A 4c/kg cut in prices last week means pig farmers are getting paid €1.58/kg to €1.60/kg, down 30c/kg since the summer. The successive cuts have left pig farmers worried about their viability.

The IFA pig committee met with Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney last week to convey farmer fears. The IFA said Minister Coveney expressed a willingness to help the sector. “The Minister is now fully aware of the difficult situation on Irish pig farms and the fact that pressure has been intensifying,” IFA pig committee chair Pat O’Flaherty said.

Pig farmers’ inputs have reduced compared to a few years ago. However, recent feed price drops have not been passed on by merchants, according to O’Flaherty. He said this is putting severe pressure on farmers and urged merchants to pass on price drops to farmers.

The export of European pigmeat to Russia has been banned since January following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). This, along with a depression in continental European pigmeat prices, has caused a domestic price decrease.

O’Flaherty and the IFA urged Minister Coveney to seek the introduction of measures to ease pressure on farmers as the market remains closed. “We outlined how important it is that the right tool is used and in this instance that tool is export refunds. Therefore it was very disappointing to read that the immediate introduction of some form of support for producers impacted by the Russian ban was not being introduced,” he said.