PIG MEAT PRICE.

Chronicle (Levin), 27 March 1948, Page 3

PIG MEAT PRICE.

* ' - ' i - * f*--' » •If the dairy industry would favour the re-allocation of- the dairy farm income as between butterf at and. pigs so as to give further ineentivetto pig meat production, ' he would be prepared to mahe adjustments accordingly, said the Minister of Agriculture, in reply to representations from Pederated .Farmers for an increased pig meat priee. He could not, however, -in view of recent increases and the allowance provided in the gnaranteed priee formula, agree "that an increased priee would be justilied on costs. .-The cost of produeing pig meat was included in the guaranteed priee structure for butterf at, sai'd the Minister. An amount of 1.54d per lb. on butterfat was offset as'representing the gross returns for pig meat on butter-supply t'arms. Since that figure was .arrived at, gross returns. for pig me&t had, however, increased by 65 per. cent. an increase in line ,with increased butterfat prices over the^ same period. If, therefore, the true gross . pig meat returns, on to-day's prices, were used; in the caleulation • of the guaranteed. butterfat priee, that would neeessarily be approximately ld per lb. butterfat lower than it was. The returns to dairy farmers were, . said the Minister ,in advanee to that extent therefore of a priee justified by proven costs of production, as submitted by the in dustry for the average efficient farmer. This aspect of pig meat production will be considered at the next meeting of the Dairy Section Council of the Federation.