The.Scottish.Farmer.Magazine.October.08.2005
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IN THISand
ISSUE
Date: 2005.10.08 22:50:55
+08'00'
Highland
bonanza
S c o t t i s h M a g a z i n e o f t h e Ye a r
Telehandlers
— 16-page
pull out
supplement
£1.80
No.8724 Vol.113
Euro rate
gets set
‘Och
aye’
says
MacKay
THE EURO/POUND exchange rate
of the first Single Farm Payment will
be ¤1 = £0.68195p according to the
European Central Bank.
NFUS vice-president, Bob Howat,
said: “Farmers can calculate the
sterling value of their Single Farm
Payment. However, everyone needs to
be aware that the estimates of
payments sent out by the Scottish
Executive are subject to reductions for
the national reserve, modulation and
the beef national envelope.
“Farmers should bear in mind that
in that estimate the example exchange
rate used was 0.70p. Therefore,
payments will be lower than forecast.
“Because the rate is set on one day,
as opposed to an average across a full
month as it used to be, there is the
worry that freak events in a 24-hour
period could have a huge effect on the
value.However, this year, it has
worked out OK”
HIGHLAND
CATTLE
Page 12
Lairg record
breaker
Page 16
Junior title
for Jennifer
breed stalwart and
commentator at the
recent Glasgow
Highland Cattle Show,
Angus MacKay, finds
out what the audience
think at the recent
event held by
Glasgow City Council,
in Pollok Estate, right
in the heart of the city
last weekend. There
were 8000 spectators
at the event
On the way out?
■ Walker issue
went to the wire
on Thursday
By Douglas MacSkimming
Page 44
Plus 14 pages
of the best buys
in farming
Starts on Page 28
AS THE Scottish Farmer went to
press on Wednesday, it was
looking more likely that the writing
was on the wall for Quality Meat
Scotland chairman, Jim Walker.
An unprecedented number of
telephone calls to this newspaper on
Wednesday morning from farmers the
length and breadth of the country (see
page 3) indicated it was time for Mr
Walker to step aside. It appeared to be
an orchestrated campaign.
It
was
understood
that
representatives of the three owners
of QMS — NFUS, SAMW and MLC
— met with rural minister, Ross
Finnie, on Wednesday afternoon,
where the decision to remove Mr
Walker was likely to be taken.
The decision of the meeting would
be announced following the reconvened QMS board meeting on
Thursday afternoon.
The same board had met on
Monday, when a marathon session
lasted from 9.30am until after 6pm.
Mr Walker had given a 45-minute
presentation explaining why he
thought the appraisal of his
performance as QMS chairman,
reported by The SF last week, was
‘flawed’. He then left the meeting.
It is understood that before that
meeting broke up, a vote was taken,
which indicated an 8 to 4 vote in
favour of Mr Walker remaining in
office.
But a source close to the QMS
board told The SF: “If Jim took a step
back from this war he is waging, for
just a minute, he would realise he
could destroy the reputation of QMS
here, and abroad, if he carries on.
“He is dragging the whole industry
through the mire to try and win
another three years in the job. How
could anyone live with another three
years after this?
“Few will forget what he did during
foot-and-mouth, but if he carries on
with this one-man war he will only be
remembered for going out the QMS
door kicking and screaming.
“Even his loyal supporters are now
telling him enough is enough. He is
FERTILITY PROBLEMS?
NEW
pre-calver
never going to agree with the decision
and everyone knows how Jim reacts
when he doesn’t get his way.
“But for once, he needs to realise
the greater good and try and salvage
some of his dignity by leaving now
and letting everyone get on with the
real work ahead.
“If he doesn’t leave, he will have to
be removed. This industry will always
be bigger than any one man.”
But Mr Walker was not for turning.
He said: “To remove a director of a
company requires a major resolution
which can take up to two to three
weeks.
“I intend to fulfil the full term of
my office until the agm in August,
2006.
“At a time of such uncertainty —
problems in the beef and sheep
sectors, coupled with issues in the
pig sector, we should be concentrating
on trying to help the situation for the
Scottish farming industry. This total
distraction
is
completely
unnecessary.”
See Walker under attack
— Page 3
Cameron calls for calm
FORMER NFUS president and industry ‘elder statesman’,
John Cameron, told The Scottish Farmer, this week: “Whatever
the rights and wrongs of the current dispute, it is now high time
that all those involved take time to stand back and reflect on
the damage that is currently being inflicted on one of the
industry’s most important organisations.
“It really is time that the staff of QMS were given
wholehearted endorsement for their work and left to get on with
it backed by a period of stability in their board of directors.
“Perhaps this could best be achieved by allowing the present
chairman to finish his term of office and in the intervening
period for all those involved, ie the stakeholders, the other
organisations represented on the board, but also the producer
levy payers — who contribute 75% of the necessary funding
— to have a ‘fresh look’ at the actual process of electing the
QMS chairman to make sure it is sufficiently flexible and
democratic to prevent this current difficulty from happening
again.
“There is too much at stake — too much risk to the quality
of meat for our consumers, for us as an industry to dissipate our
energies in this present manner.
“Surely it cannot be too difficult to initiate an adequate
consultation process which satisfies stakeholders, industry
organisations and producer levy payers, which will allow them
to reach consensus on who the industry as a whole deems
suitable and acceptable to head up our valuable and essential meat
production organisation — maybe some guidance from an
extremely able minister, Ross Finnie, might just be the catalyst
to achieving this.”
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The Scottish Farmer
NEWS
October 8, 2005
3
ROUND up
Vet suicides
Milk
dance!
THE SUICIDE rate among Britain’s vets
has topped the national average, four-fold,
coming in at double that of dentists and
doctors. According to the British Veterinary
Association’s journal, lethal injections were
the most common method of suicide, and
could be related to the stress of putting
animals down. “When they are suffering
themselves from emotional problems due
to the stress, they may more readily take
their own life because they are used to
euthanising animals who are suffering,”
said veterinary surgeon, Professor
Halliwell.
SCHOOL GIRLS Jade
Lezar (far right) and Laura
McMonagle (next right),
from the cast of the BBC
soap, River City, join three
pupils from Holyrood
Academy, Glasgow, to
highlight Dance Revolution
— an initiative by the Milk
Development Council —
aimed at encouraging
consumption of milk
amongst teenage girls. A
survey has shown one in
five teenage girls don’t get
enough calcium in their
diets
City farm ransacked
FOLLOWING COVERAGE on the
popular TV makeover show, DIY SOS,
Bath City Farm was ransacked by thieves.
Shortly after the project was featured
on television on BBC 1, gaining a complete
facelift, the farmhouse was broken into.
Staff believe thieves had taken the idea
after watching the television broadcast 24
hours before the break in. The farm, which
runs projects for children and families, is
managed on a shoestring budget.
Estate sale
WARDS ESTATE, on the southern shore
of Loch Lomond, owned by Sir Raymond
Johnstone, former chairman of investment
company, Murray Johnstone, has sold for
more than £2.65m.
The 660-acre estate, which features a
nine-bedroom mansion and is two-thirds
protected as a nature reserve, was on the
market for less than a month.
Quota penalty
TEN EUROPEAN governments were
fined £248m, this week, after exceeding
annual milk production quotas.
The biggest penalties imposed by the
European Commission were on Italy, which
has been ordered to pay £96m, Germany
£93m and the Netherlands £16m.
Although the UK milk production was
under quota, Britain was fined £883,000 as
direct sales to consumers was exceeded
by 3895 tonnes.
Royal organics
THE PRINCE of Wales has applied for
official organic status for his Birkhall estate,
near Balmoral.
The Soil Association welcomed the
move saying “We are delighted and hope
others in Scotland will follow his example”.
The Prince has been a long-time supporter
of organic farming, and owns an organic
herd of Ayrshire cattle, kept at his
Highgrove estate.
Orkney’s farming future
CAP REFORM, rising costs including fuel,
and pessimistic price signals from the
marketplace culminated in an uncertain
summer for farmers and crofters on Orkney.
Consequently, NFU Scotland and the
Scottish Agricultural College are providing
a forum for delivering information to assist
producers in Orkney in making decisions.
The first workshop, to be held on bull
management, will take place at Garston
Farm, Sandwick, Stromness, on October
14. Latter workshops will focus on cow
management and feeding for the
marketplace.
Walker hit
by backlash!
■ Calls grow
for him to ‘go
gracefully’
By Douglas MacSkimming
FEARS WERE growing that the Jim
Walker issue was threatening to tear
apart the Scottish livestock sector
leading
to
long-lasting
repercussions.
NFU Scotland chief executive,
Andy Robertson, took issue with the
claims made by Institute of
Auctioneers’ chief Robin Anderson
— reported in last week’s The
Scottish Farmer.
Said Mr Robertson: “Robin
Anderson’s letter to me, which
accused NFUS, SAMW and MLC of
misrepresenting the views of the
auctioneers, was written after he
received a telephone call from Mr
Walker.
“I spoke to Mr Anderson on the
day I received his letter to confirm
that the views of IASS were
represented fairly both in the official
assessment and to QMS vicechairman, David Nicolson.
“This is a position confirmed by
Mr Nicolson and accepted by Mr
Anderson, who is, understandably,
bitterly disappointed that private
correspondence has been leaked in
THISweek
himself. I believe he has shot his bolt
and gone too far.”
Chris Walton, from Berwickshire,
said: “Jim has to accept the
democratic process of electing or reelecting a new chairman. He was
fantastic during foot-and-mouth but
I don’t believe he is the person to
take QMS forward.”
Jamie Smart, immediate past
chairman of NFU Scotland’s
Bathgate and West Calder branch,
said: “The 12 members who attended
Monday’s meeting were unanimous
that Jim can no longer hold his
position after the way he has acted.”
But the union’s Stewartry branch
was adamant that Mr Walker stays.
After hearing NFUS president,
John Kinnaird, address Monday’s
branch meeting, chairman, Jim Neil,
said: “With regard to the decision
taken by the stakeholders of QMS
not to recommend Jim Walker be reappointed chairman, the Stewartry
branch urge NFUS to reverse this
decision.”
Further support came for Mr Walker
from Brian Dickie, Spango, Sanquhar.
