Beef farmers get surplus warning

29 September 1998

Beef farmers get surplus warning

THE European Commission is likely to impose further cuts on beef production under Agenda 2000 proposals, according to Robert Forster, chief executive of the National Beef Association (NBA).

The reduction could lead to a greater proportion of beef being produced from the dairy herd, said Mr Forster.

The commission wanted the industry to decide whether reductions should be aimed principally at the suckler cow or concentrated on the lowest grade of pure-bred dairy bull instead.

The NBA argues that over-supply in the market, caused by the redirection of US and Australian product from Asia into Europe, is forcing prices down. Russia is also not taking as much as it once did because of the precarious state of its finances.

• NBA warns over world red-meat glut, FWi Markets, yesterday (28 September, 1998)
  
• The Herald 29/09/98 page