around the €4/kg mark, it wouldn’t be too bad. Lads can’t take that for cattle,” he said.
He reported a fall-off in numbers around the ring at the moment.
“Weanlings and cows are down an awful lot, to very small numbers.
"Lads are afraid they’re not going to get enough money.
“I’m truly worried. It’s heading for the worst I’ve ever seen it,” he said.
Read more
In pictures: strong trade for store lambs at Dowra Mart
Young bull price collapse threatens weanling trade
Ringside Comment: quality light stores a steady trade
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: