Farm and Country news for Cumbria and the Lake District: South Lakes, Eden, North Lancashire, Dales

Three Cumbrian Farms play host to special event to improve local beef, sheep and dairy

11:21am Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Three Cumbrian farms – two of them in South Lakeland – are playing host to a series of events aimed at improving the efficiency of local beef, sheep and dairy units.

Ambleside tree is largest in the North West

2:39pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012

A TREE which stands in a Lake District wood is the tallest in Cumbria and could be the largest in the North West.

Farm prices - Lancaster Auction Mart

2:00pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Monday, February 20. Monthly sale and show of dairy cattle and weekly sale of primestock. Forward: 900 hoggs. Judge: A Robson. Sponsors: Ribble Fuel Oils, Marr and MacGregor Feeds and Wynnstay (J Hatton Agriculture) in association with Elanco Dectamax and Kilco. Results - Halter led heifers: 1 W&C Gorst & Sons, Saltoke Sarah 14, £2,320, to K&DE Woodhouse. Non halter led heifers: 1 (Champion) & 2 (Reserve Champion) Drinkall Bros, Pennine Poppy 1023/Pennine Dorothy 408, £2,420/£2,220, to N&SJ Sanderson/S Forshaw & Sons; 3 J&JA Burrow. Non halter led cows: 1 H&SD Cornthwaite & Son. Prices - Dairy: Newly calved cows to £1,820 each; Newly calved heifers 2,420 (average £2,050); In-calf heifers 1,700 (1,550).Prime hoggs: Suffolk 94; Masham 78.50; Mule 83; Horned 80.50; Charollais 88; Cheviot 87; Texel 98; Jacob 74. Cast ewes: Suffolk 140; Continental 94; Mule 89; Charollais 118; Texel 132. Prime cattle - Heifers: Limousin 216.5 pence per kilo; Simmental 199.5; British Blue 217.5. Steers: Belgian Blue 153.5. Bulls: British Blue 217.5; Limousin 207.5; Hereford 164.5; Aberdeen Angus 174.5; Montbeliarde 174.5; Friesian 161.5.

Farm prices - Penrith Auction Mart

2:02pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Monday, February 20. Sale of prime stock and OTM cattle. Prices - Clean cattle: Limousin to £1,099.75 each, or 207.5 pence per kilo. Prime bulls: Limousin 1,309.38, 209.5; Black and White 1,151.88, 170.5. OTM cattle - Cast cows: Black and White 788.31, 111.5. Cast bulls: Black and White 1,540.62, 158.5.

Farm prices - Ulverston Auction Mart

2:04pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Tuesday, February 14. Sale of livestock. Forward: 942 prime lambs. Prices - Prime lambs: Beltex to £99.50 each (average £85.25), or 226.84 pence per kilo (average 219.72p); Charollais 102 (88.81), 225 (193.2); Cheviot 95 (87.25), 211.71 (201.23); Dorset 74 (74), 202.74 (202.74); Herdwick 83 (82.33), 212.82 (207.13); Jacob 85 (74.83), 208.06 (190.8); Bluefaced Leicester 97 (97), 140.58 (140.58); Mule 82 (77.14), 205.56 (183.34); Suffolk 105 (95.33), 208.82 (192.88); Swaledale 81 (74.31), 202.05 (184.23); Texel 99 (87.26), 254.67 (207.95). Prime cattle - Steers: Limousin £1,304.10, 202.5p; British Blue 1,517.10, 194.5; Charolais 197.5p. Heifers: Limousin £1,122.92, 209.5p; Saler 182.5p. OTM cattle - Cows: Limousin 158.5; Holstein Friesian 127.5; British Blue 136.5. Dairy and store cattle - Steers: Limousin £1,230; Friesian 865; British Blue 945; Charolais 1,085; Simmental 1,080. Heifers: Dairy 1,850; Limousin 970; British Blue 990; Simmental 660. Cast ewes/rams: Suffolk 140; Texel 105; Mule 98; Swaledale 85; Cheviot 97; Herdwick 74; Beltex 89; Bluefaced Leicester 110.

