April 2017 – Test

The two-day dispersal of the noted Noremead pedigree Holstein herd on behalf of CB Cooper, East Farm, Winterbourne Monkton, Wiltshire, topped at 6,000gns when animals went under the hammer last week (26 and 27 May).

Sale topper was the June 2015-born heifer Noremead Glauco Sume, bred from 14 generations of excellent and very good cows. She was snapped up by J Jordan for his Ecstasy herd.

Her dam, Noremead Rockafella Sume 2 VG87, topped the first day of the sale, when selling for 5,100gns in a two-way split to Elwyn and Cheryl Thomas, Gatrog herd, Llanelli, and Jeff and Anthea Daw, Swindon. Sired by Walkabout Rockafella, she is out of the 2013 UK Dairy Event breed champion, Noremead Knight Sume Ex94-6.

Next best and selling for 5,000gns was Noremead Twist Helena Ex91. This Cogent Twist daughter sold having calved three months ago and is currently giving 54kg daily. She sold to an undisclosed Welsh buyer.

Her three-month-old heifer calf, Noremead Fever Helena, by Crackholm Fever, was the highest priced heifer calf at 1,450gns and sold to PJ Evans, Chippenham.

Selling for 4,200gns to Leanne Hedges for her newly established herd was Noremead Million Helena VG89 by Million. She sold giving 45kg daily, having calved with her second in March.

Fifth-best price on the day of 3,000gns went to the Emerald-Acr-SA T-Baxter bred Noremead Baxter Moth 2 VG-89 out of a Tregibby Starbright-bred dam. She sold to RA and JA Reed, Gatcombe Farm, Seaton, giving 65kg daily, having last calved in March.

TRADE TALK

★ With Colchester being the only weekly livestock market operating in the Eastern Counties, 2016 has seen a very disappointing beef trade. But at least the live auction system is supporting producers, enabling cattle to be sold with competition. We have no weight limits and grading is by eye – a fair and competitive way of trading. It is still, however, very difficult when all buyers in the Eastern Counties are competing with very low-priced boxed meat and weight limits at certain deadweight outlets.

The real problem that producers have at the present time is replacing cattle. Historically, the West Country has been a source of many of the stores fattened in East Anglian yards.

But with TB, that is now extremely difficult. Store cattle in the Eastern Counties, which is mainly a four-year testing area for TB, are dear as more and more buyers come to the area to buy stores.

We expect a rise in the finished cattle price as numbers tighten, although this is unlikely to be to the levels of 12 months ago. However, this is typical of this time of the year in this area.

The prime sheep market is at similar levels to last year for hoggets, with new-season lambs trading above prices from 12 months ago. There is strong demand for new-season lambs weighing 38kg to 44kg, but lambs above that weight are difficult to sell. Lighter lambs would be better kept. There is a strong trade in the Eastern Counties for quality lambs and here in Colchester we have good support from family wholesalers who wish to attend and buy prime stock from the area.

It is expected the lamb trade will remain firm for the next month or so and then it will very much depend on the pound and how that reacts to the vote on Europe. Without the European trade, transactions will certainly be reduced and that is a worry we all have.

East Anglia is an area where farmers have an alternative to stock keeping. It needs dedication but at least with the ability to source reasonably priced feed it should be possible to achieve an acceptable return for quality stock.

★ Trade Talk, in association with the Livestock Auctioneers Association, brings you a weekly round-up of ringside trade from auctioneers across the country

Valais Blacknose sale peaks at 3,100gns

The production sale of the Valais Blacknose Alpine flock, on behalf of Richard Pilkington and Steve Jones, sold to a high of 3,100gns at Chelford this week (30 May).

Leading trade was Alpine Candy Cane, a yearling ewe born in May last year and out of the brood ewe Zara. Buyers were Thomas and Isla Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries.

They also bought the Swiss import ewe Yasmine for 2,700gns and paid 2,500gns for another potential donor ewe, Angelina, a Swiss import which lambed twins in October and had been left open and ready to flush.

