“Farmers face increase feed costs” claims Euro MP Brian Simpson
Labour’s Agriculture spokesman a local Euro MP Brian Simpson has expressed concerns that farmers could face increasing feed costs for livestock due to a number of factors. Speaking in the European Parliament, Mr Simpson pointed out that within the UK, livestock farmers were struggling because of low prices paid to farmers and any increase in feed prices would just add to the burden that farmers are having to bare at the moment.
“Livestock farmers are feeling the pinch on two sides. Firstly prices at market are low, due to restrictions imposed on movements because of foot and mouth. This leads to livestock being kept on the farm longer and that needs feeding. Add to this, an increase in feed prices due to a shortage and it becomes apparent that farmers are being hit on both sides “stated Mr Simpson.
The push for bio-fuels in the USA has seen a lot of maize that would normally go into animal feed going to bio-fuels. The UK and the EU as a whole has to import millions of tonnes of US maize by-products each year, mainly as animal feed. But now the rush to be green has produced a shortage of maize for animal feed, forcing animal feed manufacturers to source maize from Brazil.
“ This means that the price has risen sharply at import to around 232 Euros per tonne. If you add to this, that EU rules forbid us to import GM modified maize from the USA, then the result in that the Brazilians are holding the EU to ransom, and it is our farmers who are having to pay.” Concluded Mr Simpson.
In the long term, the shortage of maize and the subsequent increase in animal feed could lead to higher food prices in the shops.
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