Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers
1951 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Irish Times, 30.03.1951
Pig Prices
Sir. Mr. W. H. Freeman, chairman of the Bacon Curers' Association in a letter to the Press, refers to comments on bacon prices, and goes on to show, by figures, the recent decline in killings since December 2nd last, when the price "freeze" came into force. He also comments on the rise in pig prices since December, but he ends up his letter by stating that "the fact of the matter is that the whole of the increases in the price for bacon over the past two years has gone to the farmer in the shape of enhanced pig prices."
Naturally, without some explanation, the consumer must think the farmers are making excess profits, but the fact of the matter is that over the past two years pig prices did not continue to rise. In fact, on several occasions the prices for pigs fell while the price of bacon was raised. Another point is that, while Mr. Freeman quotes the price offered for top-grade pigs – and there are usually five of six grades of prices for pigs – the consumer always seems to purchase top-grade bacon.
Here are some of the published pig prices during 1949 and 1950, and they cover five or six grades as a rule. 1949: March 192s to 171s; October 185s to 150s; November 186s to 172s; 1950: February 193s to 165s; March 188s to 165s; April 186s to 163s; June 208s to 195s; July 200s to 190s.
In the meantime, our feeding stuffs have gone up from 10s to 15s a cwt Pollard, which we were buying at 14s a cwt, is now 31s – as well as bran – and pig meal, then 24s 6d a cwt is now 33s 6d.
Some people may blame the opening of the border traffic in pigs for the scarcity at present; but, while it did take a good few thousand pigs, it was not the real cause of the decline. The real cause was the continued decline in pig prices in the latter part of 1949 and 1950. Farmers had increased production in the hope that they would be given good prices, but, with increased production, the curers had ample supplies, and they cut the price to the farmer. Then farmers, considering the prices uneconomic, went out of production. The last June census shows over 7,000 less brood sows. It is this reduction that is now the cause of the shortage of pigs.
We warned the Minister for Agriculture of the decline taking place, but I suppose he was over-optimistic that there would be bacon and eggs for all at low prices. Yours, etc., Elizabeth F. Bobbett, General Secretary, Irish Farmers' Federation.