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Published by Agriconnect
Overall young handler champion at Longtown, six-year-old Sophie Sutherland, Bogrie, Canonbie, with her 46kg lamb, which sold for £220 and won the Hugh Taylor Memorial Cup. Pictured with judge Stephen Graham.
See p29 for more.
Welcome from the editor
Celebrating our industry
AFTER a relentless few months, Farmers Guardian’s #farm24 campaign offered the industry a much-needed chance to come together and share with the public a real insight into what farming, and its allied industries, deliver for the nation (see pages 94-95).
And while social media can be a cesspit at times, it is campaigns such as #farm24 which cut through the misinformation and the disinformation to show just how powerful a united farming industry can be.
This year, for the first time, FG partnered with the BBC to roll out news and features across its digital platforms, including the BBC News website, local radio stations and BBC Sounds.
threw their weight behind #farm24 this year. Farming’s favourite trier Jeremy Clarkson has also shone a light on the mental health burden farmers are carrying, teaming up with the Shout text service for anyone in crisis (p10).
Love him or hate him, Clarkson’s inimitable style enables him to reach segments of society that many marketers could only dream of. A conversation has been started and, at least on social media it seems, many from inside and outside of farming are joining in.
Bridging that gap between farmers and consumers through conversation is imperative and doing so will only bring value to both sides.
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This partnership with the state broadcaster meant that, as well as having access to FG journalists’ extensive knowledge and expertise, with many being from agriculture themselves, it also ensured a good flow of accurate stories showcasing the realities and challenges of farming in a year that many are already desperate to see the back of.
The legacy of a tumultuous 12 months and its effects on farmers’ mental health have not gone unnoticed and it was fitting that five of farming’s biggest charities
Campaigns such as #farm24 and the call to action by a popular public figure might not fully reverse the disconnect, but if they can plant a seed with the general public and at least start a conversation, then we will do our very best to keep it going. to action by a popular public figure might not fully reverse the disconnect, a seed with the general
THE Government must commit to greater self-sufficiency if it is to prove it is serious about supporting UK farmers and food production, the NFU has warned.
Issuing a challenge to Ministers, the union used national self-sufficiency day to call on Defra to adopt a range of measures to bolster UK food production amid growing global instability.
These included: an increased agriculture budget; a statutory commitment to ensure UK self-sufficiency does not drop below its current level; to introduce a system of core animal welfare standards to protect British farmers from cheap imports; and to deliver on the Labour Party manifesto commitment which promised 50% of all food purchased across the public sector would be locally produced.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Food from other countries will always form a proportion of our daily
THE average Brit throws out £450 of food a year, according to a survey of 3,000 people.
The study by electrical retailer AO.com found the average weekly grocery shop is £85.72 a week, but 10% of that is thrown away.
Fruit and veg are the most binned category, thrown out at least once a week, totalling £272 a year.
Potatoes are not included in that total, with £46 of spuds thrown away per year.
diets, but we must recognise the vulnerability of global food supply chains and the importance of a stable food supply here.”
Mr Bradshaw said farmers produce the raw ingredients which underpin the food and drink sector – the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, which is worth £146 billion and employs more than four million people.
“That is why investment in our farming sector is so important, so where we can increase self-sufficiency in homegrown foods, we do,” he added.
According to 2023 Defra figures,
Shoppers throw out £250 worth of meat and fish a year on average, with bread at £73 and milk at £34 a year.
Some £152 worth of cheese and yoghurt is ditched every year, along with £65 worth of eggs.
“In the wake of the cost of living crisis, the findings that Brits are binning the equivalent of a month’s worth of food every year is really shocking,” said Sarah Heap, food storage expert at AO.com.
ILLEGAL SHEEPMEAT IMPORTS THREATEN LIVELIHOODS
THE UK’s agricultural sector could face ‘severe long-term damage’ without greater border security controls after claims that ‘substantial quantities’ of sheepmeat have entered Britain illegally.
National Sheep Association (NSA) chief executive Phil Stocker said the Government needed to take decisive action in addressing the ‘alarming rise’ in illegal imports of sheepmeat following a letter sent to Defra Secretary Steve Reed highlighting
potential threats to national disease security and increases in food crime.
“Intelligence gathered over recent months by industry has uncovered substantial quantities of sheepmeat, imported unlawfully, are bypassing crucial safety and quality controls at the UK’s borders,” said Mr Stocker.
“This situation is not just about unfair competition; it is about the potential for severe long-term damage to the UK’s agricultural industry.”
NSA policy manager Emma Bradbury
the UK is 62% self-sufficient in food.
While this reflects similar levels of the past decade, some sectors have seen a recent decline.
For example, fresh vegetables – key in supporting the health of our nation – are at their lowest since records began in 1988, at 53%.
John Thorley, farmer and chair of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, said recent Government policy of taking land out of food production for other schemes not only damaged self-sufficiency, but also was ‘frankly frightening’.
He said: “If you look at the farms which are reducing their capability of growing food and I am talking about growing sheep right up in the top of Scotland, you have got the Lairg sale which has traditionally put 50,000 lambs on to the store market in September – this year it is virtually nothing.
Problems
“Multiply that across the country and there will be problems. Massive ones.
“There is a very serious breakdown in communications between Government and the industry that produces the food. And they have not identified the collateral damage which comes as a consequence.”
When asked what the industry needs from Government to help bolster the country’s food security, Mr Thorley said: “The first thing they need is a proper understanding of how agriculture works.
“The most important products of farming are meat, milk and eggs and all of those come as a consequence of understanding farming, and people being able to make money out of it.
“But there is a total lack of understanding right across the board.”
Tania Coxon, an arable farmer near
said the livestock trade organisation has been frustrated by ‘delays’ in implementing full border controls on EU imports, which has allegedly created an ‘unlevel playing field’ while putting farmers at a ‘distinct disadvantage’.
A spokesperson for Defra said protecting UK biosecurity is one of its key priorities, and the Government agency was working with border control posts to ensure they operate ‘effectively’ for traders.
Tom Bradshaw
Shoppers bin 10th of food they buy
VINTAGE SCENES OF SUMMER
Sunderland in the North East, said the Government must collaborate with farmers by ‘prioritising and incentivising domestic food production’.
“My contracting business has experienced a reduction of 450 acres, as landowners have taken their high-quality arable land and placed it into various SFI schemes.
Imperative
“To ensure the sustainability of our food supply, it is imperative that there are incentives for landowners to continue producing food within the country. Without such measures, the future of domestic food production is at risk.”
In response, a spokesperson for Defra once again reiterated that ‘this Government recognises that food security is national security’.
“We will protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals, make the supply chain work more fairly and prevent shock rises in bills by switching on GB Energy,” said the spokesperson.
“In addition, we will optimise our farming schemes to make sure they are delivering for food security and nature recovery.”
FOOD SECURITY AND FUNDING DOMINATE ZEICHNER’S VISIT TO WALES
FARMING Minister Daniel Zeichner has visited a number of farms in Wales as farming unions made repeated calls for the agricultural budget to be ring-fenced to protect national food security and farm businesses.
As part of the tour, Mr Zeichner stopped at NFU Cymru deputypresident Abi Reader’s dairy farm in Wenvoe, just outside Cardiff, and was joined by Welsh Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies and FUW president Ian Rickman, as well as NFU Cymru president Aled Jones.
The unions said bringing together representatives from both the UK and Welsh Government on family farms in Wales had allowed them to demonstrate some of the most ‘pressing issues’ facing Welsh agriculture and how they can be addressed.
FUW president Ian Rickman said farmers needed ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’ and stability to move
Abi Reader and Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner.
farm businesses forwards confidently.
Agricultural funding was also high on the list and Mr Jones said he had been keen to raise the issue, as well as the importance of the sector to the UK’s national food security, ahead
of the Autumn Budget on October 30.
“Both the UK and Welsh Governments will be setting their budgets in the next few months,” he said.
“Ahead of that, we continue to make the case to the UK Government for a ring-fenced agricultural support budget for the length of the current Parliament in order to offer the sector a degree of certainty and stability in a challenging and volatile marketplace.
“Getting that budget from London to Cardiff is the first crucial step in this process.”
Ms Reader said: “As a farmer I am really pleased that the Farming Minister has ‘food security’ in his title and, as has been said, food security is indeed national security.
“The security of our food supply chains is not something any of us can take for granted and recent world events have reminded us of that fact.”
HAY making underway near John o’Groats at Keiss, as a spell of dry weather gives farmers an opportunity to roll some crop.
News Campaigners launch badger cull legal bid
● Natural England is under scrutiny
By Jane Thynne
ANIMAL rights groups are stepping up their efforts to block the badger cull by launching a two-pronged legal offensive against the Government.
The Badger Trust and Wild Justice have begun a legal challenge after the Government’s nature conservation agency Natural England issued additional badger culling licences ‘against scientific advice from its own experts’.
Speaking at the time, a spokesperson for Defra said: “We have followed a holistic approach with badger vaccination, improved cattle testing, helping farmers improve biosecurity, and working towards deployment of a cattle vaccine, alongside the current badger control policy.”
However, the groups, which are now represented by law firm Leigh Day, have argued that Natural England issued licences unlawfully for the purpose of maintaining the confidence of the farming community, rather than for the proper purpose of preventing the spread of disease.
European legal case
The groups, along with the Born Free Foundation, have now also taken their fight to Europe and added further submissions to their case against the Government under the Bern Convention – an international legal instrument in the field of Nature Conservation –to which the UK is a signatory.
Reasons for the challenge include the Labour Government’s announcement it will continue the cull despite calling it ‘ineffective’ in its Manifesto published earlier this year; a rise in planned slaughter numbers; the
Brian May film aims to save farmers and badgers
QUEEN guitarist and wildlife
activist Sir Brian May has promised his new documentary looking at the different attitudes towards badger culling will turn cattle farming practices ‘upside down’.
The programme, Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me, is to
be broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm on Friday, August 23, and charts
Sir Brian’s journey as he explores the different attitudes of farmers and those who – like himself –oppose the culling of badgers in the ongoing battle against bTB.
He said: “I came in to save the
WELSH GOV TB GROUP NEEDS VOICES FROM FARMING INDUSTRY
THE Welsh Government has confirmed the announcement of a farmer-led TB board to help businesses deal with the burden of the disease on-farm.
Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies, making the announcement on Monday (August 12), said he wanted the new bovine TB eradication programme board to be led and represented by farmers from across Wales in fighting the disease.
Review
The board has been tasked with working with the Government’s bovine TB technical advisory group, formed in April this year to consider the six-yearly review of Wales’ TB eradication targets and methods to improve engagement among farmers.
The Badger Trust and Wild Justice claim that licences were issued unlawfully.
present ‘supplementary cull’ went ahead despite advice from licensing body Natural England’s director of science who stated it would not help reduce the spread of bovine TB (bTB) in cattle; and a general lack of information on badger populations.
However, James Robinson a dairy farmer from Kendal in Cumbria, said it was vital that ‘every tool’ remained available in order to eradicate bTB.
He said: “The Government and the farming industry have to do everything possible from preventing this disease spreading through wildlife.
“That means vaccinating and culling badgers, preventing cattle movement and culling infected cattle.
“Having experienced bTB in the herd, it is devastating.
“Losing cows month after month, it feels like a never-ending cycle and we need to use everything we have to get rid of the disease.”
badgers. I now realise that to save the badgers, you have to save everybody because it is a mess. It is a tragic human drama where people’s hearts are broken, where animals are killed unnecessarily and the problem never gets solved.”
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said it was positive to see a strong farmer and veterinary representation in the governance structure of the Welsh Government’s TB policy.
He added: “It is farming families and their own private farm vets who are at the forefront of dealing with this dreadful disease so their views on future TB policy are vital.”
Mr Jones also said the 11,000 cattle slaughtered in Wales between April 2023 and March 2024 due to TB was a ‘sobering statistic’ which could not be allowed to continue.
However, Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said he was concerned about the level of ‘discernible action’ Welsh Labour had taken on eradicating the disease to date as he urged the Government to follow the science on badger culling.
Mr Irranca-Davies said his Government wanted to make a ‘clear commitment’ in recognising and listening to the industry about the ‘burden and anxieties’ farmers face in tackling TB.
It is farming families and their own private farm vets who are at the forefront
HUW IRRANCA-DAVIES
More than 300,000 rural homes and businesses are set to finally receive major internet speed upgrades.
Broadband boost for rural businesses
● £800 million plan to overhaul infrastructure
By Jane Thynne
MORE than 300,000 rural homes and businesses are set to receive major internet speed upgrades as part of the Government’s £800 million plan to ‘power up’ Great Britain.
The fund aims to modernise broadband infrastructure in rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales, and will provide access to ‘lightning fast’ gigabit-capable broadband. It is the first time Wales, the region with the lowest percentage of gigabit coverage, will benefit from such a programme.
The Government has said the money, which is being delivered as part of ‘Project Gigabit’, will help close the ‘digital divide’ and help to kickstart economic growth.
Minister for Digital Infrastructure
Chris Bryant said: “Far too many rural citizens and businesses are still stuck with outdated internet infrastructure, not being able to fulfil day-to-day tasks as easily as people living in our towns and cities.
Economic growth
“We have been clear we want to achieve sustained economic growth in every corner of Britain, and this starts by ensuring our communities have the infrastructure they need to thrive.”
While the news was welcomed by Kerry Booth, chief executive of the Rural Services Network, she said it was vital the rollout was stretched to all ‘hard to reach’ areas.
“The isolation faced by rural communities, exacerbated by an inadequate digital infrastructure, has a
profound impact on the well-being of residents and the potential prosperity of local businesses.
“Ensuring even the most remote areas benefit from these upgrades will be key to unlocking the full potential of rural areas, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for all who live and work there,” she said.
The move follows a recent NFU survey which showed while services were improving, there was a need for greater broadband coverage to help farmers make the most of new opportunities, including agri-tech innovations such as robotic milking or precision farming.
The NFU said reliable internet and mobile connectivity was crucial for everyday farming operations, from submitting VAT returns and using GPS on tractors to communicating with customers so they can comply with UK regulations and operate their businesses efficiently.
NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos said: “Only a month ago our Digital Connectivity Survey revealed 25% of members do not have broadband speeds adequate for their businesses.\
“It is great to see the Government recognising the importance of modernising rural specific policies.
“Broadband is not the only route to improve rural connectivity, however, and we look forward to hearing from the Government their plans on delivering 5G across the country.
“With three-quarters of farmers reporting mobile signal gaps on their farms, coverage has never been more important to enable farmers to meet their online legal and regulatory obligations, on top of giving them a lifeline to call for help in a time of crisis.”
As extreme weather conditions continue to present challenges, how can farmers and landowners future-proof their businesses? Danusia Osiowy reports.
● Adaptation at farm level will be key
FARMERS and estate managers must urgently focus on future-proofing their businesses against the escalating impacts of climate change, which continues to bring weatherrelated challenges.
Extensive areas of land and businesses engaged in global supply and produce markets were among the most vulnerable to these changes, which were already in motion and set to intensify, said Jeremy Moody, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers’ secretary and adviser.
After a stuttering start for harvest 2024, the unpredictable weather has caused huge frustrations and delays for farmers throughout the year, and many will still be harvesting into late September. Now, more than ever, is the time to plan and implement measures to safeguard agricultural businesses for the coming decades.
Mr Moody said: “With talk of insurers increasing premiums and reducing cover in response to record payouts and impassable risks, it is time to think about managing risk and making fixed equipment more resilient, from tracks and drains to buildings and homes.”
Other risks included drought, storms, and wildfires, which could occur after just three weeks without rain.
It was better to act ahead of time to build healthy soils, ensure sufficient fodder stocks, secure water and power supplies, and explore new opportunities, he said, highlighting the need for planning around how staff and livestock would manage these conditions.
So how can businesses achieve better returns amid greater risks?
Practical steps to boost business resilience
After a stuttering start to harvest 2024, it was clear measures needed to be implemented to safeguard agricultural businesses against climate change.
While much of the Government’s policy focuses on mitigating climate change by reducing net emissions and transitioning away from fossil fuels, adaptation at farm level is key.
Mr Moody added: “Farmers must control what they can within their businesses, anticipating more climate change regardless of the success of mitigation efforts.
“This means adopting a forward-looking approach, whether that
HOW FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS CAN TAKE ACTION
■ Improve soil health and structure to enhance resistance to drought and flooding
■ Utilise mixed-species pastures for drought resilience
■ Plant trees in hedges or wood pastures for shade and soil support
■ Ensure buildings and infrastructure are above flood risk, with adequate drainage systems. Can roofs, gutters, downpipes and drains handle downpours? Where would the water go?
■ Protect access routes, tracks, bridges, and fences from weather impacts
■ Prepare for livestock evacuation from flooded areas and ensure
fodder supplies are secure and can be protected
■ Make houses more flood-resistant with non-return valves, raised electrical circuits, and flood barriers
■ Consider on-farm electricity generation and storage, supported by schemes like Defra’s ‘barn roof’ solar initiative, to reduce reliance on expensive power and enhance resilience
■ Each farm will require tailored solutions, but with recent years punctuated by different weather extremes, now is the time to take advice, gain perspective, and plan for the next few decades as climate change continues to advance
be looking at a building or future policy – it is prudent to think ahead.
“This step must be appropriate, practical, and economically viable, taking into account the costs of not adapting. Strengthening resilience to greater shocks and capitalising on the opportunities that change presents is vital.
“Produce purchasers and lenders will increasingly enquire about sustainability practices, emphasising the need for thorough documentation.”
Flooding
The UK’s largest risk appeared to be flooding, affecting both high- and lowlying land. Farmers might need to move or protect fixed equipment and even steadings, potentially prompted by insurers.
Mr Moody added: “Other risks include storms, prolonged periods of high temperatures and drought –how would you handle four weeks at 40degC?
“Droughts might also come with associated wildfires, and there is also the threat of new pests and diseases; for example, bluetongue is blown in from the continent and a worm once exotic on Dartmoor is now endemic due to the longer, warmer breeding season.”
Global supply chains would also be more exposed, and political instability could further complicate production. Some opportunities might shift to the UK from more vulnerable regions globally, he said.
“Future-proofing begins with a management and attitudinal shift, reviewing current positions, identifying risks, and setting strategic approaches,” said Mr Moody.
Some farms might choose to specialise for efficiency, albeit with higher risk, or diversify for resilience, spreading resources and investments.
Livestock farmers could consider breeding and management changes, like breeding for less winter hardiness and more heat tolerance.
Government schemes might offer practical support for building resilience or investing for the future, including using nature-based solutions.
Self-reliance
Mr Moody added: “The focus should be on future profit and self-reliance, keeping options open for when schemes might change or go.
“For example, the wettest part of the farm might suit paid habitat but, if kept available for stock, it could be the last useful grazing option in a very dry season.”
PICTURE: TIM
Jeremy Moody
SCOT SMASHES SHEARING RECORD
SCOTTISH sheep shearer, Una Cameron, the only woman to qualify in the top 30 at the Golden Shears in Masterton, New Zealand, has broken a world record.
She beat the record of 458 set by Sacha Bond of Southland, New Zealand on February 9. She has been in training for the past year, losing three stones in weight.
Shearing Romneys at Trefranck Farm in Cornwall, to get the required 3kg wool weight, she tallied 113 in the opening two-hour run, followed by successive 1hr 45min runs of 105, 101, 104 and 94.
Government faces challenge over solar farm green light
● £600 million project is
‘dangerous precedent’
By Chris Brayford
ENERGY Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband is facing a legal challenge over his decision to grant planning permission for a 1,130hectare solar farm development on agricultural land on the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire border.
Suffolk County Council confirmed it had initiated the first steps of a judicial review to seek compensation last week following Mr Miliband’s decision to grant approval for Sunnica Energy Farm’s £600 million development, which could take agricultural land out of production, just days following the Labour Party’s General Election victory on July 4.
Mr Miliband said he wanted Britain to be a ‘clean energy superpower’ by leading a ‘solar revolution’ to meet its legal obligation to hit net zero emissions by 2050 and fulfil its GB Energy promise to cut household energy bills.
Suffolk County Council’s Richard Rout said he was concerned by Mr Miliband’s approval for a potentially ‘reckless’ project which could enable Sunnica to only pay a ‘minimal amount’ in compensation to communities affected, with the local authority reportedly expected to cover additional costs incurred from already ‘underfunded’ resources.
“He [Mr Miliband] was only in post
for a matter of days before approving a number of energy projects – it would have been impossible for him to fully review the Sunnica application,” said Mr Rout.
“This is an embarrassing, clumsy and entirely avoidable error by the Secretary of State.”
Former Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Clarie Coutinho told the House of Commons last month she had rejected the application in her prior post in order to ‘protect Britain’s best agricultural land.
West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy said it was a ‘disgrace’ the Labour Government passed the application so quickly after gaining election.
Alien
Andrew Dakin, a third generation tenant farmer from Smalley in Derbyshire, who is currently facing encroachment to take away his farm for a solar development, said solar was ‘alien’ to the sector and should have no place in the industry.
He said: “It is a bigger financial incentive to have solar than agriculture which is totally wrong. It could be devastating for the future of tenant farmers like myself. We need to stop these projects from taking place.”
However, Yorkshire poultry farmer David Throup, from York, said installing solar on the farm 10 years ago had helped to reduce the rising energy costs on the farm for his business.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero declined to comment.
CLARKSON’S FARM HIGHLIGHTS MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY
CLARKSON’S Farm star Jeremy Clarkson has announced a new partnership with a mental health service to support farmers with their well-being.
The Cotswold farmer’s brewery company, Hawkstone, has teamed up with Shout, a free text messaging service supporting people with their mental health.
Mr Clarkson said he understood the difficulties farmers faced and that they should not have to suffer in silence.
He said: “Farming can be a bit of a struggle. If you are finding it a bit tough at the moment, text HAWKSTONE to 85258. You will get free confidential support from a very experienced team of people from an organisation called Shout. It will be worth it. It is better than suffering in silence.”
NI records third on-farm fatality in three weeks
POLICE in Northern Ireland have launched an inquiry after a ‘muchloved father of three’ died in an onfarm incident.
Noel Boyd of Broughshane, County Antrim, died on August 7. His death is the third to take place on farm in the past month in Northern Ireland.
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has said it is investigating the circumstances of the incident while the Police Service of Northern Ireland has also confirmed officers ‘attended the scene of a sudden death of a man in the Lisnamurrikan Road in Broughshane on Wednesday August 7’.
Mr Boyd’s death follows that of 55-year-old father of three Richard Ruddell, who was killed in an agricultural incident near Lurgan in Co Armagh on July 26, and Harold Gilmore, who died in an incident while working with livestock near Dromore in Co Tyrone on July 20.
According to the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive there were seven farm-related workplace fatalities across Northern Ireland during 2023-2024. Across the UK as a whole, 34 people, including two children, lost their lives on farm over the past 12 months.
Tributes paid to two leading farming figures
l Scottish meat champion remembered
By Jane Thynne and Chris Brayford
THE Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) has paid tribute to former president Neil Stoddart following his death.
The organisation described Mr Stoddart as a ‘leading figure across many Scottish and UK farming organisations’, and said he would be ‘sadly missed’.
Mr Stoddart was also on the board of Quality Meat Scotland, and had roles within Scotland Food & Drink, the Meat and Livestock Commission, as well as being a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Butchers.
He led the Broxburn-based meat business A.K. Stoddart through a sustained period of expansion prior to
his retirement as owner in 2015 and was awarded an OBE in 2009 for his ‘distinguished services to the meat industry’.
A statement from SAMW said: “Always providing a clear voice within the red meat industry, Neil will be sadly missed by his former SAMW colleagues and by all others who joined him during many committee meetings and industry-based social gatherings.”
In Cheshire, an agricultural and horticultural dealership confirmed the death of a ‘much-loved son and brother’ whose passing will be felt by those who knew him.
Malpas Tractors said Paul Reeves had died suddenly on August 7, aged 52.
The dealership has depots in Wrexham, Denbigh, Cheshire and Lancashire, which supply machinery brands including Valtra, Kuhn and Merlo.
Mr Reeves had taken over the running of the business from his parents Edward and Rachael in 2006, who had originally launched the firm in 1988 on their dairy farm in the Cheshire village of Malpas.
“Paul was a much-loved leader, son and brother and the loss is felt by friends, family and staff alike,” his parents wrote in a tribute to him.
Neil was always providing a clear voice within the red meat industry
● DNA dog testing must be compulsory
By Olivia Midgley
A FARMER whose calves were subject to a horrific dog attack said the industry must lobby for a change in the law to make DNA testing of suspected dogs compulsory rather than voluntary.
Phil Latham, who farms near Nantwich, Cheshire, and is also a regular FG columnist, described the aftermath of the incident as ‘up there with one of the grimmest things I have ever seen’.
The dairy farmer made the heartbreaking discovery when a member of staff was doing a routine check of the animals at about 7pm on Friday (August 9). A rottweiler and a rhodesian ridgeback were seen roaming the farmyard off the lead.
Mr Latham said: “It makes me beyond mad to know how long it took to do so much damage. The calves must have been traumatised for hours. It took four police officers, two vets and three of us from the farm to treat them for puncture wounds and tears.”
With the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill due to be resumed after parliamentary recess, Mr Latham has called on the NFU to lobby for an amendment to the Bill to ensure DNA testing is compulsory.
Farmer calls out dog attack loophole
He added: “How bad does it have to be before dogs are destroyed? Our vet swabbed the calves and I want the dogs’ DNA tested so we can get definitive proof those dogs attacked my calves. But I was told by police that dog owners cannot be made to submit their pets’ DNA. I am struggling with
this bizarre, ridiculous situation. If your dog is suspected of being involved it should be compulsory that you provide a hair sample. We must lobby for a change in the law.”
Mr Latham, who runs the Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre, said he believed the same dogs were responsible
GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE TO LEGISLATE ON DOG ATTACKS
THE Government is under pressure to reincarnate the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill which was put on ice before the General Election.
Industry leaders were concerned that without its rollout, livestock worrying attacks could continue to increase without legislation which punishes offenders.
National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said the potential scrapping of the Bill
would be a ‘serious setback’ for farmers and their businesses.
Victim
Will Roobottom, who runs a flock of pedigree Lleyn sheep in Rugeley, Staffordshire, said he had been the victim of four livestock worrying incidents last year which impacted his family’s business.
He said: “It continues to happen –and people wonder why farmers are
so frustrated. All the hard work we put in goes to waste because someone has been so irresponsible to let their dogs off the lead.”
A spokesperson for the Government said it recognised the distress incidents of livestock worrying could have on farmers, but added it was considering the most ‘effective’ way possible to deliver on its Rural Crime strategy pledge made prior to the General Election.
Down on the Farm
9.
for another attack on eight of his calves about two years ago.
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “There are not believed to be any witnesses to the actual attack, although two dogs have been identified as possibly being involved in the incident and their owner will be spoken to over the coming weeks.”
University trial
They added that Cheshire Constabulary was ‘at the forefront of trying to tackle livestock attacks’ and was currently taking part in a trial using DNA samples from dogs and cattle in partnership with the University of Liverpool.
“At this time, this is a voluntary scheme, and it cannot be used as evidence in court,” they added.
The DNA sample taken by the vet in Mr Latham’s case was not part of the university trial.
with Philip Cosgrave Agronomist, Yara UK Ltd.
Things to consider with your grazing management this Autumn
The focus of autumn grazing management is to increase the number of days at grass and an-imal performance, but also to set the farm up during the final rotation to grow grass over winter and provide grass the following spring.
Because grass remains leafy now, rotation length can be extended from the 2nd week in Au-gust. The focus of this period is to gradually build pre-grazing covers, targeting covers of 3,500kg to 3,700kg DM/ha in mid-September. Be careful not allow covers build beyond 4,000kg DM/ha for grazing, as utilisation is poorer. We want to avoid taking paddocks out for silage after the start of September, as these paddocks won’t have enough time to re-grow to make a significant contribution to the last rotation.
If Autumn nitrogen is going to be spread, it should be spread in August and September. The growth response to October applications is likely to be significantly lower and may not be eco-nomical. Our Calcium Ammonium Nitrate based fertiliser YaraBela AXAN with sulphur at 110kg/ha is an appropriate rate for applications during August and into the first half of Sep-tember. If P & K needs topping up then a quality NPKS such as YaraMila EXTRA GRASS at 110 kg/ha should be used.
