4 EDITOR’S INTRO
AUG/SEP 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk
It’s been an eventful couple of
months, we now have a new
Prime Minister and that means
due to the changes at number
10, we also have a new team
at DEFRA. With the ongoing Brexit
negotiations, we’ll have to wait and see how this
will affect the farming and rural community.
THE Great Yorkshire Show has
now been and gone for another
year and inside this issue we
have an extensive look at why,
once again, it lived up to its name.
With a near-record-breaking
135,095 visitors, just 16 shy of
the record set in 2006, the 161st
show was one of the biggest ever.
Bainbridge Engineering were
one of the many businesses who
enjoyed yet another outstanding
three days.
The Great Yorkshire Show
wasn’t the only successful event
in the region, though; Driffield
Show enjoyed an attendance
of 20,000 visitors with nearly
500 trade stands. The team at
Driffield are already building on
the success of this year as they
get plans under way for 2020.
Looking forward, the Midlands
Machinery Show returns to
the Newark Showground this
November, it provides an excel-
lent opportunity for farmers
to talk to manufacturers and
dealers as they consider their
new machinery requirements.
Chris Berry has talked to a
diverse range of farms discussing
a wide variety of topics. Amos
Dewhirst at Winterburn, near
Gargrave, had plenty to say about
running his own farm operation,
producing and providing stock
for an upwardly mobile meat
company and training owners
as well as their dogs. When Chris
met Jonathan and Matthew
Hodgson at South Frodingham,
they discussed all things wheat,
farming and beer.
Ian caught up with the Dean
Family who run Far Barsey Farm
and Farm Shop, situated in one
of the most beautiful parts of
Halifax, Barkisland, to see what
makes them some of the most
hard-working farmers out there.
As well as all this, we have
all the latest news and regular
features. You’ll find a very
informative piece regarding
using the right oil for your
vehicles on page 18 and there
is an excellent article looking at
how to tackle lameness in both
sheep and cattle on page 32.
This month’s machinery feature
includes a look at the new
Landini Rex 3 tractor, and a great
interview with Andrew Guest
owner of Andrew Guest Limited
– Ian talks to Andrew about his
journey in creating one of the
UK’s very successful independ-
ent agricultural engineering
business’.
We hope you enjoy this jam-
packed magazine and we’ll see
you in the next issue.
Editor, Jason.
FARMERS CALL FOR
CLARITY ON CAUSE
OF LOW BEEF PRICE
British beef
farmers are calling
for clarity as to
why the farm-
gate beef price
remains so low,
after 12 weeks of
falling prices.
ACCORDING to the latest
figures from AHDB, the farm-gate
price is now 22p/k below the
five-year average.
NFU livestock board chairman
our products, there is a market
Richard Findlay said:
for British beef so it’s difficult to
“Farmers are now getting £200
understand where this low price
to £300 per animal less than they has come from and why it’s not
were a few months ago. We have picking up.
been dealing with incredibly low
“Farmers need clarity on what
prices for months now and the
market factors are driving this
situation is not sustainable.
low farm-gate price. Without
“This downward trend is
understanding what’s causing
massively concerning for beef
a market movement we can’t
farmers, especially considering
respond to it and for us to
that beef exports are up and
understand it we need greater
we are actually importing less
transparency throughout the
beef from other countries. While
whole supply chain. This includes
we do need to better promote
clearer pricing structures, terms
67010 - BlueBearTrading - 8TH.pdf 1 20/12/2017 12:37:52
and conditions with notice of any
changes and a wholesale review
of processor deductions.
“This is not just about a few
financial losses but the long-
term sustainability of the British
beef sector. If we don’t get to
the bottom of what’s driving the
low price, we will start to see
farmers leaving the sector. That
would not only be devastating for
farmers but for people here and
abroad who value the amazing
taste, sustainable production and
high traceability of British beef.”
C
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ISSUE 64 • AUG/SEP 2019
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For more news, views and stories from
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North, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk
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