IT is crunch time for every farmer to take the first step in the change of support payments from production subsidies to the Single Farm Payment scheme, which comes into operation next year.

Farmers from all over Worcestershire crowded into the Hundred House at Great Witley, eager for guidance from the NFU's regional senior food and farming adviser, Andrew Richards.

Andrew, eloquent, and with his keen intellect tuned in to legal complexities and interpretations of points of detail, explained the frustrations in getting clear definitive answers.

It has clearly been a taxing job for civil servants to work out the administration of a scheme heralded as enormously simplifying the paperwork involved both for farmers and administrators.

They are accustomed to strict interpretations of fine detail rather than broader acceptance of ways of achieving a target.

At least the first job is vital and urgent on every farm.

That is to check and verify that the Rural Payments Agency has the correct data on which the Single Payment will be based. These have been clearly set out in detail on the SPI form posted to every farmer.

They show the areas of crops and the numbers of animals in the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 on which payments were made in those three base years. The animal data give the numbers listed under annual and special premium schemes and slaughter premium schemes.

Clearly, it is vital to verify that all the items and numbers are correct, by going back to farm records. If the Rural Payments Agency does not hear to the contrary within 28 days from the date they posted the forms out, it will assume that all is correct and will work out the Single Payment accordingly.

Hence the urgency to check and return the forms within the deadline, indicating any queries and amendments if they do not tally with your records.

Where farm output during the reference years was adversely affected by exceptional circumstances, one can apply to have 1997 to 1999 as the base years. Provision is also made for new entrants to farming and for changes to a farm business since 2000 and forms to deal with these have been included in the pack sent to every farm.

Andrew Goodman, county chairman, said that the NFU could help at one-to-one surgeries, but pointed out that what a group secretary could do was limited by insurance.

Young farmers in the West Midlands Region are being offered a cash incentive from Defra to diversify into a non-agricultural enterprise.

This was announced at a special meeting of the West Midland YFC Area committee at the Worcestershire YFC's Shires Farm, at Hawford.

Glen Gillespie, Defra rural development adviser on project-based schemes, confirmed that £50,000 had been provided, initially, for grants to match-fund young farmers' efforts to start or expand non-agricultural enterprises.

He said: "Up to £2,000 per applicant will be available, to match an equal sum, for a total expenditure of up to £4,000."

Lionel Hill of Feckenham, who is regional YFC president, explained how an idea he had worked on for two or three years had borne fruit.

"I had been looking for a way of enabling young people with practical ideas for starting their own business," he explained.

"It must be simple and uncomplicated and offering a wide choice. A modest cash incentive, providing 50 per cent, would bring a spur and encouragement above its monetary value. It is good news that Defra have come up with this incentive.

"Pauline Yardley, who is experienced in drafting business plans, has drawn up the scheme which we have called the Acorn Project."

Pauline, a former member of staff at Pershore College who now runs her own business consultancy, said: "Anyone interested can get more details of the Acorn Project from Ami Wardman, West Midland Area YFC, 69 Hartlebury Trading Estate, Hartlebury, Worcestershire, DY10 4JB. There is a top age limit of 35 years for would-be applicants.

"A simple business plan is needed to support each application.

"It must be clear that the business must be quite separate from the main farm business and not just supplementing it.

"For instance, equipment for sheep-shearing would be justified for contract shearing off the farm. In the same way, a hedge-laying service could justify a chain-saw, but it must be on a proper business footing.

"Food processing and catering equipment, conversion of an artist's studio, are further examples of very wide choices in diversifying from the farm business."

Robert Whiteman, YFC regional chairman urged a prompt and vigorous response, saying: "Now that we have the green light for the Acorn Project, it is up to us to spread the word and make sure that we get to the target of the £50,000 grant as soon as possible.

"We want to ensure that we have achieved this by September 30. So we must not put it on one side while we are preoccupied with harvest and other work, but give it the priority it deserves, bearing in mind that future funding will surely be influenced by our initial response from Defra.

"Other Defra regions may well follow, having an eye on what the West Midlands have come up with.

Markets

LUDLOW

Finished cattle - 422

A very strong trade indeed. Prices way above deadweight quotations for Monday morning an host of buyers around the ring. Best cattle were at a marked premium with heifers selling up 137p per kilo. Prices were as follows:-

LIGHT STEERS Best quality to 116.5p ave 116.5p; Also Rans to 100.0p; Overall averaged 100.3p.

