Dairy
45. Because of the greater concern about sectors
in crisis, we received very little evidence about the dairy sector.
Although milk prices have dropped since 1997, DANI commented[90]
that milk production remains consistently the most profitable
enterprise on Northern Ireland farms. The Northern Ireland Dairy
Association pointed out the importance of the export sector to
the dairy industry in Northern Ireland[91]
and that milk production is increasing there, with quota being
purchased by Northern Ireland producers from Great Britain. It
also pointed out that, recently, milk prices in Northern Ireland
had been higher than in other parts of the United Kingdom.[92]
Poultrymeat and eggs
46. The poultrymeat sector, according to DANI, [93]
has expanded substantially in recent years, through production
and processing efficiencies and product innovation and development.
The Northern Ireland Poultry Federation[94]
commented that the structure of the industry tended to protect
farmers from the financial risks of the market. As DANI also recorded,
the Federation stated that the industry was under continuing financial
pressure. Given the domination of the Northern Ireland broiler
and turkey industry by just three vertically integrated groups,
there might be serious employment consequences from any reduction
in capacity.[95]
47. The egg sector, on the other hand, has been in
slow decline for a substantial period of time.[96]
Prices continue to be below the cost of production, with the result
that producers are withdrawing from the market. Part of the problem
is a long term decline in egg consumption[97]
although there is also an additional cost in feed imports, as
Northern Ireland is a grain deficient area.[98]
The Federation expressed concern about the potential impact on
farmers of failure of their poultry enterprises, given the difficult
conditions in other sectors.[99]
43 Ev.
p. 4. Back
44 Q 229.
See also Appendix 7, p. 84 and Appendix 9, p. 100. Back
45 DARD
is the successor to DANI and came into being with the establishment
of the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland. Back
46 Appendix
14, p 106. Back
47 Appendix
14, p. 106. The relationship between the number of pigs available
for slaughter and the size of the breeding herd is affected by
a range of factors, as this Appendix demonstrates, including the
productivity of the sows and the levels of imports and exports. Back
48 Executive
Information Service (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment)
Press Release of 7 February 2000. Back
49 Appendix
14, p 106. Back
50 Letter
of 22 March 1999 from Lord Donoughue to Eddie McGrady M.P. (not
reported). See also Q 260. Back
51 Q 192. Back
52 Q 43. Back
53 The
decline in the female pig breeding herd in the Republic of Ireland
has been much less marked than in Northern Ireland. According
to the December 1999 Livestock Survey, the herd size fell from
192,400 in December 1997 to 187,800 in December 1998 and 186,300
in December 1999. Pig numbers overall fell in the year by 2.1%.
(Source: Central Statistical Office) Back
54 Ev.
p. 4. In December 1998, the latest date for which comparable figures
are understood to be available, the United Kingdom had the seventh
largest total pig herd in the European Union. This comprised about
6% of the overall total. Back
55 Q 42. Back
56 Q 192. Back
57 Ev.
p. 4. Back
58 Ev.
p. 71. Back
59 Q 194. Back
60 Q 257. Back
61 Q 261. Back
62 Q 193
and Ev. p. 3. Back
63 Q 193. Back
64 See,
for example, Ev. p. 52, Q 247 and Appendix 7, p. 84. Back
65 See,
for example, the Press Releases issued by the Irish Farmers' Association
on 8 November and 2 December 1999. Back
66 Q 187. Back
67 Q 194. Back
68 Ev.
p. 4. Back
69 Ev.
p. 4. See also Q 194 and Official Report, 28 February 2000, Vol.
345, Col 24-5W. Back
70 Department
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Press Notice, 26 January
2000. Back
71 Ev.
p. 3. Back
72 See
MAFF News Release 321/99 of 17 September 1999. Back
73 Official
Report, 22 February 2000, Vol. 344, Col. 970W. Back
74 Ev.
p. 26. Back
75 Ev.
p. 53 and Q 256. Back
76 Ev.
p. 2. Back
77 Q 86-88. Back
78 Appendix
2, p. 77. See also Q 245. Back
79 Q 245.
See also Ev. p. 53. Back
80 Ev.p.
48. See also Ev. p. 7 and Official Report, 10 February 2000,
Vol. 344, Col. 392-3. Back
81 Q 48. Back
82 Q 123. Back
83 Q 246. Back
84 Q 92. Back
85 Q 246. Back
86 Appendix
2, p. 75-6. Back
87 Appendix
2, p. 76. Back
88 Welsh
Assembly Press Notice, 10 January 2000. Back
89 Bryson
Meats' abattoir at Strathaven, Lanarkshire. The other establishment
is at Probus, Cornwall. Back
90 Ev.
p. 2. Back
91 Appendix
1, p. 73. Back
92 Appendix
1, p. 73. Back
93 Ev.
p. 4. Back
94 Appendix
4, p. 81. Back
95 Appendix
4, p. 81. Back
96 Ev.
p. 4. Back
97 Q 61-64.
See also Q 207. Back
98 Appendix
4, p. 82. Back
99 Appendix
4, p. 81. Back