Warning over threat of rising input costs for livestock sector

Livestock and dairy farmers will need to ensure they keep a close eye on their costs of production, warned HSBC’s Head of Agriculture Allan Wilkinson.

He said that whilst market forces were keeping beef prices attractive for farmers, input costs were likely to rise due to currency movements and increasing grain-based livestock feed prices caused by the US and Russian droughts, a stark contrast to the very wet and cool summer in the UK.

In the UK, feed wheat was being priced up to £230 per tonne in July, compared to £182 per tonne the year previously. Meanwhile, currency fluctuations are diminishing returns for exported UK beef to Europe.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Generally stagnant or declining EU cattle numbers, reduced supplies from South America and a very significant increase in EU beef exports have created a strong demand for UK beef within the UK. These market dynamics are keeping beef prices high which is very pleasing for farmers. That said, input costs are rising and livestock farmers must keep an eye on their own specific costs to ensure they don’t significantly erode existing margins.

“The main concerns for beef and sheep producers are primarily rising input costs, mainly feed, fertiliser and bedding straw.

“Concerns over CAP Reform have been placed on the back burner. While our whole farm budgets suggest some narrowing of the deficit between cost of production and sale prices, the vast majority of farmers continue to rely heavily on support payments for any level of profitability.”