The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has hit out at the price drop, which saw factory quotes slipping by around 10p/kg this week, continuing a downward trend from 630–640p/kg earlier this year to closer to 600–610p/kg in recent weeks.

UFU Beef and Lamb Chairman Brendan Kelly said the timing of the cut, during NI Beef Week, could not be worse.

“A further drop in beef prices right in the middle of NI Beef Week sends the wrong message entirely. This should be a week where we are championing our product, yet farmers are instead facing another blow to their income.”

He said the situation highlights a deeper, ongoing issue within the supply chain. “Farmers are, once again, the ones expected to absorb the shock. Everyone else along the chain appears able to protect their margins, while primary producers are left exposed. It is becoming all too clear that farmers are the easy target when pressure comes on the system and that simply cannot continue.”

The UFU said beef finishers are being squeezed from all sides, with rising input costs compounding the impact of falling prices.

“Meal costs remain high, fuel costs are volatile, and wider global instability is adding further uncertainty. Yet at the very point where farmers sell their product, the price is going backwards.”

The Union also pointed to a growing disconnect between different parts of the market.

“Farmers are paying strong money for store cattle in marts and seeing firm retail prices on shelves, yet factory returns are falling. That is not just unsustainable, it is fundamentally unfair. No business can survive long-term when it is taking less for more.”

Imports and trade policy are adding further pressure, warned the UFU.

“This situation has not happened in isolation. Trade deals agreed at a UK level are increasing the volume of imported beef coming into the market, giving processors and retailers more options and weakening local prices.

“Northern Ireland farmers are being asked to compete with product that is often produced to different standards, without the same level of support. That is not a level playing field.”

While local cattle numbers remain relatively tight, heavier carcase weights and weaker consumer demand are limiting any price support. Mr Kelly said there is also growing frustration among farmers at the lack of clarity from processors.

“Prices are moving week to week with little explanation, and that is fuelling real anger on the ground. Farmers are being asked to plan and invest in their businesses without any clear signals about where the market is heading.”

The UFU warned that many beef producers are now operating on extremely tight margins, with some already making a loss. In light of the current challenges, the UFU is advising farmers to carefully consider all available marketing options.

“We would encourage farmers to explore all sale avenues, including local livestock marts, to try and secure the best possible returns in what is an increasingly difficult trading environment.

“Farmers cannot continue to produce high-quality, sustainable beef while consistently taking the financial hit. If this continues, it will lead to reduced production and long-term damage to our local industry. That is in nobody’s interest from farm to fork.”

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The call from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) comes after new figures confirm the consumer prices index has risen to 3.3% in the year to March, driven largely by sharp increases in fuel and energy costs linked to global instability.

Farmers are facing the impact of these increased costs directly during the spring peak period for fuel and fertiliser use, with farm input costs rising by significantly more than the headline inflation rate creating immediate cashflow pressures.

“Farmers across Northern Ireland are facing sustained and, in many cases, unsustainable increases in the cost of doing business,” said UFU President William Irvine.

“Fuel prices alone have risen sharply in recent months, and this is having a direct knock-on effect across the entire supply chain from field to fork.

“We know that it can take several months for cost increases to filter through to retail, but the reality is that primary producers are carrying these costs now. They cannot continue to absorb this level of pressure indefinitely.”

He added that there is a growing disconnect between what is happening on farm and what is being reflected in the marketplace.

“While retailers understandably want to protect consumers, this must not come at the expense of primary producers who are already operating on extremely tight margins,” he said.

The UFU also warned that external shocks, including rising fuel and fertiliser costs linked to global events, are already influencing production decisions on farms and could impact future supply.

“Food security must not be taken for granted. A sustainable and resilient food system depends on viable farm businesses. If farmers are not receiving a fair return, it will ultimately affect production levels and increase reliance on imports further undermining food security and leaving citizens increasingly exposed to global economic disruption.”

The Union confirmed that it has written to the main retailers seeking urgent meetings to discuss the current situation and explore how the supply chain can respond collectively.

