Livestock/Sheep
SHEEP SECTOR AT HUGE
RISK FROM ‘HARD BREXIT’
STANCE TAKEN BY PM’S
STANCE, SAYS NSA
J36 NWA
Anniversary
Show
PRIME HOGGS
North West Auction’s held its
Anniversary Show and Sale of Prime
Hoggs on Tuesday 14th February
which saw 20 Pens forward for
judging, pairs of Butchers Hoggs and
Pens of five Hill Bred Hoggs, which
were judged by Mr S Airey, Snowdrop
Villa with the show kindly sponsored
by Green Coat Farm.
The Champion Rosette was awarded
to a super pair of 44kg Texels from
regular vendor Messrs TS & SM Park of
Millom Castle, which realised £91 and
was bought by Mr Michael Lomax on
behalf of Higginsons Butchers.
‘Some top quality
pigs were forward
which saw a couple
Pietrain x pigs’
PIGS
The anniversary show and sale of
prime pigs saw a competitive line up of
more than half a dozen pairs of prime
pigs for Judge Mr Frank Robinson of
Crooklands to cast his eye over. Some
top quality pigs were forward which
saw a couple Pietrain x pigs from
Peter Woof of Stainton weighing in at
125kg.
70 Spring 2017 www.farmers-mart.co.uk
» » THE NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION
(NSA) is warning that the Government’s
decision to pursue ‘hard Brexit’ presents
a huge risk to the UK sheep industry.
This is owing to the likely combination of
disruption to existing trade structures, the
reliance of the meat processing sector on
migrant labour, and competition from free
trade deals.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says:
“It was inevitable the EU referendum
result would mean our existing trade
structures would face disruption, but
NSA has consistently been of the view
that ongoing tariff-free access to the EU
market was essential to avoid disruption
and price volatility. We made it clear we
wanted to remain in the single market, in
the knowledge too that our industry relies
heavily on migrant labour.
“The announcement by Theresa May
presents a huge risk to the UK sheep
industry when she talks of the ‘freest
possible trade’ but very clearly outside
of the single market. This suggests
the acceptance of a level of tariffs, the
result of which will be industry paying
for any market access it can get to work
economically. This is a continuation of
passing costs back to industry within a
free market economy and is an approach
that clashes with our current policy of the
provision of plentiful food on shop shelves
at competitively low prices.”
NSA highlights the sheep sector as one
at particular risk, as up to 40% of UK lamb
production is exported each year, with 96%
of that going into the EU single market.
Mr Stocker continues: “NSA would like
to once again remind Ministers and policy
makers that sheep farming is an essential
primary industry that contributes positively
to food production, environmental and
landscape management, provides the
foundation for much of our farmland
ecology, and supports many rural
communities and economies. Tariffs placed
on sheep meat exports into the EU would
dramatically reduce our competitiveness
and the volumes sold there. The large-
scale processing end of our industry, which
has been encouraged by policy direction
and market drivers and which drives much
of our export volume, is massively reliant
on migrant labour and has little hope of
filling that labour demand effectively with
the UK labour force.
“We have repeatedly highlighted the
value of our industry and said clearly what
we need to continue to thrive into the
future. We understand we have to leave
the negotiators to negotiate and that they
have to set out a starting position – but
it appears that the starting position is to
say we want it all and refuse to consider
any plan B. Unlike during the referendum
campaign, hopefully plan B is in the drawer
– because if it isn’t the cliff edge looms in
terms of how we currently operate.
“Despite calls that we want Britain to be
a major global player, our sheep industry
may need to consider turning away from
such big aspirations and focus far more on
growing and protecting our domestic UK
market. That’s not the current model and
would require substantial restructuring of
the industry at all levels, entirely changing
the direction that has been invested in so
heavily for a long time.”