“I was at Lanark calf sale on Tuesday
and I didn’t meet one farmer who
thought that Jim should leave with work
undone at QMS. From Aberdeenshire,
to Fife and to the Borders, all the views
I canvassed showed that all supported
him. We all appreciate that with
someone as abrasive as Jim that we will
agree with him all the time, but he’s
been a great guy to have on our side.”
CONTACT us
PLUS: 16-page telehandlers special
News .........................Pages 1 to 5
Opinion......................Pages 6 to 9
Shows.............................Pages 12
Sheepdogs.....................Pages 13
Machinery ....................... Page 14
this manner.”
“Had The Scottish Farmer offered
me the right of reply, the truth could
have been shared with your readers.
Instead, a smokescreen of spin has
been reported based on unfounded
accusations.”
Jim Robertson, a past president of
SAMW, said: “I am appalled at the
total misrepresentation which has
been given concerning the meat
sector’s stance on the Scotch
premium.
“The premium is a long-standing
and valued part of our business,
which we support and which we will
continue to seek to employ to
maximum benefit for everyone
involved in the production,
processing and marketing of Scotch
meat.
“To suggest otherwise is, at best,
misleading and, at worst, an attempt
to manipulate producer opinion —
which actually shows little regard
for the truth.”
Former QMS director, Ian Duncan
Miller, said: “Jim Walker was brought
in to raise the profile of QMS, which
he did. But it is now time to move on.
“I fully support what the owners of
QMS are trying to do. You can’t put
the genie back in the bottle. I’m not
saying Jim has done a bad job, but it’s
time for a different style of
leadership.”
Bill Arnott, of Kilmux Farm,
Leven said: “I’ve never believed Jim
to be a team player. He is out for
Business...............Pages 15 to 25
Arable................ Pages 26 and 27
Scottish Horse.....Pages 42 to 45
Lifestyle..............Pages 46 and 47
NEXT week
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ISSN 0036-9195
CLEAR THINKING and determination have paid off for
the Scottish Agricultural College, according to its top
team, which this week claimed that their controversial
restructuring of the organisation has pulled it out of its
financial nosedive.
Unveiling the SAC’s 2004/2005 accounts, chief
executive, Professor Bill McKelvey, admitted that there
had been ‘dark days’ when even he doubted the wisdom
of the radical business restructuring he was championing.
However, with the accounts showing a positive
operating margin for the second year running, Prof
McKelvey felt confident that the organisation was now
well on the road to financial recovery.
“Yes, it was hard, and morale suffered, but our finances
have stabilised and we can afford to look ahead,” said Prof
McKelvey, who delivered his report in what he admitted
was an uncharacteristically ‘upbeat’ pink and cerise tie.
“Looking at these figures, I hope you can agree that the
difficult period is behind us — we have improved vastly
in a number of areas — and I can only praise the
commitment and hard work of all our staff.”
Despite a further 10% cut in its support from the
Scottish Executive, the SAC returned a larger operating
surplus than it did in the previous year, which itself was
the first year it had shown a surplus since 1995/96.
At the same time, the organisation had been able, after
a decade of declining numbers, to increase its farm
advisory staff, with 15 ‘enthusiastic new guys’taking the
total staff available to answer farmer queries up to 90.
Against national trends for student numbers, the SAC
would also be taking in a larger first year of entrants than
it did last year, noted Prof McKelvey, whilst the research
and development side of the business was booming.
“Contrary to what people might presume, most of our
research income does not now come from SEERAD —
it is from competitive tenders we have won with other
organisations, who are coming to us more and more for
our expertise,” he added.
However, Prof McKelvey took the opportunity to ‘put
down a marker’ regarding government funding of
agricultural research, saying bluntly that now was not the
time to scrimp on such work.
“Farm research’s time has not passed — it has just
started. Technical advances will be needed more and
more. There are still many many challenges ahead.”
The Scottish Farmer, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB
EDITOR — Alasdair Fletcher - 0141 302 7732
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Deputy Editor — Ken Fletcher - 0141 302 7727
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Chief Reporter — Douglas MacSkimming
0141 302 7730
douglas.macskimming@thescottishfarmer.co.uk
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The Scottish Farmer
NEWS
4
October 8, 2005
Fastrac
goes
to war!
DNA tests
‘catch’ out
Brazilian beef
THE FARMERS Union of Wales
claimed this week it had confirmed
Brazilian ‘fresh beef’, bought at a
Tesco store in Carmarthen, was
from a species of cattle generally
accepted as being of inferior eating
quality than Welsh beef.
The FUW commissioned DNA
tests by Dublin-based IdentiGEN
Genetic Testing Services, on five
rump steaks bought two days
before a union-organised protest
by 50 demonstrators at the store on
September 14.
All tested positive under ‘Zebu’
diagnostic DNA tests, proving they
contained genes from a tropical
cattle variety notorious for its tough
meat and poor eating quality.
“Zebu cattle are adapted to hot
climates and they have been bred
to give improved heat resistance,”
said FUW’s Carmarthenshire
county executive officer, Peter
Davies.
IdentiGEN managing director,
Ciaran Meghen, said six Zebu
diagnostic genetic markers (12
alleles) were examined for each
of the five samples submitted. Out
of a possible 12 Zebu alleles for
each sample, three detected 10
alleles and two detected seven
alleles.
“IdentiGEN will normally report
a sample positive for Zebu if one
out of 12 alleles is positive for
Zebu. The high proportion of Zebu
alleles for the FUW samples is
consistent with the source cattle
having a highly Zebu phenotype,”
said Mr Meghen.
The DNA tests arranged by the
FUW followed a similar exercise
in Scotland where Quality Meat
Scotland took three samples of
Brazilian beef from three
supermarkets and all tested positive
for Zebu bloodlines.
“Reports in the Scottish press
described the meat as being from
a tropical cattle variety notorious
for its tough meat and poor eating
quality,” said Mr Davies.
“This further confirms the
disgraceful hypocrisy and double
standards of UK supermarkets,”
Mr Davies added.
ABP move on
OTM cattle
ANGLO BEEF Processors will
accept OTM cattle simultaneously
at plants covering all four home
countries from day one when the
OTM ban is lifted on November 7.
ABP is allocating its plants in
Perth, Newry and Lurgan in
Northern Ireland, and Shrewsbury,
which is in the Welsh Marches
covering England and Wales, as
pathfinders in the new OTM
marketplace.
ABPs other plants at York and
Ellesmere in Shropshire will follow.
A spokesman for ABP said: “It
is vital that all dairy farmers
wishing to sell cows directly to
plants check that their current dairy
assurance has the necessary
accreditation to carry out the
additional audits. If they do not,
they should consider joining a
recognised beef scheme such as
FABBL/EFSIS.
“Initial market values will be
influenced by the volume and
quality of cattle offered; demand;
and when the export market reopens for hindquarter meat. This is
vital if the home market is to be
balanced.
“Quality cows will attract prices
well in excess of those operating
under the OTMS.”
IT’S A Fastrac Jim, but not as we
know it. British construction
equipment giant JCB has received its
biggest ever order after landing a
contract — expected to be worth up
to $140m — to build a unique highspeed digger for the American
armed forces.
Based on the popular high-speed
farm tractor, it is the biggest, fastest
and most expensive backhoe loader
to ever go into production.
The 12-tonne machine will have
a top speed of 57 mph, so it is fast
enough to travel by road in a military
convoy and is designed to be
airlifted by a Hercules C-130 to
wherever it is needed.
The High Mobility Engineer
Excavator (HMEE) is powered by a
5.9 diesel engine, can lift more than
two tonnes and dig to a depth of
almost four meters. It will be built by
JCB in Savannah, Georgia.
Global disease
threat warning
■Humans and
animals both at risk
By Vic Robertson
THE THREAT of increasing global disease
outbreaks involving humans and animals as a
result of nature or bioterrorism cannot be
over-estimated, Britain’s veterinary profession
has been warned.
“The only difference between a naturally
occurring epidemic and one that has arisen
through bioterrorism is motive,” Professor Paul
Gibbs, of the University of Florida, told
delegates to the British Veterinary Association
annual congress, in London.
As well as pointing out the possibility that
bioterrorism could arise through a recombinant
virus, he said that the main factors promoting
an increased number of epidemics related to
speed of movement.
These included accelerated global trading and
tourism patterns, which could promote pathogens
as “hitchhikers”, travelling at speeds in excess of
incubation times; exposure to new pathogens;
and intensification and monoculture farming
leading to viral amplification.
“While there is no evidence to believe that the
recent epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in the
UK was caused by bioterrorism, the extent of
the epidemic indicates that FMD can be a
powerful weapon for bioterrorists to cause
widespread disease in livestock and economic
disruption for the targeted country,” he said.
The same could be said about SARS flu
pandemic of 2003, not to mention the latest
warnings of an avian flu pandemic spreading to
humans, with predictions of several hundred
millions dead and an economic cost of several
hundred million US dollars.
“Whether the virus will be introduced to Europe
remains to be seen, but European countries are
wise to prepare,” he warned.
While Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
had been the architects of the downfall of
communism, their policies had also led to the
under-funding of animal and public health services
and inadequate support for developing countries
to promote animal health.
An agenda for action to control and prevent
emerging diseases demanded a far wider
multidisciplinary and timely approach. There
was a need to inform and educate at all levels
and, with the results of the damage created by
hurricane Katrina in the US, there was a need
to try harder.
Professor Gibbs’ message was powerfully
endorsed by Dr Bob McCracken, BVA
president. “We must never forget that pathogens
are also frequent fliers and this demands that the
medical and veterinary professions work more
closely together than ever before,” he said.
“We may not be able to stop disease in its
tracks, but by working closer together we can
restrict the causes and mitigate the outcomes.
“The reality is that diseases such as foot-andmouth and avian flu will gain access to the UK.
Our role must be to minimise the impact on our
susceptible animal population.”
Beef processors given price warning
MAINSTREAM SLAUGHTERERS
have been told they must not drop the
price of prime cattle again.
In a strongly worded message to the
processing sector, and also to major
retailers, the National Beef Association
has warned that yet another price fall
will demonstrate beyond doubt that they
hold beef farmers in contempt.
“The time has come to draw a line.
Market prices are 9% lower than this
time last year and income from male
cattle is down by at least £200, or 25%,
per head if the now defunct Slaughter
Premium and Beef Special Premium
claims are also taken into account,”
explained NBA chairman, Duff Burrell.