“We are asking retailers to engage constructively with us. Transparency and fairness across the supply chain are essential to ensure that cost pressures are shared appropriately,” he said.

“With Balmoral Show fast approaching, this presents an ideal opportunity for direct engagement. We would welcome the chance to meet retailers face-to-face and have a practical discussion on how we can move forward together.”

The UFU emphasised that farmers are committed to continuing to produce high-quality, safe and sustainable food, but this must be supported by a supply chain that recognises the realities of production.

“This is about fairness. Farmers cannot continue to shoulder rising costs alone. If we want to protect local food production and maintain consumer choice, then the entire supply chain must play its part.”

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UFU President William Irvine, is beginning a series of high-level meetings at Stormont on Monday 13^th April, engaging with parties from across the political spectrum.

The UFU delegation will later travel to Westminster for a packed programme of meetings with MPs and peers from across the political spectrum, including all of the NI political parties as well as members of the House of Lords. The Union is also engaging directly with senior government figures and key decision-makers at the highest levels.

Speaking ahead of the engagements, UFU President William Irvine said farmers are facing a perfect storm of rising input costs, ongoing policy pressures and adverse weather conditions.

“This latest surge in fuel and fertiliser prices is another serious threat to the viability of farm businesses across Northern Ireland,” he said.

“Today’s meetings are about rapid engagement with MPs and government and coordinating cross-party support for action. We are already engaging at the highest levels of government to ensure there is a clear understanding of the scale and urgency of the situation facing farmers.”

Mr Irvine emphasised that the UFU is maintaining constant contact with industry stakeholders and senior political representatives.

“We are in direct contact with industry partners, political representatives and senior government officials. There is a collective push to ensure government acts and that the concerns of Northern Ireland farmers are fully understood.”

The UFU is calling for immediate, coordinated government action to address the exceptional rise in agricultural input costs, including targeted support measures and recognition of the strategic importance of food production.

“Without decisive intervention, there is a real risk to domestic food production and the long-term resilience of our agri-food sector,” he added.

“Farmers cannot continue to absorb these sustained pressures alone. This is another significant threat on top of the challenges farmers have already been dealing with, and we will continue to apply sustained pressure until meaningful action is delivered.”

The UFU will continue its engagement throughout the day and in the days ahead as part of a coordinated effort to secure practical solutions and support for farm businesses.

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Representing approximately 12,000 farm families across Northern Ireland, the UFU has warned that ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are creating significant uncertainty for the sector, particularly in relation to fertiliser, fuel and energy prices.

UFU President William Irvine said recent global events have once again exposed the vulnerability of food production systems to external shocks.

“Farmers have already experienced the impact of global instability following the war in Ukraine, where sharp increases in fertiliser and energy prices placed enormous pressure on farm businesses,” said Mr Irvine.

The UFU has emphasised that Northern Ireland agriculture is particularly exposed due to its reliance on imported inputs. Fertiliser and fuel represent a significant proportion of on-farm costs across all sectors, including the arable industry, which is especially vulnerable to fluctuations in input prices.

“For our arable farmers, fertiliser and fuel are fundamental to crop production,” Mr Irvine added. “Any sharp increase in costs has an immediate and direct impact on margins, at a time when many in the sector are already under significant financial pressure.”

The Union highlighted that many farming sectors, including beef, dairy and cereals, are currently experiencing a financial squeeze, with rising costs continuing to outpace returns.

“Across the board, farm businesses are dealing with tight margins and ongoing uncertainty,” he said.

“The prospect of further increases in input costs will only add to that pressure, making it even more challenging to maintain viable and sustainable food production.”

The Union also highlighted the knock-on effects of rising energy costs across the wider supply chain, including processing, transport and distribution.

“These pressures do not stop at the farm gate. Higher energy costs will inevitably feed through the entire supply chain, contributing to increased food prices and placing further strain on consumers.”

