As we go to press, the beef forum is taking place. I have long been critical of the forum as a means of addressing the issues affecting the profitability of our beef sector. We should not get into a phoney war with factories on carcase specification or weight limits, neither of which are the real problem. Farmers have proven they can produce to the most demanding specs if the price is right and here lies the problem – farmers cannot produce to a British retail spec and be expected to take €400/hd less than British farmers. Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney cannot credibly continue to chair a forum that ignores the growing price gap with our main export market. If this is the case, farmers should consider their participation. It has delivered little to date.