Farming in Orkney
12 down, 34 to go!
09/05/2008 10:03:00
THE firm which has been contracted to manufacture the new livestock containers for NorthLink, Stewart Agricultural Limited of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, has completed 12 of the units so far.
Fae ahint the stooks by Issac
09/05/2008 10:02:00
Orkney cash hopefully not boosting Brazil at our expense
LARGE funds of money such as that accrued in Orkney Islands Council staff pension fund and in its multi-million pound oil reserve fund are managed by financial experts who play the global field with the cash in order to ensure a better return than that offered by leaving it in an ordinary bank account. I have no qualms with that principle except that world money markets are now attracting investment cash to areas which are not conducive to the long-term economical survival of agriculture in the UK and in Orkney and I am concerned that some of the large funding we have available in our School Place coffers is being invested in a manner that amounts to shooting our local agricultural industry in the foot.
Warmer weather brings time for vegetable sowing
02/05/2008 13:45:00
FROM today, May 1, gardeners in Orkney should have no fears about planting out young plants or sowing vegetable seeds for the coming season. We should be clear of any frosts although it is wise to keep an eye out for any late cold snaps that could still creep in and you should protect your crops where necessary with fleece, cloches, or newspapers.
Mart Report
02/05/2008 13:44:00
Orkney Livestock Association special sale of breeding cattle and bulling heifers
MESSRS J & E Miller of Nigley in Evie attained top gross and average price for replacement heifers from their consignment of 21 Simmental and Saler crosses forward at Orkney Livestock Association's spring sale of BVD Accredited breeding stock. They averaged £749 per head and top price of £810 was paid for a 425kg March 2007 born Salers cross (190.6p).
Messrs GW & ET Wilson of Howequoy in Holm attained the top kilo price of the day with a 350kg April 2007-born Limousin cross that realised £750 (214.3p). Their five Limousin and Simmental cross heifers averaged £730 per head.
Other heifer prices: RJ Taylor, Brencherhouse, Birsay, three Belgian Blue and one Limousin, top £740 average £715; J Sinclair & Co, Midhouse, Harray, 13 Simmental and Angus crosses, top £620 average £566.15; Northfield Farms, The Northfield, Burray, eight pure Aberdeen Angus top £700 average £687.50; R Smyth & D Dupres, Benlaw, Evie, two Simmental crosses £700 & £670; JWS Wishart & Son, Knockhall, South Ronaldsay, six Simmental and one Charolais cross, top £700 average £636; GT Wylie & Son, Swartland, Dounby, four Limousin and one Aberdeen Angus, top £730 average £698.
In-calf heifers sold up to £1000 for an Aberdeen Angus cross in calf to an Aberdeen Angus bull from K Watson & Son, Rennibister, Firth. Their six in-calf heifers averaged £915 per head.
Three Aberdeen Angus cross in-calf heifers from G & S Linnitt, Gaira, South Ronaldsay realised £780, £710 and £640.
A Simmental cross heifer with a bull calf at foot from A & F Clark, Quoydale, Hoy sold for £760. Their two Simmental cross breeding cows in calf to a Simmental bull realised £760 and £720.
Two breeding cows from RL & KS Jones, Denwick, Deerness sold for £600 and £560. Their autumn 2007-born Belgian Blue cross calves sold for £430 and £380.
ABERDEEN AND NORTHERN MARTS
THAINSTONE, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 2297 store cattle and one young calf on April 25.
Bullocks (1347) averaged 154.3p (+0.1p) to 206.7 per kg and £1180 gross.
Heifers (938) averaged 150.3p (+1p) to 209.8p per kg and £1090 gross.
Bulls (12) averaged 141.1p (+5.5p) to 177.4p per kg and £ gross.
Young calves (one) sold to £280.
Orkney
A total of 85 Cattle comprising 73 Store Cattle and 12 Farrow Cows and 30 Sheep were forward from Orkney and Shetland consignors with leading prices as follows:
Bullocks, top price per kilo: 176.6p for a pair of 419kg Limousin and Belgian Blue realising £740 from AA Harcus, Housebay, Stronsay.
