Farmers’ leaders stand their ground over budget cuts

0 Comments | Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), Jul 29, 2010 | by rog wood

THE farming leaders of NFU Scotland and NFU England and Wales met with the UK Government’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, in London yesterday to discuss the central role that rural businesses continue to play in the nation’s economic recovery.

Agriculture is part of the biggest manufacturing sector in the UK – worth pound(s)22 billion a year – and the farming leaders are determined that farming plays its part in the economic recovery.

The meeting was an opportunity to hear first hand about the scale of budgetary cuts – Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) is expected to have pound(s)1bn slashed from its budget – and proposals of a trial in rural areas of a reduced rate of fuel duty.

Speaking after the meeting, NFUS president Jim McLaren said: “The agricultural sector is not immune from the impact that the Treasury- led budgetary cuts will have on all industries but this meeting allowed us to investigate if all opportunities to either stimulate farming businesses or strip out unnecessary costs or damaging taxation are being explored.

“For Scotland, a key issue remains the devolution of the animal health and welfare budget and that is something we were keen to raise.

“While animal health and welfare policy is devolved, the budget still remains with Defra at a time when the Treasury is set to reduce its budget by one-third.

“And with the cost and responsibility sharing with regards to animal health on the agenda both north and south of the border, it is essential that the loss of pound(s)1bn from Defra’s coffers will not impact on a fair share of the animal health budget coming to Scotland.”

CRAIG Wilson sold 1216 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of pound(s)83/head and 195.2p/kg to average pound(s)69.20 and 166p.

A small show of 97 ewes was easily cleared selling to pound(s)84 for Texels, pound(s)70 for Charollais and Crosses and pound(s)57.50 for Blackfaces.

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Market had 49 prime cattle forward at Dumfries yesterday when trade was sluggish, with heifers selling to 189.5p and averaging 157.1p, while bullocks sold to 190.5p and averaged 160.4p.

Forty-five OTM cattle met an improved trade on the week selling to 124p and averaging 84.3p.

In the sheep ring, 633 prime lambs sold to pound(s)80 and 176p to average 167.6p.

The firm also sold 337 cast ewes and rams that were a better show for quality and dearer on the week. Heavy ewes sold to pound(s)102.50 for Texels and averaged pound(s)66.08, while light ewe sold to pound(s)52 for Blackfaces and averaged pound(s)42.09.