Sheep Farmerdecember/JANUARY 2016/2017 a NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION
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Sheep FarmerDECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/2017 A NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION HEALTH AND NUTRITION ADVICE FOR LAMBING UPDATE ON SUPERMARKET LAMB SCHEMES THE FIGHT AGAIN RURAL CRIME WINTER LIVER FLUKE WARNING APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NSA NEXT GENERATION PROGRAMME WOOL WEEK REPORT your business your future Much work needed in Sheep Farmer December/January these uncertain times 2016/2017 Vol. 35, No 6 ISSN 0141-2434 A National Sheep Association publication. By Phil Stocker, NSA If the Brexit decision was not enough on its own to signify dissatisfaction Front page The front page picture is by professional in ‘the system’, the result of the US photographer Wayne Hutchinson and features elections surely is. one of his own Swaledale ewe lambs. To There is a deep discontent and, in supply a picture of your sheep for the front both cases, a majority have voted for page of the magazine, use the contact change. Whether real change will be details overleaf to ask NSA about photo delivered is yet to be seen, but this specifications. is all evidence that we are living in a volatile world that is difficult to predict. Uncertainty is the only certainty. Contents After decades of globalisation we 2 News round-up are hearing more about protectionism. 4 NSA reports: Devolved nations Protection of borders, economies and 6 NSA reports: English regions sovereignty. Our modern UK sheep 8 Recent conference reports industry has been influenced heavily 10 NSA Central Region Early by globalisation, and done well from manufacturing industry and will not Gathering preview it. Nearly 40% of our production is damage it with free trade deals with 12 Latest NSA voucher winners sold overseas with some 95% of this countries such as Australia on the basis 14 Update on supermarket/ going into EU nations. This, on top of of benefits for our financial services processor lamb schemes our domestic market, provides healthy industry. He suggests that while we 16 Lamb price latest competition, avoids reliance on one have some work to do to explain why, 17 Increasing lamb shelf-life route to market and gives the chance to we should be able to maintain access to 18 Bright future for renewables? get value from every bit of the animal. permanent non-seasonal migrant labour 19 NSA policy update where jobs exist and domestic labour will 20 Rural crime fighting tips not fill the demand. Seasonality 22 FARM FEATURE: NSA South West We import more or less as much as Trade and labour are only two aspects Ram Sale Chairman David Darke we export, meaning in theory we could of Brexit detail, alongside other priorities 25 Financial advice simply be self-sufficient. But seasonality, such as the future of farm support and 26 Balancing forage and due to weather patterns and related farm regulation, all of which require a grass growth, means we have adapted to lot of work from NSA if we are to get concentrates pre-lambing balancing peaks in supply by exporting anything like the sort of outcome sheep 29 Making the most of scanning and troughs by importing. Of course it’s farming needs. And it doesn’t stop with 30 Disease prevention checklist not that black and white, but it’s the Brexit – we have many other subjects 32 Artificial lamb rearing advice basis of our trade. We also rely on the needing attention and investment. The 36 Liver fluke warning migration of people, as without foreign list of policy work NSA does to benefit 38 SPECIAL FOCUS: Responsible labour our abattoir and meat processing members could continue well into the antibiotic use in lambing sheds structure would fall apart. following pages. 40 SPECIAL REPORT: Three-page Trade and labour are two priorities wool update that NSA, working with other livestock Subscriptions 44 NSA Next Generation latest interest groups, has been raising with This time last year I was delighted our Secretary of State, ministers and to be able to tell you we had delayed This NSA magazine is published with design and political leaders across the UK nations. a decision to increase membership production services provided by Ladies in Print. We cannot afford to risk falling off the subscriptions. But NSA subs have not edge of a cliff when we leave the EU, increased for many years and, to help us and if it’s correct that no trade deals can do what needs to be done to safeguard be done until we have left the EU, we the future for sheep farming in the UK, Email: [email protected] either need a pre-agreed deal that can we will be initiating a very modest £5 Tel: 01684 899255 be made immediately, or preferably a increase for full individual membership 100 substantial transitional period where two- from the start of 2017. Our half price Paper is FSC® certified. It is way access to the single market, without under 27s category will continue, as will sourced from responsibly managed forests. 