Shearlings

W. Ramsay & Sons, of Milnmark, Dalray, bought at £3,000 a shearling, by a £22,000 Connachan and out of the same £28,000 Midlock-bred ewe which was mother of the £90,000 and £60,000 ram lambs.

The Shaws, of Acharonich, Ardfern, paid the same for a shearling by a homebred son of a £14,000 Elmscleugh and out of a ewe by a £28,000 Midlock.

Dalchirla’s average was £2,110 for 35.

Away from the Dalchirla offering, the trade was topped by Euan Macmillan, of Lurg, Fintry, Glasgow, who sold at £6,000 a son of an £18,000 Nunnerie and a gimmer bought for £1,600 at the Bruce Dickson dispersal. Nunnerie and Loughash were the buyers.

Auldhouseburn had a son of a £65,000 Auldhouseburn and out of a ewe by a £5,500 Auldhouseburn make £3,500 to Alan Smith, of Crosswoodburn, West Calder.

Pole accepted £5,000 from John Little, of Letar Farm Cottage, and Colin Little, of East Bracklinn, both Callander, for a son of a £2,000 Littleport and out of a £24,000 Dalchirla-bred ewe.

Another Pole shearling made £2,200.

Midlock received £5,000 from Gass for a Musketeer son out of a ewe by a £40,000 Nunnerie.

Connachan sold twice at £4,000. One went to NS Parry, of Marbreck, Castle Douglas. The other was bought by Pole.

Other prices included £3,500 from Connachan to H. Smith, of Spittal, Spittal of Glenshee.

The Renwicks, of Blackhouse, also sold at £3,500, toA. Grant, of Glendamph, Glenisla.

Dyke were bid to £3,500 by EF Burnett, of Rhynaclach, Menteith.

Another Dyke made £3,200 to AJ Robb, Townhead, Stirling.

Also at £3,500 Glenrath to Holylee.

The same was paid by J. Scott, of Garchew, Newton Stewart, for a shearling by a home-bred son of a £22,000 Nunnerie out of a ewe by a £14,000 Elmscleugh from Elmscleugh.

John Macpherson, of Balliemeanoch, Dalmally, received £ 3,000 from Elmscleugh.

Allanfauld sold to £2,500 toAlex Brewster, of Rotmell, Dunkeld.

Ronnie Downie, of Newton of Crathie, Ballater, achieved a lifetime best of £2,500 on a Connachan-bred shearling, by an £18,000 Elmscleugh. Buyer was Billy Brady, of North Amulree, Dunkeld.

Other deals included at £2,500 Burnhead to Crookston and at £2,200 Merkins to Elmscleugh.

The average for shearlings dipped, with the 488 at £625, against £653 for 499 last year.

was

History has shown that when it comes to CAP reform, France and Germany ultimately drive the outcome.

They have now joined forces, calling for the 2014 to 2020 CAP budget to be frozen at the 2013 level.

This would mean a reduction in real-terms because of inflation.

Both have rejected any further reduction in Single Farm Payments, suggesting they want cuts concentrated on rural development.

Germany is the biggest contributor to the CAP budget and France the biggest recipient.

Both have backed a gradual redistribution of payments between the old and new member states, but over the full seven years of the new CAP.

They are also demanding more flexibility on greening.

This is the first serious attempt by the key players to set a real negotiating stance, suggesting the endgame may finally begin.

A review for the European Commission of rural development policy has concluded it produced satisfactory results.

Ironically, the study only covered the last scheme from 2000 to 2006, when the current 2006 to 2013 scheme is about to end.

The study concluded that, in most member states, the aims of the policy had been achieved.

It said that while the individuals and organisations that were funded had benefited, it was less clear whether the entire rural economy had gained.

The report said agrienvironment schemes and less favoured area programmes had delivered a positive impact on the environment.

The report noted the ‘debilitating impact’of bureaucracy — a view most people involved will hope the Commission will take on board in framing the new post-2014 rural development programme.

The European Commission plans to again force the publication of details of individual CAP payments to all but the smallest farmers has run into political flack in the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament.

MEPs divided largely along party political lines, with views ranging from farmers having a right to privacy because CAP payments are a legitimate form of aid, to those arguing that by accepting CAP payments farmers forego any right to privacy — an argument pursued by the Scottish MEP Alyn Smith.

Bizarrely committee chairman Paolo de Castro claimed that while there was a case for transparency this should not extend to local newspapers publishing individual names.

Other MEPs claimed the draft legislation ignored a clear ruling from the European Court that transparency could not override rights to privacy.

This all adds to a sense the Commission will face an uphill battle to get this legislation through before its term ends in 2014.

A report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has concluded that almost half of the EU’s fruit and vegetables are wasted.

It said a fifth of fresh produce was lost due to damage during harvest and as a result of sorting to meet rigid supermarket specifications.

When fruit and vegetables make it through that process a further 13% is thrown out by consumers.

A number of investigations are being undertaken to see if this could be improved by developing statistical models to extend shelf life and to improve logistics between food processors, transporters and supermarkets.

Food retailers recently told a Brussels conference on food waste that they would do more to tackle the problem, including a fresh look at ‘sell by’and ‘best before dates.

The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club held their ploughing match at Kinrossie. Greig Ross from Newtyle and Euan Anderson from Newbigging are seen with their 1957 Fergies in the heavy conditions.