The UFU warned that many farm businesses are already operating on tight margins while managing ongoing policy changes, environmental requirements and market uncertainty. Further increases in input costs, outside of farmers’ control, could have serious implications for farm viability and the resilience of the local food system.

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of transparency in fertiliser and fuel markets, with farmers often forced to make purchasing decisions without clear or timely pricing information. “This lack of transparency makes it extremely difficult for farmers to plan and manage their businesses effectively,” said Mr Irvine. “It adds unnecessary risk at a time when confidence is already under pressure.”

In response, the UFU has called on the UK Government to take coordinated and proactive action, including improving market transparency, strengthening supply chain oversight and recognising fertiliser and energy as strategically critical inputs for food production. The Union has also urged greater clarity on future policy developments, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and called for close engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive and DAERA to ensure local farming systems are fully considered.

“Food security is national security. A sustainable and profitable farming sector is essential not only for producing high-quality food, but also for supporting rural communities and delivering environmental outcomes. Farmers are committed to playing their part, but they cannot continue to absorb escalating costs and increasing levels of risk without the right support and clear direction from government.”

The UFU has requested direct engagement with government to discuss both the immediate challenges facing the sector and the longer-term actions needed to strengthen the resilience of agriculture in Northern Ireland.

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This was the message from the UFU president William Irvine at the association’s annual dinner.

Attended by officials including fellow Union colleagues from around the UK, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, IFA President Francie Gorman and representatives from the wider agriculture industry, the event was held in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry.

Offering a toast to agriculture, UFU president William Irvine said he has heard the same message from farmers around the UK, that they need the government to listen.

“They need to put the framework in that allows our farm families to grow and evolve and play their full part in feeding the nation.

“This debate is not about environment versus food. It’s about growing food in an environmentally sustainable way and improving the food security position in the UK,” said William Irvine.

“We are facing and will continue to face many challenges, but I see no reduction in the passion and ambition of our farmers to continue to farm. After all, locally produced food is not only the highest quality, but also the most environmentally friendly.”

Additionally, office bearers from the UK’s four farming unions met in Newry to urgently discuss the growing impact of global instability on farm businesses across the UK.

In a joint statement, the four unions, Ulster Farmers’ Union, National Farmers’ Union, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru, highlighted the significant uncertainty facing farmers as volatility in global energy markets, linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, continues to drive fluctuations in the cost and availability of key inputs such as red diesel and fertiliser.

“Farm businesses across the UK are facing increasing pressure as a result of global events beyond their control,” they said.

“Volatility in fuel and fertiliser markets is creating real uncertainty at farm level, with implications for food production, supply chains and ultimately consumers. Of particular concern is the lack of transparency in how prices for key agricultural inputs are set.

“Many farmers are being asked to commit to purchases without clear or timely information, making it extremely difficult to plan and manage already tight margins. We welcome moves by regulators to increase monitoring of fuel and fertiliser markets, but more must be done to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability across the supply chain.”

The unions are calling on governments across the UK to take coordinated action, including:

• Improving transparency in the pricing of red diesel and fertiliser, including more frequent and accessible market data.
• Ensuring fair market practices, with close monitoring of supply chains to ensure resilience
• Strengthening resilience within the agricultural sector, recognising the essential role of domestic food production in times of global instability.
• Providing clarity on future policy measures, including the development and implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and its potential impact on agricultural inputs such as fertiliser.

  

Following addresses at the annual dinner from NFU Scotland President, Andrew Connon and DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir, the prestigious BT Cup for outstanding agricultural achievement was awarded to Robin Irvine. The award recognises service, leadership and lasting impact within the agri-food industry.

UFU Chief Executive Conall Donnelly said he was delighted to award Robin with the cup in recognition of his exceptional and sustained contribution to the agri-food sector over more than four decades.

“Robin also built a distinguished career in the feed industry with John Thompson & Son and later leading Fane Valley Feeds as Managing Director, serving two terms as President of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association, and driving safety, sustainability and innovation across the sector,” he said.

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