Meat supply depends on getting right price (From Gazette & Herald)

Meat supply depends on getting right price

A GUARANTEED future supply of quality British beef and lamb is now dependent on farmers getting the right price signals from their customers.

That is the message from the NFU's regional livestock board in North Yorkshire which says it has major concerns that without significant price increases, production levels will be insufficient to meet future demand both at home and abroad.

Tom Sewell, a board member who farms near Pocklington, said "In the face of reforms that will see farmers having to produce only what they believe will be profitable, there is no doubt that price is the one factor that alone can make or break future development and investment."

Mr Sewell added: "Since the war, production levels have been kept stable by the CAP support system, but we now face the situation where sustained profitability is the only scenario likely to deliver the quantities of beef and lamb needed long-term by British consumers."

He said producers were "doing all they can" to improve their efficiency and deliver the range of products being demanded by the market.

"But this is only part of the solution and farmers will only invest the money necessary to improve their production methods if they feel they'll achieve a good return.

"We know everyone in the red meat chain, from abattoirs to processors and retailers, needs to ensure a guaranteed supply of quality product in the future."

Updated: 11:35 Wednesday, February 23, 2005