NAPOLEON recognised that an army marches on its stomach but, today, a more pertinent question for all farmers and tax payers is: 'Should British soldiers be stuffing themselves with foreign meat in their rations?'

It is scandalous that the buying policy of the Ministry of Defence still encompasses a wide selection of imported meat.

There has been a glimmer of reaction to the militant protests of our pig producers and, thankfully, the armed forces are in future to procure all their pork, bacon and gammon from UK producers. However, the MOD spokesman said that some beef would continue to be sourced overseas as, apparently, is the majority of the lamb.

The contrast is the more poignant when my visit to France last week revealed the almost total absence of any goods available for purchase that were not French; never mind force feeding the Foreign Legion with imported meat.

Bring back Bonaparte, I say - he would make a better job of running our army kitchens.

The pig industry has been holding its breath for the past week or two, following the first outbreak of swine fever since 1986.

I hasten to add that the disease is harmless to humans but potentially lethal for pigs and the current outbreak presents a serious threat to UK pig farmers, only just recovering from the prolonged crisis.

Swift action by MAFF seems to have contained the disease to East Anglia and, thankfully, this week the EC lifted its ban on the remainder of our pork elsewhere in the country.

The problem I want to highlight is the compensation issue and I am not referring to the owners of the slaughtered pigs who will be paid out for their animals at market value.

It is those that are caught within the restricted zone and, once again, the UK seems to go over the top. As far as I understand it, Europe insists upon a ten-mile restriction and we have imposed a 20-mile radius, which is estimated to put the finger on a further 40,000 pigs.

All farms falling within the area are covered by the restriction procedures and the numbers of pigs on individual units are building up because of the difficulties in moving them.

The animals can only go direct to a slaughterhouse under licence and, thereafter, the meat has to go for processing, for which there is relatively little demand; but, furthermore, the EC has introduced another request for heat treatment of all meat from the surveillance areas, which renders it virtually unsaleable .

The result of all this red tape is that there is a build-up of pigs within the restricted zones, with associated welfare problems, and great hardship for the farmers trapped through no fault of their own.

At present, there are no compensation measures to help out and Nick Brown must be persuaded to push the EC where, I understand, there is an existing provision to pay up to 70pc of market value in such cases from European funds.

Once again, it only needs somebody to present our case from the Government with meaningful commitment.

Cliff Lockwood died at the weekend, at the age of 81, and it is the sad end of an era for our York livestock operation.

It seems incredible, nowadays, that Cliff should have left St Peter's at the age of 16 to join the firm of Stephenson & Son and he was proud to tell people he was still on the books.

After serving with the artillery during the Second World War, he returned to establish himself as, perhaps, the best livestock auctioneer of his time in the north of England.

At the peak of his prowess, he built up the throughput of fat pigs at York to 4,000 per week. His integrity was never questioned and his repartee endless.

Cliff passed his skills on to the younger generation that cared to listen and he will be sadly missed.

The total cattle census is looming ever nearer, with D Day fixed for September 10.

No forms have yet been produced by MAFF, nor is there anything up on their website as yet, but it does appear that we can do much of the paperwork through the internet.

It is Charlie Breese's intention to set up a help line, here at the market, and those wanting a bit of advice please do not hesitate to ring (01653) 692151.

The harvest weather on Tuesday reduced stock numbers but lifted trade, at least for cattle and pigs.

There were only 154 cattle forward, with spectacular demand for quality heifers. George Marwood topped the day at 130p, with two more heifers in the light and medium weight classes making 120p/kilo, but he was not on his own and the overall average of 100p/kilo for all the heifers in the market reflected the strong demand.

Steers were a good trade, if not quite as sharp for the Intervention-type bullock. Ken Burton had a medium weight bullock at 124p/kilo, with Paul Sanderson selling a heavy steer at 112p/kilo.

The young bulls were just steady away, with the Continentals averaging prices similar to last week's at 95p/kilo and the black & whites running 10p behind. Brian Fairweather had the highest priced-bull at 109p, with David Nesom's heavyweight making 106p.

David Lindley would enjoy the pig trade, where the averages hovered around 80p/kilo, but with a new high spot for the year of 91p for a pen of porkers from H W Ward & Sons, of Great Habton.

It certainly makes the deadweight prices look a bit poorly!

The sheep section was the only disappointment, with trade pretty ordinary, averaging just short of 79p/kilo. The best lambs of the day made 84/kilo from J E Teasdale.

Don't forget - Ryedale Farmers Market at Malton this Saturday.

PICTURE: NAPOLEON BONAPARTE: He knew a thing or two about feeding his troops.