Single Payment available from October (From Gazette & Herald)

Single Payment available from October

1:43pm Wednesday 24th June 2009

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WITH pleasant surprise I can tell you that the EC has issued a directive to allow member countries to pay up to 70 per cent of the 2009 Single Payment as from October 16.

That is the good news. Meanwhile back in Whitehall, DEFRA is “evaluating the situation”.

Having failed to meet any previous deadline for paying the SP to farmers, the chances of success this time look about as good as York City winning the FA Cup.

Our own Single Payment for example arrived three weeks ago without any apology or interest from the due date, last December.

Nevertheless, the opportunity is there and it would be a great boost to a lot of cash flows if there was an advance payment this autumn.

Dairy industry in deep crisis

THERE was a letter in the farming press last week from John Waring, of Pocklington, a dairy farmer of great experience and considerable success in the pedigree world. His basic message was to chastise the myopic strategy of milk processors and supermarkets in keeping down the farm gate price of milk.

He quite rightly maintains that it needs to be at around 35p per litre instead of the current 25p, in order to not only keep the existing producers but also to encourage new entrants.

When one looks at the average year on year average price of farm gate milk we are around 1p down compared to 2008; and yet the retail price of milk has jumped by 5p per litre in the last 12 months.

The blunt facts are that dairy production in this country has now reached a 40-year low and we are no longer self sufficient, having to rely upon imports for a commodity that we are among the best in the world at producing.

It really is a nonsense.

Improvement in dairy calf sales

THERE is one consolation for the dairy farmer in the improvement in the trade for their bull calves.

It isn’t too long since we were seeing awful pictures of farmers having to shoot their calves because they were worth nothing and today mainly due to the auction system, they are worth from £40 to £100 per head.

Livestock markets in the strong dairying areas on the west side of the country are reporting increased numbers and lots of demand.

Malton market campaign update

THE auctioneers are still keeping the flag flying for retaining a live auction in Ryedale and we continue to liaise with Pat Foxton and others in the campaign. There is a public exhibition in the Milton Rooms at Malton on July 17 and 18 which will display not only the council’s view of the town’s regeneration but also it is an opportunity for other land owner developers to present their alternative visionary plans.

I understand that those representing the block of land running between Pasture Lane and Broughton Road will be involved and it should be an important milestone going forwards.

I will let you have more detail as it becomes available.

Bits and pieces

A man came home from the office and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightie.

“Tie me up, she purred, and you can do anything you want”

So he tied her up and went golfing.

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