The February-born ewe lamb Alpine Dior, out of the stock ram Toby (Blairmore Ben Lomond) and another Swiss imported ewe, Zara, caught the eye of Messrs Dace, Mellor, Stockport, who paid 3,000gns. They also paid 2,600gns for Daisy, again by Toby but this time out of the 2,700gns Yasmin.

Young lambs topped at 1,450gns for the May-born ewe lamb Daffodil, by the imported ram Rambo and out of Yasmin. She sold to S Coombes, Urmston, Manchester. Leading trade for ram lambs was Alpine Doc Holiday, by Toby and out of Yasmin, which made 1,400gns selling to Messrs Dace.

(Wright Marshall)

Angus bulls lead Carlisle beef day

Aberdeen Angus bulls led trade at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday (27 May), selling to a top price of 8,000gns.

Overall, 51 of the 55 on offer averaged £4,372.94, an increase of £666.62 on last year, with bulls realising a 93% clearance rate.

Alasdair Houston of the Gretnahouse herd, Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, celebrated a fantastic day in both show and sale rings, taking the senior and overall championship honours and top price of the day.

His sale leader at 8,000gns was Gretnahouse KP P710, a June 2014-born son of the 2013 Winter National Show yearling champion, Gretnahouse Lord Hefty M549, and out of the Blelack Evor H929 daughter Gretnahouse Kay Pride M546.

He sold in a two-way partnership to John Fleming for his Stairhaven herd, Newton Stewart, and Ian Watson for the Kersquarter herd, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

The second-highest price of the day, 7,800gns, went for the reserve overall and reserve senior champion, Carruthers Eric Thestar P569, from Waterbeck, Lockerbie-based Messrs Graham.

This Rawburn Enigma G653 son is out of the Maplejacks Foggarty B022 daughter Wall Erica Star F500, which was purchased at the Wall dispersal for 3,800gns. He sold to T Chalmers and Co, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.

Alasdair Houston was back in the action selling Gretnahouse Kind Lad P741, the pre-sale junior champion, for 7,000gns. By the home-bred Gretnahouse Blacksmith L500, he is out of Blelack Equity J127 daughter Blelack Karama Lady L752 and carries a self-replacing index of +63. The buyer was AR Bell, Hawick, Roxburghshire.

David and Penny Evans, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, took 6,700gns with their second-placed Tree Bridge Plymouth P513. Home-bred on both sides, this one is by Tree Bridge Pathfinder L336 and is out of Tree Bridge Polly Perkins J241, a Chapelton Dark Mahmoud E826 daughter. This one sold to JL Gledson, Hexham.

BEEF SHORTHORNS

On the same day Beef Shorthorns peaked at 4,800gns. The sale leader was Hurricane of Ballyvaddy TI +19, SRI +17, a 20-month-old by Chapelton Typhoon from T and K Madden, Glencloy, Ballymena. The buyer was RF Leach, Warmington, Banbury.

Next, at 4,400gns, was the two-year-old Balgay Halbarad TI +32, SRI +29, a Chapelton Winsome son from Balgay Farm, Inchture, Perth. He sold to Cnewr Estate, Sennybridge, Brecon.

HEREFORD

Hereford bulls sold to a top price of 2,500gns with the reserve overall champion, Panmure 1 Midge from JM Cant and Partners, Arbroath, leading trade. Out of Panmure 1 Plum B5 and sired by Hawkesbury 1 Volcano, the March 2015-born bull sold to Colby Farms, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria.

Selling at 2,400gns was overall champion Salton 1 Lexus from G Bulmer, Salton, York. Out of Salton 1 Millie and sired by Normanton 1 Jupiter, the June 2014-born bull went to RC and S Cleasby, Broughton in Furness, Cumbria.

At the same money was the Romany 1 Mikado H12 M14. The September 2014-born bull, sired by Romany 1 Heavyduty and out of Romany 1 Milk, went to JS and IM Wilson, Millom, Cumbria.

