The mart system has proved a secure and transparent method for farmers trading livestock. Lessons must be learned from the collapse of TLT in 2013.

There is no point in marts coming together to complain about the financial impact of the collapse and then failing to deal with the fallout on a united basis. No individual mart should engage in practices that could disrupt the mart system.

It is not in the interest of farmers to have marts trading in possible breach of regulations established by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PRSA). Committee members should not forget their legal obligation in this regard.

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Mart committees must take a long-term view when deciding on what is right for the long-term future of the business and their farmer clients.