Chair Report

Its frightening to think its almost a year since I took up the position of NEMSA chairman, but luckily for me that’s coincided with a continued recovery for the sheep industry. This has been reflected in very satisfactory autumn sales, with all centres well up on the year and a healthy demand for NEMSA lambs. The atmosphere was truly back as discerning buyers happily invested in quality breeding sheep after a successful year of prime lamb production. Indeed prices have finally surpassed the levels of the mid 1990s, an achievement long overdue!

This was fortunate as last winter was one of the longest and coldest for many years, and we all know the effect that had on our costs. As I write this the winter has started before the tups have finished their jobs and input prices have jumped up yet again to levels not even dreamt of in the 1990s. It looks like we will need good sales next year more than ever.

The main role of NEMSA is promotion of the breed and in these circumstances effective promotion is essential. Thank you to the branches who did a fantastic job yet again to ensure the NEMSA stand was well represented at major events from Stirling in the north to Cornwall in the south, with many venues in between. A big thank you to those who supplied the tremendous sheep exhibited, I think we all appreciate the effort required to get them to the condition required. Marion’s hard work over the winter ensured we had an eye-catching new stand on which to display them, with many stunning new photos and hopefully more to come. After a few relatively quiet years the interest was back at the shows and many new prospective buyers were identified.

For the first time this year we were able to sponsor a class for NEMSA wethers at the Scottish Winter Fair, which gave us the chance to promote both the breed’s conformation and further raise our profile in Scotland. It proved to be a very successful trip, and again thanks to all those who supported it. As part of our marketing in Scotland we have also got NEMSA classes at the Highland show this coming season. We used to take the stand to Edinburgh, but changes to the sheep demonstrations meant this was no longer practical and we have been seeking classes instead. Thanks to those members who have put a lot of effort into achieving this, and if you can help us put on a good show I’m sure our efforts will be rewarded.

The new website was launched in the spring, and user figures show it is being well used. Its design is aimed at attracting prospective buyers, but there is also a lot to interest members and it is well worth a look. It also carries the tag order form for those of you (like me) who keep misplacing things. Many younger farmers now use the web and it appears to have been a cost effective investment, especially compared to the frightening cost of newspaper adverts.

NEMSA also commissioned an article about Lowther estates and their return to the Mule, which was widely published just before the autumn sales and is featured on the website. This received a lot of positive feedback for a modest outlay and we hope to repeat this type of article next year. If you know of any suitable stories about the success of commercial North Of England Mules please let us know.

Any chairman’s report of recent years is incomplete without a mention of tags, so here goes! We now have an unwanted and costly system which we have to make work. The autumn sales just about coped with the requirements for sellers, but it is essential that some tolerance with tag reading for buyers is introduced and a bit of commonsense used with the way record keeping is implemented.

Finally I would again like to thank everyone who got involved in promotion last year. Marion has done a tremendous job as secretary, keeping us all organised and getting the new stand and website going etc. I hope she realised how much work was involved when she took the job on! However a lot of hard graft is done by the branches and that’s what makes the Association work. Members who get involved seem to enjoy it, so if you would like to help please contact your branch chairman. Many hands make light work and the more the merrier both apply!

Best wishes for the coming year

John Raine