The Scottish Farmer | Business/Sales | Trends

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Trends

Store cattle trade remains firm

First new season lamb

Supermarket chain Asda is set to become the first major retailer to offer new season lamb this spring, stocking product on its butcher’s counters in stores across the UK from March 13, this year.

ATV deliveries down

The number of all-terrain vehicles delivered to dealers last year, fell 4.7% on the year according to a report from the Agricultural Engineers Association.

Express delivery as BB exported

After years importing Belgium Blue semen and cattle from their Belgian homeland, one of the UK’s leading Blue genetics companies has reversed the trend.

Farmers need to be more ‘business-like’

TODAY’S FARMERS will have to become more business-like if they are to take advantage of long-term financial assistance.

Better year for pig men in 2009

PIG PRODUCERS enjoyed a much improved year in 2009, with the average DAPP for the 12-month period being 145.81p per kg dw – 15% higher than the previous year despite the normal seasonal decline in demand over the festive period, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Dairy herd decline in Scotland

Scotland lost a further 41 dairy herds and 4122 milking cows during 2009, compared to 28 herds and 1311 cows during 2008.

Fodder prices soar

Mounting snow combined with arctic weather conditions are already eating into valuable feed stores with many fodder merchants reporting an unprecedented demand which, if the weather does not improve soon, could result in the vast majority of Scottish hay being sold out by the end of January.

Positive farming future

The majority farmers can look forward to a positive year and should be re-investing for the future, according Andy Ritchie, head of rural businesses and a partner at Campbell Dallas – Scotland’s third largest independent firm of chartered accountants.

Calf registrations fall further

GB calf registrations have again fallen on the year, with overall registrations for the first nine months of 2009 revealing a 3% drop at 2.07m compared to the same period last year.

Asda drops British beef volumes

Volumes of British beef on display in Asda stores continues to decline according to a store auditing agency working on behalf of EBLEX for its regular beef watch survey.