Farm prices - Carlisle Auction Mart

1:53pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Monday, February 20. Weekly sale of primestock, store and breeding sheep and crop. Forward: 85 prime bulls; 2,095 prime hoggs and 235 cast sheep; 234 breeding sheep. Prices. Cast cows and OTM cattle: British Blue to 189.5 pence per kilo; Blonde d’Aquitaine 181.5; Limousin 181.5; Charolais 177.5; Beef shorthorn 169.5; Holstein 147.5. Stock bulls: Holstein to £1,650 each; Aberdeen Angus 1,540. Cows: British Blue 1,470; Limousin 1,426; Charolais 1,385; Holstein 1,233. Prime bulls: Limousin £1,498, or 216.5p; Blonde d’Aquitaine 1,411, 205.5; Holstein 1,226, 181.5. Prime cattle - Heifers: Limousin 1,481, 225.5; Bazadaise 227.5p. Bullocks: Charolais 1,607, 225.5; Limousin 1,489, 221.5. Prime hoggs: Texel 123.80, 278.1; Beltex 119.80, 290.1; Suffolk 116.80, 219.2; Dutch Texel 112.80, 267; Greyfaced 93.80, 200.7; Rouge de l’Ouest 97.80, 259.4; Cheviot 92.30; Kerry Hill 79.80; Swaledale 76.80, 207.6; Hill Cheviot 217.1p; Blackfaced 206.2; Charollais 192.4. Cast ewes: Suffolk £145.50; Texel 124.50; Leicester 109.50; Beltex 99.50; Greyfaced 98.30; Charollais 92.50; Swaledale 85.50; Hill Cheviot 82.50. Store sheep: Texel 86; Beltex 83.50; Rough Fell 60. Breeding sheep - In-lamb hoggs: Greyfaced 150. Ewes (ran with tup): Texel 115; Greyfaced 102; Blackfaced 72. Ewes with lambs at foot: Texel 97; Suffolk 87.50; North country Cheviot 82; Greyfaced 73. Shearling gimmers with lambs at foot: Texel 84. Geld hoggs: Beltex 80; Blackfaced 58. Crop - Wheat: Mini hestons to £83, £81 and £59 per tonne and £16 and £15 per bale; quads £80 per tonne; round bales £72 per tonne and £16 per bale. Hay: Mini hestons £30 per bale, round bales £22 and £15 per bale. Barley: Round bales £16 and £15 per bale. Haylage: Round bales £16 per bale. Silage: Round bales £15.

Farm prices - Hawes Auction Mart

1:55pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Tuesday, February 14. Sale of livestock. Forward: 2 cull cows; 851 sheep, comprising 733 prime and lightweight hoggs and 118 cast ewes and rams. Prices - Cull cattle: Friesian/Holstein to 113 pence per kilo (average 111.6p), or £823 each. Prime hoggs: Lightweight 213 (191.1); Standard 224 (195.3); Medium 218 (192.3); Continental 224p, £98; Suffolk 209; Mule 209, 82.80; Horned 213, 82.40. Cast ewes: Horned £75 (average £55.31); Polled 109 (90.54). Cast rams: Horned 71 (69.33); Polled 79 (71.70).

Farm prices - Kendal Auction Mart

1:57pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Tuesday, February 14. Sale of livestock. Forward: 771 prime hoggs. Prices - Prime hoggs: Texel to £101 each; Beltex 90; Suffolk 85; Continental 95; Masham 85; Mule 90; Swaledale 79.50; Rough Fell 79; Scotch Blackface 77.50; Charollais 77; Cheviot 86; Herdwick 74. Cast ewes: Suffolk 118; Texel 113; Mule 100; Swaledale 79; Rough Fell 81; Scotch Blackface 74; Charollais 88; Cheviot 82; Leicester 88; Herdwick 60. Cast rams: Texel 140; Suffolk 110; Swaledale 89; Teeswater 91. Pigs: Boars 178; Sows 90; Store 55; Weaners 38.

Farm prices - Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart

1:59pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Monday, February 20. Sale of OTM and cast cows. Forward: 34 cast cattle. Prices: Limousin to £1,182.92 each, or 145.5 pence per kilo; British Blue 1,127.16, 142.5; Black and White 1,087.90, 139.5; Montbeliarde 909.78, 120.5; Hereford 675.63.

Farm prices - Bentham Auction Mart

1:50pm Tuesday 21st February 2012

Wednesday, February 15. Weekly sale of dairy cattle and rearing calves and evening sale of prime hoggs, feeding and cast sheep. Forward: 15 dairy and 93 calves; 4,420 sheep, comprising 3,887 prime hoggs and 533 feeding and cast sheep. Prices. Dairy (newly calved) - Cows: Black and White to £2,000 each (average £1,783.33); Red and White 1,800. Heifers: Black and White 2,200 (1,923.33); Red and White 1,600. Calves - Bulls: British Blue cross 415 (363.33); Limousin cross 252 (175); Simmental cross 255 (210); Aberdeen Angus cross 310 (266); Flekvieh 190; Black and White 240 (190.57). Heifers (all crosses): British Blue 340 (285.38); Limousin 280 (163); Simmental 288 (261.33); Aberdeen Angus 260 (162.67). Prime hoggs (less than 36 kilograms): Continental cross £87.50, or 250 pence per kilo; Suffolk cross 64.50, 215; Mule 65, 185; Horned 68, 194. (More than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 125, 285; Suffolk cross 112, 219; Mule 93, 202; Masham 89, 195; Horned 100, 204. Cast sheep - Ewes: Continental cross 155; Suffolk cross 156; Mule 105; Masham 91; Horned 93; Bluefaced Leicester 112. Rams: Polled 152; Horned 85. Goats: 47.