Drier or ‘earlier’ paddocks should be grazed from mid-September and then closed off from October onwards. Regrowth on these parts can be carried over the winter months for grazing first in the spring.
Phil Latham’s calves were subject to a horrific dog attack on Friday, August
Phil Latham
Embracing the benefits of diversity and inclusion
FARMING, like many other industries, is facing a labour crisis. But while agriculture and horticulture are working hard to feed the nation, other industries are evolving, using diversity and inclusion measures to attract and retain new talent.
Some recent comments on social media have raised concerns about the focus on diversity and inclusion, suggesting it detracts from the core business of farming. I want to assure our community
Social media reactions
AN FG report, ‘Are sheep farmers ignoring halal market opportunities?’, from the NSA Sheep event which asked if farmers and processors were ‘undervaluing’ the halal market and the opportunities it can provide prompted a debate on social media about stun versus non-stun slaughter:
that initiatives from The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) are designed to support farmers, not to impose changes.
Our training is practical and directly applicable to farm operations, providing tools and insights that can enhance productivity and innovation.
■ “Farmers should be producing food for food supplies not religious belief. All livestock should be stunned.”
JOHN INGHAM
■ “Why is it assumed that farmers are ignoring the halal market? Farmers take their stock to market. What have they to do with stopping halal processors bidding and
Diversity and inclusion are distinct but related ideas. Diversity focuses on representation, considering different genders, races, nationalities, sexual orientations and identities. Inclusion is about how the contributions and perspectives of everyone are understood and integrated. Together, they
buying like everyone else?”
ANN MASSINGHAM
■ “If there can be a guarantee or move that all halal has to be 100% pre-stunned as most is then there shouldn’t be grounds for opposition. Then it’s just kosher to tackle for humane slaughtering.”
ERIK GRIMLEY
foster a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.
Embracing diversity and inclusion offers numerous benefits. Research shows inclusive teams bring more innovation, new perspectives which can help problem solving, and lead to more resilient practices and a better understanding of consumer needs.
Even if we think we are performing well, diverse perspectives can lead to more efficient decision-making and quicker, effective solutions.
Inclusivity can improve employee satisfaction and retention, reducing the costs associated with high turnover rates. It can also help attract talent from a wider pool.
We understand that discussions around diversity and inclusion are sometimes met with scepticism. However, it is crucial to recognise that these efforts are about creating a sustainable future for our industries.
By embracing diversity, we can appreciate the cultures and traditions that have shaped farming and ensure we remain competitive and adaptable in a global market.
We urge our farming community not to shy away from these conversations. Instead, let us lead
Susan Rowe riding the horses home from ploughing to the family farm, Sunset Farm in Porthleven, Cornwall. Sent in by her daughter, Sally Whitney.
If you have a classic picture you would like to share, please email it to marcello.garbagnoli@agriconnect.com
a UK company specialising in providing information services including news, analysis, data, pricing, insight and market intelligence to agribusiness professionals across the globe. This policy sets out how we do this and applies the use of your personal data that you disclose to us by entering into our competition to win £200 for the Stockjudging Competition or £20 Love2Shop vouchers for the weekly Crossword Competition, referred to throughout this statement as the “Competitions”. How we collect your information: We collect the personal data you have provided to us by lling in the form on our website www.fginsight.com OR printed form when entering the Competitions. If you have entered the Competitions via our site we may also collect some technical information about how you use our site, for example, the type of device you are using, your operating system, IP address, uniform resource locator (URL), clickstream and length of visit. How we use the information you provide: We will use your personal information: • to administer the Competitions, on the basis that the use of your personal data for this purpose will be necessary to enter you into the competitions and, if you are successful, contact you to notify you of your prize; and, • if you are new to Farmers Guardian and where you have agreed to this, to provide you with news and updates from time to time about our services; and, if at any point in the future you do not wish to receive any news and updates from us or from, you can unsubscribe from our marketing list at any time by following the steps below. To unsubscribe from any communications using the link on the email we send you or by emailing us at dataprotection@farmersguardian.com. We will not use your information for any purposes except those listed in this policy without letting you know and getting your permission, if necessary, rst. Who do we share your information with? We will not disclose your information to any third parties without your consent, except where: • it is necessary to enable any of our sta employees, agents, contractors, suppliers or commercial partners to provide a service to us or to perform a function on our behalf; • we have a legal obligation to disclose your information (for example, if a court orders us to); or • there is a sale or purchase of any business assets, or where Farmers Guardian or any of its group companies are being acquired by a third party. Where we use third parties as described above to process your personal information, we will ensure that they have adequate security measures in place to safeguard your personal information. For how long do we keep your personal information? We keep your personal information for 36 months for the purposes for which it was collected or for any period for which we are required to keep personal information to comply with our legal and regulatory requirements, or until you ask us to delete your personal information. Your rights: You have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. These include the right to: • nd out
the way in demonstrating how inclusivity can drive success and innovation.
Jilly Greed, Board member, The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH).
No-fence collars for suckler cows
IF virtual fencing and all ‘no fence’ type collars were obligatory (at least on uplands for suckler cow herds), it would cut Defra’s costs enormously as they could follow cow numbers from their office.
When I asked Dartmoor’s Natural England lead how many suckler cows there were on Dartmoor, he said he did not know.
Surely it is better to let Natural England know where suckler cows are by farmers paying the cost of the collars themselves.
And then we can reduce the numbers of Natural England officers rather than numbers of suckler cows?
Fairfax Luxmoore, via email.
Toby Whatley Head of Machinery and Farm Technology – toby.whatley@agriconnect.com
Support of the farming industry begins with us Leader
THE downturn in the global machinery market highlights the importance of dealer and farmer relationships, with many dealers facing high stock levels and reduced customer demand.
Perhaps it could be timely to recognise that dealers’ ability to provide service and support with the repair and maintenance of machinery or supply a spurious replacement part that has become unexplainably bent within 24 hours of asking, relies on the business being supported by its farming customers.
Lower farm incomes and higher costs of borrowing have all impacted the industry’s ability to reinvest, and with a focus on our awareness campaign, #farm24, and what farming offers to everyone, it is important to recognise the businesses that are reliant on agriculture.
Dealers may not always be the cheapest supplier, or able to deliver it on the same day after buying it through an app, but farming is
Young Farmer Focus
‘In terms of the end price, I like to know what I am getting’
Farming: I farm with my father and uncle at Jack Nook Farm, in Barton near Preston, and Thompson Ground Farm at Hawkshead village overlooking Windermere.
Across the combined 280-acres sites, I am responsible for the cattle on farm where I am supported by my partner, Samantha, who is an experienced calf rearer.
We started rearing and finishing cattle for Warrendale Wagyu around two years ago, and we currently have 200 head of Wagyu aged between eight weeks and 24 months old.
Wagyu cattle are sourced from George Fabi’s Kirkbarrow Farm in the Lake District.
The Fabis have very strong dairy cows, so the Wagyus we get are high-
quality beef animals which stand up well in comparison to the Angus for their size and finish.
Cattle: Generally speaking, cattle come to us at six to seven month weanlings, weighing between 250 and 300 kilos, and they stay at Thompson Ground Farm until around 18 months old before returning to Jack Nook for finishing.
During the Summer they are turned out, but they are wintered inside, when they are fed in the main silage, along with some supplementary feed. At approximately 20 months old, and weighing between 550 and 600 kilos, they return to Jack Nook. Here, they are finished inside on a combination of beef mix, homegrown silage, and straw.
increasingly reliant on complicated machinery supported by skilled individuals and other family-owned businesses. If we are asking the public to back British farming, then is it only fair that farming backs its suppliers, even if Amazon is cheaper?
Thornton
The overall aim is to finish cattle at 24 months old, weighing between 650 and 700 kilos.
Wagyu: Our strong dairy type Wagyucrosses are averaging 1.45kg daily liveweight gain.
Wagyu cattle generally require a slightly longer finishing period, which is necessary to achieve the marbling that Wagyu beef is famed for – and this is reflected in Warrendale’s
minimum set slaughter age of 22 months.
All of our Wagyu go to Warrendale as part of a contract and end up in the shelves of Aldi, Waitrose, and of course, some are sold on light.
However, in terms of the end price, I like to know what I am getting, and it is much easier for planning.
Guaranteed: Traditionally we would have someone going to market for us five days a week purchasing cattle, but with Wagyu, we are guaranteed the stock, we know where they are coming from and when they are arriving.
This saves us huge amounts of time and resource.
MORE INFORMATION
If you would like to be featured, email chris.brayford@agriconnect.com
Jack
Preston, Lancashire
Jack Thornton, 20, works as a beef finisher specialising in Wagyu beef.
Jack Thornton
Edited by Alex Black – 07880 490 486 – alex.black@agriconnect.com
● Global production remains subdued
By Cedric Porter
BETTER weather and higher milk prices appear to have led to a small uptick in dairy production – and there could be more to come.
AHDB estimates that 1.024 billion litres of milk were delivered to GB dairies in July.
That was 0.3% down on last year’s July figure, but the gap has narrowed on earlier in the year.
Since the beginning of April, production is estimated to be down 0.9% on the same three-month period last year to 4.270bn litres.
“After a slow start to the year, we have seen milk production move much closer to year ago levels over the last couple of months,” said AHDB livestock analyst Becky Smith.
“There are a couple of potential drivers for this.
“Firstly, more favourable weather has boosted grass growth and quality appears good, although there is some regional variation.
“Secondly, we continue to see milk prices strengthening, which
GB milk production sees a small boost
may be incentivising producers to push production.”
Global milk production is expected to remain stable, with a 0.1% drop in output this year expected in the world’s six largest dairy export regions.
The EU and Australia were the only ones of the six to see a growth in output in the first half of 2024, with EU production up 0.6% and Australian production 3.8% higher as the weather improved and feed costs fell.
The EU is producing more milk from fewer cows.
Further growth is expected in Australia with a small (0.2% and 0.4% respectively) increase in the US and EU.
That contrasts with reduced production in New Zealand (down 0.7%) and Argentina, where struc-
tural changes in the country’s economy are expected to reduce output by 7.4%.
Although global milk production remains subdued and the world’s population is growing at 0.9%, producers should not expect large increases in milk prices, warn Rabobank analysts.
Demand
It said in a recent report that consumer demand is lacking sustained growth across the world, with increased Chinese production reducing its dairy import orders. UK consumption is also subdued.
The latest Global Dairy Trade auctions reflect sluggish price growth.
The most recent sale on August 6 saw overall prices rise by 0.5% following a 0.4% increase on the pre-
vious sale. However, the early July sale saw prices tumble by 6.9%.
Butter prices fell in the latest sale, which mirrors a stalling in the recovery of UK wholesale butter prices.
Skimmed milk prices have also come under pressure.
Retail dairy sales were 2.8% less by volume in the year to June 15, according to market researchers Nielsen in figures commissioned by AHDB.
A 7.6% increase in prices contributed to that reduced demand.
UK producers have welcomed a steady increase in milk prices over the past year, with many now receiving 40 pence per litre.
That represents a 10% increase over the past year, although values are still 10ppl less than they were at the end of 2022.
Milk production has risen close to the levels seen last year after a slow start to 2024.
Putting Scotch Beef firmly on the menu
HEART of Midlothian Football Club has become the first team in Scotland to support Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS’) Scotch Beef Club campaign.
The campaign ensures members identify Scotch Beef on their menus and validate that the beef, pork and lamb they purchase is genuinely Scottish.
QMS said the milestone part-
nership with the Edinburgh side will ensure fans and guests to Tynecastle Stadium, the home of Hearts FC, can enjoy ‘top-quality, traceable, trusted and quality assured’ Scottish-farmed produce on their menu.
Graeme Pacitti, hospitality and hotel director at Hearts, who has a longstanding relationship with the Scotch Beef Club since 2004, said: “By
Imitation meat sales nosedive
● Backlash against ultra-processed food
By Cedric Porter
THE market for plant-based meat alternatives has cooled significantly in the last two years. Global sales of ‘alt meat’ jumped by 21% to £4.9 billion between 2020 and 2021, according to the Global Food Institute, but they have since fallen back 13%.
Tighter consumer budgets were a major reason for the decline in sales, according to the institute, but not the only one.
A spokesperson said: “For the market to see sustained growth, products will need to better deliver on the key consumer drivers of taste, price, and convenience, while offering clear propositions to entice consumers to make the switch.”
The backlash against ultraprocessed food has not helped plant-based meats.
This week an Ipos poll for the Health Foundation Think Tank found that 58% of respondents would support a tax on-ultra processed foods, with the revenue raised spent on subsidising sales of wholefoods, especially fruit and vegetables. That backlash might not help sales of meat though. Earlier in the year, Tesco reported a 20% increase in sales of vegetarian proteins, such as tofu and tempeh, for use for cooking from scratch.
Higher cost
At the beginning of the year, AHDB analysed prices of British alternative meats and milks. It found that while plant-based meats cost 3.3% more than animal proteins, alternative milks were 18.4%.
These premiums had made some consumer switch back to real meat products. Analysis shared on the Statista website, estimated that the UK meat substitute market is worth £569 million and is forecast to grow by 2.3% a year over the next five years.
Showgoers given free potatoes to highlight lack of market
MEMBERS of the Manx NFU have been handing out free potatoes to visitors at this year’s Royal Manx Agricultural Show to highlight a lack of market access for Isle of Man growers.
General secretary of Manx NFU Sarah Comish told local reporters visiting the event at Knockaloe in Patrick, that the potatoes were ‘symbolic’ of the amount of local produce which was now unwanted by supermarkets.
Ms Cornish said: “We decided to
joining the Scotch Beef Club, Heart of Midlothian and Tynecastle Park reaffirms its commitment to serv-
ing the highest quality, and ethically sourced meat, proudly supporting Scottish farmers.”
protest about the availability of Manx produce in any UK supermarkets that operate on the island. Retailers will take some, but nowhere near the amount grown.
“But we think it is not just a question for supermarkets but for Government too – what are they doing to procure local produce for their own services? Why are they not supporting our local producers? Why have we been left to flounder like this?”
DEFA was contacted for the article.
Hearts FC hospitality director Graeme Pacitti (left) with Quality Meat Scotland brands development manager Gordon Newlands.
● Larger maize crop expected in the UK
AFTER a difficult season, there was at least relief that harvesting was not as challenging as in other years. But despite an expectation of a sub-10 million tonne wheat crop for only the second time in 40 years, prices were coming under pressure.
A small European crop has also baked into market expectations. Grain market analysts Strategie Grains estimated that the EU-27 soft wheat crop would be 116.5mt, down 4.7% on its previous estimate and 7.2% less than in 2023. It would be the smallest crop since the drought-impacted season of 2018, when 114.8mt were produced.
Much of the decline has been due to a small French crop. The latest official Government estimate was for a wheat harvest of 26.3mt – down a quarter on 2023 and the smallest since 1987.
Meanwhile, some analysts expected a French wheat crop of only 25.2mt. Germany looked to have delivered its smallest wheat crop for 21 years at 19.7mt, which was 1.8mt less than last year, according to the country’s statistical office.
The EU barley crop might be a little larger than last year at 50.6mt, according to Strategie Grains, but that would be under the five-year average total. Meanwhile, the union’s maize crop was estimated to be smaller than last year at 60mt.
Pressure on European production has not been translating into
While cereal growers will have welcomed the largely dry and sunny August, they will not be so heartened by a failure for prices to rise despite small crops across Europe. Cedric Porter reports.
Grain prices remain under pressure
EU-27 SOFT WHEAT PRODUCTION
higher prices because of larger global supplies.
Murphy Campbell, a market reporter and analyst with Expana, which owns Strategie Grains, said: “Global 2024/25 wheat production estimates exceeded the expectation of many market players.
“Dry and hot weather hit parts of Russia and Ukraine in June and
July along with rain in North West Europe, but Russian wheat production figures were revised upwards in late July. Meanwhile, the US winter wheat harvest is 86% complete, which is slightly ahead of the five-year average. The US spring wheat crop is currently 74% good/ excellent, with an expectation of good yields as long as there continues to be adequate moisture.”
global stocks for major exporters.
She said: “Market players indicate that the tightening wheat balance among major exporters suggests that wheat prices might find support towards the end of 2024 or early 2025.”
One element of the market that was subdued over the last three seasons was feed demand, which fell when prices spiked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Strategie Grains was expecting global feed demand to be at a record 1.340 billion tonnes in the 2024/25 season, which would be 1.8% more than last year and 4.7% more than in 2021/22.
United States
World wheat production was forecast to be at 798.3mt this season, according to the United States Department of Agriculture in its world supply and demand report on Monday.
An expectation of greater potato supplies this year has pushed down prices.
POTATOES
AFTER a very late and wet planting season, many growers could do with rain to help water their crops. Conditions have been good for growers with irrigation, with the warm weather helping.
Growers will be glad that this year temperatures of more than 30degC have not persisted for more than
two or three days at a time. The arrival of the new crop and an expectation of greater supplies this year has pushed down prices.
Newsletter Potato Call quoted new maincrop white potato prices at about £300/tonne, which was half of what they reached at the tail end of the 2023/24 season.
Maize
Maize conditions in the UK have also been good, with a larger crop expected.
Mr Campbell’s colleague Zanna Aleksahhina said the new crop, absence of Chinese demand and a ban on Turkish grain imports until October were weighing on the market, but she did offer growers some hope of higher prices driven by the poor European harvest and tight
That was 2.1mt more than its July estimate and 8.1mt more than last year. End-of-season stocks were expected to be 5.7mt less than last season. Coarse grain production (including corn) estimates were down 8.1mt on the July estimate at 1.504bnt –less than 6mt more than last year.
The US WASDE report led to a £3 drop in wheat prices on the London ICE futures market, with the November 2024 price hovering at £190/t, which was £25/t less than in May. There were similar falls in the November 2025 and 2026 prices, which were at £194/t and £192/t respectively.
French bakers feel the pain
THE lack of French wheat has been the latest worry for the country’s bakers. High energy prices, 29,000 unfilled baker vacancies and competition from supermarkets has put the country’s 35,000 bakeries, which serve 12 million people a day, under pressure. There were specific complaints during the Olympics over transport issues that threatened the supply of
ingredients to bakers serving athletes and visitors.
In 2020, the French Confederation of Bakeries and Patisseries launched a Boulanger de France marque setting out standards for ingredients and artisan production and quality. It recently launched a campaign to improve dialogue between farmers, consumers, bakers and Government.
SOURCE: AHDB, STRATEGIE GRAINS AND
OILSEED RAPE
OILSEED rape (OSR) prices have come under pressure in recent weeks, with sizeable crops of United States soyabean and Canadian canola weighing on the market, along with continued strong supplies of Brazilian soyabean.
Prices were also hit by last week’s fall in the US dollar making US-priced vegetable oil and crude oil cheaper, following fears over the health of the US economy.
The United States Department of Agriculture expected world OSR production to be at a record 690.5 million tonnes, up 4.1mt from its July predictions and 5% higher than last season.
European OSR prices on the French MATIF exchange fell by more than €20/tonne (£17/t) to below €450/t (£385/t) despite EU farmer organisation Copa-Cogeca estimating that there had been a 5.6% fall in the EU OSR area this year to 5.879m hectares.
Price pressure
Commenting on the price drop, grain company ADM said the availability of alternative vegetable oils and poor crush margins would maintain pressure on prices.
The news of the US WASDE report took another €5/t (£4.27/t) off the MATIF price.
GLOBAL FEED PRODUCTION
Grain market analysts Strategie Grains estimated that the EU-27 soft wheat crop would be 116.5 million tonnes, down 4.7% on its previous estimate and 7.2% less than in 2023.
Challenges for Irish farmers
● Tillage farms may be set for a tougher year
By Alex Black
DIFFICULT weather conditions have been the key challenge for Irish farmers in 2024, with milk production down and cereal farms expecting reduced incomes.
According to a report by economists at Teagasc, the delayed start to the grazing season and grass growth has impacted dairy and livestock farmers, while the shift from winter to spring cereal crops, necessitated by the challenging planting conditions, is expected to result in lower yields for Irish tillage farms this year.
However, it highlighted input prices for fertilisers and animal feed have decreased in 2024, although their usage in Ireland was expected to increase compared to 2023.
The report said: “Overall, 2024 presents a mixed picture for Irish agriculture. While dairy, cattle, sheep and pig farms are likely to see improved margins and incomes, tillage farms may face a tougher financial year.”
CEREALS
CEREAL farmers have faced another challenging year in 2024, with market-based returns expected to decline on the already low levels achieved in 2023.
The late planting of crops in the autumn/winter of 2023 and the subsequent shift to spring crops were likely to reduce yields in Ireland this year. Furthermore, on account harvest prices for the main cereals were currently trading at lower levels than prices paid at harvest 2023.
DAIRY
IRISH milk production volume in 2024 was currently running 6% below the 2023 level, mainly due to the late start to the grazing season.
Some of this production deficit should be overcome over the rest of the season, particularly if cows are not dried off early, as they were in 2023. Nevertheless, Irish milk production for the full year is still likely to be below the 2023 level.
However, dairy farms should experience an increase in incomes due to higher milk production, with cost of production expected to be slightly lower despite expected increase in use of feed and fertiliser.
“An average dairy margin of 10-11 cents per litre is likely, which would represent a 3-4cpl increase on the average for 2023,” it said.
CATTLE
INCOMES on cattle rearing farms are expected to rise in 2024, driven by live cattle prices and slightly reduced production costs, in spite of higher usage levels for feed and fertiliser.
For cattle on other farms, including finishers, the outlook suggests slight improvements in income on the 2023 level. Finished cattle prices were expected to be slightly higher with the average weight of finished cattle continuing to decline in 2024.
PIGS
PRODUCTION was expected to remain profitable after a difficult few years. But a risk to this positive outlook could occur if the Chinese government implements trade tariffs on EU pigmeat imports, in response to the recently introduced EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
“Stable cattle prices mean that an improvement in margins is likely. However, given the importance of support payments as a share of income in these systems, the improvement in margins is unlikely to deliver a significant increase in incomes.”
SHEEP
HIGHER prices reflect tighter supply conditions across the EU, with margins expected to improve.
“The expectation is that for the year as a whole, sheep meat prices will be up to 10% higher than in 2023,” the report said.
The late start to the grazing season has seen a reduction in milk production compared to this time last year.
Farm Profile
Edited by Angela Calvert – 07768 796 492 – angela.calvert@agriconnect.com
Dorset sheep play key role in an intensive vegetable rotation
Sheep, pigs, vegetables and arable crops work well together on a Suffolk coastal farm. Sara Gregson reports.
Born and raised on a dairy farm in Mid Devon, Tim Pratt arrived at Wantisden Hall Farm, near Woodbridge, in the far east of England, 18 years ago for a summer job and never left.
Now farm manager, he oversees a variety of high-value, irrigated crops including carrots, onions and potatoes on 700 hectares (1,715 acres).
Rainfall
With average rainfall at 724mm (28.5 inches) and based on light sandy soil, the aim is to catch the early summer market.
A total of 300ha (735 acres) of maize is also grown to feed an anaerobic digester. The farm employs 13 full-time staff and six casual staff, with 15 seasonal pickers and
graders. The business owns all its own cultivation and harvesting machinery.
The produce is all marketed by Three Musketeers and Suffolk Produce, a producer organisation based on neighbouring Bentwaters Airfield, which sells vegetables from five growers to UK supermarkets.
A further 800ha (1,960 acres) is contract-farmed on slightly heavier land where more traditional arable crops are grown such as wheat, barley and oilseed rape.
While breeding sows on 61.2ha (150 acres) have been part of the Wantisden rotation since 2010, Tim introduced Dorset Horn and Poll ewes in 2013, originally purchasing six ewes before buying-in a further six annually over the following years.
“The Dorset breed’s ability to lamb all year round makes it easy to slot them into our vegetable rotation,” Tim says.
“We do not have a lot of grass
here, but they do a great job of clearing fields of vegetable crop residues in autumn. They are also good at grazing cover crops grown over winter, which protect the soil before vegetable planting in spring.”
The 400 ewes are split into two flocks. The horned Staverton flock spends summer in ancient woodland, where 1,000-year-old pollarded oaks and rare orchids grow.
The polled Deben flock stays on rented grassland six miles away from the farm during this time.
The ewes lamb outdoors in September and early October on permanent pasture and marshland, which is in a Higher Level Stewardship scheme. They are put into temporary individual pens for 24 hours for the lambs to be weighed, tagged and tailed.
Lambing
Very few ewes need help to lamb and the flock is left overnight to give birth. The ewes are good mothers and few lambs are ever lost. Vet bills are low and lameness is not an issue after rigorous culling in the past.
Ewes are given a mineral bolus twice a year before tupping and lambing, as testing has shown them to be lacking in selenium and iodine. Worms are rarely a problem in the lambs because they graze fresh,
The farm has 400 Dorset owned ewes, which mainly lamb in September.
Lifting potatoes at Wantisden Hall Farm.
Su olk Farm
clean crops. Faecal egg count tests are taken to see if treatments are needed for the ewes.
Last year ticks, which can live in bracken in the parkland, gave some of the lambs a tick-borne virus which caused 15% mortality.
Ewes are sprayed with an acar-
icide before tupping in April, at shearing in May and pre-lambing in September. Shepherd Dean Charity is in charge of the sheep in winter, turning his hand to irrigation duties on the vegetable land in summer.
After six weeks on grass, the
ewes and lambs go on to graze crop residues, including spring green leaves, broccoli stalks, sugar beet tops and a large area of cover crops.
Grazing plan
The actual crops grazed differ each year and a grazing plan is worked
out a year in advance. The sheep are corralled using electric fencing. Tim says: “The aftermaths which would have been disced before the sheep arrived are providing grazing which costs nothing and does not interfere with the arable rotation. They are also providing
Free-range breeding sows are part of
Tim Pratt is farm manager at Wantisden Hall Farm, near Woodbridge, Suffolk.
the rotation.
Farm Profile Su olk
nutrients through their dung and the land ploughs nicely behind them.”
Lambs are creep-fed ad lib with an 18% protein pellet from eight weeks of age. This is fed more to stop the ewes from losing weight when feeding their lambs during a time when the weather is at its worst and the quality of the grazing is declining.
Lambs are weaned at Christmas and the fat lambs are finished off on cover crops, including oats, vetch, stubble turnips, radish, clover mixes and forage rape with average growth rates of 300g/day.
The first batch leaves in January, with most gone when vegetable planting starts in March. They are sold to Waitrose through their Dorset Lamb Scheme at between 21 and 22kg deadweight, grading at U and R3.
A further 1,200 store lambs and 300 hoggets come in from other farmers to graze off further cover crops, with a total of 120ha (297 acres) grown over winter.
Ewes remain on these until April when they return to the grass fields for tupping. Tim buys-in pure-bred rams to facilitate new genetics, as well as using a few home-bred rams.
Half of the ewe lambs are mated to lamb in July and the rest are served to lamb in December.
Shearing takes place in early May and the ewes are sprayed with fly spray which will last until August.
Ewes are pregnancy scanned in
Farm facts
■ 700 hectares (1,730 acres) owned – intensive early vegetables
■ 800ha (1,977 acres) contractfarmed – cereals and oilseed rape
■ 61ha (151 acres) rented out for breeding sows
■ 18ha (45 acres) grassland owned
■ 35ha (86 acres) grassland rented
■ 120ha (297 acres) autumn and winter cover crops
■ 100ha (247 acres) Sites of
July with a scanning average of 1.6%.
Any that are empty at scanning are put back with the rams for two weeks to lamb in December and any not in lamb after this round of tupping are culled.
Ewe lambs are kept as replace-
Special Scientific Interest woodland
■ 300ha (741 acres) maize for anaerobic digestion plant
■ 400 Dorset owned ewes –mainly lamb in September
■ Ewes and lambs graze crop residues and cover crops
■ Most lambs sold to Waitrose by March
■ 1,500 lambs on tack in winter
■ The flock is maedi visna accredited and performance recorded
ments and up to eight ram lambs are kept for showing and sale at one of the Dorset Sheep Breeders Association events. A ram from the Deben flock won the reserve male champion at this year’s Suffolk Show.
Tim says: “I have the privilege of being chair of the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Association. The breed has such a lot to offer and can lamb at any time to fit any farming system. Producers do not have to lamb in spring and can even lamb three times in two years if that works for them.
