Focus on future of sheep farming

As many as 10,000 people are anticipated at the National Sheep Association’s (NSA), northern biennial one day event, NSA North Sheep 2013, at Crimple Head Farm, Beckwithshaw, on Wednesday, June 5.

A seminar programme designed to take an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities the industry faces in the future are at the heart of the event. Topics being covered include sustainable farming and Common Agricultural Policy reform in the Uplands and a flock health update to provide advice on how to eradicate Scab, Schmallenberg and Fluke.

A session with speaker David Thornton will look at matching bought-in nutrition with a farm’s own resources and a programme of practical activities will support an ‘Opportunities for Young Entrants’ seminar which 12 local schools have been invited to attend.

Event organiser Julie Sedgewick said: “We are delighted this year’s NSA North Sheep 2013 will be held in one of the UK’s most important sheep producing regions. This year will be very much focusing on the way ahead for the British sheep industry here in the North and how farmers can improve both their business efficiencies and maximise opportunities for the younger generation.”

Landowners J M Wilson and Sons are opening up their 1,000-acre farm for the event. The Wilson family has its own flocks of 1,000 horned Dalesbred ewes and 300 Masham and Mule ewes.

The family is a keen supporter of the NSA and David Wilson is chairman of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association. They will give visitors the chance to take a 30-minute tour of the farm by trailer. Yorkshire-themed refreshments such as real ale, pork pies from Kendalls Butchers and flapjacks from Park View Bakery, both in nearby Pateley Bridge, will be served at the halfway stage of the trip and there will be more for gastronomes at a farmers’ market organised by the Northern Dales Farmers Market.

In keeping with this foodie theme, a Ready Steady Cook style showdown between amateur chefs will feature prime local lamb, selected and purchased at Skipton’s CCM Auctions. Heat One will be between Ted Ogden from Craven Cattle Marts and Ian Smith from Wharfedale Farmers Mart with a professional chef from Harrogate College assisting novices. Heat two will be between lamb buyers, Andrew Atkinson and Stephen Maskill, with a different professional chef from Harrogate College assisting.

The winners of each heat will have to impress once more by cooking up a different dish for the final which will be judged by a secret celebrity chef. Prize money will be donated to the amateur chef’s chosen charity.

A series of more traditional competitions are also planned. New to the event this year is a sheep shearing challenge sponsored by the Bradford-based British Wool Marketing Board which will pit pre-invited shearers and all North of England shearing champions against one another with a handpiece donated by W M Horner and £200 the winner’s reward.

Tickets are £12 for adults and children under 16 are admitted free. For more information, contact event organiser Julie Sedgewick on 07836773888 or visit www.northsheep.org.uk