Grizedale warning as rally rolls in

4:10pm Monday 20th February 2012

WALKERS, cyclists and horse riders have been warned to take care when the Malcolm Wilson Rally comes to Grizedale Forest on Saturday, March 3.

Public forests are 'under threat again'

1:30pm Monday 20th February 2012

CAMPAIGNERS in the Lake District have issued a new warning that public forests are once again under threat.

Meeting to debate future of organic farming

8:50am Monday 20th February 2012

A MEETING over whether organic farming is in a state of crisis will be hosted by the Westmorland Agricultural Society at Lane Farm, Crooklands, on Wednesday, March 7.

Farm Prices - Penrith Auction Mart

12:53pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

PENRITH: Wednesday, February 8. Sale of Sheep: Forward: 4,653 prime sheep comprising of 3,893 prime hoggs and 760 cast ewes and rams. Prices: prime hoggs: Beltex: £123.50 per head or 300. pence per kilo; Texel 123.50, 299; Charollais 110, 262. Continental 98.50, 228; Herdwick 99, 225; Rouge De L Ouest 100, 219; Suffolk 106, 216; Cheviot 97, 216; Swaledale 82, 214; Scotch 87.50, 205; Mule 97, 194; Cheviot Mule 90; Masham 89. Cast Ewes: Texel £127. (average £103.47); Suffolk 124 (111,27); Bluefaced Leicester 117 (96.90); Bluefaced Leicester 117 (96.90); Cheviot 109 (90.82); Continental 109 (87.78); Lleyn 107 (79.83); Mule 100 (88.09); Beltex 91 (80.21); Blackfaced 89 (73.90); Masham 85.50 (85.50); Swaledale 83.50 (59.58); Goat 73 (62.92); Herdwick 55 (45.66). Rams: Texel £144 (average £114.29); Bluefaced Leicester 139 (110.91); Suffolk 136 (104.67); Swaledale 91; (67.13).

Farm Prices - Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart

12:46pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

KIRKBY STEPHEN: Tuesday, February 7. The Rough Fell Prime Hogg show. Judges: Mr P. Harrison. Sponsored: Rough Fell Sheep Society. Results - 1 Messrs Pratt, £80; 2 Messrs Capstick, £80; 3 Messrs Capstick £76.30.

Farm Prices - Kendal Auction Mart

12:48pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

KENDAL: Tuesday, February 7. Weekly sale of prime hoggs and cast ewes. Forward: 545 prime hoggs and 200 ewes. Prices - Prime hoggs: Suffolk to £105 each; Dorset 90; Mule 77; Horned 76.50; Cheviot 83.50. Cast sheep: Texel 125; Dorset 91; Suffolk 103; Continental 105; Masham 82; Mule 94; Swaledale 65; Rough Fell 88; Leicester 81; Herdwick 58.

Farm Prices - Lancaster Auction Mart

12:51pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

LANCASTER: Friday, February 10. Auction Mart Sale. Prices - Cast cows: Friesian to 149.5 pence per kilo; Charolais 179.5; British Blue 159.5; Stabiliser 169.5. Cast heifers: Friesian 167.5; Limousin 199.5; Blonde D’Aquitaine 179.5. Cast bulls: Charolais 144.5. Store bullocks: Friesian to £980 each; Simmental 1,240; Aberdeen Angus 1,160; Shorthorn 920; Stabiliser 1,210; British Blue 1,290. Store heifers: Friesian 940; Limousin 980; Charolais 1,100; Hereford 970; Simmental 990; Blonde D’Aquitaine 990; Jersey 710; Aberdeen Angus 1,060; Sussex 890; British Blue 1,240. Bull Calves/Stirks: Friesian 410; Limousin 180; Aberdeen Angus 560; Shorthorn 450; British Blue 295; Swedish R&W 240. Heifer Calves/Stirks: British Blue 260; Limousin 285; Aberdeen Angus 360.

