Beckett accepts three-tier system (From Gazette & Herald)

Beckett accepts three-tier system

FINALLY, last Thursday, Margaret Beckett announced that she would accept the industry compromise proposals to create a three-tier system of payments when the new entitlement starts next year.

The upland and Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA) will now be divided into moorland and the rest of the SDA.

When the single farm payment is fully implemented, from next year onwards, the area part of the payment will reflect the status of the land. It is expected that the moorland rate will be around £15 per acre, the rest of the SDA, outside the moorland line, will be at around £60 per acre, and all other land below the SDA line will be at the rate of £80-£90 per acre.

Most respected pundits, including Robert Forster of the NBA, regard this compromise proposal as a distinct improvement on what we had before.

However, there is still a lot of concern at the effect upon our upland farmers. I sat next to the chairman of Skipton Auction Mart the other evening, and his message was that a lot of suckler beef producers would simply cut down or go out of business. If this happens, it will be have a dramatic knock-on effect upon our quality beef industry.

Without going into any detail, Ms Beckett half-recognised the potential problem by saying that "we will need to see that hill farming communities receive appropriate support from other sources, including the England and Rural Development Programme and the Hill Farm Allowance Scheme."

My fear is that there will be more sheep kept instead of cattle, and the balance of production will be upset.

DEFRA is insistent that its deadline of June 30 this year is still in force and, by that date, every horse, pony and donkey has to have a proper passport.

Why is it that we seem to have stricter rules for animals than humans?

A DEFRA mailshot has been sent to 10,000 known equestrian establishments; but I doubt this includes the itinerant encampments we see on our verges during the summer in Ryedale!

Nevertheless, it will be law that they, too, will have to have a passport by mid-summer, which will be an interesting exercise in itself.

For those still needing to get their horses and ponies registered, you should get hold of a passport issuing organisation. If you want to support local enterprise, there is the Cleveland Bay Horse Society, which operates out of York Auction Centre, Murton, York (tel (01904) 489731) and it is authorised to produce passports which, I might add, are of the highest quality! They come at a price of £15 to £19 each, dependent on numbers.

For those that don't know her, Gail Inchboard is a pretty unique lady, having succeeded in a man's world. She specialises in freeze-branding, and last Saturday held an excellent dinner to celebrate 25 years in the business. Around 180 people sat down to eat, coming from all over the north, from Bridlington to Preston.

Congratulations to Gail on her achievements.

This week, the European Council of Ministers is due to decide upon the shape of the new animal transport regulations.

The various options appear to be as follows:

An RSPCA proposal that all journeys should be limited to eight hours and no more.

An official suggestion that journeys be limited to 12 hours in duration, followed by a 12-hour rest period, and then a further ongoing trip if necessary.

An Irish compromise that journeys should be limited to nine hours, followed by a two-hour rest period, and a further nine hours travel before a 12-hour rest period.

The RSPCA option would make travel within the UK a total nonsense, but the Irish compromise seems to be the one we could live with.

I sometimes wish the same amount of time was spent by our administrators when considering the welfare of travellers who are forced to sit in airport lounges and on aeroplanes for hours on end with no explanation and often without sustenance.

Last Saturday saw the first Spring Rare Breeds Sale at York, and it drew a huge crowd of both visitors and customers.

Fell ponies were in the catalogue for the first time, and two lovely mares from Mrs Chamberlain made 1,050 guineas each.

Cattle exhibitors were led by John Harrison, of Settrington, with a smart Longhorn maiden heifer which made 650 guineas and there was a good show of supporting Dexters.

The poultry, as ever, were quite spectacular and featured several colourful trios making up to £80, and a pair of Toulouse ducks which topped the sale at £150.

All in all, a good PR exercise for the farming community.

Forward on March 27 were 184 cattle including 71 bulls and 32 cows; 3,124 sheep including 306 spring lambs and 555 ewes.

Light steers to 103p from A Cussons and Sons, Kirkbymoorside (average 96.9p); heavy steers to 124p from R Todd, Lockton, (100.3p). Light heifers to 135p from G I Marwood, Harome (104.6p); medium heifers to 125p from C Beal, Yedingham (100.3p); heavy heifers to 130p from L W Aconley & Sons, Cawthorn (103.4p). Light bulls to 109p from I D Watson Farmers, Fadmoor; medium bulls to 123p from M W Rooke, Beadlam (99.5p); heavy bulls to 118p from M W Rooke (97.3p); black & white bulls to 92p from J Medd, Rievaulx (83.2p).

Standard lambs to 157.6p from S B Flint, Bishop Wilton (151.3p); medium lambs to 167.5p from R M Clarkson, Huggate (150.14p); heavy lambs to 143.7p from D V Southwell & Son, Burton Fleming (134p). Standard hoggs to 150p from J & R Waind, Brawby (131.6p); medium hoggs to 140.6p from C B Jacklin & Co, Yatts (127p); heavy hoggs to 139.5p (129.5p); overweight hoggs to 126.4p from M & W Field, Driffield (113.7p). Ewes to £78 from M Hall, Nun Monkton (£51.60).

Updated: 11:51 Wednesday, April 28, 2004