On the back of a 20c/kg drop in less than three months, IFA Pig Committee chairman Pat O’Flaherty is warning that the viability of the sector is on the line. O’Flaherty is now calling on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to halt the price slide.

“An immediate political solution to the Russian ban must be found or pig producers in Ireland will find themselves once again on the verge of extinction. If the re-opening of the market is not feasible, APS or export refunds must be introduced to prevent further price drops,” O’Flaherty said.

The Russian market has been closed to European pigmeat since January, following the outbreak of African swine fever. Nearly a quarter of all European pigmeat was exported to Russia in 2013 – Ireland exported over 20,000t of pork and pigmeat products with a value of €55m.

Prices currently stand between €1.62/kg and €1.65/kg after reaching almost €1.90/kg at the start of the summer.

Patrick Donohoe