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This unseasonably warm weather isn't something I'm liking at all, and like most folk, I'm sick to the back teeth of this blooming rain.

 It’s been a week of ups and downs. The retained hoggs were fluke and vitamin drenched at the weekend and considering the wet weather, they’re not looking too bad.

 We’re in the throes of lambing the Suffolks which held to AI. At one point I have to admit I could have thrown the towel in and sold the lot after a disastrous 24 hours in the lambing shed. I'm over it now - it’s amazing what a night’s sleep and a couple of decent lambs can do to rally your optimism and enthusiasm.

 I'm finding it hard to believe Christmas is at the end of this week! I’m sure most people like us will be pushing on to get as much feeding up and scraping out done before the big day. I plan to toddle out between copious amounts of turkey and the odd glass, to check on the lambs and lambers, but that will be it!!.

 If you’re dairy farming of course, it’s business as usual either end of the day, and unfortunately at present, with little reward for the effort. But even those who have decided to get out, it is only the better end of fresh calvers which are making anything like decent money, and most dairy auctioneers will tell you it is an uphill job selling anything 'run of the mill'.

A few sales coming up over the next week or two are:
  • Saturday, December 28 – Store and breeding cattle sale at Bakewell Livestock Mart.
  • Sunday, December 29 – Weekly Sale of prime sheep, including young handlers show and sale of prime lambs at NWA, Lancaster Mart.
  • Tuesday, January 5, 2016 – A Mart's the Heart supported sale of Welsh Black pedigree cattle at Dolgellau Mart.
Have a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Steph Ryder
Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian
Well the weekend was eventful with one of our best Simmental calves looking like it has taken a kick in the mouth, unfortunately breaking its jaw. The best part of Saturday night was spent with the vet stitching and tying it back in place! Unbelievably he is sucking again, so fingers crossed he makes a full recovery.
We brought the lambing ewes inside and not a moment too soon as on Monday night a ewe carrying triplets lambed. A few days early, but all alive and well thankfully.

The pedigree in-lamb sales I attended saw fair trade, anything decent making good money. Particularly strong trade was seen for Beltex ewe lambs and in-lambers at Carlisle, where they reached 1,900gns and 2,500gns respectively.

The Red Ladies sale saw trade topping at 24,000gns for a young cow, in-calf again, and a very smart weaned bull calf made 10,000gns. I'd say trade overall was firm throughout, with a clearance of almost 90 per cent. The prime lamb trade seems to be up and down depending where in the country you are – so best not to comment further!

Sales coming up:
  • Friday, December 18, The Christmas Lights pedigree Texel sale at Llandovery Market
  • Monday, December 21, Skipton's annual Christmas sale of dressed poultry
  • Tuesday, December 22, sale of primestock, from 7am, at Longton auction market
Hope you manage to find time to get all your Christmas shopping done!
Steph Ryder

Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian
Well what a horrific time for those affected by the floods! Living so close to the river, we had a sleepless Saturday night. We were fortunate though. Although the beck at the back of us came up into the yard and found a route through one of the outbuildings, we still managed to keep the house water-free.
On a positive note, horrendous situations like this get farming communities pulling together. If you want to support farmers whose livestock are now in need of forage or bedding, then please click here to go to the Forage Aid website.

Some encouraging prices were seen over the weekend for pedigree Texel and Suffolk gimmers. Suffolks topped at 9,000gns for Gary Beacom, Texels at 22,000gns for Jim Innes, and Blue Texels at 9,500gns for Steve and Sarah Gibbons.

It's also been a reasonable week for commercial
sheep sales, with the prime market holding up – and even increasing for the best lambs in some markets – and the store lamb trade remaining firm. Even though Christmas sales tend to distort the prime cattle averages a little, no-one seems to have seen any big boost in the underlying trade in the run-up to Christmas, which is disappointing.

Some sales to look out for this next week:
  • Friday, December 11, continental in-lamb sheep sale, a Mart's the Heart-supported sale, at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.
  • Friday, December 11, combination dispersal of two NMR-recorded Holstein Friesians at Beeston Castle.
  • Saturday, December 12, select seven sale of 134 Texel in-lamb gimmers at Lanark.
  • Tuesday, December 15, dispersal sale of tractors, trailers, grassland and cultivation equipment, dairy cattle sundries, and a large range of sundry items. Sold by Barbers, in conjunction with Fisher German, on-farm at Caldecott Farm, Farndon, CH3 6PE.
Bye for now,
Steph Ryder
Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian
What a soggy start to December! We have brought the Suffolks, which are due to lamb around Christmas, closer to home. We've started giving them a tickle of feed now and jabbed them with a anti-cloistral vaccine. Preparations of the lambing barn are under way, so all being well, we can think about bringing them inside in the next couple of weeks.