He continued: “Finishers are at their
wits end because of the losses they are
making, breeders are in dread of calf
prices at this autumn’s sales and large
parts of the production sector are already
in dire danger of being dismantled.
“The word on farms, and at markets,
is that if slaughterers pull down finished
‘The
desperate
mood
among
finishers
and
breeders
must be
taken
seriously’
DUFF
BURRELL
cattle prices by another penny it will be
taken as confirmation that home produced
beef cattle are no longer wanted.”
The NBA has no doubt beef cattle
numbers are already contracting. In-calf
heifer numbers are down by as much as
22% in some regions, cow and calf units
are being bought by finishers with an
eye on the OTM rule change and not by
breeders, and the dairy beef bull sector is
moving closer to shut down.
Mr Burrell added: “The desperate
mood among finishers and breeders must
be taken seriously. They feel that their
efforts to stick with beef cattle after
decoupling are being mocked by the
recent, regular price falls that have driven
them into serious levels of loss.
“Over the last 12 months, cattle buyers
and beef retailers have ignored repeated
warnings that farmers will not accept
negative prices and another drop last
week was very clearly a step too far.
“If the trade is serious about
maintaining UK supplies it must show
that is the case by resisting pressure, from
whatever source, to drop purchase prices
again.
If they ignore this it will be interpreted
by farmers as a clear message that they
should get off the beef production
treadmill before their reserves and their
labour are even more blatantly exploited.
“The association’s view is that if
processors and retailers cannot support
home produced beef then farmers are
mugs to stick with it.
There is none of the much vaunted
partnership in current trading
arrangements because producers are the
only ones not making money.
“Farmers are telling us that no one
with any business sense stays with an
enterprise that is clearly losing money.
“They are no longer prepared to
subsidise consumers, retailers and
slaughterers by carrying losses
themselves and both slaughterers and
supermarkets should take this message
seriously.”
Land
transfer
initiative
LEADING SCOTTISH law
firm, Anderson Strathern
notched up a first earlier this
month when the Scottish
Executive gave the green light
to the firm’s first transfer of
Single Farm Payments with
land from one farmer to
another.
While the reform of how
farmers receive state financial
support was agreed by EU
farm ministers back in June,
2003, the new system of income
support for farmers has only
been active since January 1,
2005. Furthermore, there has
been some reluctance on the
part of farmers to engage in
land sales until they knew how
the SFP would transfer with
the land.
Anderson
Strathern
pioneered a new whole holdings
transfer form which the
executive has accepted to speed
up the transfer of a Highland
estate with SFPs.
Where a farmer’s entire
holding is changing hands, use
of the new form means that
land can be sold together with
SFPs at any time of year.
Sellers do not have to worry
about what has become known
in farming circles as “the 10
month rule” — a rule which
otherwise stops a farmer
transferring land with SFPs
unless he has remained in
occupation for at least 10
months in a 12 month period.
Senior solicitor, John
Leyshon, who carried out the
first approved Scottish transfer
said: “It is great to be part of
the Anderson Strathern team
which brought about the first
executive-approved transfer of
land with SFPs.
“EU reforms provide ample
opportunity to show that
Scottish law firms can hold
their own against any elsewhere
in Europe.”
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The Scottish Farmer
NEWS
October 8, 2005
5
Johne’s disease fear
■Millions of
pounds being lost
By Philippa Stephen
JOHNE’S DISEASE costs money. Don’t
bury your head in the sand. Talk to your vet
now.
That’s the latest theme for the Johne’s
Disease Initiative, launched recently at the
Dairy Event, and aimed at curbing the disease
which currently affects as many as one-in-five
cattle, costing the beef industry and dairy
farmers millions of pounds each year.
“Johne’s disease is an infectious wasting
condition of cattle which is closely related to
the organism causing TB. Infection results in
weight loss, reduced milk yield, infertility
and early culling. The disease is known worldwide and the incidence in the UK in increasing
as herds become larger and stocking densities
increase,” said Keith Redpath, chairman of the
initiative’s steering committee.
“Livestock farmers can no longer ignore a
disease which is costing them individually
thousands of pounds a year.”
The campaign, a joint industry-Government
initiative, initially proposed by the National
BeefAssociation, is strongly supported by Defra
and the partnership includes representatives of
the cattle industry, veterinary profession and
auctioneers. Expert advice has also been
provided by the Scottish Agricultural College.
“This is an important initiative which will
help the industry get rid of a disease which we
know is costing farmers millions of pounds a
year,” said Mr Redpath.
“But it will depend on farmers recognising
that it is in their interest and the long-term
interest of the industry to start working with their
vets, to identify what they can do work towards
eliminating the disease in their own herds.”
“Our advice is that farmers and their vets
should seriously consider testing their herds
to establish whether the disease is present,”
said Keith Cutler, of the British Cattle
Veterinary Association.
“An animal should be culled immediately
if it gives a positive test. Progress in eradication
will be rapid in herds with low incidence of
the disease. Progress will be slower in herds
where the initial incidence of infection is high.
“But, looking to the long-term, it is well
worth doing. The challenge lies in reducing
levels of the disease be avoiding spread and
thus increasing confidence in breeding
replacements, which are free from infection.”
NFU Scotland’s communication director,
James Withers, added: “Tackling Johne’s has
been identified as a priority in the various
animal health conferences recently. Part of
the problem is that the industry doesn’t have
a good handle on how widespread the problem
is — that must be a first step.
“We suspect it is a growing problem and we
look forward to Scotland being closely
involved in the development of Johne’s
control, in which this campaign can play a
part.”
Charity boost
CASHING IN
a grand prize draw, organised by Harrison
and Hetherington’s social committee, raised
£4100 for two local charities. The money
was divided between the Motor Neurone
Disease Association and Great North Air
Ambulance Pride of Cumbria. The Motor
Neurone money was further boosted to
£3654 — the proceeds of a sponsored walk
carried out by H and H staff and friends
earlier this year. Pictured, left to right are:
Jan Hawkins, senior co-ordinator, Great Air
Ambulance Pride of Cumbria; H and H staff
— Carolyn Mark, Anne Strong, Gillian
Skelton, Cathy McCleary; Motor Neurone
Disease Association North Cumbria branch
chair, Mary Stebbings and Jen Roper
Mackie calls for new approach OPA reported in all breeds
TIMES ARE tough in the countryside with farm
incomes on the floor and the entire rural economy
coming under an ever increasing burden of
bureaucracy and regulation.
However, there is a healthy future, provided the
community is willing to engage in some radical
thinking and then follow up that process with
action.
That was the clear message to emerge from the
annual meeting in Edinburgh of the Scottish Estates
Business Group (SEBG), which threw up some
very positive messages and did a great deal to
dispel the commonly held view that there is a vast
gulf of understanding between landowners, who are
worth a fortune on paper, and the rest of rural
Scotland.
The Earl of Seafield, who chaired the meeting,
set the tone. He said: “It is in everyone’s interest for
Scotland to enjoy a vibrant rural sector. In the era
of CAP reform and extremely challenging
economic circumstances it is vital that every avenue
is explored to ensure that we achieve that common
objective.”
Maitland Mackie, who runs a large agri-business
in Aberdeenshire, was, as ever, provocative. While
conceding that times were difficult in the farming
world it was time to take a different approach.
He said: “The world has changed and farming
also has to change. I get embarrassed at some of my
colleagues picketing outside supermarkets
demanding higher prices. They would be better
staying at home back on the ranch looking at their
costs instead of protesting for an extra half pence
on their milk.”
Mr Mackie is convinced that Scottish farmers can
compete with up to 60% of the world’s agricultural
industry and that the demand for food is growing
all the time. There was, he added, no need for
despondency and that the future lay in the hands of
both farmers and landowners.
He added: “Our skill levels are second to none
and we also have the best advisory service in the
world, but we need to move on. I see great scope
for landlords and tenants coming together in
developing farming companies. It can be a win win
situation all round.”
The Mackie vision is one where a group of
tenants — specialists and doers — would form a
farming company. The landlord would agree to
erect new buildings suited to the modern era on a
central site.
The tenants in turn would surrender their old, and
frequently obsolete buildings to the landlord, who
would then be free to sell them off for conversion
into housing or business premises.
He is convinced that a legal framework could be
drawn to safeguard the rights of tenants.
Bob Howat, vice-president of NFU Scotland,
said: “I tend to agree with Maitland’s concept.
Things have to change because we simply cannot
go the way we are and that has to be recognised.”
Ross Finnie, the rural development minister, in
his keynote address announced that the executive
plans to hold three seminars during the winter
months to discuss the concept of promoting new
rural businesses.
— not just Blackies
By Patsy Hunter
CONTRARY TO popular belief,
Jaagsiekte, or ovine pulmonary
adenocarcinoma (OPA), is not confined
to the Blackface sheep breed, nor is it
restricted to an area North of the Forth
and Clyde Canal.
Instead, this debilitating contagious
disease, produced by a tumour in the
lungs and caused by Jaagsiekte sheep
retrovirus (JSRV), has been found in
all breeds and crosses of sheep and
throughout the length and breadth of
the country.
“Jaagsiekte is not a new disease, it has
been reported in all sheep rearing
countries with the exception of Iceland,
Australia and New Zealand,” explained
Dr Chris Cousens, who has been
investigating the disease at the Moredun
Institute, Edinburgh, for a number of
years now.
Speaking prior to a sheep health
meeting in Bannockburn, on Tuesday,
Dr Cousens said she had seen the disease
in Texels, Charollais, Leicesters,
Blackfaces, Finn Dorsets and numerous
cross-breds.
She also said that she had received
numerous enquiries about the disease
from as far a field as Kent and Wales,
right up to Caithness.
“The disease affects all breeds and it
can be found anywhere there are sheep.
There is no way of knowing if certain
sheep have the disease, except in cases
that do produce large amounts of lung
fluid. The only way to confirm
Jaagsiekte is to do a post mortem,”
added Dr Cousens, pointing out that the
Moredun had received 80 individual
cases of the disease over the past year.
On a more positive note, one test flock
thought to have high infection levels with
up to 78% of ewes producing positive
JSRV blood tests over the three years of
the study, lost fewer sheep than expected.