“We had a stand at Groundswell with a few Dorset sheep. There was a lot of interest from farmers looking to introduce livestock into their arable rotations. We also set up a Dorset club in the East and have a growing number of members. All of them are supplying Waitrose which is helping to build numbers in this area.”
A total of 72 of the ewe lambs are taking part in one of Defra’s Farming
Innovation Projects being delivered by Innovate UK to find breeds which produce a naturally low carbon footprint. Methane emissions from 13,500 sheep in 45 flocks across the country are being measured in portable accumulation chambers.
High-quality meat
“The sheep have a definite role to play in the rotation here and are also providing high-quality meat for people to eat. If they were not here, the grassland areas would be covered in bracken,” Tim adds.
“I also believe that having animals on the farm is good for staff morale and it certainly attracts youngsters to come and work here.
“However, I do not think the flock will get any bigger as we do not have enough grassland in the spring and summer. The system works well now and I am happy for it to stay that way.”
The produce is all marketed by Three Musketeers and Suffolk Produce.
Dorset sheep grazing the parkland.
Edited by Jane Thynne – 07882 219 917 – jane.thynne@agriconnect.com
For more arable content, go to farmersguardian.com/arable-news-hub
Variable oilseed rape results reflect a difficult season
● Turing is highest yielding hybrid variety
THE first AHDB Recommended List winter oilseed rape (OSR) yield results reported this harvest show a gross output value (seed yield adjusted for oil content) across control varieties of 5.04 tonnes per hectare, a little below the four-year mean of 5.08t/ha.
Yields from six trial sites in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Cambridgeshire (two sites), Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are variable, ranging from 3.94t/ha for the controls in the Hampshire trial to 6.08t/ ha in both Cambridgeshire trials.
Control varieties for harvest 2024 are Turing, Aspire, Aurelia, Ambassador and PT303. The average gross output value is likely to improve as results come in from traditionally higher-yielding northern trials, says AHDB.
Turing is the highest yielding hybrid variety so far at 109% of control, with Vegas second at 106%.
Newly recommended variety LG Armada is on 105%, with newly recommended varieties LG Academic and LG Adeline both on 104%.
Newly recommended for the
Yields from the first oilseed rape trials are slightly down on the long-term mean, but may increase as traditionally higher yielding sites in the North are harvested.
East/West (E/W) variety Dolphin is some way behind its five-year average at just 99%. Established varieties Aurelia (UK), Ambassador (E/W), Murray (E/W), and LG Wagner (North) are on 102%, with LG Auckland (E/W) just ahead on 103%.
Conventional varieties are so far performing in line with their
Searching the air for crop disease and pest threats
FARMERS could be warned about the appearance of crop pathogens in near real time, thanks to technology that collects and sequences the air around their fields.
New research suggests the AirSeq approach, developed at the Earlham Institute and Natural History Museum, could replace existing methods for detecting infection which look for visible symptoms on the plants –at which point, it is often too late. All living organisms shed fragments of their DNA into the environment, which provides opportunities to identify and monitor biodiversity from the traces of biological material in the air.
AirSeq starts by pulling thousands of litres of air through a filter to
capture any biological material. A number of steps are then taken to extract DNA from cells and prepare these fragments for sequencing, before software profiles the sequences to match each piece to an organism.
Testing
To test the approach in an agricultural setting, researchers captured air for one hour, three times a week, over almost seven weeks, in a field where wheat, barley and peas were growing.
From the sequenced biological material captured, they were able to detect and record the relative abundance of known crop pathogens and insects such as aphids.
Dr Richard Leggett, group leader at
five-year average, with newly recommended Pi Pinnacle the highest yielding at 101%.
Exception
The exception is the North variety Amarone (100%), which is well ahead of its five-year average, but this is based on data from just three
trials. Tom (100%) is second highest yielding of the conventional varieties overall, with Annika (E/W) and Acacia (UK) on 99%.
Clubroot-resistant E/W variety Crocodile is on 97% and UK variety Crome is on 91% – both below their five-year averages.
Four-year averages
In terms of four-year average values, the highest yielding variety to date is again the hybrid variety Turing (106%), which is just ahead of newly recommended UK varieties LG Armada, LG Academic and LG Adeline, which are all on 105%. Murray (E/W) and Vegas (UK) are on 104%, with newly recommended Dolphin (E/W) on 103%.
Of the conventional varieties, newly recommended variety Pi Pinnacle is highest yielding on 101%, with Tom just behind on 100% and Annika (E/W) on 98%.
Crocodile (E/W) is the highest yielding clubroot-resistant variety (98%), with Crome (UK) on 94%.
5.04t/ha
Gross output value across control varieties in first winter OSR yield results
Genome sequencing biological material in the air above crops could help alert growers to disease threats in real time.
the Earlham Institute, says: “We believe this is the first time anyone has carried out whole genome sequencing of the air in an agricultural setting. People have tested for specific pathogens but never sequenced the whole
air community – and repeated this over time – to see everything they have captured.”
The team is working to develop AirSeq into a portable, field-ready device.
No fungicide-resistant blight strains found in FAB testing
● EU_36 strain made up 72% of samples in testing
OF the nearly 1,300 samples submitted by the end of July for ‘Fight Against Blight’ late blight strain analysis, none have been identified as being the fungicide-resistant EU_43 or EU_46 strains.
The first UK blight samples of the season arrived at the James Hutton Institute in April from outbreaks in Kent, with another six samples sent during May.
Dr David Cooke, senior plant pathologist at the James Hutton Institute, says: “That is early for blight. With a wide range of planting dates, primary inoculum from last season’s
unharvested crops and dumps that survived over the winter, blight pressure has been high and made it a difficult season to manage because of crops at different growth stages.”
Dr Cooke says this season has been one of the most intense he has experienced in terms of early season outbreaks while managing the Fight Against Blight project.
“To some extent, this will have been prompted by our plea for samples to monitor for the new CAA and OSBPI fungicide-resistant strains that have been found on the continent and in Ireland, but you can only sample blight if it is present,” he says.
Of the blight samples genotyped by the end of July, 72% of the population was the aggressive strain EU_36,
Thatch supply challenges threaten traditional industry
A NEW report by Historic England and Historic Environment Scotland has highlighted several threats to the thatching industry.
It is estimated that 80% of cereal straw for thatching is produced by about 25 English growers, but with thatch straw production incompatible with modern combines, most growers are working with machines that are long out of production, require high levels of maintenance and for which spare parts are difficult to find.
English thatchers are also warning
that they are facing a shortage of thatching materials due to poor harvests caused by changing weather patterns, as well as disrupted supplies from Eastern Europe.
The report identifies measures that could mitigate these challenges, from policy change and funding to training and technological developments.
New research will provide practical guidance for growers seeking to increase the efficiency of existing machines or adopt new mechanisation options during straw production.
which has consolidated and spread across much of the country.
“A further 22% is EU_6, which has been around a long time, while 3% is EU_13. That is a little bit of a surprise as it has been on a gradual decline for years,” says Dr Cooke.
The only newer lineage found this year is EU_41. A Danish clone, it was previously found in a single outbreak in Scotland in 2021 in a Maris Piper crop but has been detected in outbreaks in Scotland and further south this season.
Testing has found that EU_41 has insensitivity to metalaxyl fungicides, prompting discussions around whether its appearance is linked with potato volunteers in carrots being sprayed with metalaxyl.
With continuing problems with the EU_43 and EU_46 strains in North West Europe, and another case in Ireland this season, there should be no-let up in blight programmes for the
remainder of the season, says UPL potato technical expert Geoff Hailstone. A key reason for the strains not being detected in the UK so far has been the use of mancozeb with its multi-site activity, mixing at least two actives from different groups in every application, and the alternation of products, he says.
Effective doses
Mr Hailstone says: “It is also important to use products at effective doses to help maintain at least two actives in the growth for a sufficient length of time to protect each other. You do not want to leave one product doing all the heavy lifting, increasing the risk of resistance build-up.”
For that reason, UPL is recommending the use of its Proxanil (propamocarb + cymoxanil) blight product at a rate of at least two litres per hectare, rather than the historical standard of 1.5 litres/ha plus a reduced rate of partner.
Geoff Hailstone
Dr David Cooke
Blight pressure has been high in a difficult season for disease management due to variation in crop growth stages, says Dr David Cooke.
● Tool o ers variable rate application
A NEW service that claims to make the benefits of precision farming readily accessible without growers having to master all its complexities is being launched by ProCam in time for use this autumn.
FieldSense uses satellite mapping of soil and crop variability across fields, using this data to formulate variable rate input applications tailored to the field variations, rather than relying on a blanket approach.
Easily accessed via a web browser, FieldSense is based on a collaborative approach between grower and agronomist, rather than the grower having to do everything themselves, says ProCam regional technical manager Nigel Scott, who has been closely involved in developing and testing the new service.
He says: “It will be the ProCam agronomist who makes sense of the satellite images, drawing on their boots-on-the-ground experience of the field and ground truthing any anomalies that the images might reveal.
“This can be combined with the farmer’s own knowledge of the field as necessary. Once maps have been interpreted, the agronomist will produce variable rate files for downloading directly to the tractor that is controlling the drill or fertiliser applicator.”
Another feature of FieldSense is that growers can pick only those parts of the package relevant to their farm and machinery and can begin by trying FieldSense over just a few hectares.
ProCam western region technical manager, Harry James, who has also
Precision agronomy through partnership
ProCam western region technical manager, Harry James (pictured), says the first phase of the FieldSense launch will focus on grid-based soil sampling; variable rate seeding; variable rate N, P, K and lime applications; and yield mapping input.
been part of the team developing and farm-testing FieldSense, says this first phase of the launch will focus on four key areas for combinable cropping: grid-based soil sampling;
variable rate seeding; variable rate nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), potash (K) and lime applications; and yield mapping input.
The launch of FieldSense is the
Digital trap network to provide nationwide CSFB alerts
A NATIONWIDE network of digital yellow water traps is set to provide vital information on cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) migration in the coming weeks, helping inform decisions around management of the pest as oilseed rape (OSR) drilling gets underway.
Set up by United Oilseeds, with support from Bayer, the network of 20 on-farm MagicTrap digital traps extends from Cornwall across to East Anglia and from Scotland to the south of England, says United Oilseeds’ Paul Browning.
CSFB monitoring is an important step forward as it can help growers better understand current pressure, providing an opportunity for drilling
dates to be adjusted to avoid pest migration peaks, says Mr Browning.
Trap data will be shared across the MagicTrap network and wider United Oilseeds membership, providing a national picture of OSR pest pressure and distribution.
Encouragement
“We will be encouraging more of our growers to join the network to even better improve its effectiveness,” says Mr Browning.
Shropshire farmer Mark Davies is one of the first growers to sign up to the United Oilseeds MagicTrap network.
Mr Davies grows 100 hectares of OSR near Newport on the ShropshireStaffordshire border. He will be pla-
cing five traps around the farm this summer and is hopeful they will provide useful information on CSFB pressure, helping him fine-tune his OSR drilling date plans to ensure his crop gets away to the best possible start.
“It is a matter of keeping OSR in the rotation. Hopefully with the network we will be able to see what is happening in MagicTraps around the country and on the farm, and we will make our decision from there,” says Mr Davies.
Bayer digital manager Max Dafforn adds: “We are pleased to support United Oilseeds in setting up a MagicTrap network with their members. There is no single solution to the CSFB threat, but MagicTrap will pro-
latest in a sequence of technical introductions from ProCam, following on from the introduction of its soil testing and nutrient planning service, SoilSense, last year.
Alerts in the MagicScout app.
vide an exciting new additional tool for growers on farm, as well as adding to a wider understanding of the pest.”
After a difficult 12 months for soil management, independent adviser Dr Tudor Dawkins to-basics tips on getting soils in shape for the new season. Farmers Guardian reports.
Time to review soil fundam
With a protracted wet 2023 autumn, a delayed cold and wet spring and poor summer, soil problems have been piling up.
“Soil structural problems have manifested themselves in crops this year and it is easy to forget these and move on in the hope that next year will be kinder,” says Dr Tudor Dawkins.
“Now is the time to look over fields and map problem areas, while there is time to put things right before next year’s cropping.”
The first port of call is this year’s crop. Has it performed to expectation? In many fields poor crops are evident on a field scale but it should be possible to identify smaller problems, such as where wheelings have become deep, especially in heavily trafficked areas of the field. Soils are already wet so minimising traffic on the field at harvest becomes especially important.
“The initial aim should be to remove the effect that traffic has had on soil structure by using a tined implement, such as a subsoiler, to remove the wheelings. It is not always necessary to subsoil the whole field,” says Dr Dawkins.
Waterlogged soils were a common sight this spring so the next step to check is the state of the field’s drainage system, he says. He advises mapping out areas of the farm that flooded during winter and remained flooded into the spring. Check drainage ditches, drains and look for blockages
under gateways that might prevent water flowing away from the field.
“If the soil is a heavy clay and the surface can take traffic, consider using a mole plough,” says Dr Dawkins. “The drains created can often last several years and
It is not necessary to treat the whole field in the same way. Provided conditions allow, targeted remedial treatment of the problem areas can be carried out
PROF TUDOR DAWKINS
Where there are sub-surface soil layers with few cracks or pores, remedial intervention will be required to restructure the soil.
help to drain the field. This operation is often carried out later in the year but has been used successfully in moist conditions as the mole forms a better drainage conduit if the subsoil is wetter.”
Assessment
An assessment of current soil conditions is essential in order to determine how much intervention and remediation of the seedbed is required. Soils may have become compacted or ‘slumped’ over winter due to the wet conditions.
“It is not necessary to treat the whole field in the same way. Provided conditions allow, targeted remedial treatment of the problem areas of soil can be carried out, thereby saving costs,” says Dr Dawkins.
He advises digging a soil pit and looking for cracks and visible signs of good structure. Where these are present, consider the option of a light cultivation ahead of drilling to create a good range of mediumsized soil peds which will facilitate good seed-to-soil contact, optimise residual herbicide action and allow unimpeded root develop-
ment. Overworking the seed bed can result in too fine a tilth which is not resilient and can slump and cap following heavy rain. Where a soil pit reveals no cracks or obvious structure, soil may need to be worked to dry it out.
“But wait until the land can take traffic. Restrict the cultivation depth to just below the depth of the problem. The final seedbed after drilling and rolling should not be too fine as heavy rain post-drilling can cause soils to slump and cap. If left too lumpy, seed-to-soil contact will be poor and residual herbicide activity may be reduced,” says Dr Dawkins.
Remedial
“While the management of soils for resilience and for purposes linked to SFI is an essential longterm goal, soils that are in poor health from a drainage, structural and nutritional perspective may require some remedial cultivation and inputs such as lime. This will put them in a better condition to achieve the longer-term goals, especially after the difficult weather
provides some backentals
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Soil structure is in a very poor state due to the sheer volume of water we have encountered over the last 12 months
NIGEL SCOTT
experienced during the last twelve months” says Dr Dawkins.
Nigel Scott, ProCam’s regional
technical manager covering farms in Yorkshire and Durham, agrees with Dr Dawkins’ assessment.
He says: “It has been really tough these last 12 months and now my customers want to know what to do to set things off to a good start for 2025. It is basically time to review the fundamentals.
“This has been certainly one of the wettest and most testing years in living memory.
“Soil structure is in a very poor state due to the sheer volume of water we have encountered over the last 12 months. Fields have been left with bare patches and many crops with compromised root structures.
“Roots are the cornerstone of structuring soil. With shallow root
■ Check poor areas in the field for pH. Wet weather can cause calcium to be lost from the profile, lowering pH. A pH of 6.5 is required in order to ensure nutrients such as phosphate, which is required for adequate root development, are available ■ Consider using a seed dressing that reduces fungal attack on the developing seedling which can
systems the aggregation of soils has been less, so intervention from some metal will be needed before next year’s crop is sown.”
Attention to detail, as ever, is key, adds Mr Scott.
If water in perimeter ditches cannot clear, water will back up on the field.
slow emergence and reduce plant stand. Some seed treatments that contain sedaxane (Vibrance Duo) can enhance the root development of wheat as well as establishment ■ Consider the use of Cambridge rolls post-drilling to consolidate the seedbed, improve seed-tosoil contact and help with conditioning the seedbed to optimise residual herbicides
“Target areas in fields to understand any limiting factors and act upon them appropriately. Carry a spade and remember that soil is your greatest asset and needs to be protected,” he says.
Wheeling damage in summer 2024.
Edited by Angela Calvert
– 07768 796 492 –
For more sales content, go to farmersguardian.com/shows-sales
Suckled calves in demand at Cutcombe
THE first sale of suckled calves and young stores at Cutcombe topped at £1,775 for 580kg 12-month-old Charolais steers from D.W. and A.E. Enticott, Ashbrittle.
British Blonde cross steers sold to £1,375 for 14-month-old 420kg entries from Temuka, South Molton, with 14-month-old 460kg Limousin cross steers to £1,300 for Cowling Farms, Clatworthy.
Heifers sold to £1,430 for 12-monthold 490kg Charolais, also from Messrs Enticott. J.J. Bryant, Martinhoe, sold 11-month-old 460kg British Blue cross steers to £1,320. Aberdeen-Angus cross steers from W.H. Berry, Barnstaple, sold to £1,100 for 390kg 11-month-old calves, with eightmonth-old 270kg Limousin cross steers from the same home to £1,020.
Store steers topped at £1,670 for 600kg 19-month-old Aberdeen-Angus crosses from R.F. Rawle, Barnstaple, who also sold 16-month-old 565kg Limousins at £1,660 and 17-month-old 565kg Charolais at £1,635.
D.F. and P.A. Bawden, Hawkridge, sold a 525kg Charolais cross heifer for £1,495, and 22-month-old 525kg Charolais cross heifers from Walters and Son, Parracombe, made £1,420. From the same home, 17-month-old 475kg Aberdeen-Angus heifers made £1,000.
C. Bale, Brendon Hill, sold 16-monthold 460kg Limousin cross heifers at £1,400 and also had the top price female at £1,500, which was a 38-monthold Limousin cross heifer.
Auctioneers: Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions.
Gimmer tops Texels at 6,000gns at J36
l Pre-sale champion sold for 4,500gns
THE sale of pedigree Texels on behalf of the North West Texel Breeders Club at J36 had an 88% clearance rate and peaked at 6,000gns for the winning shearling gimmer, a Rhaeadr First Choice daughter from Boden and Davies’ Sportsmans flock, Stockport. It sold to Alan Blackwood, Muirkirk.
A shearling gimmer by Garngour Frontier from J.D. Houghton’s Tophill flock, Bury, sold for 2,300gns to M.K. and K. Ayrton, Thurnham.
The judge, James Theyer, Oxfordshire, awarded the pre-sale show championship to Auldhouseburn Hocus Pocus, a ram lamb by Scholars Governor from Messrs Blackwood, which went on to sell for 4,500gns to D. and T. Bradley, Dumfries, and N.R. Woodmass, Carlisle.
Reserve champion went to the second prize winning ram lamb, Tillycairn Highlander by Clanfield Golden, which was from David McKerrown, Ellon, and was knocked down to D.A. and M.J. Pedley, Kirkby Stephen.
The winning shearling ram was Cambwell Gregor by Deveronvale
Shearling gimmer from Boden and Davies’ Sportsmans flock, Stockport, which sold for the top price of 6,000gns to Alan Blackwood, Muirkirk.
Fastrac, consigned by T. wand R. Laird, Biggar, which sold to A.E.J. and F.J. Claridge, Middle Claydon.
AVERAGES
Shearling rams, £815.78; ram lambs, £835; ewes, £395.75; gimmer shearlings, £728.01; ewe lambs, £447. Auctioneers: North West Auctions.
Flying beef trade in Gisburn
CLEAN cattle topped at 350p/kg twice and prime young bulls reached 328p/kg at Gisburn’s primestock sale.
Auctioneer Jack Pickup said overall trade was the strongest seen for some time.
He said: “Bulls reached £2,460/ head, with the best well over 300p/ kg despite there being considerably more forward with steers and heifers selling to £2,308 and £1,980 respectively.”
The 328p/kg came for a 520kg
Ram lamb leads Shropshire sale
THERE was an entry of 142 at the Shropshire Sheep Society’s national show and sale, which is the highest number since the sale moved to Shrewsbury.
The sale topped at 750gns for the ram lamb, Clipston Sam by Apiary Bart, from Robert Webb, Kettering, which sold to A.P. Davies of Four Crosses, Llanymynech.
Next, at 720gns, was the shearling ram, Goblindale Aramis, a son of Rosaline Claudius, from C. and R. Coleman, Ellesmere, Shropshire. The buyers were L. and P. Newman, Norwich.
Reserve champion in the presale show was the shearling ram
Piddington Beresford, from Sue Farquhar and Ellie Butcher, Ledbury, which sold to Mr Pudge, King’s Pyon, Herefordshire, for £650gns. Senior rams sold to 520gns for the two-shear ram, Tushbrook Legacy by Alderton Hazzard, consigned by Jeanette and Robert Hares, Whitchurch. It was knocked down to J.G.B. Gay, Tetbury.
Females
Females topped at 520gns for the pre-sale show champion, Felton Camilla, a shearing ewe by Apiary Benson, from Lisa Wilson, Oswestry, which went to D.L. Batterbee, Buxton.
L. and L. Colbourne, Dorking, paid 350gns for a two-shear ewe by Roydon Rico and bred by Jan and Charles Morris, Stoney Stretton, Shropshire.
Ewe lambs
Ewe lambs sold to 380gns for a Hornpipe Venom daughter from the Piddington flock, which went to Peter Harris, Ellerdine.
British Blue cross bull from J. and G. Huck, Hubberholme.
The dearest per head at £2,460 was a 776kg Blue cross from R. and E. Cowperthwaite, Malham. Dairybred bulls were either side of 250p/ kg, with black and whites topping at 244p/kg for J. Taylor, Bolton. D.A. Wilcock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, topped the heifer trade with two Limousins at 500kg and 520kg reaching 350p/kg each, and they also grossed £1,980 for another at 574kg.
Steers
Steers sold to 322p/kg for a Limousin from T. Dobson and Sons, Scarisbrick. Hargreaves Farms, Preston, led the per head trade at £2,308, £2,283 and £2,267 for Blue cross and Limousin crosses.
Trade for the 90 cast cattle was led by a 916kg Limousin bull grossing £2,473 or 270p/kg, while cows reached the same level for a barley-fed 676kg Limousin. On a per head basis, dairy culls sold to £1,516, continentals to £1,879 and natives to £1,359.
Auctioneers: Gisburn Auction Mart.
Young handlers shine at Longtown
l Top price of £220 for 46kg champion lamb
THE sale of 2,591 prime lambs at Longtown included the Farmers Guardian-supported annual young handlers show and sale, where 30 lambs came in front of judge Stephen Graham, Gilsland.
He awarded the championship to Sophie Sutherland, Bogrie, Canonbie, with her 46kg lamb, which sold for the day’s top price of £220 and also received the Hugh Taylor Memorial Cup. Reserve champion went to Maisie Muir, Windyknowe, Annan, with her 52kg lamb, which sold for £185.
Lambs averaged 311.1p/kg overall,
Young handler results
Up to five years old:
n 1st Sadie Laurie, 47kg lamb, £170 n 2nd Emma Telford, 51kg, £180 n 3rd Finley Howe, 50kg, £170
Age six to 10 years old: n 1st and champion Sophie Sutherland, 46kg lamb, £220
To find out where we will be next, go to farmersguardian.com/mth-roadshow
with an SQQ of 310.7p/kg. The entry of more than 6,000 cull ewes and rams topped at £310 for a Texel ewe from R. and A. Harrison, Wigton. Mule ewes peaked at £188 for T.J. Hall and Son, Horlsey, Hawick, with hill ewes to £150 for Cheviots from Messrs Bernard and Dodds, Ettrick. Rams sold to £310 for Texels from J. and F. Earnshaw, Isle of Gigha. Auctioneers: C. and D. Auction Marts.
n 2nd Ewan Clark, 60kg, £200 n 3rd Laura Telford, 41kg, £140
Age 11 to 16 years old: n 1st and reserve champion Maisie Muir, 52kg lamb, £185 n 2nd Stephen Phillips, 46kg, £158 n 3rd Jonathan Telford, 38kg, £158
Reserve young handler champion Maisie Muir, Windyknowe, Annan, with her 52kg lamb which sold for £185.
Overall young handler champion, six-year-old Sophie Sutherland, Bogrie, Canonbie, with her 46kg lamb which sold for £220 and won the Hugh Taylor Memorial Cup. Pictured with judge Stephen Graham.
Ewan Clark (left) and Alexander Clark (right) with judge Stephen Graham. Ewan placed second in his age category.
Left to right: Freya, David, Lucie and Liz Thompson.
PICTURES: ROBERT SMITH
Covington herd tops Carlisle sale
THE dairy sale at Carlisle topped at £2,850 for Covington Complex Bon, a heifer by Bomaz Complex with a PLI+£471 and bred from a high production dam that gave over 12,000kgs. Consigned by the Baillie family, Biggar, it sold to Messrs Watson, Cumnock. Covington Sublime Renata, a daughter of Denovo Sublime from the same home, sold for £2,750.
The Wadsworth family, Newton Stewart, sold eight heifers to average £2,400, topping at £2,800 for a daughter of R2D2 giving 40kgs and with a PLI+£418, which sold to Messrs Forshaw, Longridge.
Holstein
Holstein cows topped at £2,450 twice. The first cow was by Kendrix with a PLI+£350, and was from the Wadsworth family, Newton Stewart. The second from Mark Walton, Kirkby Stephen, was Bankview Darwin Sizzle, producing 46kgs.
British Friesians topped at £2,050 for Nerewater Ruffle, a recently calved heifer from Richard Bell, Wigton.
Ayrshires sold to £2,100 for a fourth calver from Richard Baynes’ Marleycote herd, Northumberland. Sanders Farms, Isle of Man, sold 40 mainly Scandinavian Red and British Friesian freshly calved cows and dry cows to average £1,539, topping at £1,900 for a daughter of Hacker.
In-calf Holstein heifers sold to £1,900 for a daughter of Applejax, consigned by Clifford Thompson, Brampton.
Ballaseyr Stud, Isle of Man, sold 37 in-calf and short-bred heifers, topping at £1,650 for a Brown Swiss cross-bred heifer due in November to the Wagyu sire.
AVERAGES
117 Holstein heifers in-milk, £2,316.31; 29 Holstein cows in-milk, £1,826.50; 9 British Friesian cows/heifers in-milk, £1,744.44; 4 Ayrshires in-milk, £1,987.50; 4 Jersey heifers in-milk, £782.50; 6 faulted/three-quartered cows, £1,250; Sanders Farmers21 Swedish Red dry cows, £1,497.61; 9 Holstein in-calf heifers, £1,712.50; 15 cross-bred in-calf heifers (Brown Swiss cross Norwegian), £1,422.66; 22 cross-bred heifers due 2025, £893.64; 12 Brown Swiss cross Norwegian bulling heifers, £804.16. Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
● Third seasonal sale averaged £105.78/head
THE entry of 5,164 store lambs at Skipton’s third seasonal sale was up from 3,591 on July 24 and up from 4,068 on the same week in 2023. The sale averaged £105.78/head compared to £101.95 two weeks previously and £87.61 last year.
It included the show for a pen of 20 or more Beltex cross lambs, which was won for the third year running by Trevor and Clive Robinson, Tosside, with a pen of 25 Beltex lambs which sold for a breed high of £150/head.
The second prize pen sold to £148/ head for Frankland Farms, Rathmell.
D. and S.J. Pinder, Newton-In-Bowland, took £144/head for a pen of 12 Beltex cross lambs. Younger lambs with good heads and skins sold at £115-£130.
First-crossed Texel lambs with size and power saw per head prices reaching above £120, with the next grade of strong-framed first-crossed lambs at
Averages up for Skipton store lambs
£108-£118. Younger first-crossed lambs were £90-£104, with long-term lambs at £85-£95. A single Texel lamb from J. Frankland, Settle, sold for £153. Suffolks sold to £127/head for F. Reeday and Son, Hetton. Mule wether lambs from R. Berry, Cowling, sold to £109/head for a pen of 50. Good farming Mule lambs with frame sold at £88-£98, and younger/ longer keep lambs were £75-£85.