 There have been a few new additions to the place, a healthy Charolais heifer calf from one of the favourite cows and three black Runner ducks, which were an early Christmas present! They are housed with some other Indian Runners and fit in well. All of them are crazy and highly strung like you wouldn't believe! It’s impossible not to laugh at the pure panic they fall into every time you come across them.

 Now the Christmas shows and sales are getting into full swing there have, and will be, some eye-watering prices paid for the primestock champions by all those butchers who are happy to support the markets and the exhibitors lucky enough to win. Good job their shop customers don’t have to pay the pro-rata price for the Sunday roasts! It’s great to see all those fantastically turned-out animals.

Sales to look out for this week are:




  • Friday, December 4, machinery sale with about 1,100 lots. Halls at Shrewsbury Auction Centre.
  • Friday, December 4, Suffolk sheep dark diamond sale at H&H Borderway Mart, Carlisle, 3pm.
  • Friday, December 4, Christmas show and sale of 50 calves and 100 dairy cattle, Mitchells, Lakeland Livestock Centre.
    • Sunday, December 6, and Monday, December 7, Mart's the Heart Christmas primestock show and sale, Bagshaws at Bakewell Livestock Centre

    All the best,
    Steph Ryder
    Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian

     P.S. This week's issue of Farmers Guardian includes our hotly-anticipated A1 wall planner, with all the main agricultural dates you'll need for 2016. It's sure to sell fast, so make sure you don't miss out.





    Well winter definitely arrived with us last weekend! Snow and the hardest frost that we’ve had so far this winter. It certainly made me thankful the cattle were all dry and cosy inside. Last Thursday I attended the Lake District stockjudging evening at Penrith mart. What a great community gathering and so well supported. Great stock to judge, however it was tricky with all the different breeds. It wasn’t a surprise my performance was pretty poor!

     Charolais bull trade was pretty dire at Carlisle on Friday – just over 55 per cent clearance – but Suffolks were the exact opposite at the Three Nations Sale later on that evening. It was flying with 100 per cent clearance and topping at 11,000gns for a cracker of a Rhaeadr ewe lamb. 
    Chelford’s well known senior auctioneer, Roy Waller, is retiring at the end of this month (he’s been there more than 50 years) but I gather he will still handle the market’s monthly machinery sale.
    Despite some warnings of pressure on the beef market last week, it doesn’t seem to have been too bad and, surprise surprise, the lamb trade has held up and even increased a penny or two in some markets.

    Some sales coming up this next week are:

    • Saturday, November 28, Newark winter warmers show and sale.
    • Saturday, November 28, north west midlands and north Wales Limousin club sale at Welshpool livestock market.
    • Sunday, November 29, Mart's the Heart supported Craven Lingfield show (CCM Christmas primestock shows) at Skipton auction mart.
    • Monday, November 30, and Tuesday, December 1, Mart's the Heart is supporting the Aberdeen Christmas Classic at Thainstone Centre.
    Enjoy the rest of your week.

    Steph Ryder
    Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian

    P.S. Next week's issue of Farmers Guardian is one to watch out for. It includes the ever popular A1 wall planner, with all the main agricultural dates you'll need for 2016.
    I think our hens are at risk of trench foot and our sheep at risk of being washed away with this horrendous weather! What a wet, wet week where our river levels have been worryingly high.

     Away from flood concerns, we said goodbye to the latest batch of piglets. It’s always sad to see them go, however, their latest adventure (which ended up in next door’s front room) was the last straw and the signal that perhaps they were best away! Prices were a bit disappointing, making £1.20 per kilo – hardly worth it for all the hassle involved in completing the movement declaration online which nearly finished me off! 

     Store lamb prices remain strong, which surely is an indication that there are expectations prime lamb values will increase in price soon? Early signs this week are fat lamb prices have indeed continued to creep up – an SQQ of 173p/kg I understand at Bakewell, for example. That’s about 20p up on the week!
    Meanwhile, the beef market is under pressure again, with plenty of meat from abroad, skins worth less and abattoirs’ waste disposal charges increasing again.

