Welsh launch red meat co-op
23 July 1999
Welsh launch red meat co-op
THE launch of an all-Wales red meat marketing co-operative was one of the main talking points at the Royal Welsh Show this week.
The farming unions, Meat and Livestock Commission and the Wales Agri-food Partnership urged producers to back the project, but auctioneers used the show to campaign against the co-operative.
And Bob Parry, president of the Farmers Union of Wales, said his family business would not join.
“We support the concept in principle but cannot agree with the way it is going to be financed,” he said.
Mr Parry said his income was £6400 down this year and he couldnt afford to pay nearly £1000 to a co-operative.
“I believe that most farmers would accept the idea of buying a £75 shareholding and paying a marketing levy, but they will struggle to find 60p a breeding ewe,” he said.
Lib-Dem peer Lord Geraint of Ponterwyd, a strong supporter of livestock markets, toured the show urging farmers not to get involved in the co-op.
Similar schemes in the past, like Welsh Quality Lamb and the Fatstock Marketing Corporation, had flopped and cost farmers millions of pounds, he said.