Dr Cousens said that 30 animals from
this study flock had been tested for the
OPA over the past three weeks and only
one showed positive signs of the disease
with 27 actually appearing free of the
disease.
“Sheep can produce a positive test
to the virus, but a lot of these sheep will
never develop full blown Jaagsieke.
Most become carriers of the disease,”
concluded Dr Cousens, pointing out
that it may be many years before a test
for individual sheep or a vaccine will be
available on the market.
Diversification housing grant on offer
KEITH ARBUTHNOTT
FARMERS AND landowners across
Scotland could develop major new
income streams and enhance their
properties, while at the same time
helping tackle the crisis in rural
housing supply.
That was the rallying call given at
this week’s Scottish Rural Property
and Business Association (SRPBA)
conference, held in Edinburgh.
With a package of grant funding
available to bring redundant farm
buildings back into use, with moves
afoot to help develop new affordable
rented housing, and with
Communities Scotland making it
clear that it was prepared to listen to
private sector proposals for greater
involvement, the case for this
particular form of diversification
may be strong.
Keith Arbuthnott, chairman of
the SRPBA said that, although
issues remain to be addressed, the
opportunities were clear.
Said Mr Arbuthnott: “There is a
lot of positive guidance coming
from the Scottish Executive on
planning for development in the
countryside. However, our delegates
made it clear that this simply isn’t
being reflected at a local level by
planning authorities.
“Planning remains one of the
main constraints to rural housing
development and must be addressed
as quickly as possible.
“There is a huge untapped
resource that, under the right
circumstances, can be made
available for the benefit of our
communities. Even one or two
houses in a country area can help
source the future of a rural
community.
“With the potential for small scale
development out with villages, and
options available which allow
supplying much needed housing
while at the same time adding a
great deal of value to their
business.”
QMS
move on
new
standards
F O L L O W I N G
CONSULTATION with a range
of stakeholder organisations,
the board of Quality Meat
Scotland has agreed to include
beef from clean heifers and
steers of all ages in the definition
of the Scotch beef brand in
preparation for the return of
beef from older cattle to the
food chain.
The board decided that as
far as over 30 month cattle are
concerned, clean heifers and
steers of all ages will be
acceptable within the brand as
long as they meet the other PGI
requirements:
■ Cattle are born and reared
on an assured farm in Scotland;
■ Cattle are slaughtered in
an assured Scottish abattoir in
accordance with QMS
Assurance Standards;
Beef from older cattle must
also meet the carcase
specifications 2, 3, 4L, 4H or 5L
for fatness and E, U, R, O+ for
conformation.
Cow beef will not be
permitted in the Scotch beef
brand.
The board agreed that it is
prepared to renew this decision
in future in light of market
decisions once the cow beef
market at home and abroad
settles down.
Meanwhile, QMS says it will
continue to work with the
Scottish industry to develop
profitable markets for cow beef
in the UK and on the continent
when export markets resume, a
date still expected to be early
in 2006.
The recent government
announcement that the OTM
is to be replaced with a testing
system means that beef from
older cattle will come back on
sale in the UK food chain from
November 7.
In a separate move, QMS has
published the new cattle and
sheep standards for the
2005/2006 year. They will come
into force at the beginning of
next month.
Following deliberation by the
farmer led Standard Setting
Body which reviews the
standards annually, a small
number of adjustments have
been made to shift the focus of
assessments from paperwork
to practical husbandry.
The body has also given
careful consideration to how
the standards can help farmers
avoid unnecessary duplication
of record keeping.
Introducing the standards for
the year beginning November 1,
2005, running to October 31,
2006, the chairman of the
Standards Setting Body, John
Cameron, said: “As always the
challenge of assurance is to find
a balance so that we can meet
consumer’s expectations whilst
minimising the burden on the
industry by setting practical
and sensible standards.
“I am satisfied we are
continuing to achieve the right
blend, developing a manageable
scheme for farmers and crofters
and one which continues to
offer us an opportunity to
highlight the industry’s
reputation for world class
production standards.”
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The Scottish Farmer
OPINION
6
FACEtoface:
Scottish agripolitics will never
be the same again
THERE HAVE been a few people caught between a rock
and a very hard place this past week, with regard to the
attempt to oust Jim Walker from his leading role at
Quality Meat Scotland.
None more so, this week, than The Scottish Farmer.
So you can sympathise with the fact that by the time
you read this, the issue will have been decided by QMS’
owners, its board and by the political mandarins … or
will it?
Our phone lines have been red hot with support for
NFU Scotland’s stance as one of the tri-partite owners
of QMS which has opted to have Mr Walker replaced.
Supporters for Mr Walker, to be fair, have also made
themselves known, both by letter and telephone.
But, whatever the machinations, this has been a
sorry, highly damaging debacle for the industry. We
have, however, escaped the ignominy of being reduced
to a laughing stock amongst our peers south of the
Border and on both sides of the divide that is Ireland.
Rather, there is a deep sense of pity and shock that it
should have come to this.
It is a view we wholeheartedly share.
If there is a positive to come out of this, it is that it is
abundantly clear that the procedural governance and
the shaky two-tier administration of QMS (ie, its board
of management in competition with its stakeholders)
is farcical. When a board of directors votes to back its
chairman by eight votes to four (as it did on Monday)
and then the three owners (NFUS, the Scottish
Assotiation of Meat Wholesalers and MLC) continue
to go against that decision, then something is not
right.
We are being told that it will all come out in the
wash. But, so far, the dirty linen has been such that
even a whitewash job will not work in this case.
One thing is certain, this industry’s agri-politics will
never be the same again.
EVER green:
October 8, 2005
with Douglas MacSkimming
Bull sales ‘tester’
RON MCHATTIE took over as
chief executive of the AberdeenAngus Cattle Society in 1997
after many years spent
representing SAOS in the north
of Scotland. He is the third son of
a 50-acre tenanted farm in
Morayshire and, as he put it,
“had to get a job that paid.”
With the Perth Bull Sales just
two weeks away, Douglas
MacSkimming met him Faceto-Face.
RON McHATTIE is in the hot seat this week
DMacS — Optimistic or
pessimistic for the forthcoming
bull sales?
RMcH — It will be a testing time
for all concerned, due to the
uncertainty in the industry with
regard to the Single Farm Payment
and the effect of the recent run of
poor beef prices. But it’s not all
doom and gloom, and, hopefully,
we will have a clearer picture come
February.
DMacS — Will the Lindertis
Evulse breed record of 60,000gns
in 1963 ever be beaten?
RMcH — In real terms no, but it
is possible we could see a figure in
that region in the future.
DMacS — What’s been the
highlight of your career so far?
RMcH — Nothing really stands
out. I’m proud of what has been
achieved since I took up office,
but its not just down to me, it’s a
team effort. Registrations are up
60%, membership up 70% and the
balance sheet up £364,000, so we
must be doing something right.
DMacS — And the biggest
disappointment?
RMcH — One I don’t really want
to go into again — the fact we had
to cancel our World Forum because
of foot-and-mouth in 2001, with
more than 900 disappointed
delegates and the hit we took for
not being insured.
DMacS — Is there still too many
‘poor’ bulls coming to the likes of
Perth?
RMcH — I can safely say the
standard has dramatically
improved. It used to be you looked
for the good ones amongst the bad,
now it’s the opposite. Today’s
breeders know poor quality will
not find a home.
DMacS — What’s been the
biggest influence on the Angus in
recent years?
RMcH — Without a doubt,
consumer demand. The High St
retailers have built their strategy
around the Angus brand, although,
they are not just selling Angus
beef. The more demand for Angus,
the more bulls are required.
DMacS — There’s been criticism
of the ABRI scheme, which
provides the mechanism to predict
the genetic potential of a bull, how
do you see it?
RMcH — Let’s put the criticism
into context. The number of
recorded herds has jumped 25% in
one year. We looked long and hard
at this, as we were frustrated by the
lack of development with the old
Signet-based system. When you
move to something completely
different, you get people who don’t
understand — that’s not criticism.
The scheme we are using is a
world-wide system, another five
UK breed societies have taken it up
and others are set to follow.
DMacS — On the question of
QMS, what do you make of the
‘The standard
has dramatically
improved. It used
to be you looked
for the good ones
amongst the bad,
now it’s the
opposite’
latest rumpus and criticism of Jim
Walker?
RMcH — It’s a shame it’s gone so
far, as there can be no winners
come out of this. It should have
been kept out of the public domain.
If damage to the industry comes
from this and the premium is
threatened, it would be a disaster.
We have spent a lot of time and
effort in getting a premium for
Angus beef. The thing beef farmers
in general need is a guaranteed
market and a premium. We can’t
lose that.
DMacS — Re: the NBA and its
problems, will it survive and will
the Angus and other breed societies
support it?
RMcH — I know of no society
which doesn’t back the concept of
the NBA. It has been instrumental
on national issues and we would be
taking a backward step if it was
fragmented or regionalised. What
was annoying ourselves and other
breeds was the fact we were being
marginalised. We have now said
we will make a reasonable donation
and this has been accepted and,
hopefully, that’s the end of the
matter.
DMacS — As a breed, will you
ever overcome the abuse of the
Aberdeen-Angus brand name?
RMcH — I suspect my answer
has to be ‘no’. Having said, that
we are today in more control of
the situation both from a legislative
and scientific point of view. But
there will always be those willing to
cheat the system for personal gain.
DMacS — What effect will the
flood of OTM cattle have for the
beef sector?
RMcH — It will depend on how
it’s managed. We have been given
the assurance it will displace
imports into the catering and
processing sector. If this is done,
then the impact will not be as bad
as some people fear. A problem
could arise if good cow beef comes
onto the market at a reasonable
price, which could cause
displacement in other areas and be
of no benefit to beef producers in
general.
DMacS — It’s nice to win prizes
in the showring, but is it not time to
streamline things and cut out the
plethera of cups at the likes of the
Highland and Royal?
RMcH — I agree there needs to be
rationalisation on the show circuit.
