| 2013-01-30 |  |
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CCM Skipton is facilitating increased demand for larger quantities of fodder and crop through new monthly collective sales of hay, haylage and silage lying on the farm.
While more common in arable areas, such types of sales are new
to Craven and the wider area and are already generating a great
deal of interest throughout the region, according to Skipton Auction
Mart’s general manager Jeremy Eaton.
Round Bale Silage
The new initiative allows prospective purchasers to view fodder lying on the
farm by direct arrangement with the vendor, who is also asked to provide representative
opened sample bales for each lot or batch for inspection.
Lots are then catalogued, identifying locality, bale type/size, vehicle type/access,
loading and removal arrangements, before being sold in the Craven Ring at Skipton
Auction Mart immediately after the relevant weekly sale of cast cattle at approximately
1pm.
Telephone bids and payment are also accepted, opening up opportunities for
potential buyers in outlying areas, though they must first register their interest
with the mart office.
Collective sales are being sponsored by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC),
which is also offering a free silage analysis facility for those interested.
January’s inaugural sale produced a solid entry of almost 900 bales of Wharfedale
and Harrogate-grown hay, haylage and silage, with solid demand for all categories
and a total of 560 bales sold in a ready market. Rectangular hay bales averaged
£24.50 each, with further lots of medium quality hestons averaging £19.75.
1st quality round haylage sold to £22 per bale, rectangular silage/haylage
to £14 per bale and medium quality round silage to £10 per bale.
Further winter fodder and crop from the same two areas, along with 250 bales
of high quality haylage located in the Yarm area of Cleveland, suitable for
both sheep and horses, will be on offer at the next collective sale on Monday,
February 18. Catalogue entries close on Thursday, February 7, with on-farm
viewing possible on Monday to Saturday of the following week.
Mr Eaton explained: “The scheme supports vendors and buyers alike. The cost
of transport has made it difficult for producers of large volumes of fodder
to readily access ‘spot’ markets, while would-be buyers – regional livestock
farmers in particular – have an opportunity to tap into relevant information
about the background of a particular crop, when it was harvested and what conditions
were like as the time.
“Additionally, they can also personally test crop samples on the farm for quality
and with the SAC’s involvement there is further scope for independent analysis.
It all adds up to significant potential cost savings for both vendors and buyers.”
For those requiring smaller quantities of produce, weekly Monday sales of hay
and straw in wagon loads continue to be staged at Skipton at 11.45am and are
increasing in size with the onset of winter, attracting a considerable and
popular following, with recent sales producing sharp trade and higher than
expected prices.