Cheviot lambs sold to £100/head from B.G. Rushmer, Kettlewell. Lonk cross Texel lambs sold to £115 for C. Crowther, Saddleworth.
AVERAGES
Store lambs – Beltex, £131.36; Suffolk, £107.48; Texel, £106.88; Mule, £90.59; Charollais, £82.82; Cheviot, £89.57; Blue Texel, £118.57. Auctioneers: CCM.
Store cattle in demand at Hexham
AT the anniversary sale of 577 store cattle at Hexham, the pre-sale show judge, David Dickinson, Canobie, awarded the championship to a homebred pure 14-month-old Limousin heifer from Philip Robson, Middle Horsleyhope. It went on to sell for £2,000 to Declan Foley on behalf of a client.
Reserve champion was the winning Charolais steer from J. Herdman, Edlingham, which sold for £2,020 to Ian Bowe, Gatenby.
All cattle were in strong demand, especially older, forward cattle, peaking at £2,050/head for a pair of
Charolais cross bullocks from W. Robson and Son, East Shaftoe, whose run of 17 averaged £1,874.71.
The consignment of 10 Limousin-bred steers from Frank and Reg Simpson, Durham, peaked at £2,040 to average £1,905.
Aberdeen-Angus
A pair of Aberdeen-Angus cross bullocks from F.T. Walton, Flotterton, sold for £1,970/head.
Leading the Angus heifer trade at £1,960 was the first prize winner from G. and J.H. Tomlinson and Son, Sunniside. A run of 65 14-16-month-old
steers from R. Green, Alnwick, topped at £1,880, averaging £1,580 – a rise of £50 on the year for 20 more sold.
Yearling Limousin heifers from J. Browell and Sons, Hexham, peaked at £1,700.
Messrs Richardson, Cockermouth, sold 12-month-old Limousin cross steers to £1,580.
A run of 10-12-month-old Limousin cross steers and heifers from Messrs Charlton, Whiteside, topped at £1,670 for a heifer and £1,550 for an 11-monthold bullock.
Auctioneers: Hexham and Northern Marts.
PICTURE: CCM AUCTIONS
Clive Robinson (left) with his winning pen of 25 Beltex cross lambs which sold for a breed high of £150/head. Pictured with judge Thomas Walmsley.
Bleu du Maines sell to 3,350gns
● Rouge flock ewes averaged £435.75
THE dispersal of the Haydon flock of Bleu du Maine sheep at Worcester, from the Haydon Flock Partnership, Somerset, topped at 3,350gns.
This was for the shearling ewe, Haydon Yoyo, a daughter of Perdi Singy Boy and out of Perdi Stelar, which was reserve breed champion at the Royal Three Counties Show this year.
The buyer was R. Pilkington, Wrexham, who also paid 3,000gns for the shearling ewe, Haydon Yola, by Ballytaggart Wing Man, which had been reserve champion at the Royal Welsh last year and breed champion at the Royal Bath and West this year.
Leading ewe lamb trade at 1,800gns was Haydon Z113, a Maximum Yeats daughter, which caught the eye of Tom Stayt, Chipping Norton. Aged ewes topped at 1,650gns for Haydon Vanessa by Perdi Topspec, which sold to Steve and Rachel Stamp, Highbridge. Leading the ram lamb trade at 1,000gns was Haydon Zain, a son of Maximum Yeats, which went to Messrs Pilkington.
THE dispersal of the NMR record herd of Holstein Friesian cows and heifers at Exeter, on behalf of Phil, Pippa ad Nick Horton, Swindon, topped at 2,850gns twice. These were for fresh second calvers by Denovo Invictus, with another by the same sire at 2,800gns.
A fourth calver by Bryceholme Ss
Ewetopia sale tops at 800gns
THE Ewetopia sale of ewes, shearlings and ewe lambs at Darlington topped at 800gns for the pre-sale show champion.
This was a Charollais ewe lamb by Artnaguillon Armarni out of a Inglis Cymro daughter from Deborah Whitcher, Foulrice. It sold to the judge, Robert Barker, Ponton, Lincolnshire.
Next, at 550gns, was a Dutch Spotted ewe from C. Cummings, Kirkby Fleetham, with a Dutch Spotted shearling at 520gns from the same home.
Suffolk shearling
Ian Spedding, Wolsingham, sold a Suffolk shearling at 510gns.
The dispersal of continental ewes and mid-May born lambs from D. and M. Lowes, Barningham, saw the 36 MV-accredited Beltex, Texel and Blue Texel cross ewes with 63 lambs average £136.67/life.
Auctioneers: Darlington Farmers Auction Mart.
Boastful sold at 2,750gns, while the best of the fresh heifers topped at 2,700gns twice for daughters of Blumenfield Sedona and Invictus. Autumn calvers and dry cows due in September and October sold to 2,350gns twice. A December calved third calver by Cookiecutter Harper, due again in January, sold at 2,700gns, while in-calf heifers topped at 2,250gns.
Norwegian Red cross
Outwith the dispersal, a Norwegian Red cross heifer from Dave Hunt and family, South Brent, sold for £2,000.
Bradley Foss, Totnes, sold three Ayrshire and Ayrshire cross cows and
heifers at £1,900, £1,800 and £1,700.
Tom and Helen Garland, Budleigh Salterton, sold a Shorthorn third calver to £1,600. F.E. Murley and Son, Penzance, sold two fresh Jersey heifers at £1,450 and £1,250, along with older Jersey dry cows which topped at £1,200.
R.W. and J.F.W. Fisk, Isle of Wight, sent a consignment of 32 pedigree Jersey four- to 12-month-old heifers from their Brighstone herd, topping 640gns four times.
Top price was the shearling ewe, Haydon Yoyo, from the Haydon Flock Partnership, Somerset, which sold for 3,350gns.
Lleyn females in demand online
THERE was a flying trade for pure and cross-bred Lleyn females at the breed society’s first online sale, held in conjunction with Harrison and Hetherington.
Top price was £280/head for 10 pedigree shearling ewes by Southam Kinsman, from C. and A. Kennedy, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, which sold to Robin McMurtry, Co Antrim. Three separate lots sold for £250/ head. The first were 10 pedigree shearling ewes from Twose Farms, Maenhir, Carmarthenshire, which went to Aled Evans, Whitemill, Carmarthen. D.N. Bennett and Son, Plasucha, sold two pens of Lleyn Mule one-crop ewes and shearling gimmers, each for £250/head, bought by Charles Jones, Ddol, Powys.
Pedigree Lleyns
store cattle sale
Charolais bullock tops Penrith
THE show and sale of 353 store cattle at Penrith topped at £2,195 for a 24-month Charolais bullock from M. Ridsdale and Son, Calthwaite. It sold to D. Barker, Scarborough, with the consignment of nine dairy-bred cattle averaging £1,773.89.
W.K. and D. Hall, Bells View, sold eight 24-month-old British Blue cross Holstein bullocks to average £1,736.25, topping at £1,875.
Champion honours went to Amy Wilson, Hardrigg Hall, with a 20-month-old Limousin cross bullock, which sold for £2,060 to Mr Barker.
The reserve champion from M.T.P. and S.D. Wills, Fawcett Park, was a British Blue cross Limousin bullock, which made £,1985. Their consignment averaged £2,040 and included the toppriced heifer at £2,135.
Dairy-bred heifers
Dairy-bred heifers topped at £1,775 for a 22-month-old for Simmental cross Normande from J. Findley, Penrith, with 24-month-old Aberdeen-Angus heifers from N.M. Strong, Appleby in Westmorland, selling to £1,445.
Auctioneers: Penrith and District Farmers Mart.
E. and D. Jones, Lluest Wen, Powys, topped at £240 twice for two pens of 25 pedigree Lleyn shearling gimmers, which both went to Georgia Delves, Churchstoke.
A pen of five Texel cross Lleyn shearling gimmers from Carmont Valley Livestock, Aberdeenshire, sold for £220/head to Jordan Green, Drumburn, Moray.
J. and A. Barrow and Sons, Appleby, sold a pen of 25 ewe lambs at £150/ head to James Hartley, Clitheroe. Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
Top price per head for 10 pedigree shearling ewes by Southam Kinsman, from C. and A. Kennedy, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.
Fully Catalogued Sale from some of the Leading Herds in the Midlands and Surrounding Counties. A TREMENDOUS ENTRY already received from: Bentygrange (4), Braemarhouse (5), Broomhouse (10), Brundcliffe (3), Chardan (2), Havendale (6), Shieldhouse (5), Sterndale (11), Also 6 Procross Calves & Ped Lim Stock Bull (18mths) from Messrs Marshall
TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST 2024 11AM
For Further Details & Catalogues Contact (01889) 562811 Ref: MEE Store Cattle Sales
400 STORE CATTLE
THIS SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2024 Store Sheep Sales
BREEDING SHEEP SALE – 550 HEAD Rams, Shearlings & Ewes - MV & Non MV Sections THIS SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2024
Sale of Store Lambs & Breeding Sheep
Incl Show of Shearlings Ewes
SATURDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2024
Entries close 30th August
Fat/Barrens: Graham Watkins 07976 370894
Dairies: Meg Elliott 07967 007049 Stores: Mark Elliott 07973 673092 Sheep: Robert Watkins 07929 946652 Visit us at www.leekauctions.co.uk
GENUINE DISPERSAL SALE
For Mr A Dickin (Having relinquished the tenancy) TRACTORS, MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, EQUIPMENT & FODDER
At BROOKHOUSE FARM, TOM HILL, TANWORTH IN ARDEN, SOLIHULL, B94 5AD
THURSDAY 22nd AUGUST at 3.00pm
Auctioneers: 01905 769770
LUDLOW LIVESTOCK MARKET
SATURDAY 17th AUGUST
107th Official Breed Sale of Ryelands & Coloured Ryelands Show at 8.30am, Sale at 11.30am
Ryelands: 76 Females & 45 Males
Coloured Ryelands: 128 Females & 58 Males
WORCESTER LIVESTOCK MARKET
MONDAY 26th AUGUST & TUESDAY 27th AUGUST
English National Texel Show & Sale
Monday 26th August
Judging at 1.30pm, Sale of Shearling Ewes at 5.00pm Tuesday 27th August
Sale of Shearling Rams followed by Ram Lambs at 10.00am
Online bidding will be available via Marteye.
For catalogues please contact Worcester Market on 01905 769770
Leek Smith eld • Barn elds
Leek
Sta ordshire • ST13 5PY
FARMSTOCK AUCTIONEERS, BROKERS & VALUERS
BORDERWAY MART, CARLISLE
Tel: 01228 406200
PRIZE MONEY - PRIMESTOCK
1st- £20 - 2nd £10 - 3rd £5
SUPREME CHAMPION £100
RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION £50
Monday 19th August
Prize shows and sales of PRIME SHEEP
Lambs to be penned by 9.45am Judging – 10.00am
Sale – 9.45am with cast ewes and rams followed prime lamb
Classes for: 2 Beltex x, 2 Texel x, 2 Any other Continental x, 5 Suffolk x, 5 Mule, Single lamb – any breed Young handlers (class to be split by age on the day)
PRIME CATTLE
Judging – 9.00am Sale – 11.00am
Prime Bulls, Prime Cattle, Cast Cows
All animals to be penned by 8.45am prompt Classes for Best dairy bull, beef bull, Bullocks/heifers/cows Limousin, British Blue, Any other breed.
Top priced dairy cow - £20
STORE LAMBS
Show 10.00am Sale 11.00am
Classes for Pens of 5 Mules, Continentals and Suffolks
Please advise entries – Joe Bowman 07736 883670 or Rory Livesey 07535 0015441
Wednesday 21st August
Prize shows and sales of 900 STORE CATTLE
Schedule of Classes
Show 9.00am Sale 10.00am
Classes for Bullocks & Heifer – Limousin x, British Blue x, Any other Continental x Anniversary Sales kindly sponsored by
WEANERS & YOUNG BULLS
12.00noon
YOUNG
CALVES
Show 9.30am – Sale 10.00am
Prize money 1st - £20 2nd - £10 3rd -£5
Classes for Continental bred bull/heifer Native bred bull/heifer
50 BEEF BREEDING CATTLE 10.30am
PEDIGREE DAIRY DAY
258 DAIRY CATTLE SELLING
Wednesday 21st August
Show 10.00am Sale 11.00am
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO VIEW SALE LOTS PRIOR TO SALE
130 Cows/Heifers In Milk - 33 In Calf Heifers –95 Bulling/Maiden Heifers Sell No.1 source for quality milkers in the UK QUALITY MILKERS
Quality milkers producing oceans of milk sell in this sale all bred from herds with excellent health status. Prefixes include: Adams, Ashberry, Bankview, Chapelhouse, Colvend, Denmire, Dunnerdale, Drumtall, Errolston, Espland, Holehouse, Kingcaird, Lesmay, Lismulligan, Ploughlands, Nethervalley, Newstyle, Parkend, Potstown, Stowbeck, Whiteflat, Wolfa, Woodclose Followed by the
BOCLAIR BRIGHT FUTURES SALE
For J. Brewster, Boclair Farm, Bearsden, Glasgow 31 COWS & HEIFERS IN MILK - 33 IN-CALF HEIFERS – 65 BULLING & MAIDEN HEIFERS
The BOCLAIR Holstein herd is phenomenal on PRODUCTION, TYPE, LONGEVITY & GENETICS. Without exception this is the BEST group of Holstein cattle to ever sell from the Boclair herd. The commercial aspects of this herd should not be ignored with a large emphasis placed on health & fertility traits. Currently production is running at 12963kgs 3.95% 3.26% with 63 Excellent cows (7 Excellent 94 & 6 Excellent 93) There are 128 Very Goods this includes 26 Very Good milking heifers! Yes, the BEST from the Boclair herd sell. The first animal to sell in this special event will be the Champion Heifer & Champion Udder from the recent Lanarkshire Summer Herd Competition.
Boclair Lambda Lilyan 2 VG86 2yr. The heifers selling are bred from all the BIG NAMES within the herd including; Hope, Royalty, Elegance, Barbara, Roxy, Vision, Marie, Joan & Dellia. The special group of milkers are a standout group with the BEST daughters of Lambda, Haniko & King Doc selling. The in-calf heifers are due from September to Pursuit, Zoar & Conway sexed; the bulling/maiden heifers are sired mostly by Lambda with the majority bred from several generations of EX or VG dams. Followed by the
LISMULLIGAN BRITISH FRIESIAN HEIFER SALE
For B Lawson & Sons, North Cassingray, Largoward, Fife
LISMULLIGAN HERD are selling 27 bulling & maiden heifers from their well bred British Friesian herd. This well grown and well bred group represent the very BEST of Lismulligan with stars from the herd featuring throughout the catalogue.
600 BREEDING EWES & RAMS
Friday 23rd August - 10.30am
Reduction sale of 31 PEDIGREE DUTCH SPOTTED SHEEP
Friday 23rd August – 1.00pm
From the WESTBROAD flock on behalf of Ian Johnstone, West Broadlands Farm, Fenwick
The DEERSLET herd is a modern highly productive herd that ticks all the boxes for forward thinking milk producers. Current production is 8842kgs 4.31% butterfat 3.23% protein (2 x milking) at the most recent milk recording the herd averaged 31.04kgs with an av. cell count of 79, from grazing and semi TMR during the winter. This is a youthful herd with 47 heifers in milk, 27 second calvers, 13 third calvers, 6 forth calvers and 12 fifth calvers selling. The herd calves all year round with 34 Summer Calvers selling. Most of the cows and in calf heifers carry female pregnancies with 33 cows due from now until December. An additional 26 In Calf heifers will calve before Christmas. The milkers are a phenomenal group with 20 Excellent cows selling, this includes 4 Excellent 94 pointed cows and a maximum scored Excellent 93 third lactation cow, Deerslet Applicable Binky EX93; 43 Very Good cows sell, including 3 VG88 cows in their second lactation and 16 Very Good milking heifers sell. There are an additional 28 Good Plus milking heifers. The youngstock that feature in this special dispersal sale are outstanding and are bred by the best sires in the breed including ANIMATION, PEAK ALTAGULLIVER, ALTAPOWERBUCK, CRUSHABULL, ALTAEXEMPLARY and ALTAGETRICH. They are bred from deep cow families with Excellent and Very Good dams backed up by generations of dams that have classified in the top grades. This wonderful group of heifers comprise of 61 In calf heifers (26 due from now until Christmas), 30 bulling heifers (13-17 months old), 57 yearling heifers under 12 months sell (27 born in 2024) Herd Health
The herd is vaccinated for BVD and Lepto. Testing for Johnes has been ongoing for years and the herd is free of the disease. The herd is in an annual TB testing area and there has never been TB within the herd. The last herd test was on 5th August 2024. PLEASE ORDER YOUR CATALOGUE TODAY.
Annual Production sale of BELTEX x TEXEL & DUTCH TEXEL BREEDING SHEEP
Friday 30th August – 12.30pm
From the Tercrosset Flock for James & Gill Whiteford
150 shearling rams, 200 shearling gimmers
PEDIGREE SHEEP DAY
Friday 30th August
Shows and Sale of MV accredited rams and females
568 BLUE TEXEL
Show - Thursday - 5.00pm
Sale Friday 9.30am
306 rams 4 aged, 140 shearlings, 162 lambs
262 females 8 ewes, 196 shearling, 58 lambs
CHAROLLAIS
Show 8.30am Sale 10.00am 46 Rams 23 aged & shearlings, 23 lamb Females 47 ewes (15 pens)
Show Friday 6.30pm Sale 10.30am 71 Rams 29 shearling, 42 lamb 42 Females 5 ewes, 34 gimmers, 3 lambs
EURO CONTINENTAL EWES & SHEARLING GIMMERS
Friday 6th September
Entries close Monday 26th August
Show and sale of HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN & BRITISH FRIESIAN BULLS
Monday 9th September
On behalf of Border & Lakeland Holstein Club
Entries close Friday 16th August
Show and sale
SHETLAND SHEEP
Saturday 21st September
Entries close Friday 23rd August
Registered and unregistered JACOB SHEEP
Saturday 21st September
Entries close Friday 16th August
COLLECTIVE SALE OF SMALL TOOLS
Within Borderway Mart
Thursday 26th September
Entries close Wednesday 18th September
PEDIGREE SHEEP FAIR
Shows & Sales of MV accredited rams and females
Friday 27th September
BELTEX
Entries close Friday 23rd August
Saturday 28th September TEXEL
On behalf of Solway & Tyne Texel Breeders Club
Pre-sale entries close with Society Sunday 18th August
ROUSSIN, BLUE TEXEL, HAMPSHIRE DOWN, BADGERFACE TEXEL
Entries close Friday 30th August
Pedigree Beef Day
Show and sale of
ABERDEEN ANGUS CATTLES
Wednesday 2nd October
Entries close Friday 16th August
BRITISH BLUE, CHAROLAIS (non Society), HEREFORD & LINCOLN RED CATTLE
Entries close Friday 30th August
Show and sale of PEDIGREE LIMOUSIN BULLS
Friday 18th & Saturday 19th October
Entries close Friday 23rd August
ONLINE SALE
WORKING SHEEPDOG & UNBROKEN PUPPIES
Bidding starts 30th August finishing from 1st September
Entries close Wednesday 21st August
SALE
OF MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS & HEAVY PLANT
Sale bidding starts 10.00am Wednesday 4th September until 10.00am Thursday 5th September
Entries close Wednesday 28th August or contact David Holliday 07710 189804, or Iain Dick 07713 599791
KIRKBY STEPHEN
Tel: 07835
Prize show and sale of NEMSA GIMMER LAMBS
Friday 13th September (show Thursday evening 12th September) Entries close 10am Thursday 29th August LAZONBY MART
Tel: 01768 898313
Annual prize show and sale of 2500 STORE LAMBS & FEEDING EWES
Thursday 22nd August – 12.30pm Shoe 12noon Sale 12.30pm Pens of 10 or more LOCKERBIE MART
SALE
SHORTLIST REVEALED
It’s decision time as we reveal the shortlist for Mart’s the Heart Awards, so register your vote at britishfarmingawards.co.uk/martstheheart, scan the QR code below or send o the form on the opposite page.
Supported by
CARMARTHEN
In association with
HEXHAM AND NORTHERN
MARKET DRAYTON
CARMARTHEN Mart had a di icult few years preceding its closure in 2020, leading to the owners, Carmarthen County Council, to advertise a public tendering process. Nock Deighton Agricultural proved successful and reopened the mart in March 2022. It now sells 1,000 sheep, 100 dairy cattle, 250 calves, 250 store cattle and 70 barren cows weekly, as well as 300 weanlings and 80 bovine TB-restricted store cattle monthly, plus machinery. There is still room for improvement at Carmarthen, but it shows what a dedicated and hardworking team can achieve.
CLITHEROE CAFE
CLITHEROE CAFE is over the moon to be nominated for Cafe of the Year. In May 2021, it was invited to re-open and provide the catering facilities at Clitheroe Auction Mart. The menu has seasonal daily specials and caters for all tastes, from a bacon sandwich to a full carvery for any occasion. It serves co ee and a delicious selection of cakes and pastries made by its own on-site pastry chef. It uses only fresh local produce and is very proud of the team, who have helped create a welcoming and friendly environment for diners.
JOE BOWMAN
(Harrison and Hetherington)
JOE Bowman grew up on a farm near Carlisle, where early exposure to the agricultural lifestyle laid a strong foundation for his future career. In 2015, he joined Harrison and Hetherington and began his auctioneering journey by selling poultry and small machinery. Joe takes pride in working for both sellers and buyers, treating every client with the same level of respect and commitment whether they have one sheep or a thousand. He firmly believes in seller equality, ensuring that every sale is conducted fairly and transparently.
HEXHAM and Northern Marts is honoured and delighted to be recognised and nominated for this award. The company is renowned for having a warm welcome, its customer service, integrity and ambition and its core values. Perfectly situated near the A69 and A68 to serve the agricultural community of the north of England and the Scottish Borders, the centre provides great business opportunities and regularly holds social events for the wider community.
DOT’S CAFE, DARLINGTON
DOT’S Cafe is led by Dorothy Macdonald, a farmer’s daughter whose heritage spans six generations. Dorothy’s upbringing instilled a profound respect for farming and the environment. She supports this by sourcing local ingredients, turning them into hearty meals and homemade desserts. Dorothy champions British farming, promoting its importance with passion and education. Dot’s Cafe serves as a welcoming community hub where people gather for good food and conversation. Dorothy and her team ensure exceptional service, going the extra mile to make everyone feel at home.
MEGAN DOWSON (Darlington Farmers Auction)
GROWING up around farms in the local area, Megan knew the importance of auctions. Since joining Darlington in 2022, she has learned the trade from the bottom up, and recently established a calf sale. She has enjoyed both the time in the rostrum and on-farm building relationships with farmers. Her aim as an auctioneer is to forge, encourage and build on trusting relationships, being a constant in the customer’s life when everything else in the industry can be volatile.
SKIPTON
MARKET Drayton is honoured to be shortlisted for this award and gives its sincere thanks to all its clients who use the market and have contributed to its success. It is the team ethos from director through to drover who all display that passion and ‘can do’ approach in order to make the market thrive. Its aim is to enhance its client’s livestock marketing experience by bringing together the rural community and o ering a facility where service and trade matter. Coupled with ever-changing technology, it tries to keep its buyers and sellers informed on a daily and weekly basis.
THE MARKET CAFE, HEREFORD
THE Market Cafe has been run by Jenifer Gore and family for the last 15 years. With all food made to order, the team provides a heartwarming service to all customers from near and far. Their focus is on using local ingredients and creating good, wholesome food, but listening and caring is just as important. The cafe also champions and donates to many charities and support visits from the NHS Health Check team and local health counsellors who provide invaluable support for all.
OF THE YEAR
GEORGE STARKIE (Clitheroe Auction)
ALTHOUGH not originally from a farming background, George always dreamed of having a career in agriculture. He first started working at Clitheroe as a clerk, then as a drover, eventually moving on to auctioneering – all while studying a degree in agriculture at Myerscough College. Although he loves the auctioneering side of the role, George says he also enjoys meeting new people and building long-lasting relationships with customers, which is key for an auction mart to thrive.
SKIPTON Auction Mart, owned and operated by CCM Auctions, serves the needs of customers both local and countrywide, with a full range of prime, store, breeding, pedigree, sheepdog and machinery sales. Sales are two days per week year-round, rising to four to six days at busy times. The compact team of auctioneers, o ice and yard sta strive to o er the best possible service they can to all clients at every stage of the marketing experience, welcoming customers to its modern and easily accessible mart on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
THE ROSTRUM CAFE, SELBY JUSTINE Bloom took over the running of the cafe more than five years ago along with a small team of ladies, who meet you with a warm and cheeky welcome. They serve good, old-fashioned, hearty, locallysourced, quality food – from a bacon butty, to a traditional full English breakfast, to the highly acclaimed roast dinners, where all meat is supplied by regular wholesale buyers at the mart. All cakes are homemade by Justine, who also o ers outside catering and private functions.
BEN WILSON
(Thirsk Farmers Auction)
NOW 18, Ben first started selling cast sheep on joining Thirsk at 16, and now sells all the store and breeding sheep, taking over the pig section last November and selling a few cattle. Coming from a family farm, he appreciates the role auction marts play in the agricultural industry, not just for business but for friendships and socialising. He says that since he first picked up a gavel and has been able to do what he loves from such a young age, he has been living the dream.
AUCTION MART OF THE YEAR
AUCTION CAFE OF THE YEAR
STAND BEHIND YOUR MARKETS
THIS YEAR’S JUDGING PANEL
CHRIS DODDS
Executive secretary for the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association which represents livestock markets in England and Wales.
RICHARD WEBBER
Director of Shearwell Data, the UK’s largest animal tag manufacturer, based at Whedmoor Cross, Exmoor. He also farms 405 hectares.
MYSTERY JUDGE
This year’s mystery judge of the Auction Cafe category will remain anonymous until the awards evening.
THE Livestock Auctioneers’ Association is delighted to sponsor the awards, which acknowledge the role auctioneers and their businesses play in the livestock industry and the wider agricultural and rural community, a key part of which is ensuring farmers get a fair and true price for their stock. The last year has demonstrated
MART’S THE HEART
the importance of the live market when demand outstrips supply, driving prices and creating trends. This is a great opportunity to recognise the role auctions play within the industry.
Submit your vote for the chance to win a £200 M&S voucher.
WHAT WILL THE FINALISTS RECEIVE?
ALL finalists will have their status raised, with a profile in print and online during public voting. Winners of all three awards will be guests at the British Farming Awards, with their awards presented by Farmers Guardian, the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association and Shearwell Data.
SHEARWELL Data is delighted to be continuing its support of the Mart’s the Heart Awards. Livestock markets are an integral part of the livestock farming community. Not only are livestock markets a place of business, but also a space where farmers can seek advice and see friends.
Photographs of the presentation will be made available to winners and their companies for their own use and will appear in FG.
Each winner will feature in an in-depth profile in print and online, and will receive a prestigious, cast iron commemorative plaque.
Livestock markets and the live sale rings are key to a buoyant and competitive livestock farming sector and the future of the UK red meat sector.
RICHARD WEBBER Director, Shearwell Data.
Go to britishfarmingawards.co.uk/mart, or fill in and return this form
Fortnightly Sale of 6000 STORE LAMBS Entries for catalogue close Friday 16th August
Wednesday 28th August
Fortnightly Dairy Sale followed by Dispersal Sale of 60 Pedigree British Friesian Cows In Milk & Dry TB4, Closed Herd, Cubicles, Silage/Grass System On Behalf of JC & DC Marshall & Sons, Dacre Contact Fred Spurgeon 07713 075 660
Friday 30th/ Saturday 31st August
Two Day Show & Sale of
10,000 BREEDING EWES & GIMMER SHEARLINGS Entries for catalogue close Friday 16th August
Tuesday 3rd September
Annual Sale of 1000 Store Bullocks & Heifers Entries for catalogue close Friday 23rd August
Tuesday 10th September
Premier Show & Sale of Continental & Suffolk x Gimmer Lambs
Friday 13th & Saturday 14th September
Two Day Show & Sale of 15,000 Gimmer Lambs
NofE Mule, Chev Mule, Dales Mule & Masham
Entries for catalogue close Wednesday 28th August
Richard Turner & Son
We take a farmer-centric approach to media.
