Mr Michael Maguire, Chairman of the IFA Pigs and Pig meat Committee said the new owners of the pig meat business formerly owned by Glanbia must return a price increase to pig producers immediately.

“Markets in Denmark, Germany and Spain have seen price increases ranging from 6.5% to 14% in the last fortnight. It is incredible that Irish producers have not seen any increase. Rosderra (the new owners of Glanbia Meats) must seize the opportunity to inject some confidence back into the flagging pig industry at this time of crisis,” said Mr Maguire.

“Rosderra is now the dominant player in the industry and must demonstrate to their suppliers that they have the capability to drive this industry forward. Sitting on price increases that are being passed back elsewhere will destroy the faith in the company that was built up in the past,” remarked the chairman. 

IFA’s campaign to reclaim the home market is proving successful. Bord Bia’s advertising is continually raising awareness of the Quality Assurance logo and volumes of sales of Irish-produced pig meat have increased. However pig producers are not being reimbursed accordingly and are incurring massive losses. Every day that goes by without an increase is adding to the severe difficulties that pig producers are facing.

The IFA Chairman stated that pig producers have stood loyally by the processor throughout the difficulties of the last year and are now being punished by having to watch their competitors across Europe receive the benefit of a rise. 

Financial institutes and mills are putting considerable pressure on producers. These organisations are in contact with their EU counterparts and have seen the increases being returned back to the producers. The banks and mills are asking why the pig farmers are unable to cover their debts.

“There is no argument that the current crisis is an EU-wide problem, but when you look at the figures closely, it does not make sense that producers have on average received 2c/kg less (according to the pig league recorded since last November) than others in the Republic of Ireland and the EU average since November 2007,” said Mr Maguire.

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