Weekly Sales News – 27th August 2019

Top price per head – £86.50 – C & J Georgetti & Sons: Top price per kilo – 196p – A G A Homewood

Report on trade: A small entry of lambs forward this week following the bank holiday weekend coupled with the good weather for harvesting. Many regular faces were absent on this week.

Trade was steady and followed on the trend that we have seen for several weeks now averaging around the 175p per kg mark with the heavier offerings selling between £80 and £85 to a top price of £86.50 for lambs from C & J Georgetti & Sons. Best continental lambs struggled to get to the 200p mark this week but it must be said there were little or no best continental Beltex lambs on offer. Top spot was taken by A G A Homewood with some strong continental crosses at 194p (40kg at £78.50).

Sheep sales here in Ashford are supported by buyers representing a large cross section of abattoirs throughout the country. Please ensure your FABBL status is up to date and if you are not FABBL assured seriously consider becoming so – certain buyers are restricted to the purchase of only farm assured stock.

Report on trade: A very small entry this week with the bigger numbers from weaning now cleared and many vendors busy on other jobs. The trade wasn’t really there to entice them away from home either.

Trade was similar to recent weeks with best ewes making up in the high seventies and with grazng ewes the most competed for but with not enough numbers on offer, many buyers didn’t even get going.

Top prices included crossbreds to £84 from C J Dear, Suffolk crosses to £75 from S & V Bullock and Mules to £75 from R Price & Sons

Report on trade: A disappointing entry following several weeks of very decent trade with prices comparing favourably with deadweight returns.

Best continental crosses sold in excess of 190p per kg with a Blonde cross heifer topping the market at £1124 (196p) from D W Ferguson Ltd while other top prices included a Limousin cross heifer at £1154 (191p) from R G Wood and a British Blue x Friesian heifer at £1193 (190p) from K & P M Sinden & Sons.

A run of Sussex cross heifers sold well from M A Piper & Son Farms at 185p plus and up to £1023 (194p).

Report on trade: The bank holiday and the intensity of the heat put paid to the entry but not the trade. Prices firm and competitive.

Holstein 116p (2) £821 P J Forknall; Holstein Friesian 114p, 113p £874 M A & F W Owen.

Ashford Market Lairage arrangements

Please note our official time for delivery of stock on Monday’s is 3pm to 6pm. Please advise the auctioneer’s office or any of the livestock team if you require this facility.

RABI, Young Farmers Clubs, 91 Club, Kent Herdsmans Club and FCN news

RABI – copies of a summer newsletter are available here in the market.

Saturday 5^th October – Harvest Supper in the Amos Hall, Ashford Market. 6.30pm for 7pm

For further information on all RABI events in Kent ring Charles Tassell – 01622 858733, 07973 412179 or email charles@tassell.co.uk

Kent Herdsmans Club

Monday 9th September at 7pm, please note early start, – visit to British Wool Board, Walnut Tree Farm, Church Road, Smeeth TN25 6SA.

For all details on Herdsman’s Club events please contact Chairman Alan Jull 07708283220 or Jo Masters 01580 240568.

Ashford Young Farmers – copies of their August / September newsletter are available here in the market.

Wednesday 4^th September – Girls do something for the boys

For all details on Ashford Young Farmers please contact Amy Langdon  amy.langdon1234@hotmail.co.uk

Summer events / meetings in the area of interest to farmers

Moreton in Marsh Show – Saturday 7^th September – Gloucestershire.  For details www.moretonshow.co.uk

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match – Saturday 14^th September at Poplars Farm, Churn lane, Horsmonden. TN12 8HN. Full details available from secretary Liz Copping 07872 501951or on www.wkpma.co.uk.

Gravesend & Rochester Agricultural Association Ploughing Match & Gymkhana – Saturday 21^st September – Paddlesworth Farm, Snodland. ME6 5DR by kind permission of D S & M Lingham. Events commence at 9.30. Lots to see and do including steam and horse ploughing, gymkhana, local produce, craft and trade stands, competitions tent, laser clay shooting, duck herding and more. Car entry £5 plus £1 per passenger, foot entry £2. For more information please visit graa.org.uk or for gymkhana entries please contact sue.batchelor@me.com

East Kent Ploughing Match – Wednesday 25^th September – West Court Farm, Shepherdswell, Dover CT15 5PZ by kind permission of J Weir & Sons. For more information www.ekpma.co.uk or ring Sarah ledger on 07802 974 838

East Sussex Ploughing Match – Saturday 28^th September – Broad Farm, Hellingly, East Sussex by kind permission of Richard Mortimore-Lee. For more information www.espms.co.uk or 07752 247469

RABI and FCN would like to invite you to a County Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 6^th October at Ashford Cattle Market at 17.30 in support of RABI and FCN, followed by a reception. For more information please contact Karen Adams at kadams@diocant.org

Miscellaneous livestock and general goods and services for sale and wanted ex farm

For Sale – Collie puppies from registered working parents with good temperament – East Sussex. Ring 01797 253702 or 07930 624594

For Sale – Border Collie puppies from excellent working parents. 3 Boys, tri coloured and black/white – Call Holly on 07850524206