Price Watch
FROM the Chelford Review, w/c December 12, 2016 CATTLE Angus bulls to £212 for C Jackson, Herefords to £215 for C Royle, heifers a super trade a top of £185 for Angus from J W Wright, £145 for Herefords from P M Jackson. Calf after calf sold at £100-140. Dairy bulls another level, nothing under £28 except a Jersey at £24 with a top of £100 for R Hall, averaging £64 POULTRY Christmas stock fetched the highest prices today, stag turkey about 34lbs selling for £36 (all prices per head) a Bourban red stag 28Ibs £29, a pair of Crollwitzer £18.
The only non-turkey or goose in the top 10 prices were three “bright” Light Sussex bantams at £12. Hybrid POL 15 Warrens sold for £6, with 50 Rhode Rock at £5 and Speckledy and 10 Sussex Rangers at £5. PIGS Porkers average £106.75, cutters average £102.04, baconers average £101.93, overweight £72.42 SHEEP Great turnout this week, 356 cull ewes and rams with a slight increase in trade again. Plenty of demand for the ewes, with a top price of £106. Top price ram sold for £120.
Chelford will be open on Thursday, December 22, so bring your ewes in before Christmas. More ewes wanted every week. EGGS Extra large £1.60, free range medium £1.20, free range small 70p, medium £1.10, duck £3, quail 80p. POTATOES Harmony £6.50, Wilja £6, Harmony x 12.5kg £4, Piper £5, Arcade £4.50, Nadine £4.50 FRUIT & VEG Dirty carrots £3, leeks x 7lb £4.75, rope onions £3, red onions x 5kg £4.50, dirty parsnips x 10lb £5, cauliflower x 8 £2.50, spring cabbage £4, Savoy x 8 £2.50, curly kale £3, red cabbage x 6 £4, chard £3.50, bunch carrots 70p, sprout stems x 8 £7.50 PRODUCE Two loads of decent, small bale hay made £115 and £118 per tonne. First quality big bale hay £98-108 per tonne, second quality £52-78 per tonne and poor quality £32 per tonne. Wheat straw, except for very big loads, sold well enough at £58-75 per tonne, small bale wheat straw at £70-90 per tonne, and a single load of round bale oat straw made £76 per tonne.
LOBBYING by the NFU and others has resulted in peers rejecting Government attempts to allow HS2 Ltd to buy land through compulsory purchase for projects unrelated to the construction of the high speed rail line.
A report by the House of Lords Select Committee on the High Speed Rail Bill (London-West Midlands) has made the recommendation.
It states: “In our opinion it is not sound law-making to create wide powers permitting the expropriation of private property on the strength of ministerial statements, not embodied in statute, that the powers would be used only as a last resort.”
From the start of petitioning, the NFU stated these powers were unnecessary and the secretary of state shouldn’t be able to acquire land outside the Bill limits for development purposes.
The committee also highlighted a point the NFU made during evidence sessions in both the Lords and House of Commons that there may be a serious shortage of land available as numerous farmers would be seeking to find land in the same area.
The NFU replied: “NFU is pleased the committee has recognised the importance that HS2 Ltd acquire land on a temporary basis and don’t acquire land permanently if it’s not needed on a permanent basis by HS2 Ltd.
“The NFU welcomes the three points that the committee think should be taken into account in the process of refinement.
“Uncertainty and how HS2 should do all it can to engage with those who are still in a state of uncertainty about how their land is to be taken. Land taken for temporary use where development opportunities might be created and therefore not offered back to the original owners.
“This needs to be highlighted and agreements reached.
“Land taken and offered back under the Crichel Down rules that the secretary of state does not add further exceptions whereby the original owner is not given first refusal to reacquire the land at its then market value.
“The report picked up on how the NFU highlighted the need for interest on late payments and that this has been met by section 196 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and that the interest is likely to be 8%.
“But this is only on advance payments and it’s disappointing that the committee didn’t pick up on that interest needs to be payable on final payments.
“The committee realised and highlighted how important accommodation works are to the farmers and emphasised how HS2 has said it’s important that farmers’ requirements are identified and agreed in advance of the construction phase.
“The NFU is concerned that for this to be achieved HS2 must hold more one to one meetings with affected farmers on the route and start negotiating in detail.
“The NFU is disappointed the committee has only stated in regard to planning matters for replacement buildings and the removal of hedgerows that they urge local planning authorities to deal with these matters promptly and sympathetically. We wanted to see a much stronger steer.”