    Sales to look out for this week:
    • Thursday, November 19, evening show and sale of Suffolk sheep at NWA, Kendal.
    • Friday, November 20, farm displenishing sale of tractors and more at Lanark Agricultural Market.
    • Friday, November 20, Fox Bennett’s on-farm auction of beef cattle and machinery – High Leys Farm, LE6 0HA.
    • Friday, November 20, Three Nations Suffolk females at Borderway, plus Charolais bulls and females.
    • Sunday, November 22, sale of rare and minority breed poultry, waterfowl, cage birds and equipment at Longtown Mart.
    I’m at the Lake District Livestock judging evening this Thurday evening at Penrith mart, so maybe see you there.

    Steph Ryder
    Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian
    Someone turn off the tap! The rain has been serious this past week – there’s water underfoot like you wouldn't believe. We managed to synchronise getting the cattle in following the only dry day we'had this week. It’s still unseasonably warm which is a worry for pneumonia.

     We had a healthy heifer calf born this week – but it was not what we were expecting. Being out of a pure Limousin we had inseminated to a pure Limousin, we expected a pure Limousin calf. What we've ended up with is a Shorthorn cross! The cow was running out with one of our Shorthorn cows with a big Shorthorn bull calf at foot. He was obviously more advanced in his ways than we thought.

     At the weekend we had the Mart's the Heart Awards presentations, kindly hosted by the LAA. The awards have been so well supported, with just short of 5,000 votes from our readers. Well done to Paul Gentry, Auctioneer of the Year; Ian Atkinson, New Auctioneer of the Year; and to Monmouthshire Market Cafe, Mart Cafe of the year.
    I managed to get to a couple of sales this week, nothing too exciting to report on the pedigree side. In-lamb sales are starting – Beeston Suffolks were better than expected; a good Ayrshire sale at Carlisle, although the commercial dairy trade generally is weak; a strong Aberdeen-Angus dispersal, a record top at Castle Douglas Salers and at Beeston’s suckled calf sale.
    The week’s good news has got to be a generally sharper trade for prime lambs – there’s hope for those dear store lambs yet!

    Some sales coming up this next week:
    • Friday, November 13, The East Witton Fair show and sale of store cattle, feeding bulls and suckled calves at Leyburn auction mart.
    • Saturday, November 14, Mart's the Heart-supported sale of working sheepdogs and young dogs at Bala, Ruthin Farmers.
    • Saturday, November 14, autumn collective and vintage machinery sale at Hexham mart. 
    • Saturday, November 14, sale of 7,000 store sheep at Leek auction.
    Have a grand week,

    Steph Ryder
    Head of Commercial Sales & Development, Farmers Guardian
    I notice cattle are disappearing out of the fields and being replaced with hill-bred hoggs. Our cattle are still out, but only just. We are feeding silage, but it’s getting a bit clarty underfoot with the recent wet weather - that’s when I can see the stock through the fog!

     I spent 12 hours without a minute to spare at Agri-Expo last Friday. A great day was had, with so much going on. The standard of stock was serious, and the passion and enthusiasm demonstrated from the young handlers in particular was a treat to see. Ten-year-old Finlay Soutter really had the crowd behind him in the commercial ring, handling his heifer, which was considerably bigger than him, with the confidence and skill of an old hand.

     Swaledale trade is still flying but everything else is, well, steady. The exception might be store lambs where at many sales there certainly seems to be some confidence it will be possible to make a margin.
     
    A number of Mart's the Heart sales are coming up this weekend:
    • Friday, November 6, a Mart’s the Heart sale of weanlings and suckled calves at Beeston.
    • Saturday, November 7, a Mart’s the Heart sale of Salers at Castle Douglas mart.
    • Saturday, November 7, a Mart’s the Heart sale at Beeston; its annual autumn show and sale of pedigree Suffolk sheep.
    • Saturday, November 7, Penrith auction mart is having an on-farm sale of tractors, machinery, implements and tools on behalf of N. and C. Richards. This sale starts at 10.30am and will be held at Woodfoot, Bampton, Penrith, CA10 2QJ.
    Have a grand Guy Fawkes night!

    Well that’s summer officially over. The dark nights are upon us, which is proving a pain feeding up by headtorch!

    This is the first winter in our new home so we’ve been busy getting the yard gated off for the bulls to get outdoor access, along with getting sheds ready for when the stock come in.

