Record-breaking day at NSA Scotsheep

With over 4,500 visitors and 216 trade stands, this year's NSA Scotsheep was a record-breaking event, which focused on both the future of sheep farming in Scotland and the importance of farmer wellbeing. 听

Speaking in the opening ceremony of the event, Colin MacPhail, chair of the NSA Scotsheep 2024 organising committee, said the most important resource on any farm was its people.

Consequently, Mr MacPhail said the social aspect of NSA Scotsheep and bringing the industry together, following this year's relentlessly wet Spring, was most important. 听

There was a key emphasis at this year's event on farmer's mental health and wellbeing following the relentlessly wet Spring this year.

Officially opening the event, former editor of The Scottish Farmer, Ken Fletcher said not only had the weather 鈥榬avaged lamb and ewe survival' this spring, but more importantly the mental health and wellbeing of those farmers whose lives are dedicated to their flocks.听

However, in his closing remarks he said: "As seen today, there are a lot of positives in sheep farming, which are testament to a hard-working family who in simple terms do the job right."

Mr Fletcher referred to the Hamilton family, who hosted the event as a commitment to their late father, John Hamilton, as a progressive hill farm and family who make the most of opportunities that come their way. 听

As well as highlighting the importance of industry unity, the event's seminar programme was tailored around the industry's future, in the way of animal health, Government support and farm business profitability. 听听

Speaking on the implementation and benefits of changing support in Scottish agriculture, farmer and businessman, Jim Walker, said the industry had no idea where it was heading.

He said: "It is like Groundhog Day; we still seem to be talking about the same things and we still have no idea where we are heading.

"Whatever anybody tells you there is less money available, and you are going to have to do more to have access to that money whether you like it or not.

"We are told to plan by bankers, we have strategic decisions to take, we have financial decisions to take but we cannot do that in a policy vacuum and that is exactly where we are today." 听

Mr Walker said Scottish agriculture has no idea where it is headed.听

Mr Walker said the calves and lambs which have been born this spring, particularly the cattle, will be impacted 鈥榗ompletely and utterly' by decisions and the implementation of policy next year. 听

While some farm businesses, particularly, bigger businesses will be involved with whole farm plans, biodiversity audits, nutrient management plans and carbon audits already, as they can see the economic benefit, Mr Walker questioned what outcomes the Government were looking for, for the remaining farm businesses which are being forced down that road to access payments.听

"What are individual businesses going to do with it other than tick the box, claim their money and move on."听

Mr Walker said there was also an issue regarding the accountability of decisions in Government.听

"How many times over the years have well-meaning politicians or officials introduced various initiatives and grants across the country and the unintended consequences mean that the industry or sector is undermined. We could talk about eggs until we are blue in the face." 听

Mr Walker also highlighted how the industry was still aligned to EU policies and rules which lead to the 鈥榗ontinued bureaucracy of regulation that was completely unnecessary', such as unannounced on-farm inspections.

听He said: "We are still given inspections which are unannounced and if you do not play ball you do not get the cash. We are wedded to the past and have no clear vision for the future." 听

Mr Walker said he believed the long-term vision for the Scottish sheep sector which has dropped 30% in the last 20 years, must be based on real markets and not just on subsidies.

He said the past year to 18 months had seen sheep prices that the industry could only have dreamed of, but highlighted this was a result of market demand in ethnic communities and exports, not a result of the UK's retail sector. 听

"It is a classic example of where you can break free from the shackles of the multiple retail dominants of our industry and various sectors, you can actually get a decent return and the market is sustainable."听

Concluding his presentation, Mr Walker said Scotland's Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) was absolutely crucial to the upland and hill sheep producers across Scotland.听"LFASS support needs to be changed and it needs to be changed quickly."听

Mr Walker said the Scottish sheep sector had declined by 30 per cent over the last 20 years.听

Farmers are taking a pause on borrowing 听

Lending a total of 拢1.5 billion to UK agriculture, with about half of that amount lent to Scottish agriculture, Brian Richardson, UK head of agriculture at Virgin Money, said some farmers were now taking a pause on investments due to policy uncertainty and inflation. 听

However, Mr Richardson said there was still a significant group of farmers who want to grow and expand, those which can see the future, have succession plans in place and recognise the need to make production as efficient as possible. 听

Mr Richardson said he believed livestock and hill farmers in particular, were taking a pause on investment, mainly put due听to policy.

"In England policy is coming through and in Scotland future policy is coming down the road but what is that going to look like?"听

Competition results听

Sheep results听听

The overall champion pair of ewe hoggs was a pair of Texel hoggs from A. MacGregor, Allanfauld which sold for 拢650 per life to Messrs Bryson, Laigh Logan.

The reserve champion, a pair of Mule hoggs from A. McKenzie and Partners, Ardgate, sold for 拢240 per life to Messrs Malone, Pitcairn.听

Ewe hoggs (R. and H. McNee, Dundee) Supreme, A. MacGregor, Allanfauld (Texel); reserve, A. McKenzie and Partners, Ardgate (Mules).听听