The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2019 - Issue 64 | Page 14

14 FARM NEWS
AUG/SEP 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk
SUPPORTING
THE FARMERS
AS many of our followers
will know we try our best to
support the farming com-
munity in the UK at times
of need, due to the tragic
weather we are donating a
full lorry load to Forage Aid
of 4ft silage bales.
Forage Aid is a charity
that provides fodder and
bedding to farms, livestock
and agricultural businesses,
that are affected by
extreme weather.
Recently North Yorkshire
and the surrounding Dales
areas have been massively
affected by flooding,
washing lots of feed and
bedding away.
A big thank you to our
good friend Christian at C&C
Haulage who has provided
the silage at cost price to
ourselves but who is also
providing the transport free
of charge.
The silage provided by
ourselves will be collected
and delivered once a drop
off area has been agreed
with Forage Aid.
We will keep you all updated
with photos once the load has
been collected and delivered.
National Sheep Association looks
forward to helping UK sheep farmers
into a new era of sheep production
THERE may be incredible uncertainty
facing the UK sheep industry at the current
time, but with only a year to go until NSA
Sheep 2020, the National Sheep Association
(NSA) is planning an event that will be more
important than ever in terms of focusing on
how sheep farmers can be the best they
can be.
Worries about the future export market
and impending changes to farm support
have been well documented in recent
weeks and months, and NSA remains
concerned our departure from the EU will
cause significant challenge to UK sheep
farmers.
But that means NSA Sheep 2020, taking
place a year from now on Tuesday 28thJuly
2020 in Malvern, Worcestershire, is the
perfect opportunity for sheep farmers to
come together to react to the changes that
we will then surely be better informed of,
helping UK sheep farmers arm themselves
with knowledge to adapt and move their
farms forward as needed.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker com-
ments: “It is difficult to predict the shape of
our sheep industry this time next year. Our
departure from the EU may be accompa-
nied by changes that are difficult, and that
as an industry we do not like, but we must
look forward to the future whatever that
might bring and our NSA Sheep Event 2020
will provide a valuable opportunity to do
just that.”
As well as providing useful information
and ideas at a vital time, the event will also
once again play host to the final of the
NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the Year
competition, a popular sheepdog display
and sale, and as a leading business to busi-
ness event feature a large number of sheep
breed societies and trade stands.
Prince’s Countryside Fund Supports YAS
Farmer Health Checks with £10K Grant
Free farmer health checks run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society have been given a £10,000 boost.
THANKS to funding from The
Prince’s Countryside Fund,
the YAS can now roll out more
free farmer health checks at
Livestock Marts and Machinery
Shows across Yorkshire.
YAS has been offering free
farmer health checks for the
last 10 years, to connect with
farmers in their working envi-
ronment. The checks include a
basic MOT with a blood pres-
sure and cholesterol test as well
as the chance to discuss any
other health worries including
smoking, diet, alcohol/drugs or
mental health.
Nigel Pulling, chief executive
of the Yorkshire Agricultural
Society said: “Having access
to experienced nurses who
completely understand the
everyday challenges of running
a farming business, very often
alone or with minimal help, goes
a long way to offering early
warnings to more serious health
conditions.
“We know that farmers are the
last to seek help from a doctor,
so we take the medic to them in
their own working environment
at marts and machinery shows.
Farming can be an isolating
and tough profession so having
extra funding from The Prince’s
Countryside Fund to offer this
service is vital.”
MacMillan, The Samaritans
and Farming Help Charities join
as many of the health checks as
possible to demonstrate solidar-
ity with the farming community.
A series of farmer health
checks will run over the Winter
months and dates and venues
will be announced in September/
October.
Established by HRH The Prince
of Wales in 2010, The Prince’s
Countryside Fund exists to
improve the prospects of family
farm businesses and the quality
of rural life. Through its partner-
ships and events, it celebrates
and promotes the value of the
countryside.
‘ a series of farmer
health checks
will run over the
Winter months
’
The Fund sees the British coun-
tryside as a huge national asset
with its contribution to everyday
life often underestimated. It
provides more than £1m in grant
and initiative funding every year
to projects across the UK that
help to provide a secure future
for the countryside.
Several Yorkshire farming
families have also benefited from
The Prince’s Farm Resilience
Programme and rural commu-
nities have been helped in times
of crisis through the Emergency
Fund.