(Harrison & Hetherington)

‣ For averages and more top prices from Carlisle visit www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/taking-stock

MONEY MAKERS

7,800gns

⁕ Carruthers Eric Thestar P569, from Messrs Graham

4,800gns

⁕ Hurricane of Ballyvaddy from T and K Madden, Ballymena

April’s cull cow Values up slightly, but down on 2015

⁕ Cull cow prices in April increased marginally compared to March, with dairy-sired cull values rising 0.2p/kg to average 86.48p/kg, according to a report by AHDB Dairy.

Throughputs rose to 8,318 head in April, an increase of 1,828 head on March figures.

However, compared with April 2015, prices were well back, down 16.B9p/kg, while throughputs had increased by 855 head.

Beef-sired cull cows fared slightly better, with values rising 076p/kg in April 2016 on March prices, to average 113.?5p/kg.

Throughputs increased by 458 head to 4,801, in the same period.

Compared with April 2015, prices in April 201G were down 13.52p/kg while throughputs stood 334 head lower.

UK daily milk deliveries continued a downward trend in the two weeks to 21 May, averaging 43.5m litres a day, 2.3% lower than the same period last year, said the report.

However, this was still 2.3% higher compared to the three-year average of 42.5m litres a day.

In the same period, GB daily deliveries averaged 36.4m litres, 2.4% down on last year, but still 2.2% higher than the three-year average of 35.6m litres a day.

MILK PRICE LEAGUE TABLE (March)

1. Price shown is a combination of both A&B prices

2. Included is a 0.50ppl bonus which farmers get when they signed up with the Promar costings survey.

3. These contracts will receive a 13th payment, the forecast for this is approximately 0.78ppl from 30 March 2015 and approximately D73ppl from 1 February 2016.

4. Milk prices listed above will vary according to the amount of milk that is required by each retailer; additional milk will be paid for at the standard liquid milk contract price; the milk price above assumes that all litres produced are sold into the dedicated milk pools.

Please note retailer price supplements are included where applicable.

DAIRY COMMODITY PRICES

DAIRY CATTLE

CULL COWS – AUCTION VALUES

REARING CALVES

STORE CATTLE

UK ENTITLEMENTS

CURRENCY WATCH

VEGETABLES

RETAIL MEAT

w/e4June 2016

HAY AND STRAW

w/e5June 201G

Disclaimer: FARMERS WEEKLY seeks to ensure but cannot guarantee that all Information contained in the Prices and Trends sections is correct FARMERS WEEKLY shall not In any event be liable for any loss or damage arising from the information contained within the section, and will not accept liability for errors or omissions.

STRAIGHTS Wednesday

1 June 201G

Oilseed rape values improve thanks to shift in currencies

⁕Oilseed rape prices regained some ground in the weekto 1 June, rising almost £6/t as sterling weakened against the dollar and the euro. Spot ex-farm prices ranged from £2G8/tto £2?8/t, depending on location, and averaged £2?2.?/t.

New crop prices for July hovered between £260/t and £2?0/t with very few farmers selling forward according to grain traders.

Spot feed wheat prices fell back again during the week, falling £1.20/t to average £103.50/t ex-farm. This was despite rains across Northern Europe causing some disease concerns, said a report by CRM market analyst.

The maize market was likely to continue to provide a floor to global and UK wheat values, according to a report by AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds. “Early forecasts show that the current disparity between global wheat and maize supply and demand is likely to continue into next season, if not widen.” It also highlighted that there could be further revisions to the size of the Argentine and Brazil maize crops as harvest was not completed.

The majority of the UK winter cereal crop was in good condition at the end of April, said the report. Despite delays to spring pesticide applications, crop development was relatively normal.