    I was delighted to find out I came second in the small flock category in my local branch flock competition – it’s grand to get confirmation you are going in the right direction.

    The Swale tup trade at Kirkby was strong last week, topping at £42,000 with averages well up on the year.

    Sadly, the prime lamb price roller coaster continues, with little indication of any real improvement, and despite some market reports of a slightly better prime cattle trade, it remains generally under pressure with cheaper imports, and difficult exports, not helping matters.

    And as if things aren't bad enough, along comes another bout of bad press about meat consumption. Eat fresh from a local source and you can't go wrong I say. I won't be choosing a salad over a bacon butty or beef roll that's for sure! But where are the positive generic messages promoting meat for its positive nutritional values?

    Sales to look out for this week are:
    • Thursday 29, Hawes Mart's annual two-day prize show and sale of Swaledale Shearlings.
    • Friday 30, great annual show and sale of North County Cheviot Rams at Dingwall Mart.
    • Saturday 31, Mitchells is hosting an on-farm sale of tractors and machinery on behalf of T.Miller and Son, Oldfield Farm, CA13 0UW.
    • Saturday 31, Barbers new sales fixture is a sale of working and unbroken sheepdogs and pups.
    • Tuesday 3, November, annual two-day sale of 1,500 suckled calves at Cutcombemarket. 
    It’s Agri-Expo this Friday so I may see you there.
    I've had a varied past few days, starting with the British Farming Awards last Thursday. What an entertaining and inspiring evening. I was lucky to be placed on a table with farmers who'd been nominated for some of the categories. They were such a lovely bunch of people, and it was great to witness the exchanging of experiences, advice, and encouragement. If you have the chance to go next year, do.

    Some serious prices for pedigree stock were made at the weekend, with a Limousin at 140,000gns at Carlisle and a Blackface ram lamb selling for 160,000gns at Dalmally. My God, if that ever happened to us, I would run round the ring naked singing the National Anthem!

    I whizzed up to Stirling bull sales on Monday which proved to be a mixed bag. Angus female trade was flying, Limousin trade was mixed, and Beef Shorthorns steady. I caught the Simmental show where there were some decent bulls. The one I picked out was at the bottom of the short leet in his class although he ended up making 11,000gns, which just proves yet again I have expensive tastes.

    Well, October has proved to be the best month of the year on the weather front I reckon. We had a rare break from home over the weekend to attend a wedding. We scrubbed up well I thought, until I noticed one of my hands had the faint tinge of green from where we had used terramycin spray the evening prior on a tup’s foot – maybe I’m starting a new fashion – in the lambing months they are usually yellow from iodine!

    We scanned the Suffolk flock this week. The AI success rate proved disappointing, with only 44 per cent in-lamb, but with 80 per cent scanned in-lamb overall, we know the tup’s working. The remainder could well be, it just might be too early to say. We’ll throw the Texel ram in now to mop up!
    Sales to look out for this next week are: Friday’s Mart's the Heart annual prize show and sale of Limousin crosses at Hexham and Northern Marts; Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, it’s the two-day show and sale of Limousins at Carlisle.

    On Saturday, October 17, Sennybridge Mart has a sale of working sheepdogs. Also on Saturday, NWA Kendal has a late autumn sale of all classes of breeding sheep.
    It’s Stirling Bulls sales at the start of next week, don’t forget! Sales this last week have seen a new record for Rough Fells and Derbyshire Gritstones and a cautious trade for Limousins at Newark. Lamb buyers are certainly remaining cautious, with the trade having taken another dip this week, and the cull cow trade is not looking too bright at all either.

    The Mart's the Heart Awards were judged last week – a tough job for the three involved. We’ve been blown away the amount of votes received – going on for 5,000! The winners will be announced in this week’s Farmers Guardian and on the Mart's the Heart website www.martstheheart.com.
    While we are on awards - it’s the British Farming Awards this Thursday evening, I may see you there!

    What a grand start to October with the glorious weather we experienced last week, the leaves are on

    the turn now though and autumn is definitely upon us.

    I thought it was a good idea to enter the national and regional Suffolk flock competition this year and the national judge came to our place to look over my sheep on Sunday. I’m not sure exactly what you are supposed to say or do, but I doubt being stalked, nudged and bunted by a nine-month-old calf I’ve raised on the bucket would have gone in my favour.

    I managed to get to Hawes’ Bluefaced Leicester sale last week. I love this sale, it’s steeped in tradition and nostalgia. The ringside was packed out, the auctioneer on form and as usual tups were sold well into the late hours. There was a record tup price of 34,000gns and later in the day another made 23,000gns.

    Sadly our trade selling shearlings was a drop in the ocean in comparison. We were through the ring early on, sold the majority, and did well compared to some later trade. It was startling to see decent tups leaving the ring selling for £150 – depressing stuff. On a positive, I sold the last of my Suffolk ram lambs. I was in two minds whether to sell him or not. As it happens he was bought by one of our neighbours, so I can see him out in the field without much effort.

    And what a sale at Carlisle for one of the oldest Charolais herds. Must have been a day of mixed emotions for Edenhurst herd owners Peter and Vanessa Vasey.

    Goodness knows where prime lambs will end the week – up in some Monday sales, but don’t hold your breath.

    Some sales that are coming up this week are: Thursday, October 8, Bagshaws is holding an on-farm major dairy dispersal sale of 432 Hosteins at Holtwood farm, Derbyshire. On Friday, Rugby Mart has a sale of 1,000 store cattle. Two sales on Saturday, October 10– Newark Livestock market has an official society show and sale of pedigree and commercial Limousin cattle, and Clitheroe Mart is holding the North Country Cheviot Society show and sale. On Sunday at Caledonian Marts in Oban, it’s the Highland Cattle Society show and sale.

    Have a good week.

    More up washing this week-the end is in sight thankfully. We've been Texel tup shopping too. We
    got fixed up eventually, although our first, second and third choices were above our budget.

    Quality animals made decent money and overall trade felt reasonably good. We were happy with what we brought home, good skin and head and a knack for escaping – managed to exit the field twice already – so keen to work. Saturday night was spent inseminating our Beltex and Texel ewes – most normal folk go to the pub.

    Wool is back 20p, I understand this is down to the overseas market falling back, hopefully everybody has got their bags away.

    In the live markets, prime cattle seem reasonably stable, but there has perhaps been a little bit of caution in some store sales. Caution was set aside by the looks of it by pedigree breeders attending the Dorepoll Hereford sale in Northern Ireland where the sale saw a top price of 8,000gns for a bull.

    Lambs have been back a few pence in prime markets but store lambs continue to average a shade above £50.

    Some markets also seem to think the edge has just gone off the cast cow trade – albeit it might be a blip - but what many are now saying loud and clear, is that farm assurance is becoming a must for this trade, with the price gap widening between assured and non-assured cows.

    Sales coming up this week: Two Mart's the Heart sales on Thursday. Welshpool Mart has its muliti-breed pedigree ram sale and Hawes Mart have their annual prize show and sale of Bluefaced Leicester rams and females. On Friday, October 2, Hobbs Parker is hosting its Mart's the Heart show and sale of Romney sheep and Sussex cattle. Kirkby Stephen’s two-day Mart's the Heart special sale is scheduled for October 2 and 3. Swaledales will be sold on Friday, with ewes and shearlings, and on Saturday gimmer lambs will be on sale.

    Voting closes this Friday for the Mart's the Heart awards. We’ve been swamped with entries, obviously there’s some serious support out there for our marts and auctioneers. If you haven’t got round to voting yet for your favourite mart café or auctioneer, please go to www.martstheheart.com

    The weather forecast is unseasonably warm, so enjoy the Indian summer!

    I went to UK Dairy Day last week. What a well-supported event, both from farmers and exhibitors. It’s only in its second year and may well outgrow its venue if it hasn't already!

    We've been doing the usual stock jobs at home. We've split off the tup lambs we’re keeping for shearlings and put them out to new pasture after worming and multi-vitamin dosing. We are also on with flushing a couple of our best Beltex ewes, so we’re hopeful we’ll get a few grade A embryos to help improve quality and increase numbers.

    I hear ram trade was rather selective at Builth last Monday. But if you’re a breeder of Valais Blacknose sheep you’re on the right track – 4,000gns for a ewe carrying twins at Carlisle last Saturday! The pig trade for weaners there was not looking too bad either.

    There does not seem to have much movement either way in prime lamb values, and the beef trade is running at a reasonable level – but we know one "shadowy" person who is not likely to be doing her bit for beef consumption – or anything else on two or four legs for that matter!!

