Beef prices quoted differ from prices paid

This story caught my eye because it encompasses the very reason this site was created, improving price transparency and market information for farmers.

But how far should we expect processors to go, as in the market now we have a wide variation of attitudes to these issues. Some companies publish a one price for eveyone deal, others publish but often offer non publicised specials for volume, or out of season reliable supply. Some have periods where they purchase heavily on a CPK deal, while the processors from the north still seem to operate on a "pay what you have to" and will do any deal dependent on demand, and publish nothing.

The question I put to one processor who refuses to publish any price information, is how can farmers benchmark the performance of different exporters without some price information. This company prides itself on its  benchmarking data on animal performance it uses to stimulate farm management improvements, but are not willing to be judged in a similar way with their industry peers.

While I accept price is only one part of making a deal, for the industry to achieve common goals, trust that the pie is being shared equitably is important to many farmers, and nondisclosure of price deals upsets that trust.

Viewers of this site show demand for market information is evident, but is it realistic to expect more price detail or does commercial sensitivity rule? Your views?

Livestock Price Coordinator for the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), John Cleary, has said that games are being played by factories this week as prices being quoted are differing greatly from prices being paid out despite a real need for top quality cattle reports The Beef Site.

On this week’s trade, Mr Cleary said: “There is a real difference in prices this week on what’s being quoted and what’s actually available. From what I’m hearing on the ground is that factories are trying to influence the trade for later in the year so they are pulling quoted prices now in August." "However, there is a real shortage of prime cattle in the factories across the country. From what’s being said in factories is that only the big farmers are getting the best prices."

"The farmer that’s coming in with a load or half load of animals or that is only coming in a with a few cattle every few months isn’t getting anything like the prices that are being given to the big sellers. If a farmer is sure of the quality of their animal then they need to push hard for better prices as they are available and factories are paying higher than what’s being quoted.”