Farm Prices - Carlisle Auction Mart

12:35pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

CARLISLE: Wednesday, February 8. Sale of cattle. Forward: 313 store cattle, 184 calves, 285 Weanlings and Dairy. Prices: Steers: Limousin £1,300; Simmental 1,275; Charolais 1,220; British Blue 1,170; Aberdeen Angus 1,105; British Friesian 1,075; Hostein Friesian 985; Dairy Shorthorn 800; Blonde d’Aquitaine 875. Heifers: British Blue £1,150; Limousin 1,065; Charolais 1,010; Saler 920. Bulls: Limousin £1,135. Calves: Bulls: Charolais £405; British Blue 368; Limousin 345; Hereford 325; Aberdeen Angus 266; Holstein Friesian 230; Ayrshire 145. Heifers: Limousin 348; Charolais 320; British Blue 310; Aberdeen Angus 285. Weanlings: Steers: Aberdeen Angus £965; British Blue 925; Charolais 925; Limousin 895; Holstein Friesian 810; Blue Grey 680; Simmental 665; Devon Red 610; Swedish Red and White 530. Bulls: Limousin £900; Blonde d’Aquitaine 900; British Blue 895; Montbeliarde 895; Simmental 855; Dairy Shorthorn 610; Holstein Friesian 675; Beef Shorthorn 595; Galloway 585. Heifers: Aberdeen Angus 855; British Blue 855; Limousin 859; Charolais 690; Blonde d’Aquitaine 660; Devon Red 40; Bazadaise 635; Saler 620.6. Dairy: Holstein Friesian in-calf-heifer £1,800; Holstein Friesian 1,650; Jersey 1,300; British Friesian 1,200.

Prices - Hawes Auction Mart

12:39pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

HAWES: Tuesday, February 7. Weekly sale of livestock. Forward: 21 Calves and 701 Sheep comprising 579 Prime and Lightweight Hoggs, 42 In Lamb Ewse and 80 Cast Ewes and Rams. Prices - Calves. Bulls: British Blue to £350 each (average £337); Limousin 340 (310); Friesian/Holstein 195 (125). Heifers: British Blue 250 (243); Limousin 270 (226). Prime hoggs: Lights to 203 pence per kilo ( average 184.7p); Standards 216 (187.5); Mediums 246 (182.4); Continental to 246 pence per kilo, or £98.50 each; Suffolk 196, 82; Mules 203, 90; Horned 190, 82. Breeding Ewes: Correct Swaledale Ewes, In Lamb to the Swaledale Ram to £102 each (average £76.05). Cast ewes: Horned to £70.50 each (average £47.53); Polled 90 (77.64). Cast rams: Horned 77.50 (62.50); Polled 99 (85).

Farm Prices - Bentham Auction Mart

12:26pm Tuesday 14th February 2012

BENTHAM: Wednesday, February 8. Weekly sale of Dairy Cattle & Rearing Calves. Special sale of In Lamb Breeding Sheep & monthly sale of Stirks. Forward: 14 Dairy, 71 Calves, 179 In Lamb Breeding Sheep and 176 Stirks. Prices - Dairy. Black & White: Cows to £1,980 each (average £1,730); Heifers 2,600 (2,009); Cows 1,850 (1,825). Calves. Bulls: British Blue cross 440 (262); Limousin cross 365 (300.71); Aberdeen Angus cross 282 (270.83); Black & White 295 (112.37). Heifers: British Blue cross 365 (298.25); Limousin cross 262 (202.40); Aberdeen Angus cross 255 (216.83). In Lamb Breeding Sheep: Ewes: Continental 142 (134.50); Continental (BM) 130; Continental 155 (139.53); Cheviot 146 (110.41); Scotch Mule (BM) 105. Shearlings: Cheviot 122 (121); Scotch Mule 148 (145.18). Stirks. Bullocks: Blonde d’Aquitaine cross 900 (798.75); Limousin 745 (612.50); British Blue cross 792; Simmental cross 460; Saler cross 625; Highland 440; Black & White 622 (548.54). Heifers: Blonde d’Aquitaine cross 765 (671.67); Limousin 815 (597.50); Charolais cross 435 (385); British Blue cross 800 (577.14); Simmental cross 650 (575); Aberdeen Angus cross 785 (584); Devon 400; Shorthorn 590(490). Bulls: Limousin 805 (656.11); Charolais cross 765; British Blue cross 385; Simmental cross 395 (390); Aberdeen Angus 570 (520); Shorthorn 380 (375); Gallaway cross 320; Highland 200; Montbeliarde 362 (356); Black & White 520 (356.23).