Our job is to help farmers run their farms more e ciently and make better purchasing decisions
NORTH WEST
AUCTIONS
Tel: 01524 63308
Monday 19th August
10.30am PRIME LAMBS & CAST SHEEP
Followed by OPENING SALE OF STORE LAMBS
Wednesday 21st August 10.30am SHOW & SALE OF 800 BREEDING EWES & SHEARLINGS Followed by ‘LANCASTER LADS’ Show & Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams
Wednesday 18th September 10.30am SHOW & SALE OF GIMMER LAMBS
Followed by Second Sale of Breeding Ewes & Rams
Catalogue Entries by Friday 23rd August
Saturday 17th August 10.30am
Sale of RARE & MINORITY LIVESTOCK BREEDS Sale of POULTRY, WATERFOWL & EQUIPMENT
Monday 19th August 10.30am
Annual Production Sale of THE WHITELEY HEY FLOCK On behalf of Mr Paul Slater In conjunction with Darlington Farmers Auction Mart 700 Top Quality Texel & Beltex x MV Accredited Rams & Females- 200 Shearlings Rams, 100 2/3 Shear Ewes, 200 Gimmer Shearlings & 200 Ewe Lambs
Tuesday 20th August 1pm PRIME LAMBS & CAST SHEEP
The herd was established in 2011 with foundation females from Kingston Lacy, Kersdown & Colleton. Stock bulls from the world renowned Whitefield Herd have been used including the 2023 Herds Competition 2 Year old bull
Saturday 24th August 10am SHOW & SALE OF 4000 BREEDING EWES & SHEARLINGS
Thursday 29th August
10.30am SHOW & SALE OF CONTINENTAL & SUFFOLK GIMMER LAMBS
Followed by FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF STORE LAMBS
Catalogue Entries by Wednesday 21st August
Thursday 5th September ‘LADS NIGHT OUT’ Evening Show & Sale of Terminal Sire Breeding Rams
Friday 13th September 10am
AMBLESIDE FAIR - Show & Sale of Mule, Masham, Rough Fell Mule&Cheviot Mule Gimmer Lambs Catalogue Entries by Friday 23rd August
Saturday 14th September 10am
GREAT ANNUAL SALE OF NORTH OF ENGLAND MULE GIMMER LAMBS Catalogue Entries by Friday 23rd August
Saturday 21st September - PEDIGREE SHEEP DAY
Society Sales on Behalf of Northern Beltex Club, Blue Texel, Badger Face & Dutch Spotted. Catalogue Entries by Monday 19th August
Followed By Second Sale of Breeding Ewes Catalogue Entries by Wednesday 4th September
Friday 27th September– DRAFT EWE DAY Catalogue Entries by Monday 9th September
...Yorkshire’s Friendly Mart
SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST
SALE OF STORE & BREEDING CATTLE INC.
AAx hfr & bull calf, 5 AAx hfrs,13-15m,R Burton
Sim Cow & Lim Calf & Ch Bull, 8mth, J Wainwright
4 Saler Hfrs, 15mths, DH Pickford
2 Ped Shorthorn Strs/Hfrs, 12-13mths, R Watson
9 AAx BBx Str/Hfr, 21-24mth CD & J Codd
Stores, Stirks,Bulls & OTMs
Store & Breeding Sheep, inc Store lambs & Feeding Ewes
3 Breeding Boer Goats, R Watson
Store & Breeding Pigs Pigs 9am Sheep 9.45am Cattle 11am
WEDNESDAY 21st AUGUST
Dedicated Slaughter Market
305 Prime Cattle 450 Prime Sheep 175 Prime Pigs Pigs 9am Sheep 9.45am Cattle 10.30am
DATES FOR THE DIARY
07768 594535 www.selbymart.co.uk
SPECIAL SALES OF BREEDING & STORE SHEEP 14th SEPTEMBER & 12th OCTOBER Entries Invited
CHRISTMAS SHOW & FAIR TUESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER
Contact Office for Details MART OFFICE: 01757 703347 RICHARD HAIGH 07768 594535
www.selbymart.co.uk
www.hawesmart.co.uk
Friday 16th August 10:30am Sale of 2029 Store Lambs Tuesday 20th August 10am 1500 Prime Lambs 500 Cast Ewes & Rams 20 Calves at 10:30am Evening Show & Sale of 652 Mule & Cont Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes, including from M/s JR & LA Capstick, Killington, annual consignment of 140 Mule Shlgs, 50 ¾ Texel Shlgs, 20 Texel 1-3 Crop Ewes, 10 Chev Mule 1 Crop Ewes, 10 Mule 2 Crop Ewes. Sale of Crossing Rams to follow. Friday 30th August 10:30am Show & Sale of 3000 Store Lambs. Judging 9:30am for Pens of 10 Gimmer Lambs and Pens of 20 Store Lambs. Sponsored by O’Reillys Accountants. Catalogue closes Thurs 22nd Aug 12 noon Ian Atkinson 07957 256337 Kenton Foster 07711 469280.
Office: 01325 464 529
The Darlington Farmers Auction Mart Humbleton Park I Darlington I DL2 2XX
FRIDAY 23RD AUGUST
FULL FARM DISPERSAL SALE on behalf ofJ E Stobbs & Son, Killerby Hall
Sale to be held on site at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, Sale to Commence at 10.30AM
Inventory
New Holland T7050 (2007)6600 hours
New Holland T6080 (2009)5300 hours
Merlo P32.6 Top (2015) To Be Sold With Pallet Tines 7550 hours
Marston 10t Tipping Trailer, Bomford Pro-Cut Hedge Cutter Kvernerland 5 Furrow Plough ; Kvernerland Haybob; Murray 4 Spike Bale Spike; 3 Leg Sub Soiler; Coal Bunker; Qty Glazed Troughs; 1000L Diesel Tank; Clarke Water Pump; Clay Pigeon Trap; Double Ladders; Muck Grab; Pallet Forks; Bale Trailer; IBC; Rain Water Collection Tank; Front Tractor Weight Block; Bird Scarer; Qty Of Concrete Pannels From 8ft To 15ft; Qty Galvanised Field Gates; Qty Galvanised Gates With Mesh Bottom; Selection of Small Tools; Electric Cement Mixer Livestock Equipment
Ifor Williams Livestock Trailer CW Sheep Decks; Sheep Quad Trailer; IAE Sheep Weigh Crate; Qty Small Galvanised Water Troughs; Sheep Dressing Stand; Qty Plastic Sheep Water Troughs; 12 Calf Pen Front; Qty Plastic Sheep Feed Troughs; Wall Mounted Hay Racks; Qty Galvanised Sheep Feed Troughs; 2 X Cattle Feed Troughs; Qty Sheep Ring Feeders; Qty Wooden Sheep Hurdles; Qty Sheep Hay Racks; IAE Lamb Creep Feeder; Qty Galvanised Sheep Hurdles; Boswell Lamb Weigh Crate; Feed Bin; Pig Drinkers; Qty Wooden Electric Fence Posts; Molasses Licks; Inputted Items
Welger Farmer RP520 Round Baler (2001) ,Izuzu Dmax 2.5L (2014) 170,000miles 8FT Ifor Williams Stock Trailer, 6x3m Walk through troughs, 3 free standing sheep barriers I with access gate, 4 x 15ft barriers with access gates; Man, basket for pallet forks; Parmiter post knocker, Clark Warrior 30 compressor with draper ALG Air Gauge,16ft sheep race c/w shedding gate and guillotine gate , as new IAE lamb Weigh, Mchale 3 point Linkage bale Wrapper 991 LBER (2004) ; Wearing Samasz twin Drum mower; Fraser Muck Master spreader 550, D W Tomlin 6ft by 3ft6 sheep Quad Trailer; 24ft Wide Poly Tunnel 11 hoops CW stabilizing frame work only (clips and bolts not included) , flat roller , Class rollant 46 round baler, tipping skip,Qty firewood ; Qty telegraph poles
WEDNESDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER
Save the date - Full Farm Dispersal Sale
Morpeth, Northumberland
Full Details to Follow in coming weeks
Entries invited at digression auctioneer
Contact for details
Rebecca Wilson 07593 975163 (Machinery)
Scott Ferrie 07557 260653 (Auctioneer)
John Wharton 07912 946549 (Auctioneer)
Oliver Chapman 07887 653442 (Auctioneer)
Megan Dowson 07471 823606 (Trainee Auctioneer)
Stephen Dodsworth 07946 514154 (Fieldsperson)
Tracey Gilhespy 07867 974688 (Fieldsperson)
FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST – 11AM
EXETER LIVESTOCK CENTRE, EXETER, DEVON EX2 8FD LARAM HOLSTEINS
SELECT SALE
On behalf of Mr AR Mitchell, St Kew, Bodmin
The Sale comprises 120 head to include In Calf Heifers, Maiden Heifers, Heifer Calves & Embryo Packages.
Guest consignments from Willsbro, Dulais, Riverdane & TLC.
World Class Families to include Allie, Amber, Ashlyn, Autumn, Bambi, Brenda, Cosmopolitan, Elegance, Erle, Ghost, Hana, Lila Z, Mae, Missy, Pammy, Papoose, Playmate, Rachel, Rae, Sharon, Sheri & Tyrol
Sale in conjunction with
TUESDAY 3RD SEPTMEBER – 10AM
On behalf of Messrs D Goodwin & Sons *** TB4 AREA
v All Year Round Calving
v 419 In Milk & Dry Cows & Heifers
v 34 In Calf Heifers Due October-November
AUCTION MARTS
LIVESTOCK AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS Find us on Facebook
LONGTOWN MART Tel (01228) 791215
EVERY THURSDAY - PRIMESTOCK
Prime & Cast Ewes at 7am followed at approx. 12.30pm by Prime Lambs
Cast & Feeding Cows at 1pm
Tuesday 20th August at 10am
August Sale of 300 Store & Breeding Cattle
Special Sale of Early Season Breeding Sheep including 300 Mule stock ewes (1-3 crop) & 300 Mule, Texel x & Cheviot shearling gimmers
5,000 Store Lambs including Special Sale of Mule Wether Lambs
Ian Rutter Memorial Trophy for Champion Pen of Mule Lambs
Monday 26th August at 11.30am
Show & Sale for the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society 30 Pedigree Beef Shorthorn Females Cows with calves & foot, In-calf & Maiden Heifers
Final dispersal of the Featherstone herd for Messrs A. & D. Whitehead
In the mart & live online via Marteye.ie
Followed by Pedigree & Non-pedigree Beef Breeding Cattle of all classes, entries invited
Tuesday 27th August at 10am
The Principal Sale in the UK of 10,000 Cheviot Mule Breeding Sheep
Sponsored by Tarff Agricultural Merchants Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs & Shearlings Sale of Cheviot Mule Cross & Half Bred Ewe Lambs & Shearlings
Wednesday 28th August at 10.30am
6,500 Store Lambs
Monday 19th August
Weekly Fatstock Sale
Thursday 22nd August at 11am
Catalogue Sale of 400 Shearlings followed by Rams, Ewes & 500 Store Lambs
Saturday 24th August at 10.30am
Monthly Machinery & Sundries Sale
Monday 26th August
Usual Sale of Fatstock Inc Annual Bank Holiday Young Handlers Show Fur & Feather Sale at approx. 12noon Following sale of Fatstock
Saturday 7th September at 10am
Farm Dispersal Sale on Behalf of J R Sayer, Otley Comp 14 Tractors, Telehandler, Drott & JCB
Grassland & Livestock Equipment
See website for Handbill & Facebook for pictures
Ian Smith - Mart Manager 07738 043771 Office 01943 462172 wfam @auctionmarts.com
To be Sold In the Exhibition Hall @ 2pm Annual consignment of 50 Texel & Texel x Homebred Shearling Rams from Gop Farm, Trelawnyd
In conjunction with weekly Sale of Store Lambs @10am, Calves @10am, Stirks @11.30am, Ewe Lambs @12noon through the New ring Store Cattle @12.30pm followed by Barren Cows Rams @1pm in the Sheep pens 2,000 Breeding Ewes @3pm through the New ring Visit us @ www.ruthinfarmers.co.uk or facebook for much more weekly entries *** *** ***
James Morrish - Market Manager 01200445376
Capstick 07713075659 Jack Pickup 07710708326
O’Neill 07706347505 Matthew Middleton 07860659803
Saturday 17 August
9.30am WEEKLY CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS
2569 + HEAD
Enquiries to Matt Middleton 10am 1 SHEEPDOG PUP, 1 GOAT, 530 MULE & CONTINENTAL SHEARLINGS to inc 1st Show, 454 EWES, 6 RAMS
12.30pm 1577 STORE LAMBS
Catalogue online. Enquiries Rachel Capstick
Thursday 22 August
10.30am PRIME BEEF followed by CULL CATTLE 10.30am REARING CALVES
11.00am WEEKLY DAIRY entries to Eleanor
12.30pm STRIKS entries to the office by Tuesday 20 12noon
Saturday 24 August
9.30am WEEKLY CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS
10.00am BREEDING & STORE CATTLE SALE entries to office by Tuesday 20 12noon
Thursday 29 August
10.30am PRIME BEEF followed by CULL CATTLE 10.30am REARING CALVES
11.00am WEEKLY DAIRY entries to Eleanor
ANNUAL TWLIGHT TUP SALE – Tues 10th Sept entries close Tue 27th Aug
SEASONAL SHEEP SHOW AND SALES
Sat 31st Aug - 2nd MULE & CONT SHEARLINGS
Sat 7 Sept - 1st MULE & CONT GIMMER LAMBS
Tue 10 Sept TWILIGHT TUP SALE
Sat 14th Sept - HORNED & HILL GOING inc HERDWICKS
Sat 28 Sept – 2nd MULE & CONT GIMMER LAMBS Sat 12 Oct- OCTOBER BREEDING FAIR OF SHEEP
Thurs 22nd- Sat 24th AugustIntake of Items until Thurs 15th August Via appointment.
Sale of Mule & Continental Ewes & Shearlings
Friday 30th August – Entries close Tues 20th Aug
Sale of Vintage & Classic Tractors plus Associated Parts & Machinery-
Saturday 31st August Pre Sale catalogued entries close Thurs 22nd August.
info@ashleywaller.co.uk www.ashleywaller.co.uk www.easyliveauction.com FARM DISPERSAL SALE TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST 2024 AT 11.00AM. At HEYES HOUSE FARM, PIMBO LANE, UPHOLLAND SKELMERSDALE - w3w.co/hurt.feared.crowd On Instructions of the Exors. of J Abbott MF 4255 Tractor, FORD 4110, NH TS115, DB 996, MF 30 Combine Ford 420 Digger, Sanderson SB 45 TC Fork Lift, 2008 Freelander, Rover 90 Saloon, MF 30 Combine, Full Range of Cultivation Machinery to include. Kuhn HR 304 Power Harrow, Kuhn Muli-master 5F Rev. Plough, NH 945 Baler. Etc September Machinery Sale 17th September - third Tuesday only deliveries by 9th / 10th September 12noon Furniture, collectables and produce.
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FARMING ALONE?
Tired of a quiet farmhouse after a day in the fields? Plant the seeds of companionship with Friends1st, the offline introduction agency for farmers. Cultivate connections that blossom into meaningful relationships. Join us, where the harvest of love awaits. Your perfect match might be just a handshake away! Call ‘Friends1st’ on 0121 405 0941 to be introduced to someone just right. Act today to change tomorrow. www.friends1st. co.uk/book-a-call
Contractors
• Borehole Drilling
• Treatment & Filtration
• Water testing 01625 878411 www.blairdrilling.co.uk
FOR HEALTHY CALVES
* Freeze only Quality Colostrum *
* Thaw 4litre pack within 20mins *
* Feed immediately after birth * For more details contact
BRITMILK tel : 01387 750459 info@britmilk.co.uk www.britmilk.co.uk
J.P WHITTER (WATER WELL ENGINEERS) LTD
• BOREHOLE DRILLING FOR DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
• WORK CARRIED OUT TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD
• WATER SYSTEMS INSTALLED
• BOREHOLE PUMPING INSTALLATIONS
• 24HR BREAKDOWN SERVICE
• FREE QUOTATIONS AND SITE VISITS THE POTTERIES GARAGE SMALLBROOK LANE, LEIGH, WIGAN, LANCS, WN7 5PZ. TEL: 01942 871900. FAX: 01942 896843. Out of office: 01942 893660 Visit our Website www.waterwellengineers.co.uk Email: sally@waterwellengineers.co.uk
BRAND NEW & UNUSED Fibreglass
New & Used Bulk Milk Tanks
Second hand tanks currently available: Mueller 8000ltr, 9000 & 12,000 ltr Fabdec 4000ltr & 6000ltr
Packo RMIB 3800ltr & RMIB 6000 ltr
New Heat Recovery units in stock 01772 780806 www.ddcooling.co.uk
Portable Milking Machine
Complete with Honda engine and Electric motor. This unit is ready for work and can be delivered anywhere in the UK.
HEAVY DUTY replacement troughs, for any parlour. 01260 226261 (T)
DELAVAL BLUE Diamond 32/32 fast exit, 2010 MM25s transponders etc 01260 226261 (T)
CALF -O-TEL
Calf Hutches. Complete with fencing. A large selection of all animal and calf feeding equipment and all other associated products also available. Massive saving on list price Livestock Supplies Ltd. Ashley: 07831 887531 Office: 01829 260328 www.livestocksupplies.co.uk
We take a farmer-centric approach to media. Our job is to help farmers run their farms more e ciently and make better purchasing decisions
Offer a selection of bulls for sale. 15-24 months old. Easy Calving Good EBVS, Whole herd TB Tested, Accredited Johnes, lepto and BVD.
Tel: 07999 527108 Derbyshire (P)
SEAFIELD PEDIGREE ABERDEEN ANGUS BULLS
Tel: 077157 64351
BULLS FOR SALE
15 months old Ready to work TB4 - SAC premium health schemeHigh Health Status
Very high scan index, from top bloodlines. Easy Calving and very quiet
FORGELAND PEDIGREE ANGUS
A selection of top quality young bulls for sale. Now ready for work. SAC High health, TB4 , BVD, IBR Accredited. Red Tractor. Performance recorded. Senior Stock Bull Rawburn Jingo Eric.
Please phone Christopher Jackson 07748708106 Lancaster chris.mjackson@hotmail.co.uk
Phone Norman Office: 01924 299993 or Mob: 07971 100093
SAVERNAKE SUFFOLKS
50 Outdoor reared, grass fed, pedigree and commercial Suffolk shearling rams for sale
Vigorous modern type, with some New Zealand genetics, selected for low birth weight, high growth and muscling, and balanced terminal and maternal characteristics. MV accredited. Shearling ewes also available.
temperament & feet. Easy calving bulls.
SIMMENTAL PEDIGREE BULLS Tel: 07939 123950 Greater Manchester (T)
HEREFORD & ABERDEEN ANGUS CALVES
3-4 weeks, TB4. Tel: 01254702527
AA ABBERTON ANGUS bulls & heifers,TB1, biobest elite health 15 years accreditation IBR, BVD, Lepto Johnes - Tel: 01386 462534 or 07592 798555 abbertonaberdeenangus.co.uk
& Pets Two Polled Charolais Bulls Quiet, well grown. 18 Months old, ready for work.
WORKING GENES
WORKING GENES
Ready to work, delivered direct to your farm, very quiet, easy calving. Also females available. Health monitored, closed herd, full pedigree with each animal, Red tractor. Semen Available. At Your Service Quality Breeding, Hi Health 07891 781542 airedaleangus@outlook.com
Lancs (P) WORKING COLLIE Dog 3 years old. Tel: 07826 301357 Cumbria (P)
Miles Wise, North Yorkshire T: 07890 135183 | E: info@suffolkrams.co.uk
110683
www.whiteleyheyflock.co.uk
Bull & Ram Sale
Bull & Ram Sale
60 texel and 60 lleyn shearlings
Beltex X Texel X Charollais
Shearling Rams
45 Texel, 45 Lleyn Shearlings
45 Texel, 45 Lleyn Shearlings
Hardy active rams, grass fed only, performance recorded
Hardy active rams, grass fed only, Performance recorded 20 bulls (Sim, Luing, AA)
Hardy active rams, grass fed only, performance recorded
18 Bulls (Sim, Luing, AA)
Excellent conformation, tight skins, ready for work. Heptavac P. Naturally Reared, no corn
18 Bulls (Sim, Luing, AA)
Catalogue at www.incheochfarm.co.uk
Contact Mr Brocklehurst on 07764 196462 or 01260 223338
38 Heifers (Sim x Luing)
38 Heifers (Sim x Luing)
Neil McGowan 07788 100010
Catalogue at www.uagroup.co.uk
Catalogue at www.uagroup.co.uk
Neil McGowan 07788 100010
Neil McGowan 07788 100010
10th September
Online and on -farm Incheoch, Perth
Lleyn - MV Signet Flock 1448
On-farm Auction Incheoch, Perthshire Thurs 6th September
On-farm Auction Incheoch, Perthshire
Thurs 6th September
Heifers 2pm, Bulls 3pm, Rams 6pm
Heifers 2pm, Bulls 3pm, Rams 6pm
WORKING Bull
Enhancing profitability through Performance Recording.
Top 1-10% Index shearling tups, breeding for worm resistance and low-methane. Grass-fed only. Registered and commercial. Culland Hall Farm, Derbyshire 07802 887814
Mixed Pellets (Approx. 18% Protein/13 ME) £275 ex store
Biscon
CAUTION
We are currently aware of a number of fraudulent advertisers attempting to sell items within the classified section. Whilst we endeavour to protect our readers and pull these adverts before going to press, sometimes they may unfortunately appear in print.
Please be mindful before entering into any deals you PROCEED WITH CAUTION with the seller and do not part with money until goods are received.
Farmers Guardian are NOT responsible for any part of the transaction that takes place with the seller and the buyer.
Tel:01580212141
Property Landscape Conviction in market conditions prevail
Katie I’Anson’s advice on the current market
GRANTS SPECIAL
As expected following the Agricultural Transition, there has been a greater supply of land and rural property come to the market as farmers have looked to retire, release capital or rearrange their focus.
However, in turn, the uncertainty approaching the General Election and subsequent introduction of the Labour Government has contributed towards a stalling market.
Sellers are generating interest and welcoming viewings, but we are experiencing buyer uncertainty surrounding transactions, particularly around residential property and larger commercial units.
development, to achieve optimal BNG units.
Inevitably, some developers will have to seek credits or units from off-site locations, which may provide opportunities to those more rural and remote landowners.
What will happen to stamp duty? Interest rates? Am I better off buying now or waiting for more favourable conditions which may come later?
How these BNG agreements are assessed for Inheritance Tax Relief further down the line will influence landowners’ desires to enter into such long-term arrangements.
There are still questions being asked around the future of farming. Will we be farming with a food production focus or environmental custodianship? How can we integrate the Sustainable Farming Incentive into this land?
This leads on to the more general taxation queries derived from the rumours which came from the Labour camp that Inheritance Tax may be reformed.
Investment purchasers are wondering what the effects will be on rents short- and long-term.
Diversification
Landlords’ and owner/occupiers are further weighing up non-farming diversification ventures to derive greater, more secure returns, such as through solar farming.
There will be some opportunity for urban edged clients to dispose of more land for development in the new Government’s push for more housing, but what will the effects of this increased supply have on values?
The demand could be sufficient enough to succour prices, or an oversupply could further plateau the market or drive prices down.
With increased large-scale development will come the demand for large-scale Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) sites.
We anticipate that many landowner/sellers will be able to provide these on neighbouring sites to the
What is the general future of taxation reliefs? In more controlled off-market transactions, we are seeing clients rush through transactions to exploit the use of current reliefs before any big changes are implemented by the new Government.
The Autumn Budget may derive some answers to our questions. Coupled with lower interest rates, we might experience some more certainty and thus movement in the market.
All things considered, we continue to encourage investment under the present conditions as we have conviction in market conditions and values at present.
There is no guarantee how future policy may affect the wider market influences for good or for bad.
Katie I’Anson is a rural surveyor at Hardcastle Rural Surveyors. Call 07949 212 581 or 01765 658 525, or email katie@hardcastlerural.co.uk
Katie I’Anson
Trio of Farms to let on Bolton Abbey Estate
Home Farm, Halton East, Skipton
Skipton: 3.7 miles, Harrogate: 20 miles
South-facing beef and sheep unit in the village of Halton East. Semi-detached farmhouse with three good size reception rooms, kitchen, utility room, four double bedrooms and family bathroom. Farmyard sits across from the house with a range of modern and traditional buildings. Scale and location of holding make it well suited to a new or expanding commercial enterprise. 15 year FBT.
Council Tax Band = F | EPC = G.
About 206 acres | Guide to rent per annum of £35,000 - £40,000
Gamsworth Farm, Barden, Skipton
Skipton: 6.9 miles, Harrogate: 21 miles
Detached 3-4 bedroom farmhouse in idyllic location, perfect for a new entrant or lifestyle farming with opportunities to diversify. Attractive range of stone buildings surround the house which would lend themselves to conversion. Further modern and traditional buildings, 58 acres of grazing and mowing land. 15 year FBT.
Council Tax Band = E | EPC = E.
About 58 acres | Guide to rent per annum of £27,500
Sarah Hartley
Savills York 07815 032120
sarah.hartley@savills.com
Discover more
Matthew Watson
Savills York 07812 965312 mwatson@savills.com
Noska Farm, Storiths, Skipton
Skipton: 7.6 miles, Harrogate: 16 miles
Farmhouse, outbuildings, paddock and land. Available as a whole or in two lots. Lot 1: Farmhouse requires comprehensive refurbishment, currently bare shell, outbuildings would suit agricultural purposes or conversion to an alternative use subject to estate consent. Estate investment available subject to terms. Lot 2: Land.
In all c 62.5 acres of upland grazing. Whole Farm: 20 year FBT.
Council Tax Band = D | EPC = G.
About 64.5 acres | Guide to rent per annum of £20,000, available as whole or in two lots
Lot 1: About 2 acres, 20 year common law or commercial tenancy depending on the nature and extent of any diversification.
Lot 2: 62.5 acres, 5 year FBT.
Property Guide
l Planning ahead is key to success
By Alex Black
CAREFUL preparation is crucial when selling a farm or block of land if farmers want to avoid some of the pitfalls which can prolong the process.
This would not only involve thinking through how best to present and market a farm, but also asking the right questions about who to involve in the process and when, said David Slack, head of north estates and farm agency department at Strutt and Parker.
Having the right team in place could be the single most important decision, from agents to accountants and lawyers, who form the ‘three-legged stool of success’.
He said: “Getting it right means you have the best possible chance of achieving a great result with the least amount of stress possible, and can shave months off the time it takes.”
He added all parties should be instructed as early as possible in the process – at least a month before launch, but preferably earlier.
Agents value the property and should advise on any ways to boost its value, such as strategic lotting, and on the most appropriate sale method, as well as liaising with other parties after a deal has been negotiated.
Accountant
Mr Slack highlighted that getting the right accountant was important because the way in which a farm was sold could impact the tax position.
“For example, they will be able to identify what reliefs from Capital Gains Tax may be available and the
LAND VALUES VARIABLE
ENGLISH agricultural land values are variable, with arable values ranging from £6,500/acre to £17,000/acre in the first half of the year, according to Strutt and Parker.
Analysis of the Farmland Database, which tracks sales of publicly marketed land over 100 acres, showed an average arable land price of £11,000/acre, which was near to record levels. The market was more location-driven, with many ‘flying out of the door’ while others took longer to sell.
Over 59,800 acres were listed in the first half of 2024 (35% above the five-year average), and
Avoid unnecessary delays when selling
All parties involved in a sale should be instructed as early as possible in the process, said David Slack of Strutt and Parker.
most tax-efficient way to manage the proceeds of the sale,” he said.
A common source of frustration was the length of time between receiving an offer and completion. He said getting a lawyer involved in the preliminary stages meant they could start preparing answers to
as a result of the increase in supply there were fewer farms which were selling above the guide price compared to 2021 and 2022.
Sam Holt, head of estates and farm agency for Strutt and Parker, highlighted the resilience of prices despite higher interest rates and pressure on farm profitability.
