Weekly Sales News – 1st June 2021

New Season Lambs – Top price per head – £160 – H & J Noakes: Top price per kilo – 353p – Miss K Tucker

Report on trade: A few less penned this week as some of the early lambing flocks are now getting through this year’s crop but we are not quite into the main crop lambs yet. Trade has held remarkably well again this week and was in fact a couple of pennies up on last week with an overall average on 317p per kg returned.

The heavy weight lambs again really rang the bell and with shorter supplies of hoggets now the trade for these 42 kg plus lambs should maintain a good level through the summer. Top spot on the day went to H & J Noakes with a pair of very heavy lambs that made £160 followed closely by T Masters at £157 for some heavy weighted Texel crosses. Smart offerings this week from Miss K Tucker topped at 353p with other from D Isaac, J Cook and Link Bros all selling in excess of 335p.

Very much an end of season entry of only a few hoggets was on offer but the top end of the weights that still have lambs teeth are in demand. These sold up to £159 form E A Chantler with others from C B Hope and B G & M A Tompsett making over £145.

Please keep the hoggets and lambs coming and contact us with numbers so we can notify the buyers.

Auctioneer: Elwyn Davies 07711 803902

Report on trade: A smaller entry of ewes on offer this week but a similar trade for all on offer with the averages returned around the £100 mark once again. Best ewes were up to £147 this week with several better types selling in excess of £120 hd. Leaner sorts now being stockpiled for the upcoming Qurbani festival traded form £70-90 hd.

Auctioneer: James Cook

Report on trade: A few more ewes and lambs on offer this week but again quite a mixture. Best pen on offer from Master Archie Burden, who was selling his very first consignment of sheep. These sold to £200 outfit or £71.50 per life for some Suffolk x Mule ewes with crossbred lambs at foot.

Report on trade: A shortage of numbers this week with the recent good weather giving producers the opportunity to catch up with other work on the farm. The trade for numbers forward was strong and competitive with prices on a par with recent weeks.

The best continental crosses attracted prices in excess of 225p per kg with a run of Limousin crosses from W Alexander (Shoreham) taking the pick of the trade. Their smart heifers made £1559 (235p) and £1265 (237p) with steers to £1445 (230p). They were closely followed by Limousin cross steers and heifers at £1231 (235p) and £1150 (226p) from R F & E A Simmons and a Limousin cross steer £1259 (227p) from R C & J L Pickering.

A few native bred were penned this week with a Sussex cross steer making £1190 (217p) and Aberdeen Angus cross steer £1267(210p) from R C & J L Pickering. A run of Holstein Friesian steers looked well sold around 180p and up to £1187 (186p) from M W Goddard.

Report on trade: Small numbers came forward on this glorious June morning and these met yet another tremendous trade with rates continuing as dear as of late. Numbers will get tighter with farmers prioritising silage and hay making and there seems little likelihood in prices easing.

Best young beef cows generally made 160p to 220p and up to 226p kg £1150 from Burden Bros for Limousin. Other highlights included Limousin cross 226p,177p, 149p, 145p and £1150, £1121, £1032 from Burden Bros and 162p £1211 A Boyd & Co; Sussex 156p, 135p, 129p £841 Bowes Lyon Estate; Aberdeen Angus cross 140p £851 Burden Bros and Dexter 106p £427 L Smith.

Very few dairy culls but yet again as dear. A Holstein Friesian 134p £1048 W F Farms.

Overage Sussex steers (6 yrs. plus) 149p, 145p,143p and £958.

Stock bulls included Limousin 147p and Sussex 107p. More wanted every week.

Report on trade: A smart pen of 2 yr. old Sussex heifers from the Bowes Lyon Estate were well sold at £1015 with yearling Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steer making £755.

Keep the store cattle coming. Strong trade will continue with recent good grass growth boosting demand.

Report on trade: The demand for pigs remains firm with our sales producing good prices for the best and fair returns for the rest as well. Local wholesalers are keen to secure supplies going forward. The cull and store trade also reflect the season and a little more confidence in the sector going forward.

In the finished pig pens Ms M Godden took the honours with both top price per kilo and per head for her shapely Pietrain crosses to 147p per kg and £118. L Webber, N Vincent, and east Kent regular vendor B G & M A Tomsett saw their pigs make from 112p to 132p and gross from £91 to £112. The rest of the small offering made to 60p to 90p.

The cull pigs offered were all sows with no really heavy and / or powerful sorts. Top call was a white sow from S & D Butler making 44p and £92.

Two pens of store pigs were offered and made £40 for young white examples and £29 for Duroc types.

Bovine TB Test Dates

It is very important that the date (first part of test) is recorded on cattle entry forms for all cattle sold from TB1holdings. Any recent whole herd test dates from TB4 holdings must also be recorded. This information is critical to purchasers who may be required to test animals again and who will wish to avoid the risk of a false positive by testing again within the 60-day period.

