The meeting last week involving all of the main local banking representatives, senior officials from the Ulster Farmers Union, and chaired by Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has been described as “positive” and “constructive” by both the union and DARD.

It certainly was an example of a good public relations exercise, and it is important to remind the banks of their crucial role in ensuring the long-term viability of our local farms.

But, fundamentally, there is only so much that farm lobby organisations and DARD can do to avert a cashflow crisis on dairy farms in 2015.

The main message to come out of the meeting was that farmers should be proactive in going to their local bank if they are concerned about cashflow and meeting repayments on loans over the next few months.

Bank managers don’t like surprises – better being open and honest now, rather than leaving it to a point where the next cheque will push the business above an overdraft limit.

While there seems to be no prospect of the banks collectively taking the decision to give dairy farmers a ‘capital holiday’ on term loan repayments, there is a commitment to look at a farmer’s individual situation on a case-by-case basis.

That might also mean restructuring existing facilities or additional overdraft allowances.

Longer term

In the longer term, the lobbying effort should also focus on Finance Ministers such as Simon Hamilton and the British Treasury as it is these people, not Agriculture Ministers, who are responsible for a tax system that does little to help farmers through periods of volatile prices.

Given the lack of allowances on new buildings or land purchase, it is also a system that does little to help farmers who want to grow their businesses and generate more revenue within the local economy.

Deals available for in-spec beef

While the factories have generally held their base quotes for U-3 grade cattle at 360p/kg, deals well ahead of quotes have been available for regular suppliers with in-spec cattle to sell.

At the end of last week, 366p/kg was freely available for in-spec steers, and some agents were offering up to 372p/kg for good conformation quality heifers.

The market seems to have been boosted by slightly higher than expected retail orders for beef in the last week.

Whether the momentum lasts into the new year is not yet certain. However, it means that prices available in NI are close to English and Welsh prices, where R4Ls are generally in the range of 355p/kg to 365p/kg.

Meanwhile, quotes for lambs are steady at 390p/kg at the factories, although deals were done at 400p/kg last week.

Texels to 4,000gns in Ballymena

Breeders’ sheep sold well at the five-flock in-lamb gimmer Texel sale in Ballymena Mart on Saturday. The top price of 4,000gns was paid to Richard Henderson of the Ballynahone flock.

Roger Strawbridge of Tamnamoney took 3,700gns for his best and 1,700gns for another. Alistair Gault of Forkins had the best run of prices taking 3,600gns, 3,000gns, 2,300gns, 2,000gns (twice), 1,900gns and 1,700gns with a number of others also making four figures. The best from Victor Chestnut of Clougher made 2,200gns; while Andrew Kennedy of Maineview took 2,000gns for his best.

In total, nine gimmers made 2,000gns or more. Of the 76 in the catalogue, 63 sold (an 83% clearance) to average 919.50gns.