He said: “Over 70% of sales of arable land have been at £10,000/acre or more in the past three years. Before then, 70% of sales were for below £10,000/acre. For pasture, a third of sales are over £10,000/acre, compared with less than 10% of sales before 2022.”
pre-contract enquiries before the sales particulars were even written.
Mr Slack also urged people to choose an agricultural specialist.
“We see instances where people decide to appoint a high street residential conveyancer to handle their farm sale and it inevitably leads to problems because they are not familiar with many of the issues that will need to be addressed,” he said.
Land Registry
He suggested inviting those involved to the farm before the sale to offer a better understanding of the property and help them to identify potential problems. For example, there could be boundaries issues or land which is not registered with the Land Registry.
“Buyers will typically want land to be registered before they proceed, so if this is not flagged until late on in the process it can add considerable time to a sale –particularly as the Land Registry is currently taking about three months to process applications,” added Mr Slack.
Getting it right means you have the best possible chance of achieving a great result, with the least amount of stress
DAVID SLACK
He said vendors also needed to gather together all the documentation a buyer was likely to want to see, such as title plans, agri-environment scheme agreements and abstraction licences, as this should make the process both quicker and easier.
With the UK wine industry thriving, Savills’ Chris Spofforth takes a look at land values and the future of British viticulture. Megz Swift reports.
In 2023, the UK grape harvest had an average yield of 9.6 tonnes per hectare, translating to approximately 21 million bottles of wine.
UK viticulture keeps growing
● Bumper yields for wine producers
WHEN you think of a gold-standard wine, your mind might gravitate towards French Champagne, an Italian Soave, or even a Spanish Rioja. However, top-quality, award-winning wines are also being produced much closer to home, with eight English wines winning gold at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards.
The UK wine industry has been thriving, and in 2023 it achieved a significant milestone with a record-breaking grape harvest – an average yield of 9.6 tonnes per hectare, translating to approximately 21 million bottles of wine. This marked a substantial increase of 7.9m bottles from the 2018 output.
Chris Spofforth, Savills GB head of viticulture, said it had been a ‘bumper yield year’.
According to WineGB, there are now 4,209 hectares of land under vine in the UK. The increasingly
temperate UK climate, combined with advancements in suitable grape varieties and winemaking techniques, has paved the way for the UK to become a serious player in the global wine industry.
“The price of land suitable for vines typically ranges from £16,000 to £20,000 per acre, while established vineyards – aged five to 20 years – can sell for up to £35,000 per planted acre,” said Mr Spofforth, who has been involved in the market since the early 2010s.
“The uptick in winemaking has had an impact on values, and the sector is much more commercial nowadays than it used to be – many vineyards now sell on the private market.”
Climate
Over the last 60 years, the UK’s climate has undergone subtle yet significant changes, creating more favourable conditions for grape cultivation.
Unlike in other parts of the world, where climate change has caused
adverse effects on some of the most renowned wine regions, the UK’s rising temperatures have prolonged the growing season, allowing for enhanced grape ripening, resulting in the production of higher quality grapes and, consequently, brilliant wines.
Sustainability
The viticultural industry in the UK has been undergoing a sustainability revolution. New sustainable standards have been introduced for British winemaking, including the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) certification, which has guidelines prioritising soil health, biodiversity, carbon footprint reduction and integrated pest management.
Additionally, SWGB also developed standards which focus on responsible resource use in the winemaking process.
Denbies Wine Estate, a SWGB producer, made history as the first UK vineyard and winery to produce certified net zero wine. As consumers become more eco-conscious,
sustainable practices will be essential for the industry’s long-term viability.
Wine tourism has been rapidly gaining momentum; in 2023, an impressive 1.5m visits to UK vineyards were recorded, which was a notable 55% increase from the previous year and illustrated a growing appeal and interest in wine tourism among British consumers. Offering venue hire for events and gatherings, including weddings, could also be a lucrative opportunity for these businesses.
The thriving wine tourism industry has significantly contributed to creating local jobs, extending beyond vineyard owners, workers, and winemakers to encompass a diverse workforce, including tour guides, tasting room staff, event co-ordinators and hospitality staff.
These roles have provided increased employment opportunities within viticulture. In 2023, WineGB statistics reported 2,300 full-time and 8,300 part-time employees in the wine industry.
PICTURE: GETTY
With high inflation causing problems for farm businesses and estates, Carter Jonas takes a look at the importance of diversifying income streams. Farmers Guardian reports.
● Increase in value for renewables
SLOW economic growth and high inflation have emphasised the continuing importance of diversification to rural estates, according to new research released by Carter Jonas.
The national property consultancy’s Model Estate report tracked various asset classes over a 12-month period to demonstrate how a managed mixed enterprise would perform.
For a number of years, it has shown that income diversity is the key to positive financial performance, especially in the face of political uncertainty, the Covid-19 pandemic and, most recently, economic turbulence.
This has been echoed in the new report, as when the latest figures were applied to a notional 1,282hectare mixed estate, the results
Economic challenges show value of diversification
showed non-farming income was integral.
For the year to December 2023, the Model Estate was valued at £51.54 million (a 2.8% annual increase) but had seen more modest growth than the previous three years.
Diversification played a leading
role in maintaining economic stability, with its renewable energy assets recording the strongest growth.
The solar farm saw an 18.6% yearon-year value increase, and a new 100MW battery storage system was installed to store electricity and discharge it during peak demand.
Agricultural land, which accounted for 56.6% of the estate’s value, also saw healthy gains over the year, reflected in the performance of the in-hand and let farmland.
Tim Jones, Carter Jonas’ head of rural division, said: “While growth has decelerated year on year, the trend remains positive.
“Annually, average arable land values have risen by 1.6% and average pastureland by 2%. This compares to 6.4% annual growth for arable land and 4.4% for pastureland a year earlier – a period defined by a particularly tight market with very limited supply.”
Carter Jonas believed this deceleration in growth was indicative of a well-balanced market.
Sophie Davidson, senior research analyst, said: “While greater supply is creating more choice for buyers, and so tempering price growth, there is still a healthy level of interest driving activity.
The solar farm on the Model Estate in Carter Jonas’ research saw an 18.6% year-on-year value increase.
“Commercial farming businesses, especially those which are largely cash-rich with less need for finance, remain a driving force in the market. This is complemented by a growing presence of natural capital buyers and the continued presence of rollover buyers who have used Business Asset Rollover Relief and are yet to reinvest in another asset.”
Stability
The election was a key talking point in the second quarter, but it did not disrupt market dynamics. With a Labour victory, the industry was hoping for a period of stability after months of election speculation and prolonged political instability.
“The Labour party, despite its relative lack of specific policy initiatives for farming, has pledged its commitment to making the Environmental Land Management scheme work and has not stated immediate intentions to change the tax regime, although key tax reliefs affecting those with rural businesses and property are anticipated to come under scrutiny in time,” added Mr Jones.
“While some economic concerns remain, positive signs are emerging. Inflation, as measured by CPI, aligned with the Bank of England’s 2% target rate in May, suggests a more optimistic outlook.
“Although current interest rates continue to be a factor in business decisions about buying or selling, inflation is forecast to remain close to 2%, paving the way for interest rate cuts in the near future.”
PICTURE: GETTY
With the Government setting out changes to tax rules for furnished holiday lets, Saffery’s Lucy de Greeff looks at the impact for business owners. Farmers Guardian reports.
Tax changes on holiday lets
● New rules to take e ect in April 2025
CHANGES to the tax rules for furnished holiday lets (FHLs) mean those currently taking advantage of tax reliefs might want to review the use of the properties.
The Government has recently released a policy paper which sets out the proposed changes to the tax rules for FHLs for inclusion in the Finance Bill 2024-25.
Until April 5, 2025, a property that qualifies as an FHL can benefit from various tax reliefs not generally available to rental property businesses. However, following the proposed changes, many of these tax reliefs will be removed.
Lucy de Greeff, director at Saffery, and a member of the firm’s land and rural practice group, said: “There have been advantages to letting a property as an FHL for individuals but, in anticipation of the rules changing next April, care will be needed to ensure that any current tax reliefs are maximised and the transition to reporting in line with other property income and gains is done correctly.”
In terms of income tax, in cases where properties are owned by individuals or through a partnership, the headline is that up until April 5, 2025, full relief can continue to be obtained for finance costs.
However, from April 6, 2025 , former FHLs will be treated in the same way as residential let property and the usual finance cost restrictions will apply.
Capital allowances are currently available for an individual’s FHL business and can be claimed for costs of providing furniture and equipment such as cookers, washing machines and beds, although where the property is used for private purposes these allowances are restricted.
However, from April 6, 2025, any new expenditure will no longer qualify for capital allowances, as FHLs will be treated as regular rental properties. As a result, landlords should, in certain circumstances, be able to claim ‘replacement of domestic items’ relief. Where there is an unrelieved capital allowance ‘pool’ on April 5, 2025, capital allowances can continue to be claimed.
From April 6, 2025, former furnished holiday lets will be treated in the same way as residential let property and the usual finance cost restrictions will apply.
Property owners may wish to forecast the impact of the changes to finance cost relief and capital allowances into annual budgets
LUCY DE GREEFF
Profits from an FHL are currently treated as earned income for the purposes of pension contributions, but this will be removed from April 6, 2025.
Ms de Greeff said the policy paper provided some clarity.
“Property owners may wish to take the opportunity to forecast the
impact of the changes to finance cost relief and capital allowances into annual budgets. There might also be an opportunity to review the use of the properties,” she said.
“There are some further rules for cases where FHLs are owned through a corporate structure and are therefore chargeable to corporation tax.”
For capital gains tax (CGT) purposes, the reliefs currently available in relation to FHLs, including business asset disposal relief, rollover relief and business asset gift relief, will no longer be available from April 6, 2025. However, some limited transitional rules will apply.
Ms de Greeff said there might be an opportunity for some property owners to take advantage of these reliefs prior to the changes.
She said: “It is also worth noting that the use of unconditional contracts to obtain CGT reliefs under the current rules will fall foul of an anti-forestalling rule, which applies from March 6, 2024.”
The Government’s proposal did not provide clarity on Inheritance Tax, but if FHLs were to be treated
as part of a property business it could be assumed this would remove any ability to claim Business Property Relief.
Another issue that will affect owners of FHLs under the new rules is how losses can be used. Former FHL properties will form part of a person’s property business, which will then include the amalgamated profits and losses of all the properties in the business.
Losses
Where losses have been brought forward from an FHL business, under the new rules these could continue to be carried forward to be offset against future years’ profits of a property business.
The provision of holiday accommodation is subject to VAT, regardless of whether the property qualifies as an FHL for other tax purposes or not.
The income received from supplies of holiday accommodation forms part of a trader’s taxable turnover, and is therefore relevant when determining whether a liability to register for VAT has arisen or could arise in the future.
PICTURE: GETTY
A rare opportunity to acquire a well-established, ring-fenced dairy farm located in the picturesque Monmouthshire countryside
Cwrt Perrott Farm boasts a substantial Grade ll Listed Farmhouse, farm workers bungalow and a comprehensive range of both traditional and modern farm buildings including an efficient dairy unit and all set upon land extending to approximately 273 acres (110 ha)
Available as a going concern
Additional residential accommodation is also available within the village by separate negotiation
magor@david-james.co.uk
Tel: 01633 880220
A
With delightful gardens and grounds extending to approximately 1.1
This property is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC).
Please
585 905
Goostrey: Dairy farm to let, available from a date to be agreed after 29th September 2024, for a period of up to 15 years on a Farm Business Tenancy. The holding comprises of a 5-bedroom detached farmhouse, a range of traditional and modern farm buildings including a 16 x 16 Westfalia parlour, cubicles for 92, youngstock housing, slurry lagoon and land extending to approx. 200 acres.
Tender applications are invited from applicants who want to start farming on their own account. You must have a minimum qualification of 5 years full time agricultural experience, which may include 3 years formal training.
View Day – Wednesday 11th September 2024 (10am-4pm)
Viewings by Appointment Only
Please email cheshirefarms@cheshirewest.gov.uk to book an appointment. Tenders to be submitted by noon on Friday 11th October 2024. Hard copy particulars are available at a cost of £10.00/each or free via email: cheshirefarms@cheshirewest.gov.uk or Tel: 01244 972566. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/farms
&
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YOU HAVE LAND?
Sites of 1- 1000 acres required for residential development.
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Michael Rutherford is a specialist agent acting and negotiating for landowners. Contact me for a confidential and expert consultation at no cost. All areas of the UK covered.
•
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EG 85-300 5 FURROW PLOUGH, 300HP HEAD STOCK, AUTO RESET, REVERSIBLE, DEPTH WHEEL, VARIWIDTH.
£13,5000
2009 CLAAS VARIANT 365 RC ROUND BALER, NET ONLY, ROTOR FEED WITH CHOPPER. FARMER OWNED FROM NEW, A VERY NICE BALER.
John Deere 6135R 2021, AutoPowr 50kph, F/Links + PTO, 710/600’s
£85,000 +VAT
John Deere T670i, 2018, ProDrive 40kph, 630X Header, Tracks, 4WD
£240,000 +VAT
Main Road, Brompton-By-Sawdon,
Tel: +44 (0)1723 859785 / 859698
Sales: Eric - 07836 630558
Callum - 07946 335030
Thomas - 07538 390091 www.hardwickagricultural.co.uk
New Deutz Fahr 6230 RC
230hp, 50kph, RC shift
4 spools, GPS compatible, front links with spool
New Deutz Fahr 6150.4C
Used Deutz Fahr 5090G
90hp, 40kph, powershift
mechanical spools, hydraulic trailer brakes, year 2016, 1570 hours
Used Valtra T234 230hp, GPS + Autosteer ready, ISOBUS, 5 electric spools, front links & spool, year 2020, 4132hrs
Used Deutz 6060HTS 5 straw walker, loss monitor, auto contour header, 5m header year 2010, 2000 drum hours
New Kubota M7-153 Premium
150hp (170 boosted), 50kph, 30/15 powershift
New Kubota M6-131 Utility
Used Kubota M7-132 130hp (170 boosted), 50kph, 54/27, year 2021, 3000 hrs
Used Kubota M7-131 50k, 4 speed powershift, 4 spools, Year 2017, 4,876 hours
Used Massey Ferguson 6490 180hp -SISU, DYNA 6, EZ-Steer guidance, year 2011, 7050hrs
Used Vicon
Used Kuhn VB 3165
New Kuhn 153 Multi master Auto reset, vari width, hydraulic front furrow, rear furrow disc, HC bodies, ZX skimmers-multiple IN STOCK
New Kuhn L6000 Optimer 510mm notched discs, hydraulic depth adjustment, L300& L400 in stock
Used Amazone Ad-p 403 Special Amalog+ control box, double disc coulters. Year 2014, Work3516 hectares
Used Amazone Ad-P403 special Amadrill+ control box, quick fit tines near new, Power harrow year 2018, Drill year 2014
New Kuhn Espro 4m disc drill 26-disc coulter (15cm spacing), 3,500L hopper, electric metering, 32 work discs, crossflex coulter
New Kubota W821 &821 PRO Honda GXV160, blade break clutch, 75l grass collector
New Kubota GR2120 & GR2120S Kubota 20hp engine, 270l grass collector or side discharge or mulcher
New MX& LWC attachments In stock
Used Triffitt 14 Ton Grain Trailer Roll over sheet, sprung drawbar, grain chute, year 2014
AW 11&12T bale trailer
Storage shelf, 445/45R19.5 tyres, sprung axles
New Kuhn L400R Cultimer 13 leg auto reset, 10 levelling discs, 85cm under beam clearance, T-liner packer (140kg per meter)
VB 7160
belts, weigher, I-dense system,
diameter bales, 2.3m pick up reel with 14 knifes
Ex-Demo Kuhn 1290 ID 120x90, weigher, moisture meter, TWINPACT double plunger, 200kph knotter blowers, 2.3m pick up reel
New Merlo 50.8– 136 5 Ton lift, 8-meter boom, ASCS system INC material weigher, 40kph hydrostatic
New Merlo 42.7– 136 4.2-ton lift, 7m boom, boom suspension, 40k-2 speed hydrostatic drive, reverse fan
New Merlo 38-10 – 136 3.8 Ton lift, 10-meter boom, ASCS system INC material weigher, 40kph hydrostatic
Used Merlo 40.7 – 140 4-ton lift, 7-meter boom, 40kph2 speed hydrostatic, boom suspension, year 2012, 9500 hours
Used Merlo 33.7 – 115 3.3-ton lift, 7-meter boom, 40k-2 speed hydrostatic drive, reverse fan, year 2019, 4500 hours
Machinery
Edited by Toby Whatley – 07583 054 831 – toby.whatley@agriconnect.com
For more machinery content, go to farmersguardian.com/machinery-news-hub
For many manufacturers, 2024 has so far presented the perfect storm for a market downturn.
Climatic challenges in northern Europe resulted in high levels of rainfall which presented problems in harvesting and establishing autumn crops.
Further south, farmers in Spain had experienced record low rainfall, compounding the existing problems of long-term drought in the region.
Machinery markets are intrinsically linked to the availability and cost of borrowing money.
Spending power
The rapid increase in interest rates combined with a post-Covid rise in new machinery prices reduced the spending power of many businesses and decreased their ability to access new machinery.
Political stability and the direction of governmental economic policy in terms of export economic
AGCO
THE parent company of Massey Ferguson, Valtra and Fendt, Agco reported net sales for the first six months of 2024 were approximately $6.2bn (£4.9bn), which represented a 13.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
Adding more detail to the figures, Eric Hansotia, Agco CEO, said:
“Declines in commodity prices and lower projected farm income in 2024 have negatively affected farmer sentiment, further dampening global industry demand.”
Agco has announced that it will be restructuring parts of the business, reducing production levels and lowering investments in working capital, as part of a strategy to manage the impact of the income reductions.
Commenting on how commodity prices have impacted machinery demand, Mr Hansotia said: “Commodity prices have trended down as we have moved through the planting season and into summer, further pressuring farm income.”
This has resulted in reductions in the overall retail of tractors from all manufacturers by an average of 8% in the first six months of 2024 across North America, South America and Western Europe.
South America saw the largest reduction of 14% during the first six months of 2024 compared to the first six months of 2023 ,with Agco highlighting
Climate change, global conflict, political uncertainty and high financial costs have put pressure on farm businesses worldwide, consequently demand for new machinery has been taking an impact. Toby Whatley reports.
Global challenges being reflected in machinery demands
growth and industry support also present a deciding factor for machinery purchases and business investments.
With 25 elections scheduled
throughout 2024, nearly half the global population could participate in the voting process. In Europe alone, countries such as the UK, France, Austria, Belgium, Croatia
and Romania are either planning or are set to elect new Governments. Worldwide, the USA, India, and Ukraine are also expected to hold elections before 2025.
Agco reported net sales for the first six months of 2024 were approximately $6.2bn (£4.9bn), which represented a 13.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
that demand in Brazil was negatively magnified by flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, governmental funding shortfalls and a challenging first harvest in some regions.
Within Western Europe, retail tractor sales decreased by 5% during the first six months of 2024 compared to the first six months of 2023, with the weakest conditions seen in Italy, the UK and
Scandinavia. Aligning with the release of the half-year figures, Agco also announced plans to sell its grain and protein business in a transaction valued at $700m.
The grain handling part of the business may be less well known to UK farmers with much of the business focused in North and South America. The sale includes the brand GSI, which
manufactures farm and commercial grain bins, dryers and handling machinery.
Agco says the decision has been accelerated, in part, by the 85% purchase of Trimble Agriculture to create the PTx Trimble precision farming joint venture which the business completed in April 2024, at a reported cost of $2bn (£1.57bn).
CNH INDUSTRIAL
CNH Industrial, the parent company of Case IH, New Holland and European brand Steyr, has reported net sales revenues were 16% down in the second three months of the year ending June 30 at $5.49bn (£4.3bn), when compared to the same period in 2023 – $6.56 billion (£5.14bn).
Agricultural machinery occupies the largest part of the industrial manufacturer’s sales with net sales of $3.91bn (£3.06bn) in the second quarter of the year which represented a 19% reduction from the figures
KUHN
FRENCH implement manufacturing giant Kuhn reported its business performance results for the first half of 2024, with net sales of CHF704m (£634.6m).
This represents a 17.4% reduction in sales compared to the same period in 2024 –CHF852m (£768m).
Adding more detail to the changes in its business performance, Kuhn indicated that lower prices for agricultural products, high interest rates and fewer subsidies continued to make farmers cautious in terms of investment.
In addition, existing stock held across its dealer network has remained high, which has also
achieved in the same period in 2023 – $4.8bn (£3.76bn).
The business’ construction machinery divisions also saw significant reductions with net sales dropping by 16% from $1.06bn (£0.83bn) in 2023 to $890m (£697m) for the second three months of the year.
Volume
Echoing the market feedback from other major machinery suppliers, CNH reported that within the North American market, industry volume was down 11% in the second
CNH net sales revenues were 16% down in the second three months of the year at $5.49bn (£4.3bn), with the group’s site at Basildon, recently producing its two-millionth tractor.
quarter for tractors under 140hp, but was up 2% for tractors above this power band.
Demand for combines has also fallen by 5%. In Europe, Middle East and Africa, tractor and combine demand was reduced by 10% and 36% respectively.
South America, which for many suppliers has remained a large and increasing demand market, saw a fall in tractor demand by 10% and combine demand reduced by 26%.
Considering the longer-term outlook, CNH says it forecasts sales will continue to be weaker in both
the agricultural and construction equipment markets in the second half of 2024.
As part of managing this downturn, the business says it is working to improve margins with cost reduction focused on product costs and operational expenses to attempt to offset the impact of the lower industry demand.
The group’s largest tractor production site at Basildon, Essex, recently produced its twomillionth tractor since assembly started at the plant in 1964.
lowered demand for new products and reflected the significant decline in order intake observed, especially in Brazil and Europe.
The business highlighted that political and weather challenges have directly impacted machinery demand, saying that Europe’s uncertain political climate, together with its wet weather conditions, had an additional negative impact.
MORE INFORMATION
The figures are reported in Swiss francs (CHF) due to the manufacturer’s ownership by the Swiss-based Bucher Group, of which Kuhn is the largest division.
Kuhn says that political and weather challenges have directly impacted machinery demand.
Massey Ferguson’s four-cylinder MF 6718S is a key player in James Sarchet’s grass harvesting line-up.
Choosing between four cylinders and six – each has its place, says contractor James Sarchet. Jane Carley reports.
The power of four and six
When Massey Ferguson first took its four-cylinder tractors to 200hp in 2017, there was debate about where this configuration had a place.
Since then, a wider group of manufacturers have included higher-powered four-cylinder models in their range, meeting the demand for more muscle within a relatively compact package.
Seven years on from purchasing his first MF 6700S, Kent contractor James Sarchet says the 175hp (200hp with EPM) MF 6718S works well for him alongside a 191hp MF 7718S which has a six-
cylinder engine and longer chassis.
“I have had quite a range of tractors as my business has expanded,” Mr Sarchet explains.
“When the 6700 four-cylinder tractors came out, I purchased a 150hp MF6716S first.
“I had a 125hp 2013 MF 6470 in the fleet, but this offered me more horsepower in the same sized package.
“There was plenty of debate between Massey Ferguson and myself, but I was confident that I could use the extra power; although at the time I did not feel I needed the full 200hp as I had a 185hp Claas Arion 650.
“The MF 6716S was a stock trac-
James Sarchet has adapted his fleet for an expanding business which includes contracting and hay and straw supply.
tor at our local dealer Agwood, so I got a good deal.”
He concedes that he would probably have traded up to the MF 6718S in time anyway; the decision was taken out of his hands when his MF 6716 was written off in a road accident in 2022, and the 200hp model belatedly joined the fleet as its replacement.
In 2021, Mr Sarchet was offered some autumn drilling work, and he began to look for a six-cylinder trac-
tor to match the three-metre Claydon and a three-metre Lemken combi drill.
The Arion 650 was already in the process of being replaced by a four-cylinder Arion 550, so the hunt was on for a six-cylinder MF.
“For a mounted drill with a large hopper, I felt a longer wheelbase would be better,” he says.
“I had also taken on another operator who had been using a square baler on the Claas Arion.
The Claas Arion 530 stands out amongst the red tractors – it is the personal preference of one of the drivers and makes for another useful four-cylinder power unit.
“My Krone 890 had gone well on the MF 6716S, but we had recently traded up to a Krone 870 HDP Multibaler and I felt it would benefit from a six-cylinder tractor.”
The MF 7718S, he feels, offers that bit more torque from its six-cylinder engine and, with a wider stance on 650 tyres, also brings more stability on the North Downs.
He was able to source a 68-plate from Agwood which now has 4,300 hours on it.
Mr Sarchet bought his first tractor, a 1996 100hp MF 6160, in 2006 while still at university, trading it in later for a 1998 130hp MF 6190 in February 2008.
By the spring of 2009, having left university and working full-time
A six-cylinder MF7718S was added to the fleet to power a Krone BiG Pack HD square baler.
building his contracting business,
the 6190 was replaced by the first of several 6400 series – a 2006 Tier 2 130hp MF 6475 with loader from an out-of-area dealer, one of the first with the new Dyna6 gearbox and the extra comfort of front and cab suspension.
The addition of the loader gave greater scope to be more versatile.
“Unfortunately, that one was a ‘Friday afternoon tractor’ and the issues I experienced soured my relationship with the dealer,” he says.
Step in local dealer Yeowart Agricultural, who not only were very supportive with getting issues sorted on the MF 6475, but also supplied a new Tier 3 MF 6480 as a loader tractor, which not only was a much
A 2007 six-cylinder 106hp MF 6265 is retained as a useful workhorse when it is all hands on deck.
more reliable machine, but came with the support of a warranty offering further piece of mind.
By 2013, when the 6480 was up for renewal, he recalls: “I wanted power but still in a compact package.
Gamble
“Massey were producing the new MF 7600, but the new MF 6600 was still in preproduction so I took a gamble in the form of a MF 6470 which turned out to be an absolute pocket rocket and certainly instilled my faith in the prospect of high horsepower four-pot tractors.”
In the meantime, the business was continuing to evolve and expand. By Christmas 2017 a second
mainstream tractor was added to the fleet in the form of a 2016 Arion 650.
“We rethought it. In an area with so many horses it made sense to focus on hay and straw and, in 2018, I purchased a hay and straw retail business, effectively doubling the size of our business overnight.
“We are now 80% forage production and only about 20% contracting.”
Operator Joe Daniels joined from the business Mr Sarchet had purchased; helping with hay-making and taking on the responsibility of the hedgecutting. Local tractor driver and livestock farmer Tim Butcher also agreed to help when needed through peak season.
Machinery
Having sufficient tractor capacity and happy, reliable staff to call on has been crucial in season with such tight weather windows.
An 80hp John Deere with a loader was purchased for jobs such as hedgecutting and lightweight duties such as raking and loading bales in the field, but it soon became clear that it was not powerful enough, especially when it came to towing bale trailers on the road.
Mr Sarchet says: “Having been pleased with Claas tractors, I bought a 130hp Arion 530 as a mid-range unit to replace the John Deere.
“I could not find the right MF at the time, and this all happened just as Covid-19 hit in April 2020.”
The lime green sticks out among all the red, but Mr Sarchet says: “It is a good tractor, but there are features that I personally prefer on the Masseys. Although I have got a lot of red tractors, it is not about brand
loyalty, it is what works for me financially while keeping the operator happy who is in the seat all day and often late into the night.”
Both the MF 6718S and MF7718S needed upgrading, having been purchased from dealer stock.
The smaller tractor had loader brackets and a mid-mount valve fitted, whereas the six-cylinder needed fitting with the front pto pack and a fourth spool slice, plus a couple of operator comfort refinements such as electric mirrors.
Mr Sarchet also requested the multicontroller lever, standardised on later generations of MF 6S and 7S tractors.
He explains: “The familiar linkage switches from 6400s had been
swapped for three push button switches on the armrest; the multifunction controller is much better and has the advantage of a hydraulic function at your fingertips as well as other features such as preset engine speed buttons and selectable preset gear selection.”
Dedicated
He says that while it is handy the tractors are similar to operate, they are not interchangeable and tend to be dedicated for their intended purposes.