We have a small number of breeders
competing for the same trophies
and this doesn’t encourage new
exhibitors. We held our first national
A-A show, at Westmorland, where
there was £3000 prize money and
one trophy. We are doing something
similar at the Winter Fair,
YYePG
Digitally signed by TeAM YYePG
DN: cn=TeAM YYePG, c=US,
o=TeAM YYePG, ou=TeAM
October
8, 2005 email=yyepg@msn.com
YYePG,
Reason: I attest to the accuracy
integrity of this document
IN THISand
ISSUE
Date: 2005.10.08 22:50:55
+08'00'
Highland
bonanza
S c o t t i s h M a g a z i n e o f t h e Ye a r
Telehandlers
— 16-page
pull out
supplement
£1.80
No.8724 Vol.113
Euro rate
gets set
‘Och
aye’
says
MacKay
THE EURO/POUND exchange rate
of the first Single Farm Payment will
be ¤1 = £0.68195p according to the
European Central Bank.
NFUS vice-president, Bob Howat,
said: “Farmers can calculate the
sterling value of their Single Farm
Payment. However, everyone needs to
be aware that the estimates of
payments sent out by the Scottish
Executive are subject to reductions for
the national reserve, modulation and
the beef national envelope.
“Farmers should bear in mind that
in that estimate the example exchange
rate used was 0.70p. Therefore,
payments will be lower than forecast.
“Because the rate is set on one day,
as opposed to an average across a full
month as it used to be, there is the
worry that freak events in a 24-hour
period could have a huge effect on the
value.However, this year, it has
worked out OK”
HIGHLAND
CATTLE
Page 12
Lairg record
breaker
Page 16
Junior title
for Jennifer
breed stalwart and
commentator at the
recent Glasgow
Highland Cattle Show,
Angus MacKay, finds
out what the audience
think at the recent
event held by
Glasgow City Council,
in Pollok Estate, right
in the heart of the city
last weekend. There
were 8000 spectators
at the event
On the way out?
■ Walker issue
went to the wire
on Thursday
By Douglas MacSkimming
Page 44
Plus 14 pages
of the best buys
in farming
Starts on Page 28
AS THE Scottish Farmer went to
press on Wednesday, it was
looking more likely that the writing
was on the wall for Quality Meat
Scotland chairman, Jim Walker.
An unprecedented number of
telephone calls to this newspaper on
Wednesday morning from farmers the
length and breadth of the country (see
page 3) indicated it was time for Mr
Walker to step aside. It appeared to be
an orchestrated campaign.
It
was
understood
that
representatives of the three owners
of QMS — NFUS, SAMW and MLC
— met with rural minister, Ross
Finnie, on Wednesday afternoon,
where the decision to remove Mr
Walker was likely to be taken.
The decision of the meeting would
be announced following the reconvened QMS board meeting on
Thursday afternoon.
The same board had met on
Monday, when a marathon session
lasted from 9.30am until after 6pm.
Mr Walker had given a 45-minute
presentation explaining why he
thought the appraisal of his
performance as QMS chairman,
reported by The SF last week, was
‘flawed’. He then left the meeting.
It is understood that before that
meeting broke up, a vote was taken,
which indicated an 8 to 4 vote in
favour of Mr Walker remaining in
office.
But a source close to the QMS
board told The SF: “If Jim took a step
back from this war he is waging, for
just a minute, he would realise he
could destroy the reputation of QMS
here, and abroad, if he carries on.
“He is dragging the whole industry
through the mire to try and win
another three years in the job. How
could anyone live with another three
years after this?
“Few will forget what he did during
foot-and-mouth, but if he carries on
with this one-man war he will only be
remembered for going out the QMS
door kicking and screaming.
“Even his loyal supporters are now
telling him enough is enough. He is
FERTILITY PROBLEMS?
NEW
pre-calver
never going to agree with the decision
and everyone knows how Jim reacts
when he doesn’t get his way.
“But for once, he needs to realise
the greater good and try and salvage
some of his dignity by leaving now
and letting everyone get on with the
real work ahead.
“If he doesn’t leave, he will have to
be removed. This industry will always
be bigger than any one man.”
But Mr Walker was not for turning.
He said: “To remove a director of a
company requires a major resolution
which can take up to two to three
weeks.
“I intend to fulfil the full term of
my office until the agm in August,
2006.
“At a time of such uncertainty —
problems in the beef and sheep
sectors, coupled with issues in the
pig sector, we should be concentrating
on trying to help the situation for the
Scottish farming industry. This total
distraction
is
completely
unnecessary.”
See Walker under attack
— Page 3
Cameron calls for calm
FORMER NFUS president and industry ‘elder statesman’,
John Cameron, told The Scottish Farmer, this week: “Whatever
the rights and wrongs of the current dispute, it is now high time
that all those involved take time to stand back and reflect on
the damage that is currently being inflicted on one of the
industry’s most important organisations.
“It really is time that the staff of QMS were given
wholehearted endorsement for their work and left to get on with
it backed by a period of stability in their board of directors.
“Perhaps this could best be achieved by allowing the present
chairman to finish his term of office and in the intervening
period for all those involved, ie the stakeholders, the other
organisations represented on the board, but also the producer
levy payers — who contribute 75% of the necessary funding
— to have a ‘fresh look’ at the actual process of electing the
QMS chairman to make sure it is sufficiently flexible and
democratic to prevent this current difficulty from happening
again.
“There is too much at stake — too much risk to the quality
of meat for our consumers, for us as an industry to dissipate our
energies in this present manner.
“Surely it cannot be too difficult to initiate an adequate
consultation process which satisfies stakeholders, industry
organisations and producer levy payers, which will allow them
to reach consensus on who the industry as a whole deems
suitable and acceptable to head up our valuable and essential meat
production organisation — maybe some guidance from an
extremely able minister, Ross Finnie, might just be the catalyst
to achieving this.”
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Pour-On 28 days and for Noromectin Injection 35 days. Do not use in cattle producing milk for human consumption or in non-lactating cows, including pregnant heifers, within 60 days of calving. Legal Category PML . Further information is available on request.
The Scottish Farmer
NEWS
October 8, 2005
3
ROUND up
Vet suicides
Milk
dance!
THE SUICIDE rate among Britain’s vets
has topped the national average, four-fold,
coming in at double that of dentists and
doctors. According to the British Veterinary
Association’s journal, lethal injections were
the most common method of suicide, and
could be related to the stress of putting
animals down. “When they are suffering
themselves from emotional problems due
to the stress, they may more readily take
their own life because they are used to
euthanising animals who are suffering,”
said veterinary surgeon, Professor
Halliwell.
SCHOOL GIRLS Jade
Lezar (far right) and Laura
McMonagle (next right),
from the cast of the BBC
soap, River City, join three
pupils from Holyrood
Academy, Glasgow, to
highlight Dance Revolution
— an initiative by the Milk
Development Council —
aimed at encouraging
consumption of milk
amongst teenage girls. A
survey has shown one in
five teenage girls don’t get
enough calcium in their
diets
City farm ransacked
FOLLOWING COVERAGE on the
popular TV makeover show, DIY SOS,
Bath City Farm was ransacked by thieves.
Shortly after the project was featured
on television on BBC 1, gaining a complete
facelift, the farmhouse was broken into.
Staff believe thieves had taken the idea
after watching the television broadcast 24
hours before the break in. The farm, which
runs projects for children and families, is
managed on a shoestring budget.
Estate sale
WARDS ESTATE, on the southern shore
of Loch Lomond, owned by Sir Raymond
Johnstone, former chairman of investment
company, Murray Johnstone, has sold for
more than £2.65m.
The 660-acre estate, which features a
nine-bedroom mansion and is two-thirds
protected as a nature reserve, was on the
market for less than a month.
Quota penalty
TEN EUROPEAN governments were
fined £248m, this week, after exceeding
annual milk production quotas.
The biggest penalties imposed by the
European Commission were on Italy, which
has been ordered to pay £96m, Germany
£93m and the Netherlands £16m.
Although the UK milk production was
under quota, Britain was fined £883,000 as
direct sales to consumers was exceeded
by 3895 tonnes.
Royal organics
THE PRINCE of Wales has applied for
official organic status for his Birkhall estate,
near Balmoral.
The Soil Association welcomed the
move saying “We are delighted and hope
others in Scotland will follow his example”.
The Prince has been a long-time supporter
of organic farming, and owns an organic
herd of Ayrshire cattle, kept at his
Highgrove estate.
Orkney’s farming future
CAP REFORM, rising costs including fuel,
and pessimistic price signals from the
marketplace culminated in an uncertain
summer for farmers and crofters on Orkney.
Consequently, NFU Scotland and the
Scottish Agricultural College are providing
a forum for delivering information to assist
producers in Orkney in making decisions.
The first workshop, to be held on bull
management, will take place at Garston
Farm, Sandwick, Stromness, on October
14. Latter workshops will focus on cow
management and feeding for the
marketplace.
Walker hit
by backlash!
■ Calls grow
for him to ‘go
gracefully’
By Douglas MacSkimming
FEARS WERE growing that the Jim
Walker issue was threatening to tear
apart the Scottish livestock sector
leading
to
long-lasting
repercussions.
NFU Scotland chief executive,
Andy Robertson, took issue with the
claims made by Institute of
Auctioneers’ chief Robin Anderson
— reported in last week’s The
Scottish Farmer.
Said Mr Robertson: “Robin
Anderson’s letter to me, which
accused NFUS, SAMW and MLC of
misrepresenting the views of the
auctioneers, was written after he
received a telephone call from Mr
Walker.
“I spoke to Mr Anderson on the
day I received his letter to confirm
that the views of IASS were
represented fairly both in the official
assessment and to QMS vicechairman, David Nicolson.
“This is a position confirmed by
Mr Nicolson and accepted by Mr
Anderson, who is, understandably,
bitterly disappointed that private
correspondence has been leaked in
THISweek
himself. I believe he has shot his bolt
and gone too far.”
Chris Walton, from Berwickshire,
said: “Jim has to accept the
democratic process of electing or reelecting a new chairman. He was
fantastic during foot-and-mouth but
I don’t believe he is the person to
take QMS forward.”
Jamie Smart, immediate past
chairman of NFU Scotland’s
Bathgate and West Calder branch,
said: “The 12 members who attended
Monday’s meeting were unanimous
that Jim can no longer hold his
position after the way he has acted.”
But the union’s Stewartry branch
was adamant that Mr Walker stays.
After hearing NFUS president,
John Kinnaird, address Monday’s
branch meeting, chairman, Jim Neil,
said: “With regard to the decision
taken by the stakeholders of QMS
not to recommend Jim Walker be reappointed chairman, the Stewartry
branch urge NFUS to reverse this
decision.”
Further support came for Mr Walker
from Brian Dickie, Spango, Sanquhar.
“I was at Lanark calf sale on Tuesday
and I didn’t meet one farmer who
thought that Jim should leave with work
undone at QMS. From Aberdeenshire,
to Fife and to the Borders, all the views
I canvassed showed that all supported
him. We all appreciate that with
someone as abrasive as Jim that we will
agree with him all the time, but he’s
been a great guy to have on our side.”
CONTACT us
PLUS: 16-page telehandlers special
News .........................Pages 1 to 5
Opinion......................Pages 6 to 9
Shows.............................Pages 12
Sheepdogs.....................Pages 13
Machinery ....................... Page 14
this manner.”
“Had The Scottish Farmer offered
me the right of reply, the truth could
have been shared with your readers.
Instead, a smokescreen of spin has
been reported based on unfounded
accusations.”
Jim Robertson, a past president of
SAMW, said: “I am appalled at the
total misrepresentation which has
been given concerning the meat
sector’s stance on the Scotch
premium.
“The premium is a long-standing
and valued part of our business,
which we support and which we will
continue to seek to employ to
maximum benefit for everyone
involved in the production,
processing and marketing of Scotch
meat.
“To suggest otherwise is, at best,
misleading and, at worst, an attempt
to manipulate producer opinion —
which actually shows little regard
for the truth.”
Former QMS director, Ian Duncan
Miller, said: “Jim Walker was brought
in to raise the profile of QMS, which
he did. But it is now time to move on.
“I fully support what the owners of
QMS are trying to do. You can’t put
the genie back in the bottle. I’m not
saying Jim has done a bad job, but it’s
time for a different style of
leadership.”
Bill Arnott, of Kilmux Farm,
Leven said: “I’ve never believed Jim
to be a team player. He is out for
Business...............Pages 15 to 25
Arable................ Pages 26 and 27
Scottish Horse.....Pages 42 to 45
Lifestyle..............Pages 46 and 47
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CLEAR THINKING and determination have paid off for
the Scottish Agricultural College, according to its top
team, which this week claimed that their controversial
restructuring of the organisation has pulled it out of its
financial nosedive.
Unveiling the SAC’s 2004/2005 accounts, chief
executive, Professor Bill McKelvey, admitted that there
had been ‘dark days’ when even he doubted the wisdom
of the radical business restructuring he was championing.
However, with the accounts showing a positive
operating margin for the second year running, Prof
McKelvey felt confident that the organisation was now
well on the road to financial recovery.
“Yes, it was hard, and morale suffered, but our finances
have stabilised and we can afford to look ahead,” said Prof
McKelvey, who delivered his report in what he admitted
was an uncharacteristically ‘upbeat’ pink and cerise tie.
“Looking at these figures, I hope you can agree that the
difficult period is behind us — we have improved vastly
in a number of areas — and I can only praise the
commitment and hard work of all our staff.”
Despite a further 10% cut in its support from the
Scottish Executive, the SAC returned a larger operating
surplus than it did in the previous year, which itself was
the first year it had shown a surplus since 1995/96.
At the same time, the organisation had been able, after
a decade of declining numbers, to increase its farm
advisory staff, with 15 ‘enthusiastic new guys’taking the
total staff available to answer farmer queries up to 90.
Against national trends for student numbers, the SAC
would also be taking in a larger first year of entrants than
it did last year, noted Prof McKelvey, whilst the research
and development side of the business was booming.
“Contrary to what people might presume, most of our
research income does not now come from SEERAD —
it is from competitive tenders we have won with other
organisations, who are coming to us more and more for
our expertise,” he added.
However, Prof McKelvey took the opportunity to ‘put
down a marker’ regarding government funding of
agricultural research, saying bluntly that now was not the
time to scrimp on such work.
“Farm research’s time has not passed — it has just
started. Technical advances will be needed more and
more. There are still many many challenges ahead.”
The Scottish Farmer, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB
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The Scottish Farmer
NEWS
4
October 8, 2005
Fastrac
goes
to war!
DNA tests
‘catch’ out
Brazilian beef
THE FARMERS Union of Wales
claimed this week it had confirmed
Brazilian ‘fresh beef’, bought at a
Tesco store in Carmarthen, was
from a species of cattle generally
accepted as being of inferior eating
quality than Welsh beef.
The FUW commissioned DNA
tests by Dublin-based IdentiGEN
Genetic Testing Services, on five
rump steaks bought two days
before a union-organised protest
by 50 demonstrators at the store on
September 14.
All tested positive under ‘Zebu’
diagnostic DNA tests, proving they
contained genes from a tropical
cattle variety notorious for its tough
meat and poor eating quality.
“Zebu cattle are adapted to hot
climates and they have been bred
to give improved heat resistance,”
said FUW’s Carmarthenshire
county executive officer, Peter
Davies.
IdentiGEN managing director,
Ciaran Meghen, said six Zebu
diagnostic genetic markers (12
alleles) were examined for each
of the five samples submitted. Out
of a possible 12 Zebu alleles for
each sample, three detected 10
alleles and two detected seven
alleles.
“IdentiGEN will normally report
a sample positive for Zebu if one
out of 12 alleles is positive for
Zebu. The high proportion of Zebu
alleles for the FUW samples is
consistent with the source cattle
having a highly Zebu phenotype,”
said Mr Meghen.
The DNA tests arranged by the
FUW followed a similar exercise
in Scotland where Quality Meat
Scotland took three samples of
Brazilian beef from three
supermarkets and all tested positive
for Zebu bloodlines.
“Reports in the Scottish press
described the meat as being from
a tropical cattle variety notorious
for its tough meat and poor eating
quality,” said Mr Davies.
“This further confirms the
disgraceful hypocrisy and double
standards of UK supermarkets,”
Mr Davies added.
ABP move on
OTM cattle
ANGLO BEEF Processors will
accept OTM cattle simultaneously
at plants covering all four home
countries from day one when the
OTM ban is lifted on November 7.
ABP is allocating its plants in
Perth, Newry and Lurgan in
Northern Ireland, and Shrewsbury,
which is in the Welsh Marches
covering England and Wales, as
pathfinders in the new OTM
marketplace.
ABPs other plants at York and
Ellesmere in Shropshire will follow.
A spokesman for ABP said: “It
is vital that all dairy farmers
wishing to sell cows directly to
plants check that their current dairy
assurance has the necessary
accreditation to carry out the
additional audits. If they do not,
they should consider joining a
recognised beef scheme such as
FABBL/EFSIS.
“Initial market values will be
influenced by the volume and
quality of cattle offered; demand;
and when the export market reopens for hindquarter meat. This is
vital if the home market is to be
balanced.
“Quality cows will attract prices
well in excess of those operating
under the OTMS.”
IT’S A Fastrac Jim, but not as we
know it. British construction
equipment giant JCB has received its
biggest ever order after landing a
contract — expected to be worth up
to $140m — to build a unique highspeed digger for the American
armed forces.
Based on the popular high-speed
farm tractor, it is the biggest, fastest
and most expensive backhoe loader
to ever go into production.
The 12-tonne machine will have
a top speed of 57 mph, so it is fast
enough to travel by road in a military
convoy and is designed to be
airlifted by a Hercules C-130 to
wherever it is needed.
The High Mobility Engineer
Excavator (HMEE) is powered by a
5.9 diesel engine, can lift more than
two tonnes and dig to a depth of
almost four meters. It will be built by
JCB in Savannah, Georgia.
Global disease
threat warning
■Humans and
animals both at risk
By Vic Robertson
THE THREAT of increasing global disease
outbreaks involving humans and animals as a
result of nature or bioterrorism cannot be
over-estimated, Britain’s veterinary profession
has been warned.
“The only difference between a naturally
occurring epidemic and one that has arisen
through bioterrorism is motive,” Professor Paul
Gibbs, of the University of Florida, told
delegates to the British Veterinary Association
annual congress, in London.
As well as pointing out the possibility that
bioterrorism could arise through a recombinant
virus, he said that the main factors promoting
an increased number of epidemics related to
speed of movement.
These included accelerated global trading and
tourism patterns, which could promote pathogens
as “hitchhikers”, travelling at speeds in excess of
incubation times; exposure to new pathogens;
and intensification and monoculture farming
leading to viral amplification.
“While there is no evidence to believe that the
recent epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in the
UK was caused by bioterrorism, the extent of
the epidemic indicates that FMD can be a
powerful weapon for bioterrorists to cause
widespread disease in livestock and economic
disruption for the targeted country,” he said.
The same could be said about SARS flu
pandemic of 2003, not to mention the latest
warnings of an avian flu pandemic spreading to
humans, with predictions of several hundred
millions dead and an economic cost of several
hundred million US dollars.
“Whether the virus will be introduced to Europe
remains to be seen, but European countries are
wise to prepare,” he warned.
While Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
had been the architects of the downfall of
communism, their policies had also led to the
under-funding of animal and public health services
and inadequate support for developing countries
to promote animal health.
An agenda for action to control and prevent
emerging diseases demanded a far wider
multidisciplinary and timely approach. There
was a need to inform and educate at all levels
and, with the results of the damage created by
hurricane Katrina in the US, there was a need
to try harder.
Professor Gibbs’ message was powerfully
endorsed by Dr Bob McCracken, BVA
president. “We must never forget that pathogens
are also frequent fliers and this demands that the
medical and veterinary professions work more
closely together than ever before,” he said.
“We may not be able to stop disease in its
tracks, but by working closer together we can
restrict the causes and mitigate the outcomes.
“The reality is that diseases such as foot-andmouth and avian flu will gain access to the UK.
Our role must be to minimise the impact on our
susceptible animal population.”
Beef processors given price warning
MAINSTREAM SLAUGHTERERS
have been told they must not drop the
price of prime cattle again.
In a strongly worded message to the
processing sector, and also to major
retailers, the National Beef Association
has warned that yet another price fall
will demonstrate beyond doubt that they
hold beef farmers in contempt.
“The time has come to draw a line.
Market prices are 9% lower than this
time last year and income from male
cattle is down by at least £200, or 25%,
per head if the now defunct Slaughter
Premium and Beef Special Premium
claims are also taken into account,”
explained NBA chairman, Duff Burrell.