    Sales to look out for this week are: Friday’s Mart's the Heart annual show and sale of bullocks at Lancaster auction mart. Saturday, September 26, the pedigree sheep day at H&H which includes Texels, Roussin, Hampshire Downs and Blue Texels. Also, this Saturday is the Paul Rackham collection dispersal auction of vintage and classic tractors. The sale is being held at Camp Farm, Roundham, Norwich, and will be hosted by Clarke and Simpson and Cheffins.

    On Monday, September 28, there's a Mart's the Heart store cattle sale at Bryncir auction centre.

    I went to UK Dairy Day last week. What a well-supported event, both from farmers and exhibitors. It’s only in its second year and may well outgrow its venue if it hasn't already!
    We’ve been doing the usual stock jobs at home. We’ve split off the tup lambs we’re keeping for shearlings and put them out to new pasture after worming and multi-vitamin dosing. We are also on with flushing a couple of our best Beltex ewes, so we’re hopeful we’ll get a few grade A embryos to help improve quality and increase numbers.

    I hear ram trade was rather selective at Builth last Monday. But if you’re a breeder of Valais Blacknose sheep you’re on the right track – 4,000gns for a ewe carrying twins at Carlisle last Saturday! The pig trade for weaners there was not looking too bad either.

    There does not seem to have much movement either way in prime lamb values, and the beef trade is running at a reasonable level – but we know one ‘shadowy’ person who is not likely to be doing her bit for beef consumption – or anything else on two or four legs for that matter !!
    Sales to look out for this week are: Friday’s Mart's the Heart annual show and sale of bullocksat Lancaster auction mart. Saturday, September 26, the pedigree sheep day at H&H which includes Texels, Roussin, Hampshire Downs and Blue Texels. Also, this Saturday is the Paul Rackham collection dispersal auction of vintage and classic tractors. The sale is being held at Camp Farm, Roundham, Norwich, and will be hosted by Clarke and Simpson and Cheffins.

    On Monday, September 28, there's a Mart's the Heart store cattle sale at Bryncir auction centre.
    A pretty positive week I’d say. The countryside around us looks like a patchwork quilt of various colours, so we weren’t the only ones lucky enough to get their haylage and straw baled and inside!
    And last Friday, our good luck held. Although our Beltex shearling tups were the last ones through the ring at the Carlisle sale, we got them all away, managing a very respectable average of 680gns. Trade was strong for tup lambs, females and shearling tups, and a top shearling price of 16,000gns... Let me tell you, if I ever sold something for that price, I’d probably faint!
    It’s great to see stock enjoying a bit of consistent sunshine on their backs, and to keep us smiling, we had a duck turn up with six ducklings!

    As I suspected last week, there does now seem to have been some movement in the price which some retailers are paying their processors for liquid milk, but there has been little news on producer prices. And anyone who can predict prime lamb prices from one week to the next – no, one day to the next – is very clever.

    Sales to look out for this week: This Friday it’s the Tweeddale British Blue dispersal sale at H&H, Carlisle; also on Friday, it’s a Mart's the Heart special show and sale of breeding ewes at Monmouthshire Livestock Centre. On Saturday, August 22, Otley mart is holding D.B. Holme’s dispersal sale of machinery and equipment. On Sunday, August 23, there’s an annual show and sale of Scotch Mule gimmers at Castle Douglas.

    Tomorrow, don't forget to get involved in 24 Hours in Farming. This highlights the fabulous, fun, and varied work that folk do in British farming. For more information, visitwww.fginsight.com/farm24. I’ll be sending a video of sorts to 24hours@fginsight.com
    Well the good weather held, but I felt it had a negative impact on Kelso ram sales. There were 5,689 tups entered, the highest number since 2008, and over 700 more than last year. This, combined with farmers cracking on getting crops in at home, made selling challenging for some to say the least.
    We were fortunate enough to get most of ours away and were happy with our averages, but sadly this wasn’t the case for many. Just under 76 per cent of rams sold – some 10 per cent down on the year.
    However, on a more positive note, there’s time enough yet to sell rams to the commercial market with plenty of sales to come. This is what I’m telling myself anyway!

    Ewe lambs sales are off to a good start this week – Hawes’ two-day Mule gimmer lamb sale saw some keen prices, and the average not too far below last year’s. I had planned to go, but time was against me.

    Sales coming up over the next week: Friday, 18 September, Clee Tompkinson and Francis is hosting a dispersal sale of the Bennant herd of pedigree Simmentals at Llandovery Mart.