He says: “There would be little or no fuel saving using a four-cylinder rather than a six, in fact, on certain tasks you might use more fuel if it is working harder to achieve
the same output as the six-cylinder.
“And for some jobs you cannot substitute the stability and torque a larger tractor offers. But when you need that manoeuvrability and a lighter machine, such as for loader work, the four-cylinders come into their own.”
The MF 7718S will be the first to be replaced, but like many others, Mr Sarchet finds the escalating price of machinery to be a barrier.
“The cost of borrowing is more now too, which makes a big difference over five years.
“It is hard to know which way to go because even manufacturer-subsidised finance has its drawbacks. Plus, if the tractors remain reliable, why change them?”
When you need that manoeuvrability and a lighter machine, such as for loader work, the four-cylinders come into their own
The MF7716 offers the extra weight and muscle to handle larger drills.
Livestock
Edited by Katie Jones – 07786
For more livestock content, go to
Farming Connect’s Welsh Sheep Genetics Project (WSGP) is helping to facilitate major change in a large-scale sheep flock. Farmers Guardian reports.
THE Rhug Estate near Corwen had been running a flying flock of 3,750 North of England-type Mules, but is now transitioning to a closed flock of Welsh ewes.
It is using performance-recorded tups to produce its own cross-bred replacement ewe lambs and the type of finished lambs that the business sees as key to its future profitability.
Electronic identification (EID) based technology is playing a significant role, providing data to help manage breeding decisions while allowing the farm to close its flock and breed its own replacements.
Farm manager Emyr Owen says an advice surgery with independent sheep and beef adviser Matt Blyth, arranged and funded by the Welsh Sheep Genetics Project (WSGP), has been integral in the decision to overhaul the whole EID performance recording system.
Making the switch to a Welsh ewe was in part because the breed is proven to thrive in the region in outdoor lambing systems.
Outdoor lambing
Historically the lowland Rhug flock has lambed indoors from March 15, but going forward only triplet-bearing ewes will lamb indoors.
The remainder will be lambed outdoors, from the end of March to April 15, to better match the estate’s grass growth curve.
Mr Owen says: “We have an amazing shed for lambing and want to maximise live births, so it is sensible to lamb triplets indoors, but for the rest of the ewes it will all be done outside.”
Texel and Charollais tups were previously used, but for the 2024 lambing season it was Abermax, Aberblack,
First step in farm’s flock transition
Hampshire Down and Primera, all performance recorded.
Recorded Welsh rams were also bought at the Prohill sale in 2023. These purchases were based on physical correctness and figures, and on consistency with the type of Welsh ewe the team at Rhug is aiming to produce.
The Welsh ewes were sourced from farms that are performance recording, with all three flocks part of the
Update on EAE vaccine supply
ANIMAL health company Ceva Animal Health has said the enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) vaccine, Cevac Chlamydia, will not be available as anticipated in September for the main 2024 vaccination season.
There was initially a gap in supply of Cevac Chlamydia between June and August due to a batch being out of specification. Ceva Animal Health submitted an ‘out of specification’ request to release the vaccine but was unsuccessful.
The next delivery of vaccine was
anticipated at the end of August, however this has unfortunately been delayed until October.
Roy Geary, of Ceva Animal Health, said ‘unforeseen manufacturing issues’ at production facilities had temporarily affected the ability to meet the demands of the UK sheep market within the main seasonal vaccination period for EAE.
He said: “As a responsible provider, we are actively addressing these issues to minimise the impact on customers.”
WSGP, and the Rhug flock has also joined the WSGP.
“We are really thankful to be part of it, and buying the ewes from farms that are performance recording means we have gained a couple of years straight off the bat,’’ says Mr Owen.
EID is very much part of the new sheep system on the Rhug Estate.
A new weigh-head was bought, supported by a 40% grant from the Welsh Government’s Small Grants Efficiency Scheme.
“We had been using a weigh-head for the cattle for years but had nothing for sheep,’’ says Mr Owen.
It is used in conjunction with a stick reader and integrated with Agriwebb software.
Data recording
Lambs are tagged at weaning and data including daily liveweight gains and slaughter weights are recorded and monitored.
The benefits of this are already being seen, says Mr Owen.
“We have a young shepherd in charge of lambing the Welsh ewes and he has been using the stick reader to add
comments about any ewes or lambs he has concerns about so that we can avoid breeding from problem animals.
“The ambition is to run the flock in three groups in an ABC system. The sheep in the A group will be those that are ‘faultless’ as they will produce the replacements for the nucleus Welsh ewe flock.”
Mr Owen says the trait that is being most closely monitored is ewe body condition score (BCS).
“BCS tells us so many things in the metric, and we can simply build protocols and key performance indicators around it.’’
In the 2024 lambing season the scanning percentage in the indoor lambing ewes averaged 185% and 160% outdoor. For the Welsh ewes it was 135% but, as two thirds were yearlings, the goal is to increase to 150%.
Five hundred pure-bred Welsh ewe lambs will be retained this year as replacements while a large proportion of the fat lambs will be processed onfarm and sold through the Rhug Estate farm shop. The remainder will be marketed through Pilgrims, ABP or Ruthin livestock market.
The Rhug Estate’s farm manager, Emyr Owen.
Changing cropping policy has helped one Ceredigion dairy farm become more self-sufficient with home-grown feed. Farmers Guardian reports.
Gerald Watkin, who milks 285 cows at Henllys Farm near Borth, now grows up to 76% of his winter ration on-farm on a dry matter basis.
Winter milk yields are averaging 3234 litres per cow, with this largely maintained from a home-grown diet.
Mr Watkin believes the secret to consistently producing good-quality forage is adhering to basic silage-making principles and having a crop rotation that plays to his farm’s strengths.
He says: “Growing a selection of crops spreads your risk weather-wise. Whatever the season brings, you are not going to fail them all.”
Despite the farm’s challenging coastal climate, Mr Watkin takes up to five cuts of silage as part of a multi-cut system and is being rewarded with high-quality forage.
Last year, first-cut silage was analysed at 30% dry matter (DM), 11.7MJ metabolisable energy (ME) and 16.3% crude protein (CP), and even bales taken as part of the second cut matched
the same energy and protein levels.
His nutritionist, Hefin Richards, of the Rumenation Nutrition Consultancy, says cutting early and using bales tactically helps him cope with whatever the weather brings and maintains forage quality.
Previously, Mr Watkin grew around 12 hectares (30 acres) of maize, but stopped in 2012 in favour of winter wheat, owing to problems with eyespot and crop maturity.
Winter wheat
Now, 24ha (60 acres) of winter wheat are grown annually. It is high in starch which complements the total mixed ration (TMR) and has created a window for autumn grass reseeding.
“Autumn reseeds work better for us than spring ones because we have more moisture in the ground,” says Mr Watkin.
It also gives him the flexibility to wholecrop or crimp the wheat depending on forage stocks.
Mr Richards says: “Wholecrop and crimped grain provide a great source
of home-grown starch and the crop is drought resistant.”
Five years ago, Mr Watkin also began growing a small amount of fodder beet.
Originally, 700-800 tonnes were purchased from Shropshire, but rising haulage costs meant it was
typically costing £50-55/t delivered. This has largely been replaced by home-grown beet with about 10ha (25 acres) grown. This typically yields 99t/ ha (40t/acre) and costs under £75/ha (£30/t). Furthermore, it has become a valuable part of the rotation.
Established at the end of April,
Winter milk yields are 32-34 litres per cow after changes to cropping at Henllys Farm.
Gerald Watkin milks 285 cows at Henllys Farm in Ceredigion.
Wholecrop and crimped grain provide a great source of home-grown starch and the crop is drought resistant
GERALD WATKIN
mostly after grass, it is harvested by contractors every six weeks from mid-October.
The fodder beet is fed in the winter milkers’ TMR up to 15kg fresh weight per head, alongside 40kg of silage, 6kg of crimped wheat, 5.25kg of blend, plus minerals and a non-palm-based protected fat to boost energy in early lactation.
Mr Richards says it is the perfect tonic for the winter milking ration.
“Fodder beet is palatable and is a cost-effective source of sugar and digestible fibre.
“By chopping beet into the TMR, it drives intakes and, alongside the starch from wholecrop and crimp, it is brilliant for fat and protein.
“It also produces a massive energy
Annual yield is now 9,800 litres thanks to the increased use of home-grown feed.
yield and is reliable in terms of output and quality,” says Mr Richards.
The spring-sown crops are also a brilliant way of using slurry, adds Mr Watkin.
Following winter wheat, Mr Watkin establishes early maturing perennial ryegrass-based seed mixtures, with leys typically established for four to five years.
First cut usually commences in midApril and he aims to take five cuts during the season.
Grass samples are taken by Anwen Jones, Lallemand Animal Nutrition regional business manager for Wales, prior to cutting, to check nitrate and sugar levels.
Results
“It gives us a good indication of what to expect in the clamp. We tend to do it a week before cutting and the results come back within 24 hours,” says Ms Jones.
Mr Watkin says timely wilting, good compaction and sealing of the clamp, along with using an inoculant, are the cornerstones of making good-quality silage.
The grass is mown with triple mowers, tedded two hours after cutting and left to wilt for no longer than 24 hours.
The clamp is filled in shallow layers (about 15cm) to improve consolidation using a loading shovel. A tractor is used to roll the pit.
Close attention is paid to sealing the clamp to improve fermentation and reduce losses.
“We make sure the side sheets meet
in the middle, always use cling film and use a new sheet on top of the old sheet,” says Mr Watkin.
Bales are taken strategically and are a good addition to the ration.
“If one cut is a bit wet, we can use bales to add some fibre and improve the dry matter of the ration,” says Mr Richards.
Depending on weather conditions, one of three inoculants is used to match the dry matter of the grass silage.
“Conditions change quickly, so having the three products is beneficial. We can use the right one for the right conditions,” says Mr Watkin.
“Silage is being fed year-round, which means aerobic stability is very important. Dry matters are generally in the low- to mid-30s and the forage needs to be stable at the face, but also after feedout,” says Mr Richards.
A rumen-specific live yeast is also used to support rumen health and mitigate the effects of any mycotoxin challenge.
Mr Richards says: “With high-risk products like cereal and fodder beet, it is better to use it as an insurance policy to keep cow health and fertility on track.
“The live yeast is proven to help rumen function, fibre digestion, stabilise acid load and help cows get more from the total diet.”
Monthly Kingshay Dairy Manager costings show annual yield is now 9,800 litres.
Milk from forage has increased by 800 litres this year to 3,500 litres and
Farm facts
■ Milking 285 pedigree Holsteins
■ Calving largely from August to December
■ Grazing late-lactation cows and heifers
■ Farming 210 hectares (520 acres) - half owned and half rented across four units
■ Growing predominately grass alongside 24ha (60 acres) of winter wheat, 9ha (24 acres) of spring barley and 10ha (25 acres) of fodder beet
■ Selling milk to South Caernarfon Creamery
Co-operative
■ Yielding 9,800 litres annually at 4.18% butterfat and 3.41% protein with a somatic cell count of 100,000 cells/ml
■ Feeding three tonnes of concentrate per cow per year (feed rate of 0.31kg/litre including own cereals)
■ Rolling 12-month pregnancy rate of 30%
is rising. Mr Richards believes with pan-Wales nitrate vulnerable zones likely to limit livestock nitrogen loading to 170kg/ha (68kg/acre), it might be cost-effective for more dairy farmers to consider growing more homegrown feed.
“If you have to rent extra land, you might as well consider how you can reduce costs and utilise your slurry at the same time.”
EMYR BOWEN R. AND E. BOWEN, CARMARTHENSHIRE
XStaying ahead of legislation and consumer trends is a key focus of Lan Farm and its pedigree Holstein herd.
Celebrating an incredible 100 years of the Lan herd in 2024, Emyr Bowen and his father Robert run the farm full-time alongside supporting staff and contractors.
This enables the pair to focus on the animals and constantly review their management system.
Calving all year round, the herd has a rolling average of 11,000 litres at 4.5% butterfat and 3.2% protein.
For animal health and production reasons, the herd is housed at night in sandbed cubicles and grazed in the day over summer.
Cows are fed to yield in parlour and outer parlour feeders, on grass silage, straw, minerals and yeast. This move has led to an increase in yield from 1,500 to 2,000 litres.
At the beginning of 2024 Emyr transitioned his herd onto a soyafree diet which has had positive results on fats, proteins and fertility.
He says: “We have gone soya-free across the entire milk herd and the beef unit is 100% grass-fed.”
Emyr says this which will help the industry achieve net zero targets.
Not only has the transition to soya-free put Emyr in a better position to take on retail contracts in the future, with environmental issues becoming a more prominent focus for companies, it has reduced costs.
Focusing on achieving the correct silage quality has limited feed costs and improved the herd’s output.
In line with Welsh Nitrate Vulnerable Zone rules, Emyr has increased slurry storage on the farm.
This has been a positive move for Lan Farm, using the slurry to improve the soil health and save costs on fertiliser.
Moving forwards, Emyr is keen to continue introducing more environmental initiatives and hopes to secure more grants as the new political agenda for farming unfolds from the Government.
DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
TOM AND KAREN HALTON HALTON FARMS, CHESHIRE
XTom and Karen Halton, along with their experienced team, farm at Chance Hall Farm, Congleton, Cheshire.
The farm is home to 500 ProCROSS dairy cows, producing average annual yields of 11,800 litres, with milk sold via their platform, The Milk Shack.
Tom is a second-generation farmer. His father became a tenant farmer on the Rode Hall Estate in 1968, working alongside the landlord to start the Rode Farms Partnership. Tom joined this partnership in 1989 and grew the business alongside Sir Richard Wilbraham’s son Randle.
In 2012, Tom and Karen formed Halton Farms, growing the herd to full strength and launching The Milk Shack in 2016, selling raw milk from a vending machine.
Since its creation, The Milk Shack has developed its offering to include pasteurised milk, milkshakes, cheese, eggs, cakes, butter and much more.
Tom and Karen use the diversification as an opportunity to engage with the public.
Tom says: “The Milk Shack allows us to connect with a wider audience, helping to dispel the negative information about UK
agriculture and develop positive relationships with the local community.”
Furthering their local connections, the duo have a ‘Moobile’ Milk Shack and attend local events and food festivals.
In 2018, the team started farm tours for schools, colleges, universities, cubs, scouts and organisations to give people a real view of dairy farming.
Mindful of the industry’s net zero targets, Tom, Karen and their team have implemented numerous tactics, such as improving soil and nutritional erosion by sewing short-term grass leys after maize harvest. This makes them less reliant on buying-in feed.
The team is working towards completely removing soya from the total mixed rations by the end of 2024, ensuring they are using protected feeding ingredients.
Alongside reducing waste and ensuring supplies are from sustainable sources, the milking herd is housed indoors, allowing more tonnes of dry matter farmed per hectare, which is immediately followed by slurry, meaning they use less fertiliser.
To celebrate with the finalists at the British Farming Awards, go to britishfarmingawards.co.uk to buy your tickets
OLIVER NEAGLE
HILTONBURY JERSEYS, HAMPSHIRE
XThe Jersey breed has been a passion for Oliver Neagle for more than 20 years. At the age of 31, he sold his drum kit to release the funds he needed to purchase his first two cows.
Fast forward to the present day and Attwoods Drove Farm, Winchester, is home to 280 cows primarily bred by Oliver himself.
Calving all year round and using sexed semen has helped build his herd, with beef genetics being introduced minimally to supply the farm shop.
Hiltonbury Jerseys is a family-run enterprise and Oliver’s wife and stepdaughter are integral to the operation.
In 2016, Oliver broke the mould by investing in a milk vending machine, one of the first farms to take the risk.
Due to milk prices fluctuating, the ability to sell milk straight to the customer through his wife’s farm shop was key to the farm’s success.
Oliver says: “Without these changes being made, we would no longer be in the dairy industry.”
In 2019, Oliver moved to his current farm and invested heavily
in its infrastructure, installing a new Dairy Master milking parlour and a pasteurisation room.
Not only did this seriously reduce milking time, but it saved money and increased the farm shop offering through the pasteurisation process.
Alongside raw and traditional milk, the farm shop sells homemade traditional Jersey ice cream, Jersey Fudge, Jersey Beef, and free-range eggs and has expanded into county wear and equine goods this year.
Diversification is key to the farm’s success, with events such as food and craft festivals, pumpkin parties and small open days helping to encourage the public to learn about the farm, which is all shared through their Instagram page.
Environmentally, Oliver has planted new hedgerows around the farm to support the wildlife.
The loose yard produces more organic farmyard manure to spread on the farm and reduce the use of fertilisers. In addition, he has planted herbal leys and introduced red clovers to limit the need for brought-in proteins.
HARRY ROPER
E. ROPER AND SON, LANCASHIRE
XIn 2014, Harry Roper became a partner and took over the running of his family farm in Thornley-withWheatley, near Preston.
Since joining the business, he has had a significant impact on increasing milk yields and improving the farm’s carbon footprint.
When Harry joined the business at Lyme House Farm it was lambing 400 sheep and milking 120 cows.
Over the past 10 years, Harry has invested in new machinery, ensuring his team can undertake everything in-house.
He has built a new rapid exit parlour, which has contributed to rising milk yields and better time management for his team.
Today, Lyme House Farm milks 470 cows twice a day, with milk sold through Arla co-operative on a contract with Tesco.
Harry works with an independent nutritionist to create the feed, which includes wholecrop, ground maize, concentrate blend and grass silage ensuring his herd has the best diet it can.
With herd health always in his mind, after milking, the cows leave the parlour after milking and walk through a Hoofcount footbath containing a copper sulphate solution.
Since its installation they have seen a significant drop in lameness and digital dermatitis is almost non-existent in the herd.
Harry has a strong focus on improving the environmental impact of the farm to ensure the longevity of the industry in the UK.
In previous years, he had been struggling to meet targets in the farm’s carbon footprint audit due to buying-in maize to feed the cows.
In 2020, Harry made the decision to invest in neighbouring Knott Farm and acquire the tenancy for 89 hectares (220 acres) a short distance away.
This enabled them to grow and harvest more of their own crops and move on to more of a forage-based diet, in turn reducing their carbon footprint.
In addition to this, Harry has planted a 20ha (50-acre) site with trees reducing the farms’ CO2 emissions further.
New-launch bulls widen genomic Holstein choice
l Denovo 20723
Columbia tops list
A CLEAN sweep of new-launch bulls fills the top 10 positions in the ranking for young genomic sires, published this week by AHDB.
Never seen before in a dairy bull ranking, this all-new top 10 demonstrates the fast-moving nature of Holstein breeding and sees bulls which appear in their own right within the top 20 also featuring as sires of sons at the top of the same list.
The new number one bull is Denovo 20723 Columbia, whose sire, Denovo 2776 Leeds, is proving to be one such influential bull.
With a huge Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of £938, Columbia is predicted to transmit many of the traits
sought by modern dairy producers including a high Feed Advantage (FAdv), indicating that he will help producers breed animals which use the least amount of feed for their milk production needs.
Many producers are focusing on the genetics of economic and environmental traits alongside health and fertility
MARCO WINTERS
With a FAdv of 247, Columbia daughters are predicted to require 247kg less dry matter in each lactation than daughters of a bull with a score of zero and at the same level of production.
Health
Columbia also transmits good udder health (-17 SCC, -2 Mastitis) and extreme protein yields, with a predicted transmitting ability (PTA) for weight of protein of 42.9kg.
In second place, with a PLI of
UK-BRED BULL IS TOP PROVEN AYRSHIRE FOR £PLI
A UK-bred bull has risen to the top of the Ayrshire Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) ranking, usurping the Scandinavians which regularly maintain a stronghold for this breed.
The bull, Tontine Astorwell, is a son of Gunnarstorp out of the Ideostar daughter, Tontine Ideo Welcome EX93 (6E). Offering high production (Predicted Transmitting Abilities are 767kg milk and 27.9kg protein) with good udder health (-16 SCC, -2 Mastitis), Astorwell weighs in with a breed-specific PLI of £507. The genomic young Ayrshire
sires ranking is led by VR Wehmais Vimo Vehmaa (PLI £545) and VR Uppura in second (PLI £540), which will be bulls to watch out for going forward.
Friesian
The British Friesian ranking shows no change at the top as Bloemplaat Hoeve Ewoud remains in first position. Also retaining its position in second place is Inch Hearty (PLI £260).
Long-term top 10 bull, Catlane Cromwell, moves up one place to third position, (PLI £253).
£934, comes the Cookiecutter Holysmokes son, T-Spruce Harmony. Its daughter Fertility Index (11.7), udder health (-19 SCC, -3 Mastitis) and high Lifespan Index (+183 days), help earn it one of the highest HealthyCow (HC) indexes of the breed (315).
Comparison
This means the better health the bull will transmit is worth, on average, £315 for each of its daughters over their lifetimes, compared with a bull whose HC is £0.
Two more sons of Leeds feature in third and fourth place – Denovo 20771 Segment (PLI £932) ranking third with high fat (54.1kg) and a strong Lameness Advantage (2.7),
The young sire genomic list for Friesians sees a new entry in Bankhouse Distinction. This bull’s PLI of £341 sees last time’s leader, Goonhilly Coverack, pushed to second, (PLI £335), and Goonhilly Cornelly placed third (PLI £329).
Jersey
VJ NR Hauggaard Nibali Nibiru remains leader of the Jersey ranking, with a PLI of £431. This bull is also the highest HealthyCow index bull on the list with a score of 190. Climbing into second place is VJ Hoeholt Jern James, now with a PLI of £410, and with a PLI of £405, VJ
Top Holstein genomic young sires by PLI
n 1: Denovo 20723 Columbia-ET, £938
n 2: T-Spruce Harmony, £934
n 3: Denovo 20771 Segment, £932
n 4: Denovo 20893 Harmony, £931
n 5: Cogent B Advantage, £904
n 6: Denovo 20668 HierarchyET, £902
n 7: Winstar Reggie, £895
n 8: Bomaz Lambert-P, £891 n 9: Denovo Atlas P, £883 n 10: S-S-I Holysmokes Simon-ET, £879
and Denovo 20893 Harmony, at £931, ranking fourth.
The next newcomer, ranking in fifth position, is Cogent B Advantage. This young sire has the best daughter Fertility Index in the top 20 (12.9) and the joint highest Lameness Advantage (2.9). His PLI is £904.
Exciting
Marco Winters, AHDB head of animal genetics, says: “It is exciting for dairy producers to see 10 completely new bulls in the top 10 positions and drilling down into their breeding credentials reveals they offer truly modern breeding patterns.
“Many producers are focusing on the genetics of economic and environmental traits alongside health and fertility and bulls like those at the top of this list are helping them do so.”
Kibsgaard Jocko Jojo remains in third position
The young sire genomic rankings for the Jersey breed see VJ Outrup Luxplus Leander hold on to the leading position (PLI £461), followed by VJ Risholm Luxy Lagoa (£446).
Other breeds
Other dairy breed indexes are published online (ahdb. org.uk/knowledge-library/dairybreeding-and-genetics), where the Montbéliarde, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Shorthorn and Fleckvieh are all represented.
De-Su Frazzled 6984 – maternal grandam of Denovo 2776 Leeds.
Autumn Calving Index reveals high milk solids transmitters
PRODUCERS calving in a tight block in autumn, with a focus on genetic improvement, are advised to consider basing their sire selection on Autumn Calving Index (£ACI).
Although developed along similar principles to the more commonly used £PLI, the £ACI takes more account of the winter milk price, the feed costs associated with producing a higher proportion of winter milk and places a greater emphasis on daughter fertility than in year-round calving herds.
These nuances see a slightly different list emerge in the August rankings, at the top of which stands Winstar Mendel P.
This bull’s ACI of £719 reflects its exceptional Predicted Transmitting
Ability (PTA) for weight of fat and a good Maintenance Index for feed.
Each index is calculated on its own genetic base, which means they must only be compared in their relevant group
MARCO WINTERS
Moving into second place is Winstar Graziano (ACI £713), another high milk solids bull, which also transmits lower somatic cell counts.
Peak Mauney ranks third (ACI £705), with very good ratings for both lifespan and daughter fertility.
Daughter fertility
However, the best daughter fertility bull in the top 20 is Progenesis Wimbledon which ranks fourth, with an ACI of £699.
In the Spring Calving Index (£SCI) ranking, Progenesis Wimbledon
moves up one place to become the new leader. Its SCI of £601 is in part due to excellent daughter fertility.
Winstar Mendel P takes second place (SCI £599), closely followed by Denovo Invictus (SCI £598).
Fourth placed is Winstar Graziano (SCI £591), ahead of Denovo 7921 Atrium (SCI £579) in fifth.
Marco Winters warns producers not to compare the lists with each other, or with £PLI or its components.
He says: “Each of these indexes is calculated on its own genetic base, which means they must only be compared within their relevant group.”
STABILITY AND REASSURANCE FROM PROVEN HOLSTEIN SIRES
THE Holstein bull, Genosource Captain, stands firm at the top of the new Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) ranking for daughterproven sires.
Now with a PLI of £800, based on 911 UK milking daughters and thousands more worldwide, this bull continues to affirm his Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for production traits (now at 1,153kg milk), and strong Feed Advantage (273).
A new graduate enters the running in second place in the form of Cookiecutter Holysmokes. With a PLI of £797, this bull mirrors its earlier genomic prediction now that milking daughters are coming on stream.
Denovo 16219 Aladdin makes a leap into third place with a PLI which has risen to £785.
This bull’s PTAs show high fat
and protein (48.1kg and 36.9kg respectively) and a very good Maintenance Index (-21), meaning
Top 10 bulls ranked on £ACI
n 1: Winstar Mendel P (Holstein), £719
n 2: Winstar Graziano (Holstein), £71
n 3: Peak Mauney (Holstein), £70
n 4: Progenesis Wimbledon (Holstein), £699
n 5: Aardema Pistolero (Holstein), £693
n 6: Denovo Invictus (Holstein), £678
n 7: Denovo 16441 Millennium (Holstein), £677
n 8: Denovo 14744 Ginetta (Holstein), £673
n 9: Bomaz Kettle (Holstein), £669
n =10: Westcoast Guarantee (Holstein), £668
n =10: Denovo 16219 Aladdin (Holstein), £668
Top 10 bulls ranked on £SCI
n 1: Progenesis Wimbledon (Holstein), £601
n 2: Winstar Mendel P (Holstein), £599
n 3: Denovo Invictus (Holstein), £598
n 4: Winstar Graziano (Holstein), £591
n 5: Denovo 7921 Atrium (Holstein), £579
n 6: Peak Mauney (Holstein), £566
n 7: Aardema Pistolero (Holstein), £563
n 8: Denovo 16441 Millennium (Holstein), £559
n 9: Westcoast Guarantee (Holstein), £55
n 10: VJ NR Hauggaard Nibali Nibiru (Jersey), £551
Top 10 Holstein bulls with a daughter proof ranked on £PL
n 1: Genosource Captain, £800
n 2: Cookiecutter Holysmokes, £797
n 3: Denovo 16219 Aladdin, £785
n 4: Bomaz Kettle, £783
n 5: Denovo 14744 Ginetta, £778
n 6: Winstar Mendel P, £766
n 7: Denovo 15826 Knight, £764
n 8: Westcoast River, £742
n 9: Peak Mauney, £741
n 10: Renegad Trooper, £737
a great milk solids improver (+0.19% fat, +0.17% protein).
Climbing into fifth position is Denovo 14744 Ginetta, another high production bull (91.8kg fat plus protein) with good calf survival of 2.2 and digital dermatitis at 0.6.
Winstar Mendel P.