He continued: “Finishers are at their
wits end because of the losses they are
making, breeders are in dread of calf
prices at this autumn’s sales and large
parts of the production sector are already
in dire danger of being dismantled.
“The word on farms, and at markets,
is that if slaughterers pull down finished
‘The
desperate
mood
among
finishers
and
breeders
must be
taken
seriously’
DUFF
BURRELL
cattle prices by another penny it will be
taken as confirmation that home produced
beef cattle are no longer wanted.”
The NBA has no doubt beef cattle
numbers are already contracting. In-calf
heifer numbers are down by as much as
22% in some regions, cow and calf units
are being bought by finishers with an
eye on the OTM rule change and not by
breeders, and the dairy beef bull sector is
moving closer to shut down.
Mr Burrell added: “The desperate
mood among finishers and breeders must
be taken seriously. They feel that their
efforts to stick with beef cattle after
decoupling are being mocked by the
recent, regular price falls that have driven
them into serious levels of loss.
“Over the last 12 months, cattle buyers
and beef retailers have ignored repeated
warnings that farmers will not accept
negative prices and another drop last
week was very clearly a step too far.
“If the trade is serious about
maintaining UK supplies it must show
that is the case by resisting pressure, from
whatever source, to drop purchase prices
again.
If they ignore this it will be interpreted
by farmers as a clear message that they
should get off the beef production
treadmill before their reserves and their
labour are even more blatantly exploited.
“The association’s view is that if
processors and retailers cannot support
home produced beef then farmers are
mugs to stick with it.
There is none of the much vaunted
partnership in current trading
arrangements because producers are the
only ones not making money.
“Farmers are telling us that no one
with any business sense stays with an
enterprise that is clearly losing money.
“They are no longer prepared to
subsidise consumers, retailers and
slaughterers by carrying losses
themselves and both slaughterers and
supermarkets should take this message
seriously.”
Land
transfer
initiative
LEADING SCOTTISH law
firm, Anderson Strathern
notched up a first earlier this
month when the Scottish
Executive gave the green light
to the firm’s first transfer of
Single Farm Payments with
land from one farmer to
another.
While the reform of how
farmers receive state financial
support was agreed by EU
farm ministers back in June,
2003, the new system of income
support for farmers has only
been active since January 1,
2005. Furthermore, there has
been some reluctance on the
part of farmers to engage in
land sales until they knew how
the SFP would transfer with
the land.
Anderson
Strathern
pioneered a new whole holdings
transfer form which the
executive has accepted to speed
up the transfer of a Highland
estate with SFPs.
Where a farmer’s entire
holding is changing hands, use
of the new form means that
land can be sold together with
SFPs at any time of year.
Sellers do not have to worry
about what has become known
in farming circles as “the 10
month rule” — a rule which
otherwise stops a farmer
transferring land with SFPs
unless he has remained in
occupation for at least 10
months in a 12 month period.
Senior solicitor, John
Leyshon, who carried out the
first approved Scottish transfer
said: “It is great to be part of
the Anderson Strathern team
which brought about the first
executive-approved transfer of
land with SFPs.
“EU reforms provide ample
opportunity to show that
Scottish law firms can hold
their own against any elsewhere
in Europe.”
The Scottish Farmer direct to your desktop every Thursday at 7pm – our NEW Digital Service – call Subscriptions on 0141 302 7744 for a free trial
The Scottish Farmer
NEWS
October 8, 2005
5
Johne’s disease fear
■Millions of
pounds being lost
By Philippa Stephen
JOHNE’S DISEASE costs money. Don’t
bury your head in the sand. Talk to your vet
now.
That’s the latest theme for the Johne’s
Disease Initiative, launched recently at the
Dairy Event, and aimed at curbing the disease
which currently affects as many as one-in-five
cattle, costing the beef industry and dairy
farmers millions of pounds each year.
“Johne’s disease is an infectious wasting
condition of cattle which is closely related to
the organism causing TB. Infection results in
weight loss, reduced milk yield, infertility
and early culling. The disease is known worldwide and the incidence in the UK in increasing
as herds become larger and stocking densities
increase,” said Keith Redpath, chairman of the
initiative’s steering committee.
“Livestock farmers can no longer ignore a
disease which is costing them individually
thousands of pounds a year.”
The campaign, a joint industry-Government
initiative, initially proposed by the National
BeefAssociation, is strongly supported by Defra
and the partnership includes representatives of
the cattle industry, veterinary profession and
auctioneers. Expert advice has also been
provided by the Scottish Agricultural College.
“This is an important initiative which will
help the industry get rid of a disease which we
know is costing farmers millions of pounds a
year,” said Mr Redpath.
“But it will depend on farmers recognising
that it is in their interest and the long-term
interest of the industry to start working with their
vets, to identify what they can do work towards
eliminating the disease in their own herds.”
“Our advice is that farmers and their vets
should seriously consider testing their herds
to establish whether the disease is present,”
said Keith Cutler, of the British Cattle
Veterinary Association.
“An animal should be culled immediately
if it gives a positive test. Progress in eradication
will be rapid in herds with low incidence of
the disease. Progress will be slower in herds
where the initial incidence of infection is high.
“But, looking to the long-term, it is well
worth doing. The challenge lies in reducing
levels of the disease be avoiding spread and
thus increasing confidence in breeding
replacements, which are free from infection.”
NFU Scotland’s communication director,
James Withers, added: “Tackling Johne’s has
been identified as a priority in the various
animal health conferences recently. Part of
the problem is that the industry doesn’t have
a good handle on how widespread the problem
is — that must be a first step.
“We suspect it is a growing problem and we
look forward to Scotland being closely
involved in the development of Johne’s
control, in which this campaign can play a
part.”
Charity boost
CASHING IN
a grand prize draw, organised by Harrison
and Hetherington’s social committee, raised
£4100 for two local charities. The money
was divided between the Motor Neurone
Disease Association and Great North Air
Ambulance Pride of Cumbria. The Motor
Neurone money was further boosted to
£3654 — the proceeds of a sponsored walk
carried out by H and H staff and friends
earlier this year. Pictured, left to right are:
Jan Hawkins, senior co-ordinator, Great Air
Ambulance Pride of Cumbria; H and H staff
— Carolyn Mark, Anne Strong, Gillian
Skelton, Cathy McCleary; Motor Neurone
Disease Association North Cumbria branch
chair, Mary Stebbings and Jen Roper
Mackie calls for new approach OPA reported in all breeds
TIMES ARE tough in the countryside with farm
incomes on the floor and the entire rural economy
coming under an ever increasing burden of
bureaucracy and regulation.
However, there is a healthy future, provided the
community is willing to engage in some radical
thinking and then follow up that process with
action.
That was the clear message to emerge from the
annual meeting in Edinburgh of the Scottish Estates
Business Group (SEBG), which threw up some
very positive messages and did a great deal to
dispel the commonly held view that there is a vast
gulf of understanding between landowners, who are
worth a fortune on paper, and the rest of rural
Scotland.
The Earl of Seafield, who chaired the meeting,
set the tone. He said: “It is in everyone’s interest for
Scotland to enjoy a vibrant rural sector. In the era
of CAP reform and extremely challenging
economic circumstances it is vital that every avenue
is explored to ensure that we achieve that common
objective.”
Maitland Mackie, who runs a large agri-business
in Aberdeenshire, was, as ever, provocative. While
conceding that times were difficult in the farming
world it was time to take a different approach.
He said: “The world has changed and farming
also has to change. I get embarrassed at some of my
colleagues picketing outside supermarkets
demanding higher prices. They would be better
staying at home back on the ranch looking at their
costs instead of protesting for an extra half pence
on their milk.”
Mr Mackie is convinced that Scottish farmers can
compete with up to 60% of the world’s agricultural
industry and that the demand for food is growing
all the time. There was, he added, no need for
despondency and that the future lay in the hands of
both farmers and landowners.
He added: “Our skill levels are second to none
and we also have the best advisory service in the
world, but we need to move on. I see great scope
for landlords and tenants coming together in
developing farming companies. It can be a win win
situation all round.”
The Mackie vision is one where a group of
tenants — specialists and doers — would form a
farming company. The landlord would agree to
erect new buildings suited to the modern era on a
central site.
The tenants in turn would surrender their old, and
frequently obsolete buildings to the landlord, who
would then be free to sell them off for conversion
into housing or business premises.
He is convinced that a legal framework could be
drawn to safeguard the rights of tenants.
Bob Howat, vice-president of NFU Scotland,
said: “I tend to agree with Maitland’s concept.
Things have to change because we simply cannot
go the way we are and that has to be recognised.”
Ross Finnie, the rural development minister, in
his keynote address announced that the executive
plans to hold three seminars during the winter
months to discuss the concept of promoting new
rural businesses.
— not just Blackies
By Patsy Hunter
CONTRARY TO popular belief,
Jaagsiekte, or ovine pulmonary
adenocarcinoma (OPA), is not confined
to the Blackface sheep breed, nor is it
restricted to an area North of the Forth
and Clyde Canal.
Instead, this debilitating contagious
disease, produced by a tumour in the
lungs and caused by Jaagsiekte sheep
retrovirus (JSRV), has been found in
all breeds and crosses of sheep and
throughout the length and breadth of
the country.
“Jaagsiekte is not a new disease, it has
been reported in all sheep rearing
countries with the exception of Iceland,
Australia and New Zealand,” explained
Dr Chris Cousens, who has been
investigating the disease at the Moredun
Institute, Edinburgh, for a number of
years now.
Speaking prior to a sheep health
meeting in Bannockburn, on Tuesday,
Dr Cousens said she had seen the disease
in Texels, Charollais, Leicesters,
Blackfaces, Finn Dorsets and numerous
cross-breds.
She also said that she had received
numerous enquiries about the disease
from as far a field as Kent and Wales,
right up to Caithness.
“The disease affects all breeds and it
can be found anywhere there are sheep.
There is no way of knowing if certain
sheep have the disease, except in cases
that do produce large amounts of lung
fluid. The only way to confirm
Jaagsiekte is to do a post mortem,”
added Dr Cousens, pointing out that the
Moredun had received 80 individual
cases of the disease over the past year.
