Nicholson demands meeting with EU Agriculture Commissioner to discuss soaring Feed Prices
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has confirmed today that he has demanded an urgent meeting with EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel to discuss soaring animal feed prices, which according to the UUP MEP is having a “devastating impact” on Northern Ireland’s agricultural industry.
Mr Nicholson will be accompanied by representatives from the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“The massive increases in cereal prices we have witnessed over the last few months is something that none of us can escape. It is having a crippling affect on our agricultural industry and as I have warned before has the potential to put many of our farmers out of business.
“I believe this is an issue that requires action from the European Commission, especially because their zero tolerance approach to GMO produced grain is simply compounding matters further. Events on the global stage and at a local level are conspiring against the farming industry in Northern Ireland. The poor weather and flooding during the summer coupled with drought in some of the Southern Hemisphere countries and an increase in demand from the bio fuel sector are driving feed prices through the roof.
“Supermarkets must begin to reflect these increased production costs in the price of their food. Farmers can not continue to absorb rising costs any longer. There are some changing and really challenging times ahead, both for the farming industry and consumers.
“What this situation proves again is the need for the creation of a regulatory framework that would promote a fair relationship between producers, processors and the supermarket chains. For a long time there has been an undeniable need for the producer to receive a fairer reward for his produce. I see something inherently wrong with a market that repeatedly shows falling returns to farmers but consistently shows rising returns to processors and retailers and I hope that the Competition Commission’s investigation into unfair practices brings some relief for producers on this matter.
“I will repeat again that the next 10 to 15 years will see a real issue over food security in Europe. Over the past number of years or so we have been used to low food prices and the availability of an abundance of food within the EU but now that the butter and milk mountains have melted away it is a different story.”