View from the rostrum: We need regulations to change

Stephen Dennis on outdated schemes.

With the advent of live-streaming sales, the view from the rostrum is being shared by an ever-increasing audience.

Our Wednesday evening, sales of prime and cast sheep at Bentham have a regular viewing audience of several hundred who can see the benefits of the live auction ring, with prices at an all-time high.

While our vendors appreciate the new (albeit well overdue) price levels, it is easy to overlook some of the challenges which continue to frustrate our farming industry.

The six-day rule is still a major obstruction to farmers whose trading patterns are frequently inhibited.

Surely 20 years on from its inception a more appropriate strategy for disease control could be found.

Similarly, Red Tractor's farm assurance schemes seem to suffocate farmers with ever-increasing requirements which appear more and more disconnected from its original design and purpose, but with no obvious gain to the producer.

These schemes seem designed to benefit the traditional supermarket supply chains.

The live auction ring provides a much broader marketplace for assured and non-assured livestock, without a noticeable price differential.

It is understandable that farmers are doubting the benefit of their membership. Red Tractor take note.

However, the most timely complaint must be the ageing of sheep through dentition, which continues to plague our industry, despite the best efforts of the LAA and other industry bodies which, on a number of occasions has come painfully close to securing a more appropriate methodology, only to be stopped by the FSA at the final hurdle.

As I write, we are expecting an entry of 6,000 prime hoggets this week and we will suffer the ordeal of having to individually mouth each sheep, putting added pressure on the market, but devaluing the livestock due to a method that is inappropriate.

All that said, there is a place for such standards and schemes.

Of course we need a national food standard which assures the consumer of the high quality of British produce and ensures good practice.

Of course we need to effectively manage and prevent disease outbreaks. And of course we need satisfy domestic and EU legislation to market and export our carcases.

However, these systems and schemes in which we operate must be fit for purpose.

Rather than used as a stick to beat the farmer and inhibit business, such systems should be used as a tool to promote best practice and champion British agriculture.

Auction marts continue to showcase the best in British livestock production.

This Saturday's prize show and sale at Bentham of hoggs with lambs at foot is a prime example, where buyers will have the chance to purchase from some of the north's leading flock masters.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Stephen Dennis

Stephen Dennis is senior auctioneer, manager and chartered land agent at Bentham Auction Mart. Call 01524 261 444 or email [email protected]