This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-33804496
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Farmers hold crisis summit over 'critical' lamb price fall | Farmers hold crisis summit over 'critical' lamb price fall |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Farmers from Wales are joining a crisis summit with a warning the price they get for their lamb has reached a critically low level. | |
| They claim their share of lamb sold on the shelves has dropped from 60% to 50% in the last year. | They claim their share of lamb sold on the shelves has dropped from 60% to 50% in the last year. |
| There has already been one protest outside a supermarket with farmers unhappy New Zealand lamb is being sold at the height of the Welsh lamb season. | There has already been one protest outside a supermarket with farmers unhappy New Zealand lamb is being sold at the height of the Welsh lamb season. |
| Retailers said they wanted customers to have high-quality, affordable produce. | Retailers said they wanted customers to have high-quality, affordable produce. |
| The National Farmer's Union (NFU) has organised Monday's meeting in London. | The National Farmer's Union (NFU) has organised Monday's meeting in London. |
| The union wants to persuade supermarkets to change their approach, and it also wants the support of politicians at home and in Europe. | The union wants to persuade supermarkets to change their approach, and it also wants the support of politicians at home and in Europe. |
| Tesco and Asda supermarkets are accused by farmers of stocking cheaper New Zealand lamb, which is leading to a fall in the price paid for lamb per kilo here. | Tesco and Asda supermarkets are accused by farmers of stocking cheaper New Zealand lamb, which is leading to a fall in the price paid for lamb per kilo here. |
| Dylan Morgan, NFU Cymru Head of Policy said: "There is a range of factors - the strong pound has affected our ability to export abroad, there are the issues with Calais, historically a significant proportion of our lamb goes to southern Mediterranean countries, where the financial crisis has affected their ability to buy our product. | Dylan Morgan, NFU Cymru Head of Policy said: "There is a range of factors - the strong pound has affected our ability to export abroad, there are the issues with Calais, historically a significant proportion of our lamb goes to southern Mediterranean countries, where the financial crisis has affected their ability to buy our product. |
| "But the fact that New Zealand lamb is flooding into our market is a significant factor when there's a plentiful supply of the best quality lamb in the world available on their doorstep." | "But the fact that New Zealand lamb is flooding into our market is a significant factor when there's a plentiful supply of the best quality lamb in the world available on their doorstep." |
| Unions say the gap has widened between what the farmer is getting and the price on the shelves. | Unions say the gap has widened between what the farmer is getting and the price on the shelves. |
| Tesco said most of lamb it sold is predominantly Welsh and British while fresh meat counters only sell British lamb. | Tesco said most of lamb it sold is predominantly Welsh and British while fresh meat counters only sell British lamb. |
| "We recognise the quality of British and Welsh lamb and we are proud to be the biggest buyer of it," said a spokeswoman. | "We recognise the quality of British and Welsh lamb and we are proud to be the biggest buyer of it," said a spokeswoman. |
| "We clearly label the origin of our lamb and aim to give customers a choice to buy British, especially as we are in the British season. | "We clearly label the origin of our lamb and aim to give customers a choice to buy British, especially as we are in the British season. |
| "New Zealand lamb is recognised by customers as also being a good quality and it helps keep it affordable for the customer." | "New Zealand lamb is recognised by customers as also being a good quality and it helps keep it affordable for the customer." |
| Farmer Jonathan Huntley, based near Pontypridd, estimates he could lose up to £20,000 this year if prices remain the same. | Farmer Jonathan Huntley, based near Pontypridd, estimates he could lose up to £20,000 this year if prices remain the same. |
| "All the lambs we're selling are well below the price of production. | "All the lambs we're selling are well below the price of production. |
| "It's a substantial loss and whether we can sustain that going forward, only time will tell." | "It's a substantial loss and whether we can sustain that going forward, only time will tell." |
| He said New Zealand farms have an advantage of being so large and to be able to compete he would need to expand his land "from Cilfynydd to Cardiff". | He said New Zealand farms have an advantage of being so large and to be able to compete he would need to expand his land "from Cilfynydd to Cardiff". |
| The NFU is also concerned about the continuing cuts in the price of milk paid to dairy farmers. | The NFU is also concerned about the continuing cuts in the price of milk paid to dairy farmers. |
| Morrisons said it tried to pass on lower prices to customers wherever possible. | Morrisons said it tried to pass on lower prices to customers wherever possible. |
| Commercial Director Darren Blackhurst said: "We do recognise however, due to reduced global demand, that this has created an oversupply of British milk creating difficult conditions for many dairy farmers at present." | Commercial Director Darren Blackhurst said: "We do recognise however, due to reduced global demand, that this has created an oversupply of British milk creating difficult conditions for many dairy farmers at present." |
| Asda said it was "committed to sourcing British products first". | Asda said it was "committed to sourcing British products first". |