- Online Catalogue available fromMonday 27th of January 2025 atfarmersmarts.auctionmarts.com
- Bidding to start on Monday 3rd of February 2025
- Bidding closes 5th of February 2025
Key Figures from the 13th November Sale
Top Price: £10,200
22 Lots sold over £4,000
Trained Average - £3842
Partly Trained Average £2100
Pups Average - £862
Sale Average - £2,407
Overall Clearance - 81%
Ellie £9,000
Roxy £9,100
Foinaven
Cefnethin
Saturday 18th January 2025 - 11am Start
On Behalf of Apley Estate to be held at Apley Home Farm, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9EL
NEW YEAR DEADLINE
160 In Calf Cows, 2 Cows and Calves and 4 Stock bulls. Prolific and well managed mainly Continental x Cows calving from 1st March 2025 within 12 weeks to British Blue and Limousin X Bulls Fully Vaccinated, Farm Assured, TB Free since 2021, 70% calved in march and only 6 assisted calvings total in 2024. Last Years bull calves averaged 613kg at 431days and averaged 390kg Deadweight, a 63.6% Killing out percentage, including 14% E Grade, 62% U Grade and 24% R Grades. Download the full catalogue from our website.
From everyone at Halls, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025.
Friday 3rd January 2025Copy deadline: Monday 30th Dec 11am
PL E ASE N OTE
The Farmers Guardian office will be closed from Friday 20th December, will re-open for one day on Monday 30th December and will remain closed until Thursday 2nd January 2025
Farming has had a challenging year View
Zanna Dennis looks ahead to 2025
With the festive season well and truly here, Christmas prime stock shows and sales are in full swing in our auction marts up and down the country. We have seen record-breaking prices that once again prove the value of the live auction ring, while creating space to come together to celebrate each other’s achievements and showcase the best in British livestock.
As we wrap up the year, farming in 2024 has certainly not been without its challenges. Spring brought us extreme weather conditions and disease outbreaks, making lambing and calving difficult for many.
The election of a new Government brought uncertainty, but recently sent shockwaves through our industry following the Budget announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, including changes to Agricultural Property Relief.
On top of that, the bluetongue dis-
ease outbreak has placed large parts of England within a Restricted Zone, which has had significant implications on business operations and trading for farmers and livestock markets.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. In response to the Autumn Budget announcement, we have seen our industry stand together strong, with spectacular displays of passion, unity and respect at the recent rallies across the country, that show what makes our industry so special.
As a child I was taught that it requires humility to admit when you have got it wrong, and courage to make change. I can only hope that our Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and
the Labour Party can find the strength of character to listen and show our industry the respect, value and support it deserves.
In times of uncertainty, our livestock markets have continued to provide a vital community and social hub and the liveweight trade has continued to be the good news story for the livestock producer.
While the prime lamb trade has been strong throughout autumn, we have seen the seasonal jump in the run up to Christmas, realising an SQQ of 309.3p, with lightweight lambs in strong demand.
The prime cattle trade continues to exceed expectations and appears to be getting dearer by the week, last week reaching an average of 306.6p/ kg. Where cull cows have usually dipped in price in the approach to Christmas, demand has remained strong right through.
The strength of trade seen in the prime ring is being carried through into the store cattle and store lamb ring. Once again, the live auction ring is driving the trade and rewarding producers.
At the Livestock Auctioneers As-
sociation (LAA), 2024 saw the launch of a new venture, our LAA Market Prices platform reporting store, breeding and primestock prices for cattle, sheep and pigs sold through livestock markets in England and Wales. We have been listening to your feedback throughout the year and look forward to sharing an update with you in early 2025.
Throughout the year, the LAA has continued to represent the interest of livestock markets and British farmers in policy negotiations with Defra and Welsh Government. You can be assured that in 2025 we will continue to do so, to make sure your voice is heard. We know the incredible and vital contributions both our British farmers and livestock markets make.
Thank you to all who support our live auction rings throughout the year, and to our auctioneers and market staff. On behalf of all at the LAA, may we wish you a Merry Christmas and the very best for 2025.