95 tariffs, continues for an agreed period the 20% discount for the first year you until permanent deals are done. pay your subscription by direct debit. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or shared in any form (be in electronic, 75 Farming Minister George Eustice I truly hope you agree the volume mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) says he is confident the EU will want to and quality of work done by NSA, and without prior consent of NSA. Every care is taken when compiling this magazine and NSA and Ladies in Print take continue with tariff-free trade, due to the benefits it gives you, means your no responsibility for errors and omissions arising from the volume of mutual trade that is done. membership continues to be one of publication. Views expressed and information contained in 25 He also thinks the UK Treasury will be the best investments you can make Sheep Farmer are not necessarily those of NSA or Ladies in Print and neither party cannot be held responsible for persuaded to accept the importance of for your business – and I thank you in any reason arising from them. Neither NSA or Ladies in 5 food and farming as the UK’s largest anticipation of your ongoing support. Print endorse any services or products advertised. 0 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/2017 1 NSA_Aniamx_scanning_full page_11-11-16 11 November 2016 22:44:38 Red Tractor consultation Annual Regional Members Meetings National Sheep Association NSA urges members in farm assurance News programmes to be aware that Red The remaining six NSA Annual Regional Stirlingshire, FK2 8JF, 2pm on th Tractor is consulting on proposed Members Meetings have all now been Wednesday 15 February. NSA Head Office NSA Regions additions to the existing scheme. confirmed. The business at each will • The Annual Members Meeting of include: election/reapproval of the NSA Central Region will be held NSA, The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Central Although any changes will affect English Alastair Sneddon Anne Payne Update farms initially, NSA feels it could also Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer; at the Bluebell Inn, Buxton Road, Worcestershire, WR13 6PH. Call 01684 Regional Chairman Regional Manager nomination/reapproval of the regional Tissington, Derbyshire, DE6 1NH, 01142 883241 impact schemes in other UK nations and 892661 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm) 01629 812777 th alastair.sneddon@bagshaws. bobandanne@handbanktexels. that everyone should voice their opinions Trustee Director; election of new 7.30pm on Wednesday 15 February. or go directly to one of the team below. wanadoo.co.uk com Happy Christmas during the consultation period. committee members and endorsement • The Annual Members Meeting of Phil Stocker Everyone at NSA, from the staff at of current members; a chairman’s NSA Northern Region will be held Cymru Wales Members can feed their views to NSA NSA Chief Executive Llew Thomas Helen Davies Head Office to regional office holders as we work on our response, but please report; and a treasurer’s report relating at the Hired Lad, Penrith Auction [email protected] Regional Chairman Regional Development Officer and ram sales representatives, would also respond as an individual farmer to the region’s finances. Mart, Penrith, CA11 7JG, 7.30pm on 01267 253374 01691 654712 th like to take this opportunity to wish all before the deadline on Saturday 31st Members residing in a region are Thursday 16 February. Julie Jennings 07974 386394 07976 803066 [email protected] [email protected] members a Merry Christmas and Happy December via consultation.redtractor. eligible to appoint a proxy vote on their • The Annual Members Meeting of Association Secretary/PA to Chief Executive behalf if they cannot attend the meeting, NSA South West Region will be held [email protected] New Year. We may not know what 2017 org.uk/rta/standards-review-2017. Eastern had in store, but we all hope for it to be On the topic of consultations, NSA but this must be done in advance with at Fingle Glen Golf Hotel, Tedburn, Dan Phipps Jonathan Barber NSA Head Office. Download a proxy Exeter, Devon, EX6 6AF, 7.30pm on Helen Breakwell Regional Chairman Regional Manager prosperous and profitable. has recently responded to Defra about nd Bookkeeper/PA to Chief Executive 07836 590996 01953 607860 TB in non-bovines. The consultation notice at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/ Wednesday 22 February. [email protected] 07836 287281 07712 659262 events or contact NSA Head Office. • The Annual Members Meeting of NSA [email protected] jonathan@ceressolutions. included proposed compensation rates co.uk for sheep, which NSA argued should be Notice is hereby given that:- Cymru/Wales Region will be held at Joanne Briggs paid at a full tabular rate and not the • The Annual Members Meeting of the Royal Welsh Showground, Hafod Communications Manager Marches NSA Scottish Region will be held at y Hendre, Builth Wells, LD2 3SY, 2pm Sheep Farmer Editor half rate currently suggested.