    Also on Friday, Mitchells has its great annual Lakeland show and sale of 9,000 North of England Mule gimmer lambs at Cockermouth Mart and there’s a collective and vintage machinery sale on the land adjoining Wheatsheaf Farmer, Cheshire, hosted by Graham Watkins.

    On Saturday, 19 September, there is a sale of the Hay Lane herd, 113 pedigree South Devon cattle plus a full range of well-maintained farm machinery and effects on behalf of E. Hemming, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.

    On Monday, September 21, don’t forget it’s the NSA ram sales at Builth.

    Enjoy the rest of your week!
    Well the good weather held, but I felt it had a negative impact on Kelso ram sales. There were 5,689 tups entered, the highest number since 2008, and over 700 more than last year. This, combined with farmers cracking on getting crops in at home, made selling challenging for some to say the least.
    We were fortunate enough to get most of ours away and were happy with our averages, but sadly this wasn’t the case for many. Just under 76 per cent of rams sold – some 10 per cent down on the year. 
    However, on a more positive note, there’s time enough yet to sell rams to the commercial market with plenty of sales to come. This is what I’m telling myself anyway!

    Ewe lambs sales are off to a good start this week – Hawes’ two-day Mule gimmer lamb sale saw some keen prices, and the average not too far below last year’s. I had planned to go, but time was against me.

    Sales coming up over the next week: Friday, 18 September, Clee Tompkinson and Francis is hosting a dispersal sale of the Bennant herd of pedigree Simmentals at Llandovery Mart.

    Also on Friday, Mitchells has its great annual Lakeland show and sale of 9,000 North of England Mule gimmer lambs at Cockermouth Mart and there’s a collective and vintage machinery sale on the land adjoining Wheatsheaf Farmer, Cheshire, hosted by Graham Watkins. On Saturday, 19 September, there is a sale of the Hay Lane herd, 113 pedigree South Devon cattle plus a full range of well-maintained farm machinery and effects on behalf of E. Hemmings, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.

    On Monday, September 21, don’t forget it’s the NSA ram sales at Builth.

    Enjoy the rest of your week.
    As sale season gets into full swing, we have been busy washing and colouring tups in preparation for Kelso ram sales on Friday. We’re taking a mixed bag of Texel and Beltex cross shearlings and Suffolk tup lambs.

    The weather this past week has been wonderful, which has given the grass, stock and myself a much needed boost. Farmers around us have taken advantage of this good spell of weather and are bashing on with harvesting wheat and barley.

    More piglets arrived this past week, along with seven chicks - it’s a spring mentality around our place!

    Finished cattle prices seem to be holding steady, with most markets with averages slightly up on the week. The finished lamb trade continues to be difficult, although some markets have seen some improvement and, as sheep breeding sales get going, trade seems to be a little down on the year but nowhere near as much as some people had anticipated.

    Sales coming up this week: Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, it’s a Mart's the Heart national show and sale of traditional and rare breed at Melton Mowbray Market. On Saturday, September 12, Hexham and Northern Marts have an on-farm dispersal sale of Texel cross-bred and Mule breeding sheep, tractors and machinery. The sale takes place at Alrey Hill Farm, Northumberland, on behalf of G. and L. Stoker.
    On Monday and Tuesday, September 14 and 15, it’s a Mart's the Heart annual two-day sale of 27,500 Mule gimmer lambs at Hawes Mart. Also on Monday, there’s a major reduction sale of the Roadway Herd of pedigree Beef Shorthorn cattle on behalf of P. and J. Bailey at Penrith Auction Mart.

    Maybe see you at Westmorland County Show or Kelso ram sales.
    As sale season gets into full swing, we have been busy washing and colouring tups in preparation for Kelso ram sales on Friday. We’re taking a mixed bag of Texel and Beltex cross shearlings and Suffolk tup lambs.
    The weather this past week has been wonderful, which has given the grass, stock and myself a much needed boost. Farmers around us have taken advantage of this good spell of weather and are bashing on with harvesting wheat and barley.

    More piglets arrived this past week, along with seven chicks - it’s a spring mentality around our place!

    Finished cattle prices seem to be holding steady, with most markets with averages slightly up on the week. The finished lamb trade continues to be difficult, although some markets have seen some improvement and, as sheep breeding sales get going, trade seems to be a little down on the year but nowhere near as much as some people had anticipated.