Zanna Dennis is development officer at the Livestock Auctioneers Association. Call 07930 115 838, or email zanna.dennis@laa.co.uk
Zanna Dennis
Tatoo Shakira sells at Spotlight then takes
“BORDER BEAUTIES”
BORDERWAY MART, CARLISLE
Tel: 01228 406200
The Directors & Staff of Harrison&HetheringtonLtd, would like to thank you all for your custom during 2024 and Wish you All a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year
Annual Christmas sale of ROUGH PLUCKED and DRESSED POULTRY
Monday 23rd December – 12.00noon Present entries - 150 turkeys and 10 geese
CHRISTMAS SALE ARRANGEMENTS
Monday 23rd December
Sale of PRIME & CAST SHEEP – 9.30am STORE LAMBS – 11.00am
NO SALE of PRIME CATTLE, BULLS or CAST /FEEDING COWS
Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th December NO SALESMART and OFFICES CLOSED
Monday 30th December
Sale of PRIME & CAST SHEEP
NO SALE of PRIME CATTLE, BULLS or CAST /FEEEDING COWS or STORE SHEEP
Tuesday 31st December – Wednesday 1st January NO SALESMART and OFFICES CLOSED
Sale of the entire female portion of the CARRY HOUSE flock of 127 BLUEFACED LEICESTERS
On behalf of Messrs RD Archer & Son, Carry House, Wark
(This sale was incorrectly advertised last week – it is NOT a dispersal sale)
Saturday 28th December - 12.00noon
Comprising 43 flock ewes, 30 shearling gimmers and 54 ewe lambs and 40 lots semen
Major Reduction Sale of the DUHONW flock of 235 PEDIGREE FEMALES
Saturday 28th December – 10.30am
On behalf of Messes JE & SJL James, Neuadd-Blaendohow, Powys
Show 9.30am Sale 11.30am 23 ewes, 83 gimmers, 16 ewe hoggs
Visit www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk or follow
BORDER LEICESTER INLAMB FEMALES
Saturday 4th January
Show 9.00am Sale 11.00am
Show and sale of PEDIGREE HOLSTEIN CATTLE
On behalf of Border & Lakeland Holstein Club
Thursday 16th January
Entries close Thursday 2nd January
PEDIGREE BRITISH BLUE CATTLE
Wednesday 29th January
Entries close Thursday 2nd January
KIRKBY STEPHEN MART
Tel: 01768 371385
CHRISTMAS SALE ARRANGEMENTS
Tuesdays 24th & 31st December
PRIME SHEEP – NO SALES
Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th December
Mart & Offices Closed PRIME & LIGHTWEIGHT LAMBS and CAST SHEEP
Friday 27th December – 10.00am
Tuesday 31st December
– Wednesday 1st January
Mart & Offices Closed
New Year show and sale of STORE CATTLE
Monday 6th January
Entries close 10am Monday 30th December
ON LINE SALES
DUHONW ONLINE SALE OF BLUEFACED LEICESTERS
- 6 ewe lambs and 8 implanted pregnancies
Sale starts 27th December –7pm
finishing from 7pm Saturday 28th December
Please visit handh.marteye.ie to register
JALEX LIVESTOCK
“Herd for the Holidays Sale” Timed online sale of 65 INCALF HEIFERS
Bidding starts 1pm Thursday 26th December
finishing from 7pm Monday 30th December
Viewing date Saturday 28th December
FRIDAY 20TH DECEMBER
DRESSED POULTRY SALE 5PM Turkeys, Chickens,
SALE
SALE OF PRIME CATTLE, SHEEP & PIGS
Contact Office for Details
MART OFFICE: 01757 703347
Contact Office for Details
RICHARD HAIGH 07768 594535 www.selbymart.co.uk
MART OFFICE: 01757 703347
RICHARD HAIGH: 07768 594535 www.selbymart.co.uk
THE 96th MIDSHIRES PRODUCE AUCTION. Approx 5,000 Tonnes on Farms and Estates in the Central Midland Counties. To include a comprehensive selection of HAY, STRAW, HAYLAGE & SILAGE in all sizes, easily accessible to towns in the midlands including: Banbury, Burton Overy, Coventry, Daventry, Henley-in-Arden, Husbands Bosworth, Kenilworth, Leicester, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Northampton, Nuneaton, Rugby, Towcester and Warwick. Together with:
Clamped and Baled Silage easily accessible to Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands and Rugeley in Staffordshire. Plus:
400 Tonnes Maize Silage at Henley-in-Arden (Dry Matter: 24.2, D Value: 64, ME: 10.4, Protein: 7.9, Starch: 36.4),
300 Tonnes Maize Silage at Sapcote, Leicester (Dry Matter: 34.2, D Value: 73.4, ME: 11.8, Protein: 5.9, Starch: 37.5),
York Auction Centre, Murton, York, YO19 5GF T 01904 489731 • E enquiries@yams.uk.com
Monday 23rd December
Usual Sale of Fatstock Inc Young Handlers Show of Lambs For the Linda Croft Memorial Trophy Dressed Christmas Poultry at 5pm
Monday 30th December
Usual Sale of Fatstock Calves at 11.30am
Friday 3rd January 2025 @11am
Opening Store/Breeding of 2025 Inc New Year Show of Store Cattle Sponsored by Martin Ellis Feed Solutions & Nigel Slater of Laverton Finance Calves at 11.30am
We would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas & a Prosperous New Year!!
