WHAT a pleasure it was to have the sale ring full of farmers on Tuesday for the open meeting and to hear the chatter of a human dawn chorus, hopefully heralding brighter days for the auction market. But enough of lyrical fantasy and the real situation is reflected in the programme for the gradual reopening:

20-day Chaotic Ban - There is no doubt that the Government's dogged and unreasonable insistence in retaining the 20-day ban in respect of fatstock markets has made it almost impossible for live auctions to attract sufficient numbers of cattle for buyers to gather economical loads for haulage.

Yorkshire is a lone voice in trying to lobby Whitehall to see if we can get fatstock markets classified as slaughter points so that the 20-day ban is not triggered.

Until that happens, fat cattle are going to struggle but the same criteria don't apply to the sheep section where producers have been traditionally strongly supportive of the live auction, sending up to 75pc into the sale ring.

Our current plans at Malton are to keep the Friday store market going for cattle every week.

On Tuesday, March 26, we shall reopen the sheep market alone for the sale of spring lambs, hoggs and cull ewes by auction. Please note that space is limited to the number of sheep that can fit into the shed as we are not allowed to over-spill outside. We need all sheep pre-entering.

On that same Tuesday we are hoping to open the cattle section as a collection centre both for clean cattle and OTMS. Again, entries are essential if we are going to put together viable loads of stock.

Licences & Movement Forms - There will be no need to apply for any special licence from Trading Standards but in future you can come to the market under the General Licence that is published by DEFRA and on its website.

It is, however, a legal requirement that the stock are accompanied by a Movement Form which can be obtained from the auctioneers. This is a simple one-page document which records details of the farmer, his animals and the haulage vehicle; and it needs filling in before you come.

Transport - Commercial hauliers have unnecessarily harsh restrictions on sealing lorries and length of journey but we can give you details from the office.

As far as farmers are concerned, they can bring stock in their own trailers without sealing but they must be cleaned out before starting the journey. On arrival at market the vehicle has to go to the lorry wash and be disinfected on its wheels and wheel arches. At this point the Movement Form is handed in.

Cattle are then unloaded, after which the farmer can either wash out at the market or sign a declaration to say that he will do so within 24 hours. We regret there will be a small charge for the lorry wash to cover the extra cost of labour and disinfectant.

I don't think we realise the corrosive capacity of the disinfectant. We have just paid a bill for £900 at York for renewing the hoses and other materials.

On a lighter note, Roland Mason recalled that just after the war, MAFF was carrying out early spraying experiments on cereals. Following the sprayer into the field, the eager officials were embarrassed to find their trouser bottoms had fallen off after the inspection, eaten away by the acid in the spray!

Rules for General Public - Anyone coming to the market and not intending to go into the livestock area will fall into this category. There is no special dress code and you are allowed into all the outside areas of the market and into the cattle ring but not beyond.

Restricted Livestock Area - Currently the designated livestock area for cattle is behind and beyond the sale ring but when sheep come on-stream it will include the sheep shed as a separate control point. All those going into the livestock area need to check in on the register and the dress code is quite strict.

You must wear either waterproof clothing which can be washed down or disposable clothing which has to be got rid of on the site. Rubber boots or wellingtons are compulsory.

There is a lot of confusion about the dress code and implementation is not going to be easy so please try and help us keep the market going.

Pre-Entry of Stock - It is almost essential that all stock is pre-entered for the market, be it cattle or sheep. This is as much because of the restrictions on space as it is for better marketing. If we know what is coming we can respond to enquiries and, indeed, even produce a catalogue.

It has been a long struggle to get the market open and we all owe a vote of thanks to those involved. Not least in the helpers ranks have been the DEFRA duo of Liz Akzham and Avril Hannam, both of whom have tried their best to get us going.

Please come and fly the flag on Friday.

It was front page news in the Farmers Guardian this week that the Livestock Auctioneers Association has been receiving evidence that some big abattoirs are refusing to take cattle that have been through a livestock auction mart.

If true, this is a quite outrageous and thinly-veiled attempt to get control of the livestock sector. We have seen the prices plummet of dairy produce, pigs and poultry as producers have lost control of their marketing systems and must protect what we have left.

I have to say that I did not agree with those markets that rushed to open up live cattle sales as the 20-day rule combined with falling prices to make conditions less than ideal. However, if the allegations are true, the situation makes a mockery of the Curry Report recommendation that all parts of the food chain should work together.

One forthright comment summed up the position: "The supermarkets want the dividends for their shareholders and there are two ways to do that - increase consumer prices or reduce supplier prices; and as this is a consumer-led market, supermarkets are seeking every opportunity to screw the supplier."

When the time is right we will open at Malton and York. When we do so we expect to receive the full support of buyers and sellers.

Having spent so long on the re-opening, just a few points of other interest this week.

Aid for Argentina - Despite beef production running ahead of consumer demand in most European countries, the present agricultural dictator, or commissioner as he is known, Franz Fischler, has instructed that the EU take a further 10,000 tonnes of beef from Argentina in addition to their current 28,000 tonne quota.

Imported Meat Increases - Beef and veal imports were up by 16pc last year with the biggest rises from Germany (369pc) and Botswana (100pc).

Scots Bypass 20 Day Rule - The Scots will allow their farmers to hold animals separately on their farms thereby gaining exemption from the 20-day standstill rule.

Cereal Forecasts - John Sawkill provided me with some interesting forecasts for this year's harvest. Wheat production will increase in the EU by 15pc but in the UK it is anticipated total output will be up by a staggering 52pc. Conversely, the UK barley production will be down by 21pc, these figures give little consolation to cereal growers.

Egg Industry Under Threat - The EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive is going through its final stages at Westminster. It deals with the ground rules for laying hens in cages. If implemented in full it is estimated to cost the industry £431 million in capital and around £109 million annually thereafter.

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday.

Anyone wanting further information please contact the Helplines at Malton on (01653) 697820/692151 and York on (01904) 489731.

Updated: 09:40 Thursday, March 14, 2002