Captain daughter Boghill Glamour Captain SS Carlin F 240404-02F.
daughters will be cheaper to feed. Ranked in fourth is Bomaz Kettle, which firms up his earlier figures as
Livestock GrassCheck
GRASS GROWTH ACROSS THE UK
Scotland 48.6kg
15.2 19.3
The South 33.2kg DM/ha/day (13.4kg DM/acre/day) 19.1 15.6 5.3
Grass growth Soil moisture (cb)
Soil temperature (degC) Rainfall (mm per week)
DAILY GROWTH FORECASTS
Region Seven-day forecast 14-day forecast
North England 46.7kg DM/ha (18.9kg DM/acre) 59.1kg DM/ha (23.9kg DM/acre)
South England 51.3kg DM/ha (20.8kg DM/acre) 59.1kg DM/ha (23.9kg DM/acre)
Wales 64.8kg DM/ha (26.2kg DM/acre) 53.8kg DM/ha (21.8kg DM/acre)
GRASS QUALITY
GROWTH RATES
MANAGEMENT NOTES
■ Recorded grass growth dropped to below average last week and predicted growth rates will vary with local conditions in the regions, hence the need to continue regular monitoring on grazing platforms
■ Modest predictions of 45-65kg DM/hectare (18-26kg DM/acre) should return growth
rates close to the long-term average
■ This should allow gradual increase of rotation length to reach the target of 30 days by the end of August
■ Continue to be vigilant with clover-rich swards, including lush reseeds, to reduce risk of bloat
GrassCheckGB is a collaboration between The UK Agri-Tech Centre, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Rothamsted Research, AHDB, Hybu Cig Cymru, Germinal, Handley Enterprises, Sciantec Analytical, Yara, Pilgrim’s UK and Quality Meat Scotland. Regular updates will appear in Farmers Guardian.
Trials diary
WALES
August 14, 15 and 16. WELSH NATIONAL, Pontrhydfendigaid, Ystrad Meurig.
August 15, 16 and 17. LOWER CHAPEL, Coed Mawr Farm, Lower Chapel, LD3 9RD. Day one, local farmers section, 10-mile radius, 5pm start. Day two, novice national and novice South Wales, 8am start. Day three, open national and open South Wales, 8am start. Enter on field. Secretary Llywela Lewis, tel: 07980 582 201 August 16 and 17. LLANWRDA, Glanmynis Field, SA20 0EU, halfway between Llandovery and Llanwrda. Day one, novice national and novice South Wales. Day two, open national and open South Wales. Starts 8am both days; catering. Lyn Morgans, tel: 01550 720 761. August 17. ELAN VALLEY, Frondorddu, LD1 6NY. Open and novice national combined, two sessions. Start 8am; catering. Secretary Eira Edwards, tel: 01597 810 721. LLANSANNAN, LL16 5LD, 8am start. Tel: 07818 835 916. DOLMELYNLLYN, LL40 2HP, 8am start. Tel: 01341 440 224. LLANUWCHLLYN, LL23 7TT, 8am start. Tel: 07711 082 656. August 17 and 18. VALE OF EVESHAM, Baldwyn Farm, Pebworth, CV37 8XB. Day one, local novice and farmer’s class, 60-mile radius. Day two, open and novice national and brace. Pre-entry to Jenny Atwell via jatwell57@gmail.com or tel: 07923 913 824. August 18. LLANWONNO, Mynachdy Farm, Ynysybwl, Pontypridd, CF37 3PF. Open and national novice, open South Wales and novice South Wales. Start 8am. Secretary Ann Grice, tel: 01685 873 117. BEDDGELERT, LL55 4NQ, 9am. Tel: 01286 870 749. August 21. LLANGWYRYFRON, Rhandir Isaf, Llangwyryfron. Ifor Morgan, tel: 07890 589 977 or 01974 272 255. Start 8.30am, two sessions. August 22. DOLGELLAU, Dolgellau, LL40 2AG. 8am, tel: 07786 719 326. August 23. RHANDIRMWYN, Open and novice national. Open and novice South Wales. Enter on field, start 7.30am. Contact Philip Jones, tel: 07950 442 874. MAESYGELLI, Maesygelli, Nantmel, Radnor, LD1 6EL. Association novice, young handler and beginner trial. Secretary Anna Prothero, tel: 07795 178 451. August 24. LIBANUS, Cefn Cantref, Cantref, Brecon, LD3 8LT. Open and novice national. Open and novice South Wales. Secretary David Evans, tel: 01874 625 582, 07814 139 347. DINAS MAWDDWY, SY20 9HJ, 8am. Contact 07875 711 600. PENYBONTFAWR, SY10 OPB, 8am. Contact 01691 860 546. LLANGWM, Llangwm, LL21 0RB, 8am. Contact 07730 302 545. August 25. FERWIG CHARITY, Heolgwyddil, Y Ferwig, Cardigan, SA43 1PT. Open national, two sessions. Top three dogs from each session will qualify for a double fetch final. Entries to secretary Arthur Morgan, tel: 07721 786 292 or 01239 615 085.
ENGLAND
August 17. BARBON, Barbon Manor Park, Barbon. Judge, John James, starts 8am, £7 per dog. Contact Clare Thompson via barbobshow@hotmail.com, tel: 07590 115 844. BRENTOR, Pudson Farm, Follygate. Start 9.30am. Turn off the road at What3Words estimates.clubbing.snatched. Drive around the edge of first field to What3Words nametag.mysteries.expand.
Novice, open driving, best young handler. Donations of raffle prizes appreciated. Secretary Julie Tucker, tel: 07970 033 813 or email: julie@bearwoodfarm.co.uk. MONKRIDGE, NE19 1ND. Pre-entry only, first 50 dogs, 9am start. Secretary Jim Fyall, tel: 01434 270 460. August 18. ROMNEY MARSH, Snargate. 9am start. Open and novice. Contact Liz Lauder. DEVON AND EXMOOR, Westcountry Driving. Brace, novice, open driving, best young handler. 9.30am start. Secretary Julie Tucker, tel: 07970 033 813 or email: julie@ bearwoodfarm.co.uk. KIRKNEWTON, NE71 6XH. Enter on field, 9am start. No two dogs on rerun. Contact, M. Davidson, tel: 07751 276 513. NORTHERN, Leasingthorne, Co Durham, DL14 8EQ. 9am start, last booking 1pm. Steven Ledger, tel: 07436 532 607. August 20. LITTLEDALE, Hollingshead Farm, Caton, LA2 9NA. Enter on field. 8.30am start, book in before 3pm. HORNBY, Raw Ridding Farm, Wray, Lancaster, LA2 8NH, 8am start. Enter on field and booked in by 4.30pm, open class £5 per entry. Novice class, dog not to have won a first or second prize in any open class. £2.50 per entry. Raising money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Preston. Catering on the field. Secretary Margaret Wright, tel: 01524 221 652 or email: mawright56@sky.com August 20 and 21. DOVEDALE, Blore Crossroads, Ilam, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 2BS. 7am start. Local classes Tuesday AM and open classes on Tuesday PM and Wednesday AM, followed by open doubles and then championship of the Dales on Wednesday PM. Adults £7.50, or £10.00 for both days. Secretary Nigel Davis, email: dovedale.secretary@gmail.com or tel: 07968 178 634. August 21. EGTON, Egton show has a sheepdog trial. Contact the relevant show office or website for preentry and start times. THRELKELD, The Recreation field, Threlkeld, CA12 4TZ. Local Tuesday night, 5pm. £5 per dog, limit of 2 dogs per handler. Balloted running order to appear on North Westmorland Sheepdog Society web page. Entries to Larry Cowper, Newbridge, Threlkeld, Keswick, tel: 07786 612 306. August 23 and 24. PATTERDALE, Nursery trial on August 23 and open trial on August 24, £6 to enter. Contact Johanna Edwards, email: johanna.edwards@ btopenworld.com or tel: 01768 482 434. August 24 and 25. HEVENINGHAM, Heveningham Hall, Suffolk. Trial organiser Lucy Allison, tel: 07828 001 575. Queries to Sam, tel: 07531 145 447. August 24. WHITCHURCH AND SAMPFORD, The Sports Field of Plasterdown, Tavistock, Devon. 9am start. Novice/open maltese cross, open driving. Secretary, Wendy Watson tel: 01822 880 215. NORTHERN, Northern Sheepdog Association at Wendsleydale Show, DL8 5JG, 9am start. Enter on field before 2pm. Steven Ledger tel: 07436 532 607. LOW STRUTHERS, NE47 9DL. 9am start. Pre-entry required. D. Henderson, tel: 07854 506 332. FALSTON, Falston Show, NE48 1AA. Enter on field, 10am start. Catering available. Contact Fiona Symons, tel: 01434 240 613. August 25. MID SHIRES, The Simon Harrison Memorial Trial, Briar Hill Farm, Broad Campden, Gloucester, GL55 6XB. For details contact Gill Burbidge, tel: 07950 738 732. GREAT DRAYNES, Sparretts Farm, Common Moor, Liskeard, PL14 6SB, off the Bolventor
Working Dogs
For winning results
English results
ENGLISH NATIONAL Singles. 1, P. Walton, Burndale Scot, 124; 2, B. Jordan, Alt Chase, 76; 3, M. Davidson, Heather; 4, M. Hutchinson, Katie, 151; 5, P. Ellis, Scott, 148; 6. J. Elkin, Elan Valley Sally, 146. Brace. 1, R. Hutchinson, Jonah and Chrissy, 212; 2, M. Hutchinson, Katie and Shadwell Susie, 208; 3, G. Miller, Valmis Sputnik and Valmis Pikku, 188; 4, N. Vyas, Cap and Pip, 181; 5, R. Dean, Redgate Ruby and Yan, 157; 6, T. Longton, Tiff and Lucy.
THORNON, 1, H. Hampshire, Skye, 93; 2, P. Turnbull, Peg, 92; 3, T. Bennett, Bell, 85; 4, A. Throup, Kerry, 83; 5, W. Young, Tiz, 71; 6, I. Murdoch, Spot, 68. DYKEHEAD (Kathleen Lyn) 1, S. Metcalf, Mac, 91; 2, P. Turnbull, Debs, 90; 3, M. Arres, Midge, 84; 4, G.
and Redgate road from A30. What3Words: neckline. scrubber.clown. Open driving, brace, novice. 9.30am start, enter on field. John Carter, tel: 07768 725 714. COME BYE AND AWAY, Cinnamon Lane, Glastonbury, BA6 8LD. 10am start with driving, followed by maltese cross and beginners. Entries on field. Contact Ron Fouracres, tel: 01458 832 053.
SCOTLAND
August 17. KIRKTON, Kirkton Farm open. Melvich, KW14 7YJ. Contact Ian Sutherland, tel: 07826 487 510. SKIPNESS, Chapel Park. Contact Fay MacCuish, tel: 07901 621 015 or 01880 760 265.
Thompson, Mac, 83OLF; 5, J. Burrow, Roy, 83; 6, I. Brownlie, Lark, 81. NORTHERN (Jessica Saukkonen, 47 ran) 1, J. Drinkwater, Kim, 82; 2, T. Birkett, Ben, 75T; 3. Tony Birkett, Mo, 75 T; 4, R. Mitchenson, Bell, 74T; 5, F. Nobel, Jan, 74T; 6, T. Hutchinson, Lidl, 72T.
Scottish results
SHETLAND (Magnus C. Hughson, 31 ran) 1, M. Shearer, Viking Cap, 96; 2, V. Shearer, Viking Misty, 93; 3, B. Smith, Chip, 87; 4, D. Murray, Jill, 85; 5, J. Nicholson, Viking Abby, 85OTF; 6, J. Nicholson, Flo, 85. SOUTH SHETLAND (Michael Shearer, 27 ran) 1, V. Shearer, Viking Misty, 86; 2, B. Smith, Chip, 83; 3. J. Nicholson, Viking Abby, 82; 4, J. Nicholson, Flo, 80; 5, A. Hughson, Lol, 78. SHETLAND FUNDRAISER (Brendon Smith, 7 ran) 1, R. Farquhar, Skip; 2, H. Davidson, Mirk; 3, R. Grains, Sky.
August 21. NETHY BRIDGE, Pityoulish, Pityoulish Estate, Aviemore, PH22 1RD. Entries on field, £7 per dog. Contact email: harling7@hotmail.com.
August 22. MULL AND MORVERN, Knock Farm, Gruline, Isle of Mull. Entries by phone to Enid Moore, tel: 01680 300 178 or 07765 426 971.
August 23. MEY, Wester Farm, Dunnet, KW14 8XP. 8.30am start, £10 entry fee. Contact, K. Thorburn, 07904 403 072 or D. Simpson, tel: 07853 720 833. August 24. SUTHERLAND, Clynelish Farm, Brora. Entries to Victoria, tel: 07979 070 211, or Jan, tel: 07909 697 508. WESTRUTHER, Hyndeside Hill Farm, Westruther, TD3 6LY. 8am start, enter on field. Contact Andrew Dickman, tel: 07810 838 011.
The English National Team at Moorland Farm, Princetown, Devon.
Market Prices Primestock
ENGLAND
SCOTLAND
Source: LAA/MartEye
Market Prices Store Cattle
ENGLAND
SCOTLAND
Source: LAA/MartEye
3/990.0 4/1015.0 -/- -/- -/- -/- -/-
1/1310.0
Source: IAAS/ScotEID Figures show livestock numbers first, then average price per head.
Source: LAA/MartEye
LIVESTOCK AVERAGES MARKET COMMENT
Primestock throughput, price and price change (p/kg). Week ending August 13, 2024.
ALL livestock categories decreased at auction marts in England and Wales this week.
Steers had gone down by 4.9p/kg to 272.7p/kg, while heifers reduced by 1.0p/kg to 281.4p/kg.
Dairy-sired cull cows decreased in value by 0.3p/kg to 155.2p/kg, but young bulls bucked the trend to increase by 1.5p/kg to 270.7p/kg.
In the sheep rings, lambs values had fallen 6.1p/kg to 302.2p/kg.
Porkers had increased by 16.9p/kg to 187.4p/kg, but cutters and baconers both reduced in value.
As Farmers Guardian went to press on Wednesday (August 14), UK LIFFE wheat prices for November 2024 were trading at £188.30/tonne, a decrease of £3.70/t on the week.
Source: LAA/MartEye
Market Prices
DEADWEIGHT CATTLE
STORE SHEEP ENGLAND
DEADWEIGHT SHEEP
N/S
DEADWEIGHT PIGS
WALES SCOTLAND
WEANER PRICES
SOURCE: LAA/MartEye
(ENGLAND/WALES)
CULL COWS (ENGLAND/WALES)
SOURCE:
SOURCE:
Market Prices
UK DELIVERED PRICES – SUMMARY
UK DELIVERED OILSEED RAPE PRICES
FUTURES MARKETS (WHEAT)
less than £30,000 post-transfer. Subject to Delinkage values 2025-27. BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN: English: Defra estimates £20,000-£200,000/unit excluding VAT and associated fees, subject to lot size. Last tender July 15, 2024, next September 9, 2024. NUTRIENT NEUTRALITY: Long-term sales all types agric man excluding specialist habitat creation. Nitrates £3,000-£4,000/unit (£18,000£206,000/ha); phosphates £50,000-£65,000/ unit (£2,000-£169,000/ha). CARBON: Woodland Carbon >£35/WCU >£25/PIU. May 2023 WCG reverse auction average £19.76. WATER: English abstraction licences less than £3-£15/cu.m. Source: Townsend Chartered Surveyors
Last updated August 13, 2024
Source: LAA/IAAS
MILK PRICE LEAGUE TABLE
Search #farm24 on social media
Over 76million impressions
On August 8-9, agriculture’s biggest digital campaign, 24 Hours in Farming, took place and showcased the power of social media and what can happen when the industry unites.
Strength in numbers
It is quite something to watch thousands of people from all walks of life come together to celebrate an industry that, more often than not, gets overlooked.
On August 8 from 5am, 24 Hours in Farming, sponsored by Morrisons, flooded social media with images and videos that showcased what happens day-to-day on farms across the country.
Using the hashtag #farm24, this year’s digital event was once again successful in its mission to connect consumers to those who produce the nation’s food, but it also highlighted just how many career opportunities there are in agriculture.
Feed merchants, vets, lecturers and agronomists – to name but a few – all gave educational insights
The #farm24 campaign is a powerful and effective way to showcase the realities of farming life across the UK
RABI
into what a typical day can look like.
But the campaign's most empowering message saw the backbone of our industry unite to raise awareness of its unique role.
Emily Ashworth, Farmers Guardian online editor, says: “24 Hours in Farming has been going for nine years now, and each year exceeds the last.
“It is about giving the rural community a chance to speak for themselves, and watching farmers – and
all those who work in diverse roles across the sector –support each other, interact with others in the industry and give real insight into what goes on during a 24-hour period on a British farm was really exciting.”
The campaign trended at number three on X (formerly Twitter), and a number of celebrities and well-known figures supported #farm24, from MP Robbie Moore to TV presenter and farmer Jimmy Doherty.
Top chef Tom Aikens echoed the industry's role to his followers, sharing how ‘lucky' we are to have British farmers producing food and that 24 Hours in Farming was a chance 'to educate the next generation on how important farming and our British countryside is’.
The campaign also received extensive coverage
from the BBC, which set up Farmwatch, a special programme in conjunction with #farm24. Farmer stories and topical issues were documented throughout the day along with dedicated articles from the FG team and BBC journalists, plus a video about one of the campaign’s ambassadors, fourth-generation hill farmer Frank Carr.
Various BBC regional radio shows also covered the event, with a shout-out from BBC Radio One host Greg James earlier on in the day. The campaign culminated on an all-time high, with social media impressions to date reaching over 76 million with more than 285,000 engagements. There is no doubt that when we work together as an industry, our message can reach far and wide.
More than 285,000 engagements
You can listen to all the day's radio coverage of #farm24 by scanning the QR code opposite.
Podcast
Nearly 13,500 tookpeoplepart
For the first time ever, the Farmers Guardian podcast was hosted by Amy Wilkinson, Lancashire farmer and FG In Your Field columnist. Want to know what goes on behind the scenes of the industry’s biggest digital event? Scan the QR code to listen now.
Charity partners
This year’s 24 Hours in Farming campaign was supported by five charity partners:
rThe Royal Countryside Fund
rYellow Wellies
rDPJ Foundation
rThe Farming Community Network
rRABI
Visit farmersguardian.com/farm24 to see why they chose to support the campaign.
FARMING COMMUNITY NETWORK
#farm24 is a great initiative, helping to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our incredible farming community, dispelling some of the myths and shining a spotlight on British farmers
In Your Field
Every week we follow the ups and downs of farmers around the UK
JAMES ROBINSON
Cumbria
James farms Dairy Shorthorns east of Kendal, Cumbria, with his parents
Kathleen and Henry, wife
Michelle and sons Robert and Chris. The fifth generation to farm at Strickley, he is also vice-chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network.
Ihave just sat down after finishing my supper and having a shower.
It was the type of shower where a tidemark was left around the shower tray. I seem to have brought most of the dust of our farm track and a fair bit of the silage we have just finished making into the house.
Not that I am complaining of course, it’s been grand to get a couple of days for some nice dry crop.
In fact, at the end of July, the good weather finally joined up enough to allow us to bale some lovely hay off our species-rich hay meadows. It was a good crop, lovely and leafy.
Aroma
It is now safely under cover in the barn, its sweet aroma drifting through the buildings as it gently sweats out.
It has been a struggle to make silage and hay, and manage grazing grass this year, we seem to have had a lot of rain, cool days and little sunshine.
The energy and protein levels have been quite disappointing, so much so that they were affecting milk yields and cow fertility.
We’ve introduced 15kg of first-cut clamp silage and 1.5kg of a 20% meal per day to get them fired up again, and
‘There has to be a better policy in place where every tool is available’
they responded quickly with yields going up three litres a day in under 10 days.
This probably means that we are stuck feeding at this rate until winter, but they will repay the cost with milk volume and better fertility, I’m sure.
We have received some great news.
By the time you are reading this we will have our bovine TB restrictions pretty much lifted. Twelve months of pre-movement tests will follow, but at least it allows us to sell some beef stirks that we have accumulated over the past nine due to movement restrictions.
Farmers Weather by Dr Simon Keeling
It has been an ordeal which I would not want to inflict on anyone. We have at times felt like the end would never come, but the support of our excellent vets and the APHA vets in the field have kept things moving forward.
It is very easy to feel alone when disease strikes, but friends locally and virtually through social media have never stopped supporting us, doing what they could to make us feel better.
What has happened to us is replicated on hundreds, if not thousands, of farms across the country every year and it is simply not sustainable.
We are probably past the days of peak heat
TEMPERATURES warmed up this week with 35degC being recorded in eastern England on Monday.
This brief hit of heat was caused by a ‘bubble’ of warm air drifting north through central Europe, where it caused some torrential thunderstorms, then clipping central and eastern England.
Interestingly, until a few years ago, temperatures of 35degC were virtually unheard of.
For most of my career the accepted maximum temperature recorded in the UK was that of 37.1degC recorded at Cheltenham on August 3, 1990. I remember the day very well as I had
run out to my Stevenson screen at home in South Staffordshire to see if we could break the record; we didn’t and managed 36.5degC.
Prior to this, 36.7degC was a record held jointly by Heathrow Airport and Raunds in Northampton, reached in 1911.
The 1990 record was broken in 2003 at Faversham in Kent with 38.5degC being recorded on August 10.
In 2019 and 2022 the hottest daily maximum temperature ever recorded in the UK was smashed, the peak being July 19, 2022 when the thermometer reached 40.3degC at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
When looking at the records, I am always sceptical about those close to conurbations or large areas of tarmac, such as Heathrow Airport. But the 40.3degC at Coningsby is a wake-up call. If you want to see a potential climate change smoking gun, that is it.
So may we see more hot temperatures in the weeks ahead?
Although it could be warm, or even very warm, the shorter days now mean that we are probably past the period when ‘hottest’ days can be recorded.
In fact, all of the top ten hottest days in the British Isles were recorded between July 1 and August 10.
There has to be a better policy in place where every single tool is available for every farm where a breakdown occurs.
Money saved by short-term thinking leads to a prolonged outbreak and a danger of infecting wildlife.
The policy should be ambitious and the budget and staffing levels should match that ambition.
Labour has announced that they are committed to eradicating the disease in England’s cattle herds by 2038. Let’s hope that they back up that statement with action and decent funding.
For location specific forecasts visit farmersweather.co.uk and for video updates go to weatherweb.net or call the number below. Call Farmers WeatherLIVE
NEXT WEEK
North Wales Dan Jones
West Sussex James and Isobel Wright
‘Despite the stresses, I feel lucky and proud’
HELEN STANIER
Yorkshire
Helen is a fifth-generation farmer who farms with her parents, David and Anne Shaw, husband, Craig, and their children, Alfred and Hattie, at Grey Leys Farm in the Vale of York. The farm comprises 162 hectares (400 acres) of grass, maize and wholecrop for the herd of 240 pedigree Jersey cows and more than 200 followers.
The season has been on our side for once, and we have been able to make the most of it over the last three weeks.
We have made and gathered in 350 hay bales from our outlying silage fields and low-input grass meadows.
The grazing platform for the milk cows has been extended as we have
opened up the rest of the silage fields into the rotation.
The cows have further to walk back and forth for milking, but yields have increased with the new grass in front of them.
We grow most of our winter feed on farm and we managed to get six-and-ahalf hectares (16 acres) of peas and spring barley wholecropped and clamped, but we will have only about a quarter of the amount of wholecrop we usually have this year.
Maize
The maize, which was drilled late, is catching up in most fields but there are areas where it has not been successful, so maize stocks will also be reduced.
We engage in ‘muck for straw’ agreements with our neighbouring arable farmers, and the team is busy leading bales back home and to our youngstock site.
As things stand, we will have more barley straw than expected.
Now it is finally summer, it is some-
Crossword 1258
what ironic to be thinking ahead to winter, but I am at least a little less worried about straw.
In the farm office, the deadline is looming for the second stage of Defra’s Slurry Infrastructure Grant.
Being able to access the grant is one opportunity for us to better futureproof the farm, but I am finding the application process rather overwhelming and we still face some big decisions in terms of our financing.
However, I am working through it with the help of a land agent to try and get everything sent off in time.
Things are always very busy and it’s
difficult to get away, but, thanks to our wonderful team, we managed to attend the Jersey Cattle Society (JCS) annual general meeting and farm walk held in Scotland last week, combining it with a lovely couple of days’ break as a family.
At the meeting, I was pleased to be elected to the JCS board of directors. We have entered some local shows with our cows.
The children have enjoyed showing calves in the handling classes and both they and the herd have come home with several rosettes, so despite the stresses, I feel very lucky and proud.
Send in your correct entries to be in with a chance of winning £20 worth of Love2shop vouchers every month. Send to:
Unit 4,
ACROSS
1 Careless writing’s small capitals on crude line (6)
5 Not essentially political problems for Russia’s monetary unit (6)
10 Florida’s key in slow tempo (5)
11 Maybe present of Red Rum? One you don’t look in the mouth (4,5)
12 Forest areas seek favour of leader of distant countries (9)
13 Smallest amount’s dreadfully stale (5)
14 Ramblers’ loud shouts about motorway extension primarily (7)
16 Feelings of allegiance to monarchy taking on new direction (7)
18 Bird, very big, ultimately fast and fullbodied (head in sand maybe) (7)
20 Daughter, dressed in shabby clothes moved slowly and heavily (7)
22 Turning over, put into new container one that drinks lots (5)
24 Historical house, York’s opponents - or a bomber? (9)
26 Troubled sub lieutenant lacking new style suit. That’s indefensible (9)
27 A legal right to retain property for person from foreign country (5)
28 County where downs or horns might be found (6)
29 Toboggan slides finally over large ridge (6)
DOWN
2 Greedy bird’s expression of surprise followed by second angry tirade (9)
3 Circular coral island - what you pay, say, for privilege of using bridge to it (5)
4 Traditional tales at bottom of table? (7)
5 Earfuls about horse’s unwillingness to jump (7)
6 Well-informed, violent and excited activity, openings of year’s action, a mid-winter festival (2-5-2)
7 Immature insect for example, some particular variety (5)
8 River or blossom (6)
9 In an orderly way almost with time for start of rearranging (6)
15 Frantically streaming people leaving their country (9)
17 High-speed equipment for illuminating circling north (9)
18 Go faster in section of trial when dog collects sheep (6)
Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9NZ.
Farming Matters
Forthright opinions from throughout the world of agriculture
‘Change can be alarming, but start small’
The waterlogged fields of the British countryside last spring clearly indicate we need to do something quickly to save the soil on which farming relies – and we need to work with nature, not fight against it.
A radical rethink is needed in the farming sector, both at policy level and on the ground, but I am optimistic that with an innovative, open and holistic mindset, agriculture can be transformed from a process of degradation to one of regeneration.
Looking around Angus and further afield, I can see what a mess we are making of some of our farmland. Many fields, or parts of them, will not yield a crop this year. We can only abuse the soil for so long.
In the words of my father: ‘If you’re going down a dead-end street, it doesn’t help to buy a faster car’. We are buying bigger and bigger machinery to deal with mismanaged soils and doing more and more damage.
However, our own land and that of other regenerative farmers has been relatively unaffected by the rain. Soil degradation can be reversed if we pay closer attention and allow it to regenerate.
It’s surprising how quickly the soil can recover.
Be patient
Change can be alarming, but start small with safe-to-fail trials, perhaps one field at a time. Be patient, don’t believe you have got things right until you see positive changes in the desired direction. Join groups such as the Pasture Fed Livestock Association and exchange information with peers trying similar things.
It is important to consider the bigger picture, and to be willing to see things from a different perspective. Regenerative – or the more active ‘regenerating’, as I prefer to say – practices don’t work in isolation. It has to be a holistic and ongoing process.
I am accredited by the Savory
Regenerative agriculture consultant
Institute which encourages farmers to identify every element of the farm and consider their aspirations for the business, quality of life and the environment.
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’, but Savory techniques provide a decision-making framework that works towards regenerating land and livelihoods, and puts environmental, social and financial objectives on an equal footing.
Policy system
In the wider context, we need a policy system that penalises soil mismanagement and rewards best practice. We also need a switch to hectare-based direct payments coupled with agroecological performance, farmer-empowering policy and fostering long-term simplification and planning security in the agricultural sector.
I am a founding farmer of the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA), a lobbying organisation promoting the redesign of agricultural policy
through building resilient ecosystems.
EARA is driven by our collective concerns about people, nature and the competing interests of food, farming, environment and health, which should be working in harmony. We don’t pretend to have all the answers but we have got to start listening to nature and it is clear we need wholesale change in the farming sector.
I hope that through EARA we will be able to work with Governments to reshape agricultural policy.
WILLIAM HOUSTOUN
Soil degradation can be reversed if we pay attention to the soil and allow it to regenerate, says William Houstoun.