MEDIUM STEERS Best quality to 120.0p ave 114.6p; Standard quality to 108.5p, 105.1p; Also Rans to 102.5p; Overall Average to 105.0p.

HEAVY STEERS Best Quality to 126.0p ave 116.0p; Standard quality to 109.5p ave 107.3p; Also Rans to 102.5p; Overall Average to 111.5p.

LIGHT HEIFERS Standard quality to 105.0p ave 104.5p; Also Rans to 93.0p; Overall average to 95.6p.

MEDIUM HEIFERS Best Quality to 127.0p ave 114.9p; Standard quality to 109.5p ave 105.8p; Also Rans to 99.5p; Overall average to 108.7p.

HEAVY HEIFERS Best quality to 137.0p ave 119.0p; Standard quality to 109.5p ave 106.0p. Also Rans to 99.5p; Overall Average to 113.8p.

Bulls

There was a critical shortage of bulls and a marvellous trade on the Friesians again. Light Bulls to 102.5p ave 88.7p: Medium bulls to 114.5p ave 100.0p; Heavy Bulls to 124.0p ave 105.7p.

Finished Sheep - 2,628

A lamb trade considerably better than many vendors expected. We have buyers from some 3,000 lambs each Monday without depressing returns and more could have been sold to advantage. Prices were as follows:

Standard Lambs to 121.5p ave 114.2p; Medium Lambs to 127.5p ave 115.7p; Heavy Lambs to 123.0p ave 115.0p. Overweight Lambs to 100.0p ave 99.2p

Export quality lambs to 127.5p and averaged 117.7p; Home Trade Lambs to 115.5p ave 114.0p.

The killing ewes on offer were a good trade with ewes to £57.00 and an overall average of £35.23. Killing rams to £48.50 averaged £45.00. Wethers to £39.00 averaged £37.00.

LUDLOW STORE MARKET

Store Cattle - 475

An excellent entry for July sold to a good trade as regards to fattening cattle. The cows and calves were less money but nearly all of the cows on offer were old cows and this was the main reason for reduced price. Cows and calves sold up to £835 and averaged £601. Fattening steers sold up to 173.0p per kilo and averaged 120.5p per kilo for all sorts to include a lot of red carded steers. Store heifers sold up to 129.6p per kilo an averaged 116.0p per kilo and bulls sold up to £186.0p per kilo to average 127.0p for all sorts including several Friesians and a lot of red carded bulls. Breed prices were as follows:

Charolais Steers to £768, £720, £650, £645, £590, £588, £578, £560, £544, £540, £536, £534, £528 (x2), £496, £470, £465 (x2), £490, £454, £448, £442, £435, £420 (Top 173.0p ave 132.0p).

Charolais Heifers to £510, £500, £484, £466, £445, £428, £420, £394, £350, £344, £340, £265 (Top 127.3p ave 114.5p).

Simmental Steers to £635, £618, £606, £560, £500 (x2), £490, £455 (Top 139.0p ave 126.3).

Simmental Heifers to £542, £444, £428, £422, £420, £410 (Top 126.8p ave 118.0p)

Limousin Steers to £695, £654, £650, £614, £584, £570, £554, £540, £532, £530, £520, £496 (Top 146.0p ave 123.0p)

Limousin Heifers to £600, £532, £530, £528, £440, £420, £415, £335, £330, £328, £300, £284 (Top 127.6p ave 117.7p).

Belgium Blue Steers to £545, £400 (Top 128.0p ave 124.6p)

Belgium Blue Heifers to £568, £540, £538, £530, £500 Top 129.6p ave 124.3p)

Hereford Steers to £645, £638, £632, £596, £585, £558, £540, £468, £390 (Top 129.0p ave 113.0p).

Hereford Heifers to £325 (100.0p)

Blonde D'Aquitaine Steers to £624, £570, £534, £530, £500, £490, £388 (Top 165.0p ave 138.0p).

Blonde D'Aquitaine Heifers to £600 (x2), £545, £530, £522, £495, £485, £484, £440, £398 (Top 129.6p ave 117.8p).

Aberdeen Angus Steers to £720, £420, £290 (Top 128.0p ave 119.0p)

Friesian Steers to £530, £480, £468, £465, £410, £385, £365, £330, £300 (Top 116.2p ave 104.0p).