Please advise of test dates when making cattle entries for cataloguing from TB1 Holdings.

Please note if you do not wash out at Ashford.

Drivers of vehicles leaving Ashford empty without cleansing and disinfecting MUST complete a declaration form obtainable from the Market Office.

You must then cleanse and disinfect as soon as possible and within 24 hours, or before using again for livestock.

This is a LEGAL responsibility and are subject to checks by Local Authority Animal Health and Welfare Officers

News from the East Sussex Farmers’ Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund charity was created in 1935 by a local farmer and its purpose is to support farmers, farm staff and those involved in the wider land-based industries. Support can also be given to family dependants.  Beneficiaries are normally resident in East Sussex or neighbouring counties.

Income from property and investment legacies help to finance the fund in addition to generous donations. The fund is overseen by five local trustees with strong agricultural connections.

Help can be for those currently in work, or who have retired or who are unable to work due to illness or disability. The fund can also assist those entering land-based education and help with relevant CPD for furthering their land-based careers.

If you feel that we can help you or you are aware of someone who might benefit from help, please let us know and we will be pleased to support. To contact the Honorary Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Des Lambert – 07912 464746, 01273 890841 or email des.lambert@btinternet.com

Help and support from The Farming Community Network

Farming Community Network (FCN) volunteers regularly attend local livestock markets and whilst we cannot be present at sales currently, our helpline is still open from 7am to 11pm every day, staffed by people who understand farming.

FCN is a charity and voluntary organisation that helps farmers to stay resilient. We provide practical and pastoral support to those experiencing difficulties in England and Wales. During these challenging times we are encouraging everyone to think about their own physical and mental health and that of their families and staff.

We can help with contingency planning against the backdrop of the Corona virus outbreak and our Farm Well website (www.farmwell.org.uk) offers a wealth of free information about managing change and maintaining personal wellbeing.

The FCN helpline can be reached on 03000 111 999 or via email at help@fcn.org.uk. Confidentiality is assured.

Ashford Cattle Show news – Summer competitions.

Sheep/flock competition: Chief Steward Trevor Richards 07768726286

Sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy & Hallets

Judge: Brian Dallyn (Devon)

Judging to take place week beginning 14th June. – Entries close Friday 4th June

Class A – Best run of 20 or more Pedigree or purebred ewes with their purebred lambs.

Class B – Best run of 50 or more commercial ewes with their crossbred lambs.

Beef/Herds competition: Chief Steward John Hickman 07711167467

Sponsor Michael Owen (Animalscan)

Judge: Brenda Hide (East Sussex)

Judging to take place 1st & 2nd Week in July.  – Entries close Friday 25th June

Class A – Best run of 10 or more pedigree cows with purebred calves

Class B – Best run of Purebred/crossbred cows with crossbred calves from a herd of 20-50

Class C – Best run of Purebred/crossbred cows with crossbred calves from a herd of 51 or more.

Crops Competition: Chief Steward Tim Porter 07557200611

Sponsored by Agrii

Judges: T.B.C

Judging to take place from 21st June. – Entries Close Friday 4th June

This competition is judged on the quality and condition of the crops on a single holding. Judges look for potential yield, uniformity and other things including the general management of the crops. The judges view your best 20% of each crop in your rotation.

Entry forms will be available from the market, Chief Stewards or please email ashfordcattleshow@gmail.com

Livestock for sale by private treaty – ex farm

For Sale – 8 Strong Welsh gilts, ready for a boar – East Kent. Contact Mark Cleverdon for details

For Sale – 3 Young South Devon bulls, ready for work – West Kent. Contact Mark Cleverdon for details

The Stockpot Café at Ashford Market

Although some of the Covid restrictions were relaxed from the 17th of May, we have decided to delay the full re-opening of the Stockpot until after the 21^st June when we hope our full ‘normal’ sit-down service can resume.

This is because the new rules do not allow our style of counter-operation and we do not have the staff and systems in place to run a full service at tables including booking and remote payments amongst other things.

For the time being, we will continue with our takeaway service. We trust you will understand and appreciate your patience.

South East Farmer and Farm Machinery magazines

The June edition of this popular regional farming magazine is now available here in the market. Hobbs Parker is a regular contributor to the editorial content.

In addition, our Property Consultants Outlook for Summer 2021, is included with this months publication and again are available here in the market. Articles from our Property Consultants team and Planning Consultants makes interesting reading for all landowners and occupiers.

Local Agricultural Show and ploughing match dates and news

South of England Show – Friday to Sunday 11^th to 13^th June – All show enquiries please ring 01444 892700 or visit www.seas.org.uk

The Kent County Summer Fayre – Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th July – All show enquiries please ring 01622 630975 or visit www.kcas.org.uk

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 18th September at Honey Farm, Munday Bois Road, Pluckley, Ashford, TN27 0SU. Full details available from secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk