July promises to see the end of the farmgate price crash which has disrupted the beef industry. A July 1st summit announced by farm minister George Eustice at the Eblex export conference aims to not only understand the causes of the farmgate price crash but also look to investigate ways to grow the beef market even further.
Productivity is another important issue that delegates will be keen to discuss. Mr Eustice admitted the industry could do better in this area. He said “some areas of agriculture have been better at sustaining productivity than the beef sector.”
The summit will bring together representatives from every area of the industry that will be keen to ensure the survival of the industry in a time of falling prices and cutthroat competition.
Any proposals generated would be put into action in the near future, including introducing a voluntary code of conduct for meat processors, helping to ensure price stability. Charles Sercombe, chairman of the NFU livestock board, said profitability was key in order to maintain a steady supply of beef.