Ian Smith - Mart Manager 07738043771 Office 01943 462172 wfam @auctionmarts.com
200 Tonnes Maize Silage at Marston, Sutton Coldfield, 200 Tonnes Maize Silage at Church Lawford, Rugby, 200 Tonnes Grass Silage at Rowington, Warwick. Also included: Hay & Straw for delivery. And:
2004 JCB 8052 5-Tonne Excavator (to be sold at 4pm).
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION ON Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 2.30pm. Lutterworth Rugby Football Club, Ashby Lane, Bitteswell, Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 4LW (3 Miles from Junction 20 of the M1 Motorway) What3words: ///facelift.testing.prevented.
Jeremy Eaton - 07747 780481 Ted Ogden - 07855 958211 Kyle Hawksworth - 07538 539077 Matthew Middleton – 07860 659803
Monday 23rd December
SALE OF PRIME LAMBS - Sale 12.30pm followed by CAST EWES, RAMS & GOATS Annual Sale of 300 OVEN READY POULTRY Pre-Entered
Rachel Capstick 07713075659 Jack Pickup 07710708326 Eleanor O’Neill 07706347505 Eli Tattersall 07955288800
Saturday 21st December
9:30am Weekly CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMB FESTIVE DRESSED & LONG LEGGED POULTRY
Annual auction of 150+ Turkeys, Geese, Ducks and Capons. Held in the main ring at 12:30pm
Thurdsay 26th December - NO SALES Offices closed from Monday 23rd – Friday 27th Dec For urgent enquiries please email info@gisburnauctions.com
WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Saturday 28th December
9:30am Weekly CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS
2nd January
10:30am PRIME CATTLE followed by CAST CATTLE
10:30am REARING CALVES
11:00am MASSEY FEEDS with LELY LONGTOWN show & sale of DAIRY CATTLE - Entries to Eleanor
Saturday 4th January
9:30am WEEKLY CAST SHEEP & PRIME HOGGS
11:00am NEW YEAR SALE OF STORE HOGGS
COWS, STORE & BREEDING CATTLE (Entries close Monday 23rd December) Wednesday 15th January
SALE OF STORE HOGGS & BREEDING SHEEP (Entries close Monday 6th January)
- Entries to the office Thurs 2nd Jan, 12noon
Saturday 11th January
OPENING SALE OF BREEDING & STORE CATTLE
HAWES, NORTH YORKSHIRE, DL8 3NP 01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk
THE
Our Directors & Staff would like to wish all our customers a Merry
www.nwauctions.co.uk info@nwauctions.co.uk
Friday 20th December 10:30am
Catalogued Sale of 1000 Store Lambs
Tuesday 24th December
(Earlier Start Time 9:30am)
1500 Prime Lambs
400 Cast Ewes & Rams
Tuesday 31st December
(Earlier Start Time 9:30am)
1500 Prime Lambs
400 Cast Ewes & Rams
Saturday 11th January
100 Store Cattle, Beef Breeding Cattle & Cull Cows. Catalogue closes Tuesday 31st December
Saturday 18th January 2025
Show & Sale of Individual Registered Ewes & Gimmer Lambs on behalf of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Assoc and on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Assoc, also Sale of other Individual Pedigree Females Entries close 30th December.
