News
Staff Member
Despite numerous problems in the farming industry, Stags Livestock Market in South Molton is still going strong.
It's a sunny Thursday morning in South Molton and at 9am the sound of sheep is unmistakable.
Apart from the odd rogue ewe on a mission to escape, the sheep are herded into their pens as a steady stream of farmers queue to drop off their stock.
Andy Jerrard, the livestock market's chaplain
Once their livestock is safely sorted out many farmers have breakfast in the market canteen.
At around 10.30am the auction begins, slowly at first as farmers finish their breakfasts but filling up quickly.
As the market ring gets busier Chris Clapham launches into the trademark auctioneer's patter.
Last Thursday there were more than 900 lambs sold, more than 350 ewes, 20 hoggs and one cow, not a record-breaking week but respectable.
The market foreman Michael Edwards acknowledges the challenges faced by markets like South Molton.
He said: "The market has changed markedly since foot and mouth and the TB crisis."
The number of animals coming to market dropped in the wake of the problems as restrictions on movement made it impossible to get to markets.
Despite those problems auctioneer Chris Clapham believes there's much to look forward to.
He said: "There has been money spent on the market, only last year they finished doing the roof and improvements have been made to the offices. So we're here for the long haul."
Many of the farmers visiting the market spoke confidently about the future.
John Gibson, 57, from West Middlewick Farm, near Witheridge, believes farming is becoming trendy.
He said: "People want to get out on farms these days. All these programmes like Lambing Live and Countryfile have glamorised our trade; farming's now a day out."
Mr Edwards was also clear about the need to encourage more youngsters into the market and farming generally.
One such youngster, Becky Peat, 22, works at the market and believes farming taught her how to work hard.
She said: "Youngsters are brought up today thinking they don't have to work very hard.
"I used to feel the same way when I was stuck at home turning hay but in the long run it's been beneficial as I now know how to work for a living."
Read more: http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Th...tory-21311358-detail/story.html#ixzz36EBKbHgS
It's a sunny Thursday morning in South Molton and at 9am the sound of sheep is unmistakable.
Apart from the odd rogue ewe on a mission to escape, the sheep are herded into their pens as a steady stream of farmers queue to drop off their stock.
Andy Jerrard, the livestock market's chaplain
Once their livestock is safely sorted out many farmers have breakfast in the market canteen.
At around 10.30am the auction begins, slowly at first as farmers finish their breakfasts but filling up quickly.
As the market ring gets busier Chris Clapham launches into the trademark auctioneer's patter.
Last Thursday there were more than 900 lambs sold, more than 350 ewes, 20 hoggs and one cow, not a record-breaking week but respectable.
The market foreman Michael Edwards acknowledges the challenges faced by markets like South Molton.
He said: "The market has changed markedly since foot and mouth and the TB crisis."
The number of animals coming to market dropped in the wake of the problems as restrictions on movement made it impossible to get to markets.
Despite those problems auctioneer Chris Clapham believes there's much to look forward to.
He said: "There has been money spent on the market, only last year they finished doing the roof and improvements have been made to the offices. So we're here for the long haul."
Many of the farmers visiting the market spoke confidently about the future.
John Gibson, 57, from West Middlewick Farm, near Witheridge, believes farming is becoming trendy.
He said: "People want to get out on farms these days. All these programmes like Lambing Live and Countryfile have glamorised our trade; farming's now a day out."
Mr Edwards was also clear about the need to encourage more youngsters into the market and farming generally.
One such youngster, Becky Peat, 22, works at the market and believes farming taught her how to work hard.
She said: "Youngsters are brought up today thinking they don't have to work very hard.
"I used to feel the same way when I was stuck at home turning hay but in the long run it's been beneficial as I now know how to work for a living."
Read more: http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Th...tory-21311358-detail/story.html#ixzz36EBKbHgS