GRAIN, OILSEEDS & PULSES

DELIVERED GRAIN PRICES

as at Thursday, 26 May 2016 [£/tonne]

FUTURES

POTATOES

AHDB GB weekly average comparison (£ per tonne) 2015 crop

Higher numbers may dent cattle trade

⁕ Cattle prices rose slightly in the week to 28 May, with the R4L deadweight price rising 2.0p/kgto average 330.2p/kg. However, this was still well below levels in the same week last year where the average was 339.8p/kg.

Short term, the supply and demand balance continued to give a welcome impetus to the market, said a report by AHDB Beef and Lamb. Despite prices continuing upward the report warned producers to remain cautious. “The trade could well feel the impact of increased availability.”

Forecasts by AHDB Beef and Lamb suggested there was likely to be increased prime cattle availability in 201G. “In April, with the exception of dairy males, all categories of cattle aged between 12-24 months had higher numbers on the ground compared to April 2015, up 86,400 head,” said the report.

Liveweight cattle prices were variable in the week to 31 May, with the finished steer price rising 0.3p/kgto average 175.Bp/kg, while heifer prices fell 27p/kgto average 184.8p/kg. Young bulls also followed a downward trend losing l.lp/kgto average 160.3p/kg. This was despite overall throughputs falling 28% on the previous week to 3,240 head.

SLAUGHTERING

CATTLE DEADWEIGHT

Week ended Saturday, 28 May 2016

LAMB DEADWEIGHT

Weekended Saturday, 21 May 2016

GB PIGS DEADWEIGHT

spp [Standard Pig Price) & APP (All Pig Price]

CATTLE AUCTIONS

Ringside at

Dingwall mart, Ross-shire An entry of eight prime bullocks sold to 210p/kg for a Limousin cross and averaged 196.4p/kg on Tuesday (31 May).

Top gross price went to a Limousin cross at £1,334.50.

Prime heifers sold to 209p/kg and £1,274.90 gross for a Limousin cross and averaged 199.6p/kg across an entry of 11.

An entry of 99 old season lambs averaged 170.9/kg overall, while top price of 189.?p/kg went to a pen of 39kg Charollais crosses, and the highest gross price of £85.50 a head went to Texel crosses.

New season lambs averaged 182.?p/kg across an entry of seven, peaking at 191.2p/kg for a pen of Texel crosses, while top gross price also went to Texel crosses, at £90 a head.

EU REFERENCE PRICES

WEANERS

SOWS

AUCTION PIGS

SHEEP AUCTIONS

EWES

Flurry of East Anglia sales sees Suffolk mixed farm hit the market

A diverse 2,550-acre mixed farm on the sought-after Suffolk coastline is for sale after being owned by the Blois family for more than 300 years.

The Blythburgh Estate, close to Southwold, is predominantly ring-fenced and includes more than 1,000 acres of arable land, 500 acres of grazing and about 300 acres of woodland.

About 480 acres forms part of the largest continuous stand of reedbeds in England and Wales, with the remaining balance being made up of areas such as grass marsh, tracks and residential.

The buyer will also have the option to take on a further 546-acre arable block with farm buildings and grain storage, subject to separate negotiation.

Soils are light and sandy, highly suited to root crops if irrigation was installed.

“It’s such an unusual and diverse opportunity for someone,” said Savills partner Will Hargreaves.

“It suits someone who is looking for a mixed investment with some amenity value, together with the opportunity to grow the farm’s value by installing irrigation. There’s a lot for buyers to go at and I think it will be an exciting prospect.”

A pre-application for an abstraction licence has been submitted to the Environment Agency, which would cover the whole block. In the absence of water, the in-hand farm ing operation across the acreage has focused on wheat, barley and oilseed rape. Seed potatoes and maize feature in the current rotation.

Sheep and beef cattle are grazed across the grassland in partnership with Natural England under an agreement which will continue after the sale. Free-range pigs have been reared on the farm by a local pro ducer, but will be removed before contracts are exchanged.

A Higher Level Stewardship agreement is in place until 2022 on part of the estate, and BPS entitlements are included on all the agricultural land.

There are no significant agricultural buildings included in the sale, but seven houses – let on a variety of tenancies – bring in an income of about £30,000/year.