Top price per head: £940 for a 650kg Limousin to C Maxwell, Bay, Stronsay.
Heifers, top price per kilo: 191.1p for a 450kg Belgian Blue from AA Harcus, Housebay.
Other leading prices per kilo, bullocks: AA Harcus, Housebay (Char) 171.6p; J Brodie, Sunnybank, St Ola, Kirkwall (Char) 166.6p; S Flett & Son, Redbanks, Tankerness (BB) 163.2p; CS Craigie, Dale, Stromness (Lim) 162.6p; C Maxwell, Bay (Lim) 146.3p.
Other leading prices per head, bullocks: J Brodie, Sunnybank (Char) £825; C Maxwell, Bay (AA) £800; AA Harcus, Housebay (Lim) £740; S Bews, Hilton Farm, Balfour (AA) £725; S Flett & Son, Redbanks (BB) £620; CS Craigie, Dale (BB) £560.
Other leading prices per kilo, heifers: J Brodie, Sunnybank (Char) 156.6p; S Bews, Hilton Farm (AA) 146.7p; AA Harcus, Housebay (Char) 142.8p; CS Craigie, Dale (Char) 142.3p; Millburn Farms, Harray (Sim) 140.4p.
Other leading prices per head, heifers: J Brodie, Sunnybank (Char) £855; S Bews, Hilton Farm (AA) £750; AA Harcus, Housebay (Char) £550; CS Craigie, Dale (Char) £535; Millburn Farms, Harray (Sim) £525.
Cows (12)
Cows sold to 140.8p per kilo for a 600kg Charolais Heifer from S Bews, Hilton, Balfour.
Other leading prices per kilo, cows: Millburn, Harray 139.1p; Midhouse, Harray 121p.
Other leading prices per head, cows: Hilton (Char) £845; Millburn (Sim) £675; Midhouse (Lim) £665.
Sheep (30)
Hoggets: £60 (Suff) Dale, Stronsay; £60 (Cont) Dale.
Store Sheep, hoggets: £44.50 Dale.
Ewes: £49 (Tex) Sebay, Tankerness.
Gardening by Gladiator
17/04/2008 11:54:00
Jack Frost is still lurking so don't be careless
It would appear as though spring has at last arrived as I look out of my window onto the second sunbathed day in succession. But do not be too careless by rushing to plant out in the plot for Jack Frost is still just around the corner. Make sure you harden off everything you have brought on before allowing it to get on with the job of growing and make sure that if the forecast suggests a night of frost, you cover up your less hardy plants with a fleece or newspapers to avoid having them caused a nippy distress.
Markets for 2008
17/04/2008 11:53:00
ORKNEY Farmers Market Association's 2008 season - its ninth - begins on Saturday, April 26 with the first market in the Broad Street car park in Kirkwall, next to the Kirk Green, courtesy of OIC.
Sammy is Stromness ploughing champion
17/04/2008 11:52:00
STROMNESS Agricultural Society held its annual ploughing match at Quholmslie last Saturday, by kind permission of the Harvey family.
Fae ahint the stooks by Issac
17/04/2008 11:49:00
Farmers should not be burdened by vaccine costs
IT would seem that the bureaucrats in power have at last come to their senses and paid attention to attacking the bluetongue disease before it reaches our Scottish boundaries.
Jackie triumphs at old tractor match
17/04/2008 11:45:00
THE old tractor ploughing match was held at Berryhill in St Ola on Saturday, by kind permission of Stevie Twatt of Lingro.
Preparation time for turnips in the garden
10/04/2008 10:13:00
The last of 2007 neeps were used at the weekend, along with a few remaining 'Kestrel' tatties, to make a very tasty 'clapshot'. Along with an authentic free range chicken from a local farm, this meal warmed to the very bones and kept out the icy north wind blowing outside.