Farmers’ Union of Wales officials have raised concerns over the damage low beef cattle prices is causing to farm incomes and the confidence of the industry with Welsh MPs at meetings in Westminster.
During meetings with MPs Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd), Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) and Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire), FUW president Emyr Jones and deputy president Glyn Roberts highlighted the anger felt by farmers just 12 months after the horsemeat scandal led supermarkets to pledge allegiance to British beef.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Jones said: “There is a strong sense of anger out there with people feeling that the promises made by supermarkets have been shown to be hollow.
“Twelve months ago the food industry was falling over itself to apologise for selling horsemeat labelled as beef to consumers, and pledging allegiance to supply quality Welsh and British beef.
“With prices at unsustainably low levels, and a significant increase in imported beef undermining prices, the industry now feels betrayed.”
Mr Roberts said: “The figures we have also suggest that the savings made by supermarkets through paying low prices to farmers are not being passed on to consumers and many feel both farmers and consumers are being squeezed in order to make up for dwindling supermarket profits.”
Mr Roberts added that the Welsh MPs were left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling amongst Welsh farmers.