FARMING
By Neale McQuistin
A SECOND farmer-led group, designed to provide information, advice and proposals to cut emissions and tackle climate change, is being established by the Scottish Government. The Arable Sector Climate Group will be chaired by Andrew Moir, former chair of AgriScot.
This will build on the work of the Suckler Beef Climate Group, the first farmer-led group, which was chaired by Jim Walker and assisted by Claire Simonetta.
Action to take forward the recommendations from the Suckler Beef Climate Group report has also been announced by the Scottish Government.
A programme board is being set up, co-chaired by the Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing and Jim Walker with the first meeting on November 26. Membership of the group will include representatives from industry as well as NatureScot, SRUC, and QMS.
Mr Ewing said: “In this year’s Programme for Government, we committed to establishing these farmer-led groups to consider ways to tackle climate change, cut emissions and make key sectors in Scottish farming more sustainable. It’s clear that these groups are going to help Government change farming and food production for the better. We now need to drive forward this work at pace. I look forward to seeing their outputs in due course.”
Market round-up
C&D Auctions sold 50 cattle and 970 prime sheep at its weekly sale of primestock in Dumfries yesterday. Eight prime cattle peaked at 240p/kg, while the 42 OTMs were topped at £1,139 for a Limousin and 142p for a Simmental.
The firm supported and took part in the QMS St Andrew’s Day Lamb promotion, which provides local schools with the benefits of eating quality Scotch produced lamb.
The 792 prime lambs sold to 242p/kg for lightweights and £105 for heavy Suffolks. There were 347 lambs in the 39 to 45kg weight range which averaged 214p. Cast ewes were a smaller show this week with demand being sharper for larger types. Heavy ewes peaked at £112 for Texels, while Blackfaces sold to £50.
Messrs Craig Wilson sold 1,301 prime and cast sheep at their weekly sale at Newton Stewart yesterday.
The 1,035 prime lambs rose by 9p this week to average 205p/kg overall. Top price in the lambs was £100 on two occasions for Texels, while the leading price per kilo was for Beltex lambs at 231p. Blackface Lambs sold to £87.50 and to 213p.
Cast sheep were still a pleasing trade – selling to £98 for Texel crosses with Mules to £83 and Blackfaces to £61.
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