Fears for industry as lamb prices fall

A COLLAPSE in the amount farmers are paid for lamb is sparking concern about the future of the sector, according to farming leaders.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Jan 2013, 06:00 BST

Farm-gate prices have dropped by nearly a quarter and wholesale prices for UK legs of lamb have fallen by 17 per cent in recent weeks. However prices in the shops for UK product have only fallen by two per cent in the same period.

The latest figures for November show the highest level of imports since 2006 and the National Farmers’ Union will this week be meeting officials from Beef and Lamb New Zealand, which is the largest sheepmeat importing country to the UK, to discuss global market conditions.

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NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said that the farm-gate price for UK lamb is “not viable” in a period where sheep farmers have seen their costs rising. He is also concerned that the price of UK product on the shelves has not fallen by anywhere near the same amount as the farm.