June 11, 2008

Irish pig farmers' returns finally breaks even
   
  

Irish pig farmers are pushing for further price increases as returns finally hit break-even level for the first time in nearly a year.

Price quotes from some factories reached 160 cents per kg for the past one week and producers are hoping that this can be maintained through the summer.

The recent price increases serve as a relief to pig producers who have been making losses since the rise in feed costs last autumn. With easing grain cost and rising pig prices, producers are now more optimistic about recouping their losses.

However, Tim Cullinane of the Irish Farmers Association pigs committee said there is still room for price increases and grain costs could drop further during harvesting period.

Cullinane also forecast that a significant drop of pig numbers in the EU would lift pig prices to about EUR 2 (US$3.1) per kg.