What a pantomime

Having put aside the gauleiters with a mission, I have to say that the senior staff at DEFRA, with whom I negotiated for at least half of my 70-hour week, are both reasonable and helpful, neither of which attributes can be credited to some of their staff.

As a peace offering, we received a box of waterproof suits which we agreed to wear in order to satisfy an interpretation of a regulation which is ambiguous to say the least.

As a result, at 6.30am on Monday our gates were open at York to receive the 250 cattle under licence movement and the eagle eye of some 14 various public officials. Our current duo of DEFRA inspectors have a completely different attitude from the farming industry and seem genuinely interested in its survival.

Nobody in officialdom, perhaps understandably, seems to want to comment on last week's pantomime but I find it quite monstrous if a decision to close down a market or abattoir or farm can be taken at any other than the highest level; and even then such decisions must be subject to some sort of notice and appeal.

At this time of year, I hope it isn't irreverent to quote the Bible and say - I have kept all these things and pondered them in my heart!

We have unearthed yet another shining example of the Armed Services' loyalty to British industry.

A new combat assault boot was developed by a leading British leather group, Pittards of Leeds, and the product was put on a two-year wearing trial. This piloting period enabled a Brazilian manufacturer to somehow extract the specification from heaven knows where and to copy the boot, thus beating their British competitor to the post.

At a time when the hide and leather industry is at its lowest ebb for years in this country following the American crisis, this latest tale is both disheartening and unethical.

It hasn't been much of a year for good cheer and Chris Jeffery's idea for a Christmas get-together should warm a few cockles.

Laycocks has planned to start its festive season on Friday, December 14, at 11am, when there will be open house for everyone involved in farming to meet old friends, have some seasonal refreshments and enter the Christmas draw. John Greenway, Derek Watson and many others will not be able to resist the temptation to win a hamper, a turkey, whisky and lovely money amongst the cornucopian prize list.

In the old city of York, the market is hosting its Fatstock Dinner evening on Tuesday, December 18, and, in the absence of cattle trophies this year, the guest of honour will be Robert Sturdy, the Conservative spokesman for the European Parliament, who also happens to be a Yorkshire farmer.

I wish these and all other celebratory attempts to overcome the gloom every success.

It doesn't come as a shock that beef imports are rising by almost 13pc for the first nine months of this year.

Within the EU, it is Germany that has sent us some 7,000 tonnes, which is an increase of 475pc.

Further afield, such high health status countries as Namibia and Botswana have doubled their beef consignments to the UK; and this is hardly surprising as I read last week's Directive from the Food Standards Agency which exempted these two countries from any requirement to remove the vertebral column in beef carcasses.

It is an upside down world when you think that we have been publicly executing and burning thousands of tonnes of perfectly edible meat for the past nine months.

I note with interest that DEFRA has published its penultimate monthly bulletin on BSE enforcement after five-and-a-half years. Our cumulative cases for the year have reduced to just over 600 by November 2 and indications are that BSE will shortly be a disease of the past.

David Proctor rang me yesterday to enter some cattle and reported that his farm was enveloped by six DEFRA staff come to blood sample 47pc of his sheep flock. This involved the catching and sampling of some 280 sheep and it was but a day in the working lives of the six men.

The twist in the tale is that the whole laborious process stems from a supposedly dangerous contact that this particular sheep flock encountered on February 6, 2001. That pigeon has sure been a long time getting through!

Lord Haskins believes that to abandon agriculture would be "economically insane" and provided he is getting this message across to the Government we have a faint chance of survival. He further went on to say that his own companies, Express Milk and Northern Foods, sourced 100pc and 80pc British produce respectively, for reasons of food safety and continuity of supply.

Economic indicators graphically show a decline in farming over the last five years with a total income per head in the UK dropping from just over £21,000 per annum to £2,500 per annum.

A staggering 500,000 hectares is now lying fallow as EU-funded set aside.

Eleven pc of the nation's sheep flock and seven pc of its cattle have been slaughtered over the last nine months and it is estimated they would have utilised some 900,000 hectares of land. Much of this will not be restocked unless action is taken now.

In the sad absence of Christmas Fatstock Shows, there have been one or two shapely animals destined for the ring appearing on the fatstock scene and, thankfully, we have done justice to some of them, making up to 200p/kilo.

Generally, the cattle trade has settled at around 170-174p/kilo for 'R' grade stock with breaking-up cattle making no less than 145p/kilo. There are still premiums to be paid for show quality stock up to 200p/kilo.

The hogg trade has stabilised around 190-200p/kilo but prices do vary between the abattoirs according to the supplies available to them from day to day. Please have a word if you want some guidance.

The best quality tight-woolled Continental lambs can often make a premium up to 210p/kilo and cull ewes are running from 80-100p/kilo.

It is the pork section that has been most active in the run up to Christmas. Bacon pigs are making from 108p upwards and the top for lightweight porkers is around 115p/kilo.

Help us to help you and phone our help lines at Malton on (01653) 697820/692151 and York on (01904) 489731.

Updated: 09:23 Thursday, December 13, 2001