NFU Scotland’s President Andrew McCornick was not holding back at the annual AgriScot event, held at Ingliston yesterday.
His demand that progress replaces political stagnation and uncertainty was loud and clear.
Calling for a positive outcome from the Brexit process, Mr McCornick said that, in the three-and-a-half years since the EU referendum, making long-term business decisions on farms and crofts was akin to playing the roulette tables at Las Vegas.
He added: “Politicians have failed to appreciate the difficulty in planning for the future by constantly kicking the can down the road.
“It may massage egos to be continually politicking on every issue but, behind that, people have to get on with their lives and their businesses. They are wholly frustrated by the policymakers and decision-takers not doing their jobs of running a vibrant, prosperous country.”
Market round-up.
Messrs Craig Wilson sold 13 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of 242p/kg for a Limousin cross and to £1,310 for another Limousin cross to average 218p overall. There were also 150 cast cows and bulls sold in the rough ring. Cast beef cows sold to £1,060 for a Hereford, while cast dairy cows peaked at £880 for a Friesian.
Five dairy cattle sold to a top of £1,850 on two occasions for Holstein Friesians. Lawrie & Symington sold 513 store cattle at their fortnightly sale in Lanark on Tuesday. Bullocks topped at £1,180 for a Charolais cross or to 235p/kg for a Limousin cross to level at 202p. Heifers peaked at £1,175 for a Charolais cross or to 210p for a Simmental cross to average 193p.
Caledonian Marts sold 2349 prime lambs, ewes and tups at Stirling on Tuesday.
The 1,912 prime lambs sold to £100 for a 46kg Beltex and to 226p/kg for a 42 kg Beltex to average 178p overall (-8p on the week and +16p on the year).
There were also 438 cast sheep forward. Heavy ewes sold to a top of £129 for Texels and averaged £86, while light ewes peaked at £62 for Blackfaces and averaged £55.
C&D Auction Marts had forward 6,842 store lambs and feeding ewes at Longtown on Tuesday.
Store lambs sold to a top of £86 for Texels and for Beltex Suffolks topped at £84 and Charollais were up to £79.50. All the store lambs averaged £61.58 which was up £1 on the week.
Messrs Craig Wilson sold 1,677 prime and cast sheep at Newton Stewart yesterday.
The 1,378 lambs sold to a top of £93 for heavyweight Texels and to 229p/kg for lightweight Roussins to average 180p (-3p).
Cast sheep were topped at £83 for a Bluefaced Leicester ewe with Mules making £63 and Blackfaces going for £56.50.
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