Ian Atkinson 07957 256337 Kenton Foster 07711 469280.
Saturday 4th January PEDIGREE SHEEP DAY
Show & Sale of 59 Pedigree Texel Females On behalf of North West Texel Breeders Club Featuring the Beautry Flock Dispersal Show & Sale of 18 Pedigree Beltex Females On behalf of Beltex Sheep Society Society Sales of Pedigree Females also for 18 Dutch Spotted & 7 Badger Face Texels
Thursday 9th January ‘NEW YEAR SHOW’ REARING CALVES & WEANLINGS
CAST/OTM CATTLE, STIRKS & STORE CATTLE Catalogue Entries Close Thursday 2nd January
Saturday 25th January ‘DIAMOND DELIGHTS’ Rough Fell Females on behalf of the RFSBA Swaledale & Bluefaced Leicester Females Also this day Multi-Breed Sale of Individual In-Lamb Breeding & Commercial In-Lamb Sheep Entries Close Friday 3rd January
Saturday 25th January Farm Machinery Dispersal Sale On behalf of S & J France, Over Wyresdale.
Monday 27th January Milking Herd Reduction of 50/60 Cow & Heifers (due to change in farming policy) on behalf of MH&SJ Morris, Wraysholme Tower We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
BENTHAM AUCTION MART
015242 61444 -
Saturday 21st December at 10.30am
DRESSED POULTRY Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, Capons
Saturday 28th December at 9.30am
CAST SHEEP & PRIME LAMBS ONLY YFC Singles Competition
Prizes for Best Single Prime Lamb (Lowland & Hill Breeds) & Best Presented Prime Lambs & Vendor shown by a Young Farmer (Under 27yo). Judging at 10.30am
Tuesday 7th January at 10.30am
Feeding & Cast Cows & OTM Cattle
SUCKLER BREEDING CATTLE
Entries inc. Pure Lim Cow IC due March, 6 Here/Lim Cows due April & May, 2 Here x Cows w/Calves (RWB) 200 STORE CATTLE
inc. Annual Consignment from G Haygarth of 7 Blue Grey Hfrs 16-17m
Wednesday 8th January
Fortnightly Sale of Dairy Cattle
Weekly Sale of Calves, Cast Ewes & Prime Lambs
Tuesday 14th January
Fortnightly Sale of Store Hoggs
RTS
Turner & Son
Stirling Sunday 2 - Monday 3 February
Dungannon Farmers Mart
Tuesday 11 February
Dungannon Farmers Mart
Friday 18 April
Shrewsbury Auction Centre
Saturday 19 April
Borderway, Carlisle
Friday 16 May
Shrewsbury Auction Centre
Saturday 18 October
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated operator to join our team based near York. We farm 2000 Ha of arable land and 400 Ha of carrots using modern techniques and equipment.
Our team cover all farm tasks including cultivations, drilling, fertiliser spreading, spraying, combining, irrigation and a range of specialist operations on the carrot crop. This wide variety of jobs plus year-round carrot harvesting ensures an interesting and fulfilling role.
You will be our ideal candidate if you:
• Have experience of operating farm machinery and GPS technology
• Have a passion for agriculture and a desire to learn
• Are a positive and dedicated team player
We will offer the successful candidate a full time contract with 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays), best in class rate of pay and ongoing training and development.
Apply in strictest confidence – send your cv and covering letter to
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Agricultural, Construction, Drainage and Groundworks
Contractors based in the North West
• Slurry tanking
• Muck spreading
• Muck shifts
• All size excavators
• Tractors and dump trailers
• Bailing
• Bale wrapping
• Mowing
• Screener hire
• Covering all areas of UK “We have available a wide range of modern agricultural, construction equipment and together with skilled and experienced operators.”
