The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2014 - Issue 33 | Page 52

YORK AUCTION MART So much going on.. but livestock still at the heart Chris Berry talks with Rod Cordingley and Richard Tasker at York Auction Centre. When Richard Tasker set about planning for the first ever Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show late last year he had little idea of just how many dealerships and manufacturers would be clamouring for space. Similarly when Scott Ferrie launched the Multi Breed Pedigree Cattle Sale at York Auction Centre in spring 2013 he was more than pleasantly surprised by the numbers of buyers and sellers it generated. York Auction Centre has always been a magnet for farmers from right across the We are pleased to be suppliers to York Auction Centre and wish them continued success Talking common sense in agricultural and rural communications We have a proven track record in saving our customers money on their communication packages and overcoming broadband and mobile signal issues • Rural broadband • Mobile Phones • Mobile Data green in response to demand. We’ve talked about changing for the past few years but there was a feeling that now may be the right time,’ says Rod Cordingley. ‘It isn’t all straight forward as we know it can cause problems for those buying stores every day of the week who may have their hands tied but we’re going to see how it goes for a few months. Generally we’ve had a positive reaction so far.’ ‘The sale of livestock has always been the beating heart of the market at Murton since it move here’ ‘The current weekly average throughput on a Monday sale are between 200-250 cattle; around 400-500 pigs with half of them liveweight; and sheep numbers ranging from 500-1000 dependent upon seasonality. Stores sales are Alec B Storey Livestock Transport • Landlines • Phone Systems • Vehicle Tracking Talk to Claire Danter about your requirements Tel: [phone] [email protected] Riverbank, Kelk, Driffield, East Yorks, YO25 8HG www.agritalk.co.uk 52 county but these relatively new events in the calendar have reaffirmed the belief that location is everything. That’s why their Rare Breeds Sales are also fabulous occasions and also why the York Machinery Sale has become a leading farm machinery auction in the UK. The sale of livestock has always been the beating heart of the market at Murton since it moved here from York’s city walls in 1971. There are still some regulars who recall the days when cattle drovers walked their stock to the market that was situated near to where The Barbican stands today. Sale days are held on Mondays and Thursdays every week with the exception of bank holidays. Monday is the prime fatstock market for cattle, sheep and pigs and has recently altered from being a totally red market day (slaughter only) to alternating weekly between red and green (6 day rule) days. ‘We changed in March to alternating between red and Apr/May 2014 FarmersMart Pleased to be associated with York Auction Mart Tel [phone] Bracken House Farm, Common Road, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 8JF To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk