NSA Northern Region’s biennial NSA North Sheep event is taking place in Cumbria this June. This industry red letter day will be staged at Millstone Moor Farm, Cockermouth, on Wednesday June 3, by kind permission of Neil and Sally Marston, who are noted for the quality of their Bluefaced Leicesters and North of England Mule sheep.

This year NSA North Sheep will be focusing on the current challenges and opportunities in the industry, and visitors are expected from all over the UK to make the trip to the Marston’s farm for this important industry event. There are in the region of a record breaking 215 trade stands, 46 breed societies and many entries for the Young Shepherd of the Year Competition which is being sponsored by Newton Rigg College.

“Bringing NSA North Sheep back to Cumbria after ten years is a great choice for the National Sheep Assocation as it’s one of the country’s most renowned sheep producing areas.” said Julie Sedgewick Event Organiser.

Trade Stand Highlights:

• Agrimin are launching a new product Agrimin 24.7 Smartrace lamb
• Nettex are launching their Sheep Conditioning Drench
• Rumenco are launching a new product Clean Sweep
• BEDMAX are launching a bespoke bedding for Sheep

Award winning Tup semen to be auctioned for the first time in aid of the #StayStrongStu campaign. Host farmer Neil Marston and his fellow breeders are donating Tup semen from two Bluefaced Leicester Tups to raise funds.  The first two doses of semen (one pellet) to be auctioned will come from Bluefaced Leiester Tup  - F1 Oakhouse, owned by syndicate Neil Marston, Martyn Archer of Carry Hose and Ron and Fran Wilson of Low Tipples.  The second two doses of semen (one pellet) is from the 2014 Royal Highland Show Male Champion, G1 Highberries Highlander a Bluefaced Leicester Tup, owned by Neil Marston and Martyn Archer.

Speaking in advance of the event, John Geldard of Low Foulshaw Farm Levens, Kendal and former Chair of the National SheepAssociation said: “NSA  North Sheep is a long established event which always proves to be both informative and interesting for all sectors of the agricultural industry and of course most specifically for the sheep sector.  Agriculture at the moment is experiencing varying amounts of volatility due to currency and other factors and this is event is a great opportunity for people to see exactly what the NSA are doing to support of the industry and to talk to representatives and officials at the highest levels.”

Julie continues:  “The aim of this event is for people to get together, discuss the latest developments and do business. We will be featuring a series of seminars throughout the day focusing on key issues.”

“CAP and Countryside Stewardship” will be discussed by Will Cockbain, Natural England, David Morley, H & H Environmental Adviser, and Alan Alderson, Farmer and Swaledale Breeder, with  hairman of the panel, Adam Watson.

“Sheep Health Issues” will be presented by Philip Skuce of Moredun, on Fluke; Stewart Burgess of Moredun, on Scab, and  Joe Henry of  Alnorthumbria Vets,  on farm and regional Scab strategies, with chairman, Matt Colston.

“Outlook for the sheep industry: visions for the future” will be presented by Phil Stocker, NSA CEO; Norman Bagley, AIMS; Tom Hind, Head of Agriculture for Tesco; and Rizvan Khalid of Euro Quality Lambs, on Exports, with Chair John Geldard.
Also presenting will be The Woodland Trust.

Main sponsors this year are Carrs Billington which is at the forefront of innovation in the supply of products such as compound and blended animal feeds, straights, fertilizers, seeds, animal health products, and agrochemicals, as well as services to sheep farmers.  Divisional Sales Manager Ian Oliver is keen to be involved: “This is the major sheep event in the North of the country, and a very important business platform for us. It is an opportunity to highlight the range and of products and services we offer to a wider audience.”

In addition to Carrs Billington, NSA North Sheep 2015 is being supported by many other organisations familiar to everyone in the sheep sector. The mainline sponsors for 2015 are BWMB & Campaign for Wool, Caltech & Scotmin Nutrition, EBLEX, Elanco Animal Health, Mitchell’s Auction Company Ltd, Rumenco & Nettex and Shearwell Data.

The event is also hosting the 2015 Young Shepherd of the Year contest, supported by Newton Rigg and Askham Bryan College’s. North Sheep is also home to the North of England inter-county shearing competition.

Julie adds: “On a more light-hearted note, we will be running a “Ready Steady Cook” competition which will show that our sheep-selling professionals can turn lamb from the fell to lamb for the table. The competitors are as follows: Grant Anderson, of Harrison & Hetherington Auctioneers; David Bowman, of Hopes Auctioneers, Wigton; Andrew Wright, from Mitchells Auctioneers, Cockermouth; and Chris Dodds, of the Livestock Auctioneers Association. The Professional Chef is Barbara Huddart, the Commentator: Anthony Skelton of Maryport. Mitchells of Cockermouth will be sponsoring via the provision of the lamb. 3 heats will take place, with menus revealed on the day.”

Also featured will be traditional practical activities such as dry stone walling, stick making, spinning, weaving and felting.  And then the domestic needs of the farm are not neglected with plenty of opportunities and to stock up at a traditional farmers market and craft stalls.

Tours of the Marston’s 650 acre Lakeland farm, which is home to the well-known North of England Mule-producing Highberries Crossing Blue-Faced Leicester flock, will be an undoubted highlight.

Host Neil Marston has been breeding sheep all his life, and farms with wife Sally and his parents Raymond and Frances. They have been at Millstone Moor Farm since 2008 and are well-known in sheep breeding circles. They hold the record for the highest priced animals ever sold at Mitchell's Market in Cockermouth, with  the champion and reserve champions at the Bluefaced Leicester sales selling for £8,000 each last year. The Marstons have also had success in the showing world, winning a Royal Highland Show championship with a Mule Ewe lamb.

In addition to the celebrated Highberries flock of the Marstons also have a small flock of pure-bred Swaledales, North of England Mule ewes, a pure Dutch Texel/Beltex flock and some Texel cross Mule ewes.

Neil said: “We are delighted to be hosting NSA North Sheep 2015. It’s a great honour to be welcoming the leading sheep event in the North England once again to Cumbria.

“Visitors on the day will see a working farm on the edge of the Lake District, and as well as learning about developments in the sheep sector.  They’ll also be able the unique geography of our farm – with magnificent views across to the Lakes on one side, and on the other across the Solway to Scotland.”

The last NSA North Sheep event was held in North Yorkshire in 2013, and attracted more than 7,000 visitors to a range of activities and competitions.