Saler Steers to £624, £550 (Top 141.7p ave 130.0p)

South Devon Steers to £570 (114.0p)

Meuse Rhine Issel Steers to £558 (108.0p)

Murray Grey Heifers to £490 (130.0p)

The bull prices were as follows:

Charolais Bulls to £600, £545, £544, £530 (top 170.0p ave 153.0p)

Simmental Bulls to £668, £615, £375 (Top 146.4p ave 139.2p)

Limousin Bulls to £640, £600, £550, £548, £540, £530 (x2), £510 (x2), £498, £488, £480, £460, £340 (Top 186.2p ave 158.0p)

Aberdeen Angus Bulls to £480, £450, £250 (top 141.0p ave 132.0p)

Blonde D'Aquitaine Bulls to £628, £558, £438 (Top 180.0p ave 123.2p)

Friesian Bulls to £400, £370, £350, £334, £242, £235, £225, £212, £150 (Top 121.1p ave 100.0p).

Saler bulls to £482 (171.0p)

Red Poll Bulls to £310 (128.6p)

Jersey Bulls to £400 (98.5p)

Brown Swiss Bulls to £350 (109.3p

Store Sheep - 1,311

The first of the sales of breeding ewes for the season attracted an excellent contingent of buyers and a trade, which would be in front of that reported elsewhere.

There was plenty of competition on the yearlings between £70.00 and £80.00 with yearlings selling up to £86.00 and averaging £77.00 right the way through. Two year old ewes sold to£68.50 and three year old ewes to £63.00 and four year old ewes to £65.00 and five year old ewes and stock ewes to £51.50. There was virtually a total clearance. The prize winners in the show classes were:

Best pen of 10 or more ewes of any type

1st H E Jones, Worrals Grove; 2nd & 3rd J Sevenoaks and Son, Greidol

As regards store lambs there was plenty of competition. Lambs sold up to £40.00 and an overall average of £37.97. All of the lambs on offer were either small or medium weight lambs. There was a total clearance. More needed. The next sale of store sheep is on Friday July 30, 2004 and the following sale is on August 13, 2004.

Calves 25

Another super trade on calves with a top price of £276 for an excellent Charolais bull. Heifers continue to go from strength to strength peaking at £152 for a Limousin. Prices were as follows: Charolais bulls to £276, £210, £208, £178, £175; heifers to £144, £138, £132, £50; Limousin bulls to £248, £226; heifers to £152, Simmental bulls to £226, £170, £162; Blonde D'Aquitaine bulls to £216; Friesian bulls £94, £68, £58, £40. Weanlings: Fresian bulls to £180, £70. The next sale of calves is this Friday, July 30, 2004 and the next will be on Friday August 13, 2004 at 11.45am.

ROSS

Nos cattle 359. Nos Sheep 2770

CLEAN CATTLE (196 forward)

STEERS overall average 112.53. Medium 15 - 118.0 Max, 110.0 Ave; Heavy 87- 135.5 Max, 113.0 Ave

HEIFERS overall average 111.44 Medium 15 - 125.0 Max, 110.1 Ave; Heavy 57 - 140.0 Max, 111.8 Ave.

YOUNG BULLS overall average 104.62p Medium 18 - 116.5 Max, 105.2 Ave; Heavy 10 - 115.0 Max, 103.6 Ave

DAIRY CATTLE (13 forward)

Calves Heifers 700 Max, Calved Cows 680 Max, In Calf Heifers 680 Max.

CALVES (150 forward)

BULL CALVES

Friesian 110 Max, Continental Cross 258 Max, Hereford Cross 195 Max.

HEIFER CALVES Continental Cross 195 Max, Hereford Cross 140 Max.

LAMBS (2,344 forward) Overall average 114.67. Standard 645 - 121.0 Max, 115.8 Ave; Medium 1572 - 121.4 Max, 114.2 Ave; Heavy 127 - 111.7 Max, 110.0 Ave.

CULL EWES 426 - £56.50 Max, £32.35 Ave.

WORCESTER

Cattle 147

STEERS (500-695k) Premium 116.4, Prime 106.4, Others 92.0; HEIFERS (480-650kg) Premium 114.7, Prime 104.8, Others 97.6. YOUNG BULLS (450-550kg) Prime 85.3.

LAMBS 2,046

LAMBS (30.5-36kg) Premium 118.8, Prime 111.3. LAMBS (36.5-43kg) Premium 119.4, Prime 112.5. LAMBS (43.5-48kg) Prime 110.0.

Ewes 479 average £37.50.