On a more positive note, one test flock
thought to have high infection levels with
up to 78% of ewes producing positive
JSRV blood tests over the three years of
the study, lost fewer sheep than expected.
Dr Cousens said that 30 animals from
this study flock had been tested for the
OPA over the past three weeks and only
one showed positive signs of the disease
with 27 actually appearing free of the
disease.
“Sheep can produce a positive test
to the virus, but a lot of these sheep will
never develop full blown Jaagsieke.
Most become carriers of the disease,”
concluded Dr Cousens, pointing out
that it may be many years before a test
for individual sheep or a vaccine will be
available on the market.
Diversification housing grant on offer
KEITH ARBUTHNOTT
FARMERS AND landowners across
Scotland could develop major new
income streams and enhance their
properties, while at the same time
helping tackle the crisis in rural
housing supply.
That was the rallying call given at
this week’s Scottish Rural Property
and Business Association (SRPBA)
conference, held in Edinburgh.
With a package of grant funding
available to bring redundant farm
buildings back into use, with moves
afoot to help develop new affordable
rented housing, and with
Communities Scotland making it
clear that it was prepared to listen to
private sector proposals for greater
involvement, the case for this
particular form of diversification
may be strong.
Keith Arbuthnott, chairman of
the SRPBA said that, although
issues remain to be addressed, the
opportunities were clear.
Said Mr Arbuthnott: “There is a
lot of positive guidance coming
from the Scottish Executive on
planning for development in the
countryside. However, our delegates
made it clear that this simply isn’t
being reflected at a local level by
planning authorities.
“Planning remains one of the
main constraints to rural housing
development and must be addressed
as quickly as possible.
“There is a huge untapped
resource that, under the right
circumstances, can be made
available for the benefit of our
communities. Even one or two
houses in a country area can help
source the future of a rural
community.
“With the potential for small scale
development out with villages, and
options available which allow
supplying much needed housing
while at the same time adding a
great deal of value to their
business.”
QMS
move on
new
standards
F O L L O W I N G
CONSULTATION with a range
of stakeholder organisations,
the board of Quality Meat
Scotland has agreed to include
beef from clean heifers and
steers of all ages in the definition
of the Scotch beef brand in
preparation for the return of
beef from older cattle to the
food chain.
The board decided that as
far as over 30 month cattle are
concerned, clean heifers and
steers of all ages will be
acceptable within the brand as
long as they meet the other PGI
requirements:
■ Cattle are born and reared
on an assured farm in Scotland;
■ Cattle are slaughtered in
an assured Scottish abattoir in
accordance with QMS
Assurance Standards;
Beef from older cattle must
also meet the carcase
specifications 2, 3, 4L, 4H or 5L
for fatness and E, U, R, O+ for
conformation.
Cow beef will not be
permitted in the Scotch beef
brand.
The board agreed that it is
prepared to renew this decision
in future in light of market
decisions once the cow beef
market at home and abroad
settles down.
Meanwhile, QMS says it will
continue to work with the
Scottish industry to develop
profitable markets for cow beef
in the UK and on the continent
when export markets resume, a
date still expected to be early
in 2006.
The recent government
announcement that the OTM
is to be replaced with a testing
system means that beef from
older cattle will come back on
sale in the UK food chain from
November 7.
In a separate move, QMS has
published the new cattle and
sheep standards for the
2005/2006 year. They will come
into force at the beginning of
next month.
Following deliberation by the
farmer led Standard Setting
Body which reviews the
standards annually, a small
number of adjustments have
been made to shift the focus of
assessments from paperwork
to practical husbandry.
The body has also given
careful consideration to how
the standards can help farmers
avoid unnecessary duplication
of record keeping.
Introducing the standards for
the year beginning November 1,
2005, running to October 31,
2006, the chairman of the
Standards Setting Body, John
Cameron, said: “As always the
challenge of assurance is to find
a balance so that we can meet
consumer’s expectations whilst
minimising the burden on the
industry by setting practical
and sensible standards.
“I am satisfied we are
continuing to achieve the right
blend, developing a manageable
scheme for farmers and crofters
and one which continues to
offer us an opportunity to
highlight the industry’s
reputation for world class
production standards.”
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The Scottish Farmer
OPINION
6
FACEtoface:
Scottish agripolitics will never
be the same again
THERE HAVE been a few people caught between a rock
and a very hard place this past week, with regard to the
attempt to oust Jim Walker from his leading role at
Quality Meat Scotland.
None more so, this week, than The Scottish Farmer.
So you can sympathise with the fact that by the time
you read this, the issue will have been decided by QMS’
owners, its board and by the political mandarins … or
will it?
Our phone lines have been red hot with support for
NFU Scotland’s stance as one of the tri-partite owners
of QMS which has opted to have Mr Walker replaced.
Supporters for Mr Walker, to be fair, have also made
themselves known, both by letter and telephone.
But, whatever the machinations, this has been a
sorry, highly damaging debacle for the industry. We
have, however, escaped the ignominy of being reduced
to a laughing stock amongst our peers south of the
Border and on both sides of the divide that is Ireland.
Rather, there is a deep sense of pity and shock that it
should have come to this.
It is a view we wholeheartedly share.
If there is a positive to come out of this, it is that it is
abundantly clear that the procedural governance and
the shaky two-tier administration of QMS (ie, its board
of management in competition with its stakeholders)
is farcical. When a board of directors votes to back its
chairman by eight votes to four (as it did on Monday)
and then the three owners (NFUS, the Scottish
Assotiation of Meat Wholesalers and MLC) continue
to go against that decision, then something is not
right.
We are being told that it will all come out in the
wash. But, so far, the dirty linen has been such that
even a whitewash job will not work in this case.
One thing is certain, this industry’s agri-politics will
never be the same again.
EVER green:
October 8, 2005
with Douglas MacSkimming
Bull sales ‘tester’
RON MCHATTIE took over as
chief executive of the AberdeenAngus Cattle Society in 1997
after many years spent
representing SAOS in the north
of Scotland. He is the third son of
a 50-acre tenanted farm in
Morayshire and, as he put it,
“had to get a job that paid.”
With the Perth Bull Sales just
two weeks away, Douglas
MacSkimming met him Faceto-Face.
RON McHATTIE is in the hot seat this week
DMacS — Optimistic or
pessimistic for the forthcoming
bull sales?
RMcH — It will be a testing time
for all concerned, due to the
uncertainty in the industry with
regard to the Single Farm Payment
and the effect of the recent run of
poor beef prices. But it’s not all
doom and gloom, and, hopefully,
we will have a clearer picture come
February.
DMacS — Will the Lindertis
Evulse breed record of 60,000gns
in 1963 ever be beaten?
RMcH — In real terms no, but it
is possible we could see a figure in
that region in the future.
DMacS — What’s been the
highlight of your career so far?
RMcH — Nothing really stands
out. I’m proud of what has been
achieved since I took up office,
but its not just down to me, it’s a
team effort. Registrations are up
60%, membership up 70% and the
balance sheet up £364,000, so we
must be doing something right.
DMacS — And the biggest
disappointment?
RMcH — One I don’t really want
to go into again — the fact we had
to cancel our World Forum because
of foot-and-mouth in 2001, with
more than 900 disappointed
delegates and the hit we took for
not being insured.
DMacS — Is there still too many
‘poor’ bulls coming to the likes of
Perth?
RMcH — I can safely say the
standard has dramatically
improved. It used to be you looked
for the good ones amongst the bad,
now it’s the opposite. Today’s
breeders know poor quality will
not find a home.
DMacS — What’s been the
biggest influence on the Angus in
recent years?
RMcH — Without a doubt,
consumer demand. The High St
retailers have built their strategy
around the Angus brand, although,
they are not just selling Angus
beef. The more demand for Angus,
the more bulls are required.
DMacS — There’s been criticism
of the ABRI scheme, which
provides the mechanism to predict
the genetic potential of a bull, how
do you see it?
RMcH — Let’s put the criticism
into context. The number of
recorded herds has jumped 25% in
one year. We looked long and hard
at this, as we were frustrated by the
lack of development with the old
Signet-based system. When you
move to something completely
different, you get people who don’t
understand — that’s not criticism.
The scheme we are using is a
world-wide system, another five
UK breed societies have taken it up
and others are set to follow.
DMacS — On the question of
QMS, what do you make of the
‘The standard
has dramatically
improved. It used
to be you looked
for the good ones
amongst the bad,
now it’s the
opposite’
latest rumpus and criticism of Jim
Walker?
RMcH — It’s a shame it’s gone so
far, as there can be no winners
come out of this. It should have
been kept out of the public domain.
If damage to the industry comes
from this and the premium is
threatened, it would be a disaster.
We have spent a lot of time and
effort in getting a premium for
Angus beef. The thing beef farmers
in general need is a guaranteed
market and a premium. We can’t
lose that.
DMacS — Re: the NBA and its
problems, will it survive and will
the Angus and other breed societies
support it?
RMcH — I know of no society
which doesn’t back the concept of
the NBA. It has been instrumental
on national issues and we would be
taking a backward step if it was
fragmented or regionalised. What
was annoying ourselves and other
breeds was the fact we were being
marginalised. We have now said
we will make a reasonable donation
and this has been accepted and,
hopefully, that’s the end of the
matter.
DMacS — As a breed, will you
ever overcome the abuse of the
Aberdeen-Angus brand name?
RMcH — I suspect my answer
has to be ‘no’. Having said, that
we are today in more control of
the situation both from a legislative
and scientific point of view. But
there will always be those willing to
cheat the system for personal gain.
DMacS — What effect will the
flood of OTM cattle have for the
beef sector?
RMcH — It will depend on how
it’s managed. We have been given
the assurance it will displace
imports into the catering and
processing sector. If this is done,
then the impact will not be as bad
as some people fear. A problem
could arise if good cow beef comes
onto the market at a reasonable
price, which could cause
displacement in other areas and be
of no benefit to beef producers in
general.
DMacS — It’s nice to win prizes
in the showring, but is it not time to
streamline things and cut out the
plethera of cups at the likes of the
Highland and Royal?
RMcH — I agree there needs to be
rationalisation on the show circuit.
We have a small number of breeders
competing for the same trophies
and this doesn’t encourage new
exhibitors. We held our first national
A-A show, at Westmorland, where
there was £3000 prize money and
one trophy. We are doing something
similar at the Winter Fair,