5February 2009 CUMBRIA FARMER
NATIONAL
round-upPrices hit record level
as flocks quit the fells
BY ANNA BURDETT
S
heep prices at Longtown
Mart reached record levels
in January because of a
shortage in the market-
place.
A livestock migration off the Cum-
brian hills is partly to blame, some-
thing that in the short-term at least
is benefiting marts.
There were an extra 70,000 cast
ewes through the Longtown ring last
year. And at the end of last month,
the mart's owner, Cumberland &
Dumfriesshire Farmers, experienced
its keenest store sheep trade ever.
Hoggs reached an average of
�50.90 at Longtown on January 27
and company chairman Philip Wal-
ton said most had left the county for
good.
He said: "Three-quarters of the
store sheep we're selling are going
south because of a shortage through-
out the country.
"It shows people have a lot of con-
fidence in the price they will even-
tually get for fatstock sheep.
"But all these sheep going down
south will not come back through
the Cumbrian marts again. If they
had gone to local buyers, they would
be back."
According to Eblex figures, lamb
producers upped their share of the
lamb retail price to 47 per cent last
year. The average farmgate price of
296.8p/kg was a 26 per cent increase
on 2007 prices. A number of factors
drove this price rise, including a
drop in competition from New
Zealand as Kiwi farmers shifted to
dairying.
But in such a volatile industry,
nothing stays the same for long.
Richard Lowe, Eblex chief exec-
utive, said: "Processors are now
clearly battling with the challenges
of the exchange rate, tightening
domestic supplies and changing con-
sumer consumption patterns as
shoppers switch to cheaper cuts
such as mince and stewing steak.
"The months ahead will clearly be
testing times for the UK beef and
lamb supply chain, particularly as
the industry waits to see the wider
impact of the recession."
The good prices have given a boost
to farmers, which is clearly visible
as you look around the faces at
Longtown � there are more smiles
than this time last year.
But farmers, marts and proces-
sors are already questioning how
long the good times can last.
Mr Walton added: "People are
keeping less sheep. It puts pressure
on the existing auction marts to
make a living. Cows are similar;
there are a lot less cows on the hills.
"The five auction businesses in
north Cumbria will still be here in
five years, but they will have to
spread their interests."
The mart also owns C&D Property
Services, which it is hoping to
expand into Dumfries, where it oper-
ates a second mart site.
Before a small group of farmers
started the Longtown mart in 1926,
most of the surrounding villages had
their own small marts.
Mr Walton said: "The last 25 years
have seen most of the small auction
marts disappear. It is down to the
cost of haulage and the distances to
abattoirs. Now, 10,000 sheep go
through Longtown on a Thursday
and hundreds go on every lorry to
keep costs down."
Today's buyers wouldn't turn up
for a small market because of the
quantity they have to buy.
On an average day, says Mr Wal-
ton, there are 15 buyers around the
ring at Longtown.
He added: "We're selling more
stock at Longtown than we ever have.
We need all producers to put their top
lambs through the marts and ensure
a good price across the industry."
Mart boss says
most hoggs
sold have left
county for good
EID exemption
FARMERS in England will not
have to tag sheep intended for
slaughter before they are 12
months old when the new EU
Electronic Identification (EID)
rules come into force on
December 31, Farming Minister
Jane Kennedy has announced.
Ms Kennedy said: "The
exemption could save the
industry between �8 million and
�11 million per year."
Venue overhaul
THE UK's largest agricultural venue
will become the first showground
in the country to be completely
energy self-sufficient. The Royal
Bath & West of England Society is
to spend �120 million making its
Somerset site a sustainable visitor
attraction, creating 1,500 new jobs
in the process.
Pesticides banned
THE Co-operative has banned the
use of eight pesticides from its
farms in a bid to tackle the
decline of British bees.
The retailer will also donate
�150,000 for research into why
honeybee numbers are falling.
Bye bye batteries
SAINSBURY'S has become the first
of the big four supermarkets to
stop selling eggs from battery
hens. Asda, Tesco and Morrisons
are due to follow suit.
MP calls for hill apprentices
A SOUTH Lakeland MP has suggest-
ed a new apprenticeship to encour-
age young people into hill farming.
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland
and Lonsdale, said the scheme
would breathe new life into strug-
gling hill farms.
Speaking at the annual Hill Farm-
ing Matters conference in Cumbria
last month, Mr Farron said: "Hill
farming is in serious danger of dis-
appearing from the UK altogether.
"With the average age of hill farm-
ers increasing each year, and in an
industry which is dependent on chil-
dren taking over the family busi-
ness, this is a troubling trend."
He added that an apprentice
scheme to encourage young people
to consider the career could be paid
for with money saved from changes
to the Single Farm Payment Scheme.
"Single farm payments are there to
support farmers."
FarmingNews
Philip Walton: `It shows people have a lot of confidence in the price they will get for fatstock sheep' BEN RUSSELL
View over 300 used cars at www.border-cars.co.uk
Act quick,
when they are gone
they are gone!
�10,822NOW
�21,645WAS
.50
"We've got the deal for you and award winning service too"
Kingstown Broadway, Carlisle. 01228 882222
Open 7 days Monday - Friday until 6pm, Saturday until 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4.30pm.
CALL OUR SALES TEAM NOW ON 01228 882222
Act quick,
when they are goneAct quick,
when they are goneAct quick,
they are gone!
they are gone!when they are gone
they are gone!when they are gone
�21,64521,64521,64521,64521,645WASWAS
Delivery Miles Only
Pre Reg 07 Kia Sorento
Choice of Colours
HALFPRICE
Kia Sorento Luxury 4x4

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24 Produced by PageSuite