The National Beef Association (NBA) yesterday pledged to move forward with the break-away Scottish Beef Cattle Association (SBCA) to form a single body in early 2012.

Work has been going on for some time to find a way forward for the two organisations, which culminated in a letter from the SBCA to each member of the NBA's Council – set to coincide with its AGM in Stirling yesterday – inviting the organisation to join forces.

SBCA Chairman Scott Henderson said: "We now feel the time is right to unite Scottish beef farmers under a strong, improved, independent body and are calling upon all Scottish beef farmers to endorse the move.

"Speaking to many within the Scottish beef industry, there is a clear voice calling for a single beef organisation to ensure that the demands of Scottish beef farmers are heard and heeded in the corridors of power in Edinburgh, London and Brussels."

Hamish McBean, NBA chairman and NBA Scotland chairman, said: "I'm delighted we reached this decision in our meeting and feel we can now make a clear move forward.

"Specific details will need to be ironed out, but we are all committed to becoming one and I'm sure the appropriate moves will be made to put that structure in place."

livestock industry turning a corner

A new Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) report suggests Scotland's hill-farming sector is responding to recent economic and policy signals and that the retreat from the hills has stabilised with some evidence of localised increases in sheep and cattle numbers.

The report's author, SAC Economist Steven Thomson, commented: "At national and regional level it appears the industry is turning a corner.

"Even that does not mean a return to former times. Farmers are now more commercially aware and adapting their businesses rather than focusing on maximising CAP headage payments. As a result we are seeing changing herd or flock sizes and different breeds or types of stock. The shift from the hills to the low-ground is continuing."

The report, Responses from the Hills, identifies how reduced stock numbers and the abandonment of steeper, less productive land is impacting on the environment and biodiversity.

The reduction in grazing pressure and human activity are producing noticeable effects, the report says, adding that there is evidence of declines in farmland birds and higher numbers of deer and predators with an increase in rank vegetation.

"In this decoupled era, suckler cows and sheep in the LFA [less favoured area] have returned to profit in the uplands. Hill sheep systems are just wiping their face," added Mr Thomson.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith welcomed the stabilisation of sheep and beef herd numbers, but warned that while this is encouraging there are plenty of clouds on the horizon.

Mr Smith said: "With many issues looming, not least the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, ongoing practical problems of implementing EID [electronic identification] for sheep and the potential downsides of a negative outcome from the EU-Mercosur trade talks, there is no shortage of challenges and no room for complacency."

Market round-up

Wallets Marts sold 2918 prime lambs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday to a top of £100 per head and 250p per kg to average 203.2p. There were 516 cast sheep that sold at high rates with ewes peaking at £113 for Texels and £76 for Blackfaces.

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 5151 store lambs and feeders at their weekly sale in Longtown on Tuesday. Top prices and averages for lambs: Beltex £88.50 and £81.75; Charollais £86.50 and £72.12; Suffolk £91.50 and £71.07; Texel £90.50 and £70.77; Greyface £80.50 and £66.37; NCC £80 and £62.83; Hill Cheviot £70.50 and £58.22; Swaledale £64.50 and £52.71; Blackface £74.50 and £51.33.