Charlie Armstrong amazed by primestock prices

Fat cattle are going away steady at prices I haven’t heard of before and fat lambs seem to be breaking all records for November and December. And it’s all down to marketing and out-costs going up apparently. Well what a load of nonsense that is; it’s pure and simple supply and demand, coupled with the euro.

It annoys me when EBLEX etc try to claim it’s their doing. The bottom line is supermarkets can’t have empty shelves; can you imagine going to the supermarket to find no milk or toilet paper? Either way I am not complaining and it’s also encouraging to see NZ lamb numbers the lowest for 55 years. I only hope Europe has some cash left to see in 2012.

The gale force winds at the end of November dried the farm up again which helped with winter ploughing. But they were the dominating factor in delivering two 150ft x 30ft polytunnels to somebody east of here. The new owner has my authority to keep them, and thankfully the sheep inside them were fine.

With it now being December the kids are looking forward to Christmas and it’s a pony that is required. Well, it’s already arrived – a little grey thing with short ears, short legs and long teeth, and he follows you everywhere. It reminds me of Trading Standards, who are coming this week for our annual inspection; I can only hope they are as canny as the pony. Happy Christmas and very best wishes to you all for 2012.

Farmer Focus: Charlie Armstrong