Dairy dispersals to dominate summer

DAIRY DISPERSALS look set to dominate this summer‘s sale fixtures while beef, sheep and arable producers consider the impacts of CAP reform, report auctioneers.

In many cases the typical lead-time for a dairy dispersal has shortened to just six weeks, bucking an historic trend for long-term planning, say traders.

According to Christopher Norton of Glos-based Norton & Brooksbank, producers are being objective.

“Once the decision is made, vendors really want to get on with the job and get the sale date fixed.” 

Uncertainty over future milk quota values is influencing vendors‘ timing of sales, said Derek Biss of Taunton-based Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

“We have clients keen to keep quota clean for sale and expect two dispersal sales a week through the summer, although the autumn is looking quiet at the moment.”

Traders say arable growers are making use of collective sales to disperse surplus equipment after restructuring of farm businesses.

But producers in Scotland and Wales are sitting tight.

David Lewis of Lladysul-based Dai Lewis said: “Many producers are sitting waiting, hoping that more detail on CAP reform will emerge before committing themselves either way.”