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
Equipment
Biscon Meal (Approx. 12% Protein /14 ME) £185 ex
Cereal Mixture (Approx. 14% Protein /13 ME) £205 ex store
Cereal Blend (Approx. 16% Protein /13 ME) £225 ex store
Mixed Pellets (Approx. 18% Protein /13 ME) £245 ex store
NEW STORE IN CUMBRIA
One Tonne Bag Collections
Mixed Pellets (Approx. 18% Protein/13 ME) £275 ex store
Biscon Meal (Approx. 12% Protein/14 ME) £225 ex store
NEW Premium Products
Inc. Rolled Barley, Maize Gluten, Hi Pro Soya, Malt Pellets, Sugarbeet Pellets, Oatfeed Pellets & Syrup Suitable for Cattle and Sheep
Premium Starter 18% Bulk £245 ex - Bags £255 ex Premium Grower 16% Bulk £230 ex – Bags £240 ex
Premium Finisher 14% Bulk £220 ex – Bags £230 ex Bespoke Rations available to your requirements
ABBOTT & CO (WESSEX) LTD HAY, STRAW & SHAVINGS BOUGHT AND SOLD trading for 130 years 01285 653738 abbottwessex@btinternet.com
Additional land adjoining the farm, Clifton upon Dunsmore
Pasture land extending circa 126 acres to be let on a two year rolling FBT
Viewing date 21St January 2025
Please contact the agents for further information
Property Landscape
Implications of long-term FBTs need attention
Considerations for structure changes
As many professionals are no doubt being contacted following the Budget, creative ideas start to be questioned.
I have been told more than once in the last two weeks ‘we are going to do a long-term Farm Business Tenancy (FBT)’, and my response is always: “Have you spoken to your accountant?”
The changing of the structure of any business will have implications and consequences to think through and, as rural surveyors, we need to know and understand the legislation. An accountant will know the wider detail.
Some see the option of entering into a long-term FBT as the answer to possibly decreasing the value of the agricultural holding and, depending on the terms granted, it may do this.
It is, however, worth considering what other implications there could be if you went down that route.
Firstly, it would have to be an arm’s length transaction. You cannot be the landlord and the tenant at the same time, but a limited company or a formal partnership could be the tenant if the property was owned by the family (the landlord).
The terms of that tenancy would have to be ‘commercial terms’ – market rent with monies paid by the tenant to the landlord, thus a cost then to that trading business and then an income to the landlord.
Market rent
Another tax consideration has been created. The market rent for an equipped farm holding could be significant, depending on the infrastructure in place.
In some circumstances, the repairing obligations of the tenancy could be put on the tenant, known as a ‘full, repairing and insuring basis’, and in this case, the tenant is then liable for everything.
Tom Selby
Depending on the term of the agreement and the rent being paid over that period, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) could be payable (another tax consideration). For example, a 20-year tenancy at £7,500/annum would give rise to a SDLT bill.
Agreement
There is also then the issue that if family members were perhaps to fall out with one another during the tenancy, legally that agreement is in place until it terminates or is surrendered by agreement.
If there are break clauses then technically the agreement can be terminated earlier and therefore is not as long as it says on the first page of the tenancy.
The transferring of land to a non-farming family member and then renting it back could be another option and may be eligible for Agricultural Property Relief once it is held for seven years. However, with all of this, taking advice from a specialist agricultural accountant is key.
Tom Selby is a rural chartered surveyor and founder of Selby Rural. Call 01829 423 183, or email tom@selbyrural.co.uk
ADO YOU HAVE LAND?
Sites of 1- 1000 acres required for residential development.
If you think that your land has potential for development, or you have been approached by a developer, then you will need expert advice that is not available at traditional sources.
AMichael Rutherford is a specialist agent acting and negotiating for landowners.
Contact me for a confidential and expert consultation at no cost.
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Businesses Wanted
Are you looking to retire, cut down your workload or want a change of lifestyle?
We have an established and well-regarded dairy farming client looking for a second dairy farm to rent or enter into a joint venture.
Our client is looking for a long-term agreement and is willing to invest.
The option for you to remain in the farmhouse can be discussed if required.
Ideal location is Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Hereford/Worcester but all opportunities considered.
For a confidential discussion please call Helen on 07980 917171
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