The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) met with senior representatives from Sofina Foods this week.
The UFU said it pressed for “urgent clarity on the future of Northern Ireland pig producers affected by ongoing uncertainty around supply contracts”.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss possible plans on the part of the pork processer to cut back on the number of pigs the business slaughters on a weekly basis.
The meeting took place following “growing concern” among UFU members about the future of pig supply into the company’s Cookstown site in Co. Tyrone.
‘Huge uncertainty’
UFU deputy president Clement Lynch said the meeting was “direct and necessary, but that affected farmers now need clear answers in writing”.
“Pig producers are facing huge uncertainty, and for many of these family farms this is not simply a commercial inconvenience; it is about the future of their business,” Lynch said.
“These are farm families who have invested in their units, looked after their animals, supplied the market over many years and built their businesses around agreed supply routes.”
Market pressures
Lynch said it is “deeply concerning” that some producers remain unclear about their position.
“We recognise that processors are facing market pressures, including cheaper European products and changing customer demand,” he added.
During the meeting, UFU said that Sofina outlined a range of market challenges facing the pork sector.
These include pressure from lower-cost European pork, changes in demand for British pigs, and wider supply-demand issues across the market in Great Britain.
‘Need for fairness’
The UFU said it acknowledged these pressures, but pressed Sofina on the “need for fairness and transparency in how decisions are being made”.
“Our members need to know whether reductions are being applied fairly across the supply base, or whether some family farms are being disproportionately affected,” Lynch said.
“If numbers are being reduced, producers need to understand why, how those decisions were made, and what options are available to them.”
The UFU said it also raised concerns about the “potential wider consequences” for the local pig sector if producers reduced or stopped production “without adequate transition arrangements”.
“The pig sector is a vital part of Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry,” Lynch added.
“It supports family farms, jobs, feed suppliers, hauliers, vets and rural communities.”
Lynch stressed that NI pig farmers “need more than reassurance”.
“They need facts, fairness and a future. Sofina must now provide clear written answers and show how its commitment to Northern Ireland family farms will be delivered in practice,” he said.