    Sales coming up this week: Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, it’s a Mart's the Heart national show and sale of traditional and rare breed at Melton Mowbray Market. On Saturday, September 12, Hexham and Northern Marts have an on-farm dispersal sale of Texel cross-bred and Mule breeding sheep, tractors and machinery. The sale takes place at Alrey Hill Farm, Northumberland, on behalf of G. and L. Stoker. 

    On Monday and Tuesday, September 14 and 15, it’s a Mart's the Heart annual two-day sale of 27,500 Mule gimmer lambs at Hawes Mart. Also on Monday, there’s a major reduction sale of the Roadway Herd of pedigree Beef Shorthorn cattle on behalf of P. and J. Bailey at Penrith Auction Mart.

    Maybe see you at Westmorland County Show or Kelso ram sales.
    Good to hear that Longtown market will survive, but unfortunate news for share holders.
    This week we’ve been on with the important job of weaning our lambs. It’s good to see how they're turning out and to select the ones we will keep for breeding.

    I went to the Tweeddale British Blue dispersal sale on Friday. What cracking trade they had. The ring was packed out with some well-known breeders and some new buyers. It’s sad to see a dispersal, but on the other hand, it’s good for the breed when established bloodlines are spread throughout the country, giving new buyers opportunities to build on solid foundations. Embryos saw unbelievable prices – I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to take such an unknown gamble!

    Speaking of gambles, some of the store lamb sales have seen a pretty fair trade considering the state of the prime market – which has shown no improvement – so I hope there is a decent margin at the end of the day for all those buyers.

    Some sales coming up this week are: Saturday, September 29, Top Farm, Derbyshire, Eaton and Hollis will host a dispersal sale of tractors and equipment. There are a few sales on Bank Holiday Monday. One of which is at Penrith auction mart, which has a commercial suckler herd sale from W.Richardson and Son, and another is Paul Slater’s Whiteley Hey flock production sale at NWA, Kendal. On Wednesday, September 2, there's a Mart's the Heart first anniversary sale of 150 dairy cattle at Holsworthy livestock market.

    I plan to go to the Whiteley Hey sale, so maybe see you there!
    It’s September already! The nights are drawing in and the thought of stock coming in is something I’m far from ready to think about.
    One of our gilts farrowed at the end of last week. She had eight (one casualty sadly) and is a really good mother. Out of all the animals, I find piglets the most endearing. It’s amazing how quickly they are up and about and squabbling over the milk bar!

    I had a great Bank Holiday spent at sales. The first of which was Paul Slater’s flock production sale. There were plenty of buyers and trade was really strong. Then I flew up the M6 to experience wild commercial trade at the dispersal sale of Messrs W.Richardson and Son’s sucklers. Top price for a cow and calf of £6,200 was serious trade.

    There is certainly some confidence in beef, and if there’s any good news so far this week, it seems prime lambs are generally no worse.

    Sales to look out for this week are: Thursday, Barbers is holding its annual sheep fair at Market Drayton; on Friday, September 4, there’s the monthly horse sale at York auction centre. Also on Friday, Welshpool livestock market has a general machinery sale; on Saturday, September 5, it’s CCM's annual show and sale of rare, minority and native breeds.

    Don't forget it’s British Lamb Week this week! #BritishLambWeek #LoveBritishLamb
    It’s September already! The nights are drawing in and the thought of stock coming in is something I’m far from ready to think about.

    One of our gilts farrowed at the end of last week. She had eight (one casualty sadly) and is a really good mother. Out of all the animals, I find piglets the most endearing. It’s amazing how quickly they are up and about and squabbling over the milk bar!

    I had a great Bank Holiday spent at sales. The first of which was Paul Slater’s flock production sale. There were plenty of buyers and trade was really strong. Then I flew up the M6 to experience wild commercial trade at the dispersal sale of Messrs W.Richardson and Son’s sucklers. Top price for a cow and calf of £6,200 was serious trade.

    There is certainly some confidence in beef, and if there’s any good news so far this week, it seems prime lambs are generally no worse.

    Sales to look out for this week are: Thursday, Barbers is holding its annual sheep fair at Market Drayton; on Friday, September 4, there’s the monthly horse sale at York auction centre. Also on Friday, Welshpool livestock market has a general machinery sale; on Saturday, September 5, it’s CCM's annual show and sale of rare, minority and native breeds.

    Don't forget it’s British Lamb Week this week! #BritishLambWeek #LoveBritishLamb

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