End of Year Review – Donald Young, President
After a busy back end of the year, it was interesting, when I was invited to write this piece, to stop and reflect on the year that was.
What stands out is how great it’s been to have no restrictions this year and to see the mart at its best, back to being a day out for the whole family, the buzz of seeing familiar faces and anticipation for the sales, folk around the ring, some not meaning necessarily to buy but tempted on the day.
Store prices for lambs and cattle have been good and all stock has sold at reasonable values on a par or higher than in previous years. More calves in the ring during the Autumn sales have been an indication of the pressures of costly inputs and how some have been rethinking business. The cost of fertiliser and fuel has inevitably been a constant conversation and concern, and some customers I’ve met with are seriously considering going organic, having cut back so much on inputs this past year and already fairly down the road.
Processors have squeezed the price on fat cattle over the last few weeks. It’s a particular blow when it comes at shed time, and many farmers I’ve spoken to are questioning how sustainable this business is. The beauty of the livestock auction system is that you can get the cash when you need it. You put it on a lorry when you want to and get the market value of the day. There’s no such thing as a bad price until the hammer goes down, and the price is, more often than not, better than customers anticipate.
A recent day trip to Tiree, from which I got home 46 hours late, was a stark reminder of one of the greatest challenges to our industry and what producers on the islands have to take into consideration week in, week out. The ferries, particularly on the west coast where the fleet of ships is not fit for purpose, are a thorn in the side of trade.
Happily, island sales remain strong as the stock is good and buyers are willing to make the journey, but we could do with a ferry system that drives rather than hinders island business. Huge credit goes to Calmac and all the excellent ferry staff, who I can’t fault for trying to make it work, but if the boat can’t take livestock numbers at the capacity required, there’s only so much they can do. Having also been in Orkney this year, I’ve seen the substantially bigger and very efficient Northlink ferries in action and what can be achieved with the right infrastructure.
At the Institute, our role is to represent the interests of our members, whether markets or individuals, and the central role they play in the rural and agricultural economy and community. Alongside supporting the very best practice, from welfare to customer service, we are actively involved in the wider factors that influence success of the livestock supply chain.
As well as conversations with government on the need for better ferry systems, we’ve responded to the consultation on TB testing and hosted a webinar on Scot-EID tagging at AgriScot this year to give the industry an insight and update on progress. We also initiated a Young Auctioneers group to cultivate leadership in the next generation of auctioneers and want to entice more young people seeking a rewarding career to join the marts, whether as office manager, yards person or on the rostrum. We continue to be a leading player in discussions around Welfare in Transport for livestock as well as participating in many other cross industry panels.
We continue to support our company and individual members to be the best they can be for their customers and to make the mart the farmer’s first port of call. As auctioneers and appraisers, we know that we are all only as good as our last sale or valuation, and if a customer doesn’t leave feeling satisfied, they wont come back.
This means attention to animal welfare, pristine, clean premises, attentive yard staff, stock well fed and watered; transparency and working closely with all suppliers from hauliers who bring the stock to markets, vets and annual health officers to leave no room for error.
As we prepare for the year ahead, the Institute will continue to look forward and progress, while retaining the mart’s traditional values, to ensure that the mart is the heart of our rural communities and economy and in the best place for livestock sales and the farming community to prosper.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. There is no underestimating the social value of the mart. To all of our customers and farming friends, please come along to sales, whether or not you are buying or selling. Seeing friends and having a chat is so important, and this is especially so this year with so much worry over costs that we can’t control.
I hope some of you came in for lunch has part of the industry initiative, Lamb for St Andrew’s Day, in which we are heavily involved, and I and my fellow mart colleagues all look forward to seeing as many as possible of you at RSABI’s Carols in the Mart. Please offer friends and neighbours a lift and bring as many people along for a cosy, festive evening and a chance to see folk before Christmas.
On behalf of IAAS, I’d like to wish you all a merry Christmas and all the very best for 2023.
