Archive for July 2018

This week I’ve been at the Royal Welsh Show where cooler, overcast conditions were well received from folk showing stock. The Lincoln Red was a refreshing sight in the inter-breed championship. A showy heifer took the judge's eye. It’s only the second time this breed has exhibited at the show and it’s great to see a native breed getting a look in.

Prior to the show, it was business as usual, especially on the sheep front, keeping on top of lameness and fly prevention. I was supposed to be selling Suffolk tups this week at Stirling, but have had a rethink as it’s practically impossible to fit everything in. I’m going to have to sell them closer to home this year.

The Suffolk national sale at Shrewsbury last weekend peaked at 15,500gns for a ram lamb from W.H. Sinnett and Sons, followed by one at 11,000gns for one from J.C. Innes and Sons. Elsewhere, breeding sheep sales are getting underway, with markets reporting averages similar to last year, but with buyers being a little cautious with the best in demand. The lower end were more difficult to sell.

The prime lamb trade has firmed up slightly over the last week, no doubt helped by the approaching Muslim festival, Eid. Prime cattle prices remain fairly level, but the lack of grass is certainly starting to affect both store and dairy sales.

SHORTLIST REVEALED!

The 2018 Mart's the Heart Awards nominations closed last week. The calibre this year was exceptional. We had to make some tough choices to get the shortlist down to just five in each category.

Whilst Friday's edition of Farmers Guardian will see a full report on the finalists, I wanted you to be the first to hear before the ink is even dry!

The shortlist for this year's awards:

Auctioneer of the Year

Simon Lamb, Wright Marshall, Beeston
Greg MacDougall, Richard Turner, Bentham
James Morrish, Kivells, Holsworthy
Clive Roads, McCartneys, Worcester Livestock Market
Russell Steer, Kivells, Exeter

New Auctioneer of the Year

Sam Bradley, CCM Auctions, Skipton
Jonty Cliffe, Wright Marshall, Beeston
Shae Price, BJP, Carmarthen
Gethin Rees, Exmoor Farmers, Exmoor
Nick Woodmass, C&D, Longtown

Auction Cafe of the Year

Dinkys Dinahs, Shrewsbury Livestock Centre
Market Cafe, Worcester Livestock Market
The Market Café, Thrapston Livestock Market
Raglan Cafe, Monmouthshire Livestock Centre
The Tavern, Melton Mowbray Market

Head over to martstheheart.com/vote to tell me 'Who gets your bid?'

Sales coming up this week

Thursday, July 26 – United Auctions will be holding the Scottish area show and sale of Pedigree Suffolk sheep at Stirling Agricultural Centre
Friday, July 27 – Halls will be hosting the Kidderminster Machinery sale at Stanklyn Lane, DY10 4AR
Saturday. July 28 – Hopes Auction will be holding its opening sale of 1,000 breeding sheep at Wigton Market
Monday, July 30 – CCM will be holding its usual Monday Market alongside young farmers prime lamb show with classes at Skipton Mart

The scorching spell continues and our grass is now non-existent. We got our hands on some round bales of hay which ideally we wanted to keep for our winter stores, although in reality we'll be forced to feed in the coming weeks unless we are blessed with some steady rain.

The corn is ripening, so many folk are on edge waiting to crack on with combining, although there's uncertainty on yield.

It's been great weather for the Great Yorkshire Show. A cool wind was appreciated on Tuesday morning for the judging, however, as the day went on the sun got stronger.

Primestock prices have seen a fall this week, cattle only slightly, but lambs have seen a bigger drop averaging well under £2/kg for the first time this season. The lack of grass is also impacting on store cattle trade, so with the major store lamb sales starting it will be interesting to see how they go.

The gavel is coming down on nominations for this year’s Mart’s the Heart Awards, with five days to go. We’re asking you to make your voice heard by recognising the essential role auctioneers and auctions play in rural life, and we would like as many entries as possible to help demonstrate the strength of the sector.

Do you know a driven, progressive and dedicated auctioneer who you'd like to see recognised in 2018?
Is your local auction cafe the hub of the market - where you're guaranteed a warm welcome and hearty meal, come rain or shine?
Have you benefited from the support of an experienced figure in the industry, who has highlighted the importance of markets and made a real difference to the local community?

Get behind your markets and make your nomination today at martstheheart.com Hurry, only five more days to make your bid!

Sales coming up this week

Thursday, July 12 – Market Drayton will be holding a dispersal of tractors, machinery and equipment on behalf of S.P. Smith and Sons at Market Drayton Livestock Market
Friday, July 13 – Leyburn will be holding its opening sale of 500 store lambs,120 rearing calves and stirks at Leyburn Auction Mart
Saturday, July 14 – McCartneys will be holding a sale of 67 Berrichon sheep on behalf of the Berrichon Sheep Society at Worcester Market
Monday, July 16 – C&D will be holding a sale of pedigree Texel sheep and pedigree Suffolk sheep at Longtown Mart

The scorching weather continues and our grass is burning off like heck and, like others, the shortage of grass is becoming a real worry. Reports are that many folk are being forced to feed this year’s silage, so this will have a serious knock on effect for winter feed reserves.

We had a grand day out on Saturday when we attended a local Beef Shorthorn breeder who had a farm open day. The farm walk was good craic, the stock was showcased by the beautiful surroundings and I found the workshops really useful. We left full of enthusiam and brimming with ideas.

We’ve had a few surprise ducklings hatch, no idea where the mother is, however, one of our hens has taken them under her wing - literally!

Pedigree sheep sales are now underway and Worcester the Charollais breed's second ever top price of 22,000gns was paid for a Charollais ram lamb from Dewi Evans, Anglesey. It sold to David Roberts and Jonathan and Janet Corbett.

At Carlisle two shearling gimmers from Iain and Judith Barbour's Solwaybank flock sold for 6,500gns apiece to Messrs Craft and Messrs Delves.

Elsewhere the prime lamb price is dropping, so let's hope it starts to stabilise and doesn't go too far. Grass is getting short which is not helping to finish lambs at good weights which is what the market is demanding.
Lack of grass is also starting to impact store cattle sales, with markets reporting longer keep cattle harder to sell.

One of the neighbouring farms held an on-farm sale courtesy of Penrith mart. Topping the sale was a very tidy M Reg, Ford 7840, with 7,628hrs on the clock, reaching a cracking price of £10,500.

Sales coming up this week

Wednesday, July 4-6 – Euro Auctions will be holding a three-day sale of machinery and equipment at Roall Lane, DN14 0NY
Friday, July 6 – Greenslade Taylor Hunt will be holding a dispersal sale of 410 Pedigree Holsteins and Brown Swiss dairy cows at Clomendy Farm SA33 5BB
Saturday, July 7– Pateley Bridge will be hosting their summer prize show and sale of store and breeding cattle at Patelely Bridge Market
Monday, July 9 – Wright Marshall will be holding a standing straw sale by direction of E.A. Reed and Sons at Sutton New Hall Farm, CH66 4QG

Maybe see you at The Great Yorkshire show,

Steph

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