In addition to BPS payments, residential letting income and farm profits, a variety of existing rents and leases earn the estate a further £250,000/year.

Blythburgh will be sold as a whole and a guide price of £18m has been set.

BLYTHBURGH AT A GLANCE

✱ First time in three centuries the estate has been for sale

✱ 1,000 arable acres plus option to farm a further 550 acres

✱ About 500 acres of grazing land

✱ Irrigation could transform growing options on sandy soils

✱ Large woodland with sporting value

✱ Seven let houses

✱ £18m as a whole

AGENTS SHARE INSIGHTS ON DRIVING FORCES

✱ A flurry of quality farm launches in East Anglia in the past two months has prompted the question: “What’s driving the market?”

Farmers Weekly asked agents on the ground whether this was a trend, or just coincidence.

Robert Fairey

Head of rural Brown & Co

✱ We have a number of large arable units for sale including 620 acres in West Norfolk near King’s Lynn, 620 acres near Long Sutton and 724 of silt at Holbeach.

It’s probably just symptomatic of the time of year and not necessarily an increase in supply.

Buyers have been quiet, and without a doubt the market has softened a bit pending the EU referendum, but the level of interest is there.

In terms of values, depending on the location we were guiding at £10,000/acre plus last year, and like other agents we are about 10% less than that this year.

Michael Fiddes

Head of farms and estates Strutt & Parker

✱ Decisions to sell have been made later than usual this year and now we are getting a surge.

There are people who are looking at their businesses to work out what is the right way forward.

Commodity prices aren’t what they were and that affects profitability.

People buy farmland for a plethora of reasons; tax planning, people who want to own land and those who want a farming business. One of those pillars may be weaker than it has been but there’s still a lot of money around.

James Brooke

Partner Bidwells

✱ Total areas of land for sale are similar to last year but there are some bigger blocks.

My understanding is the reasons for sale on these are predominantly policy driven.

Sales of the smaller blocks of 50-200 acres are perhaps more a consequence of people needing to strengthen their position – some are off-lying blocks that no longer stack up as part of the business.

Strengthening businesses is very much the focus with commodity prices where they are.

TASTE OF SUMMER

⁕ With a bit of warmer weather in recent weeks, it got us longing for summer evenings and al fresco suppers. This recipe from the Simply Beef and Lamb website, run by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, tickled our tastebuds.

Sticky Lamb Ribs with Tomato, Pasta and Pea Salad

Serves 4

Prep 30 minutes

Cooking 1hr 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1.3kg lean lamb ribs

FOR THE MARINADE

1 small onion, peeled and grated 300ml ginger ale or cola

30ml/2tbsp light soy sauce

30ml/2tbsp rapeseed or olive oil

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

30ml/2tbsp runny honey Freshly milled black pepper

FOR THE TOMATO, PASTA AND PEA SALAD

200g dried pasta shapes, cooked, drained and cooled

200g cherry or baby plum tomatoes, halved

100g fresh or frozen shelled peas, blanched in hot water

30ml/2tbsp freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

1 small shallot, peeled and finely chopped

15ml/1tbsp white wine or cider vinegar

45ml/3tbsp extra virgin rapeseed or olive oil

METHOD

1. To prepare the marinade, mix all the ingredients together in a large non-metallic dish. Add the lamb and marinate for a minimum of two hours, or overnight if time allows.

2. Preheat the oven to Gas mark 6, 200C/400F.

3. Remove the lamb from the marinade and transfer to a large non-stick roasting tin. Roast for one hour covered with foil, turning once. Remove the foil, return to the oven uncovered for a final 30 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the salad. Put the pasta, tomatoes, peas and parsley in a large bowl.

5. In a small screw-topped jar with a lid mix all the vinaigrette ingredients together. Pour the mixture over the salad, then toss gently.

6. Transfer the ribs to a large plate and serve with the salad.

Thanks to the AHDB for the recipe.