DESPITE the problems being faced by farmers relatively few of them will be forced out of business by bankruptcy, David
Douglas, senior agricultural manager of the Clydesdale Bank,
predicted yesterday.
Speaking at Ayr Show he said the more likely cause of people quitting the industry was that they were fed up with poor returns and uncertainty over the future.
''I think people are making the choice rather than being forced out,'' he said.
With no immediate sign of an easing of financial constraints it was time for farmers to look at their businesses and find ways of reducing overheads.
The trick was not to cut costs that affected production, such as feed, fertiliser or sprays. Savings should be sought in areas such as replacement of machinery and buildings maintenance.
His own observation was that people were starting to come to terms with the reality of their situation and expressing a determination to find a way out of it.
National Farmers' Union of Scotland vice-president Jim
Walker paid an official visit to the show and called upon agriculture
ministers to demonstrate more support for the farming community.
NFUS president George Lyon would use next week's meeting of European agricultural ministers in Newcastle to lobby in support of the date-based scheme, Walker said. He would also be pressing for an enhanced intervention scheme to remove more beef from the market.
Walker said the dairy sector was now suffering the same sort of pain that had been inflicted on the beef industry and a recognition of their case for compensation for the strength of the pound would be of major assistance.
Ian Kerr, vice-convener of the union's milk committee, said it was unfortunate the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report into the way the Milk Marque selling system operated would not be published until September.
That delayed the prospect of change which could be of benefit to producers. At present the producer was the one getting a raw deal.
Given the downturn in prices for both milk and beef it was hardly surprising that the numbers in the cattle classes were reduced from the high levels of recent years, writes Dan Buglass.
However, the winners were of the highest quality, especially in the dairy lines.
It was a case of the same again in the Holstein Friesian classes with Alister Laird of Blyth Farm, West Linton,
Peebles, taking the championship for the second year running with his cow, Altona Lea Broker Emma. This six-year-old has so far given 12,000kg in 184 days and is projected to have a final lactation total of 16,000kg.
Laird also took the reserve spot.
In the Ayrshire classes,
Murray Stevenson of Sandyford, Prestwick, triumphed with his four-year-old Bankend Myrtle 29. She again was repeating last year's victory. She has produced 6117kg in 175 days. Stevenson also had the reserve winner.
In the beef section the Aberdeen-Angus classes were well supported and the champion, the two-year-old heifer Cardona Fiona, from Robert Galloway of Cardona, Doune, was one to really catch the eye.
Among the sheep, the Suffolks were highly useful with the champion being a gimmer from Jim Fleming of Hallhill, Carluke.
RESULTS - CATTLE
Holstein Friesian: champion and reserve - Alister Laird.
Ayrshire: champion and reserve - Murray Stevenson.
Aberdeen-Angus: champion - Robert Galloway; reserve - W&D McLaren, Netherton, Auchterarder.
Galloway: champion and reserve - Tracy Patterson, Kirktonhill, Lauder.
Belted Galloway: champion and reserve - Flora Stuart, Old Place of Mochrum, Port William.
Hereford: champion - Ben Welsh, Roundshaw, Cumnock; reserve - J&JS Douglas, Mains of Airies, Stranraer.
Highland: champion - M Montgomerie, Titwood, Kilmaurs; reserve - Tom McLatchie, Millerston, Mauchline.
Simmental: champion - Lachlan Quarm, Annick Lodge, Irvine; reserve - AJ Wilson, Westcroft, Kilwinning.
Limousin: champion - Brian Allan, Glenturk, Newton Stewart; reserve - Elgin Limousins, Whitehall, Stepps.
Charolais: champion and reserve - Gelston Castle Farms, Castle Douglas.
Belgian blue: champion - G Forsyth, High Bishopton, Wigtown; reserve - J&M Cartney, Currarie, Girvan.
Blonde d'Aquitaine: champion and reserve - TM Hope, South Brownhill, Strathaven.
SHEEP
Border Leicester: champion - John Forsyth, Glenside, Maybole; reserve - James Guthrie, Low Milton, Maybole.
Suffolk: champion - James Fleming; reserve - Iain Barbour, Beechgrove, Annan.
Charollais: champion - George McIlwraith, Stannock, Whithorn; reserve - Peter Hancock, Craigenquarroch, Stranraer.
Bleu du Maine: champion and reserve - Gavin Shanks, Bowmanhurst, Carluke.
Beltex: champion and reserve - John McIlwraith, Balig, Ayr.
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