Rory Livesey, Auctioneer, Harrison & Hetherington 

I will start this update with the ongoing good news that the price of fat cattle has increased by £2 per kg from this time last year, with prices rising up to £800 for the finished product. This has instilled great confidence in the store cattle trade across all classes from calves and weanlings to big store cattle. It has been a great time to be an auctioneer, yet I have never had a year where it is so difficult to value cattle both on farm and in the ring, with the store price going up £100 per head every week.  

The buoyant trade has been great for farmers selling store cattle, the auction in terms of commission on value and for the farmers selling finished cattle. I hope that this increase in price is not short-lived and gives our farming customers the confidence to increase cattle numbers on their farms, especially in the beef suckler herd. The only way for us to remain competitive in the global marketplace is to increase numbers or supermarkets and other wholesalers will look to source their beef from elsewhere. 

Farming is a tough and lonely job, and I can only admire the unseen hardship farmers go through to present good quality stock to the market on sale day. There are very few government incentives coming forward linked to agricultural production, which is very disappointing. So the increase in market price is badly needed, although it leaves our farmers no better off with the increasing costs of machinery, vet and med, interest rates and… the list continues.  

The great spell of dry, sunny weather we have had so far this spring makes farming a joy, being out in the fresh air and seeing new life as ewes with lambs and cows with calves start to appear in the fields, and spring crops being sown.  

It’s the time of year when more than ever I think agriculture should be a top priority as a subject in all schools. More kids need to be encouraged to come out of town to widen their knowledge and find out about an industry that is still the backbone of the country. They might also find worthwhile and rewarding employment on farms. Many farming operations are struggling to replace an ever-aging workforce, crying out for the next generation to bring their IT skills and their energy to enable farming to keep producing the best beef and lamb in an economically and environmentally sustainable future.