MEP Jim Allister is alarmed at the massive cut in Whole Milk Powder refunds which were made at the recent milk management committee in Brussels. Mr Allister questions the rational for these cuts and is concerned that the cuts may put downward pressure on the milk price paid to Northern Ireland dairy farmers next summer.
"I am alarmed that the Milk Management Committee in Brussels has decided to cut export refunds for whole milk powder by 40%. This week the common refund for whole milk powder was reduced from ¤520/tonne to ¤310/tonne. As a large percentage of summer milk within Northern Ireland is processed into whole milk powder, these cuts may have an impact on prices paid to Northern Ireland farmers next year," said Mr Allister.
"Over the last number of months there has been a slight strengthening for dairy commodities on the world dairy market. The increase in the world market does not justify the cut in export refunds."
Gortin mart
ANOTHER good entry of sheep at Gortin on Monday night. Leading prices were:
Fat Lambs: J Clarke £51.20 (26kg); J Baxter £50.20 (24kg); S Daly £50.20 (25kg); D Hempton £51.50 (28kg); G Gallagher £50 (241/2kg); A Hetherington £50 (251/2kg); S McLaughlin £50 (251/2kg); R Gallagher £49 (25kg); B Rae £49 (241/4kg); T Smith £49 (25kg), £48.20 (23kg); P Kelly £48 (241/2kg); P & M Mullan £48.80 (241/2kg); L Bradley £48.70 (231/4kg); U Aiken £47.40 (233/4kg); H Robinson £47 (233/4kg); M J Clarke £46.40 (24kg); D Hempton £44 (213/4kg); W Fleming £46.80 (221/4kg); H Bell £46 (231/2kg); J Cassidy £44.50 (233/4kg); M J Garland £45.20 (221/kg).
Store Lambs: W Elkin £40; P Ward £37.50; C White £37; J Cassidy £35.20; H Sproule £35; B Rae £37.50; W Fleming £36.40; A Good £34.50; P Gray £35; W Jeffers £34.80.
Fat Lambs: J Lecky £47, £39; J Clarke £46, £45, £37; H Bell £41, £36; P&M Mullan £41.50; A Hetherington £40.50; G Gallagher £38; W Elkin £37.80.
Omagh Auction Mart
A FINE entry of 250 calves were forwarded for the Suckled Calf Sale on November 15, with some excellent prices recorded for mainly lightweight animals.
Bulls & Bullocks: P McGirr, Ballygawley 300kg £450, 270kg £425, 295kg £420; M Eagleson, Aughnacloy 280kg £425; K McKay, Drumquin 280kg £455, 290kg £420; M Keown, Dromore 295kg £420, 240kg £360; B McCarney, Fintona 330kg £470, 300kg £420, 250kg £370; B Teague, Lack 320kg £440, 335kg £450, 360kg £485; J McFarlane, Broughderg 450kg £558; R Hughes, Dromore 370kg £495, 305kg £415; P McDermott, Mountfield 260kg £385, 280kg £395; R J Gallen, Castlederg 420kg £532, 320kg £430; J McCarroll, Eskra 290kg £435; J Lynch, Castlederg 280kg £395; S Mulligan, Omagh 330kg £440; P Maguire, Mountfield 370kg £485; C McCanney, Dromore 235kg £342, 270kg £415; M McAleer, Carrickmore 390kg £508; W A Christy, Donemana 230kg £335.
Heifers: P McMenamin, Drumquin 310kg £455; K McKay, Drumquin 270kg £400; A Gallagher, Newtownstewart 225kg £325, 285kg £365, 250kg £345; P McDermott, Mountfield 245kg £382, 230kg £328; M Keown, Dromore 205kg £315, 230kg £350; J McFarlane, Broughderg 335kg £415; K McFadden, Mountfield 260kg £340; J Lynch, Castlederg 270kg £370; Jas Hanna, Trillick 320kg £382; W A Christy, Donemana 305kg £372, 235kg £315; M Moore, Envagh 315kg £370.
