The weather is still on our side and we've been cracking on with jobs about the place. We made a start on cutting some of the hedges and we are about to flush three of our best Beltex ewes.

Luck has been against us yet again as one of my Suffolk show lambs decided to depart this world just as I stuck my neck out and took part in both the national and northern counties flock competition. This farming lark certainly does test ones' resolve!

On a positive, results just in for the national flock competition and amazingly I was awarded a certificate of merit, which has given me a much-needed boost.

Blackie trade at Hexham was good this week with a top price of 12,500gns. Sheep trade still seems good across most breeds with a new Derbyshire Gritstone record set at Clitheroe, and commercial trade is still holding up in spite of fat lambs being back a bit.

Store cattle trade also seems pretty good if not reaching the highs of last year. Next week's bull sales at Stirling will be a good indicator of the mood in the beef industry, so look out for our coverage and I’ll maybe see you there.

Steph Ryder

Head of Commercial Sales & Development