Producers must back markets
Producers must back markets
PRODUCER support for livestock markets was one of the main themes at a farmer rally at Penkridge market, Staffs, with claims that if auction marts went out of business then livestock prices would fall even further.
"If there is no bidding in the process there is no yardstick to pitch prices, which means supermarkets will be setting it," said beef farmer Clive Swan from Mold, one of the rallys organisers.
"Producer clubs must be killed off, or the cattle trade will go the same way as the pig job and the fruit and veg trade," he said.
Mr Swan also urged all farmers to subscribe to one of the farm unions and to be actively involved in the running of the organisations.
And Mr Swan urged the 500 farmers at the meeting to keep asking questions. "Just the way we are questioned now on everything we do, we must ask questions of customers, shops, supermarkets, to see if they are recognising what we are doing." *