ULSTER Unionist MLA and vice chairman of the Assembly's Agriculture and Rural Development committee, Tom Elliott, has suggested that he and his fellow committee members commence preparing a submission for the forthcoming review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), or so-called 'Health Check'.
He said that the recently devolved Assembly must send a "unified and clear" message to the commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel, as to its vision for the future of the local agricultural sector.
"The 2008/2009 CAP review or 'health check' is an important opportunity for the province's agricultural sector to give its verdict of the CAP as it currently stands and outline what is needed for the future."
Surrey scare hangs over mart
AT THE first sale held in Northern Ireland since the dreaded disclosures of a Foot and Mouth outbreak in Surrey and on a day when there were more questions than answers, cattle prices continued on the same vein as the previous week.
Heifers: Pascal McConnell, Victoria Bridge 390kg £605; 440kg £605; 500kg £600; P McDermott, Greencastle 500kg £630; Samuel Caldwell, Killen 430kg £605; 420kg £580; 440kg £550; 420kg £485; Martin O'Kane, Drumquin 540kg £615; K McCullagh, Loughmacrory 440kg £512, 340kg £397; 370kg £440; Albert Irwin, Drumquin 450kg £500, 410kg £450; M Wallace, Drumlegagh 480kg £518; Kevin Lennon, Tulnacross 470kg £495, 440kg £460, 410kg £450; Bruce Irwin, Kesh 440kg £455; J F Houston, Newtownstewart 440kg £490; G&M McCauley, Drumquin 490kg £505, 440kg £455, 480kg £500; Geo Hamilton, Curryfree 480kg £485; P J Montague, Carrickmore 390kg £440; A Brimstone, Kesh 410kg £430.
Bullocks: Eugene Donaghy, Loughmacrory 655kg £745, 555kg £642, 570kg £610; Kesh farmer 610kg £722; Raymond Kee, Strabane 620kg £716, 630kg £695, 570kg £650, 555kg £612; Hugh Colton, Dromore 620kg £698, 610kg £662, 615kg £650; Wm Moore, Drumquin 640kg £660, 630kg £640.
Excellelnt trade at Gortin mart
A VERY large entry of sheep at Gortin mart met an excellent trade. Fat lambs topped £62. Fat ewes £53.50 with hoggets selling to £95.
Fat Lambs: K Telford £62(271/2kg); Mrs E Telford £61.20(33k); E Telford £59.20(261/4kg); S Bothwell £57.50(29kg); C Smyth £55.80(25kg); J Patterson £55.80(27kg); C Kee £55.50(24kg); A Mitchell £54(231/2kg); J McBride £53.50(22kg); B Henry £53(231/4kg); J McCrystal £52.50(22kg); M McKeown £52.50(221/2kg); J Hunter £52.50(24kg); M Donaghey £54(24kg); W Robinson £54(24kg); D Morrow £53.80(24kg); H Speers £53(221/4kg); L Porter £54.50(24kg); G Doherty £53.50(22kg); M McKinley £53.20(251/4kg); S McBride £53.20(223/4kg); R Scott £51.80(22kg); D McFarland £51.50(21kg); G Logan £50.80(213/4kg); M McCullagh £54.80(25kg); S Patterson £53(231/4kg); B Nethery £52.80(22kg); G Hamilton £52(221/2kg); P McGirr £51.80(211/2kg); R Hamilton £50.80(22kg); B Carolan £50.50(22kg).
Fat Ewes: K Telford £53.50; B Nethery £47.50; G McCorraghan £47; C Kee £41.80; M Bradley £39.50.
Store Lambs sold to £40.50.
