SUMMARY
SUMMARY
BS lease clampdown brings quota drop
Sugar beet quota has fallen in price as British Sugar announces a clampdown on contract leasing. Whether to buy or sell quota remains tricky as the Inland Revenue is yet to clarify the tax implications…………p22
Irish beef over price
Irish farmers are on the warpath as cattle prices continue to slide. Producers are accusing meat factories of profiteering, but the trade claims the situation reflects supply and demand…………………..p23
Grain go slow
Trading has been slow on grain markets this week as inclement weather put the harvest on hold. But 90% of winter barley is already in the barn and malting quality is extremely good, say merchants………………..p24
Bigger better for Scots
Scottish farms need to grow if they are to become more efficient, claims a report from Lloyds TSB. Large holdings regularly outperform smaller ones and policy makers need to enable greater economies of scale…p25
Ewes fit to print
New ways to sell breeding ewes are being explored at Cilgoed, our adopted sheep farm in Wales. Without the usual autumn sheep fairs, owner Ceiriog Jones has resorted to advertising his stock in trade papers…………………………..p26
Privately optimistic
Auctioneers are encouraged by the initial results of private shearling sales. Co-ordinating the deals is not easy say brokers, but most reckon they can match buyers to sellers if farmers are specific about price and requirements………………….p30