Prices slump again at Scottish auctions

03 September 1998

Prices slump again at Scottish auctions

PRICES slumped to new lows at Scottish auctions, raising calls for Government intervention of some kind.

Dalmally saw prices plunge “to a low beyond the worst expectations”, according to the The Scotsman. Lanark saw the value of Blackface wedder lambs sink to less than those obtained in 1979, with a fall of £18 per head.

Auctioneers commission was down at Lanark. Gross takings on Tuesday fell by about £150,000.

The Scottish National Farmers Union is due to meet Donald Dewar, the Scottish Secretary, and Lord Sewel, the Scottish agriculture minister.

• Lord Sewel offers talks on farming crisis, FWi, 20 August, 1998
• Row continues over best way to sell sheep, FWi, 30 July, 1998
• Plea for auctions as Swan profits slump, FWi, 25 June, 1998
• Auction plight problem for hill and marginal-land farmers, FWi, 5 June, 1998
• The Scotsman 03/09/98 page 28