At the market - A proud day for Ryedale farmers

TUESDAY saw the 136th Ryedale Show rise Phoenix-like in the tranquil beauty of Major Shaw's Welburn Park, near Kirkbymoorside.

The day started with a light drizzle but faired up by the time helpers and competitors arrived and became a very pleasant, warm day without sunshine but ideal for livestock and spectators alike.

The forward planning and hard work of a dedicated section of the local farming community, and it has to be said many non-farming supporters, makes this Show the shop window of the Ryedale countryside, of which we are all so proud. In spite of heavy farming commitments, time and effort were abundantly evident and all those people involved in making this event happen should be justly proud.

The support given by those who attended and their reactions to what they saw reflected their immense pride in our countryside and their fierce determination to keep it as it is, without outside interference in our rural heritage.

Local MP John Greenway accompanied by Malcolm Moss, the Shadow Regional Minister of Agriculture, were in attendance at the show and spent considerable time listening and talking to farmers and exhibitors, assuring them of their support. Both expressed their admiration for the agricultural industry in Ryedale and congratulated the show on what it has achieved.

The number of exhibitors had held steady from previous years, which is a creditable effort in these difficult times. The show as a whole had near to 800 different classes and the animals exhibited were all of a very high standard. Farmers from the local region carried off many of the top prizes displaying all that is best in British agriculture.

The president of the show this year is John Wilson of Nunnington, assisted by his wife, Doreen, and he entered very much into the spirit of things with a very well organised lunch for over 40 friends and show colleagues.

The showground covers between 30 and 40 acres of Welburn Park and has 7 show rings which are full from 8.30 am to early evening. There are a further 30-40 acres of car parking around the park and these were very nearly filled.

The number of people at the show would be very similar to last year, around 15,000, and the show secretary of 30 years, Peter Woodall, would like to thank all the workers and supporters alike for their dedicated help.

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Sunday night saw the screening of the first part of the 'Dying Breed' programme on Channel 4 and for those involved in the production, both on and off the set, the many months of nervous anticipation were over.

In many ways it doesn't matter what I think as the message was intended for the great British public who still picture farming today as though it were in a Constable oil painting; but, for the record, I thought it was excellent and congratulate Nic Guttridge and the team for all the genuine effort put into the programme.

The first shots of the calf slaughter were heart-rendingly dramatic and doubtless contentious but the statement was made that we live in a real world and unless we go down the sacred cow route, we have to be driven by a commercial engine.

As the programme developed its theme of farming hardship, we moved amongst the players with a sympathetic and at times almost hidden camera which told the story very much as it is. The honest balance and integrity appealed to me.

There was real tragedy in watching John Fawbert sell his last sheep but this was balanced by the delightful humour of Paul Dunn.

The plight of the pig men parading placards and demonstrating was very real but was contrasted with John Piercy's honest admission that the squealing sow was a mistake.

All the participants deserve our applause - bearing one's soul to a million people is not easy and I hope we get the message across.

Interestingly, my wife Judy went to the hairdresser this week and he said that the 'Dying Breed' had been a regular topic for most of his clientele.

This week's programme is again on Sunday but the time is 8.00 pm.

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We had a fascinating guest on Monday evening who could never be described as one of the "dying breed"; and for Robert Steel life begins at 80!

Robert is the ex-General Secretary of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has been a professional man all his life, involved at one time in creating the new town at Basingstoke.

To celebrate the Millennium, his 80th year, and for charity, he is walking 2,000 kilometers covering the Five Saints - St Columba in Iona, St Aiden at Lindisfarne, St Hilda of Whitby, St David in Wales and, finally, meeting the Archbishop in Canterbury in September.

Judy provided food and hospitality overnight but I was ashamed at the way he had been treated the previous evening at a pre-booked motel accommodation between Malton and Scarborough. Robert turned up, after walking from Filey, to be told by the proprietor that there was no evening meal and was offered no alternative. This appalling lack of even basic good manners was followed by a refusal to make breakfast for Robert before he departed at 8.15 am.

To end this Canterbury tale, you will be amazed to hear that Robert has raised almost £67 ,000 for his walk which will go towards the Marie Curie Cancer and the Surveyors Benevolent Funds.

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I missed Ryedale Show and Malton Market on Tuesday, having instead to take the London train, meeting the MAFF hierarchy in Whitehall over our proposed new computer system, farmstock.net. It is flattering and a relief to report that the auctioneers project is being received sympathetically and with great interest in the corridors of power.

One of the reasons appears to be that the British Cattle Movement Service at Workington is running into problems with a mounting heap of what are called "unresolved queries"; and farmstock.net could provide the seamless electronic link that they are seeking.

I have a further full day on Wednesday with the management team and having had unanimous approval from the Auctioneers Association, we are planning to get under way at least with the pilot scheme by the late autumn.

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Ryedale Show week often produces fewer stock about but this year numbers were very respectable with 20 cattle, 625 sheep and 250 pigs forward.

Despite Walter Gray's absence, cattle were just as dear as last week with the best Intervention cattle making from 105-110p/kilo. In fact the top-priced steer was a heavyweight from Andrew Marson at 114p/kilo.

The retail butcher cattle were in demand and George Marwood retrieved his poll position at 123p/kilo followed by Mark Bulmer at 118p.

John Cundall sold the 94 bulls and trade is slowly coming back with a distinct improvement again this week. Continentals would be hovering around 100p with SP & LM Mason topping the day at 116p/kilo, just beating Alice Thompson at 115p.

The lamb trade was the most disappointing, with prices slipping back to around 80p/kilo although R & J Wainwright peaked at nearly 90p/kilo. Perhaps there has just been a temporary flush of lamb on the market between haytime and harvest and let's hope the market improves again.

David Lindley dealt with the pigs which were steady away at around 78p/kilo average up to a top of 80p achieved by Robert Till and Maurice West.

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Don't forget it's the early sheep sale a week on Saturday, August 5, and entries now stand at over 6,000 head.