COPA-Cogeca, the umbrella organisation for EU farm unions and agri-cooperatives, stepped up its calls yesterday for additional support for the EU agricultural sector in response to the ban imposed by Russia on EU agricultural exports, warning producers' livelihoods are threatened as prices hit rock bottom.
The move came as Polish farmers took to the streets of Brussels yesterday calling for more support, and follows a protest by Spanish farmers and agri-coops over the weekend.
The EU Commission has made €125m available for the fruit and vegetable sector for the period up to the end of November.
This funding is likely to be focussed on measures to withdraw product from the market.
Copa-Cogeca welcomes that support, but with EU producer prices falling by 50 per cent in some cases, it says the aid package will not be enough, and that other sectors being hit by the ban, like the dairy sector, will also need support.
Copa-Cogeca secretary-general Pekka Pesonen warned: "Around 10 per cent of our exports are sent to Russia, worth €11bn annually, and the support allocated so far is not nearly enough to compensate fruit and vegetable growers.
"Additional aid is needed to prevent the market from spiralling out of control, causing further damage to the economy."
Copa-Cogeca is calling for the implementation of extraordinary market measures if the situation justifies it, such as accelerating the date of direct payments, speeding up promotion campaigns to stimulate new demand and finding new market outlets.
Initial estimates indicate that the damage will be much bigger than the €400m available in the CAP crisis fund.
A meeting in Brussels today will consider the impact of the Russian ban on the animal products sector, particularly dairy, with the option of opening Private Storage Aid being floated.
Market round-up
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1495 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £91 per head and 200p per kg to average 168.2p (+7.2p on the week).
There were also 465 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £117 for Texels and £82 for Blackfaces.
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 13 prime heifers in Dumfries yesterday to a top of 232.5p per kg and an average of 211.2p.
There were 66 cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 123.7p and dairy cows levelled at 98.4p.
The firm also sold 1,213 prime lambs to a top of £85 and 198p to average 169.1p (+5.8p).
The 562 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £104.50 for Texels and average £73.45 (+£2.32), while light ewes peaked at £77.50 for Cheviots and levelled at £42.30 (+£5.77).
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