As the new year begins the National Sheep Association (NSA) is looking ahead at its overarching priorities, setting out a series of commitments for 2022 to ensure security and success for the industry it works hard to protect.

With 2022 set to offer some real opportunities for UK sheep farming but some equally impactful threats, NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker explains the Association’s focus for the year ahead and is keen to give emphasis to the role the farmer has to play. He says: “NSA will, of course, continue to work in all topics relating to sheep farming in 2022, but I feel strongly that the coming year needs a focus on sheep farmers themselves.

 

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1. Work to ensure the UK hospitality sector improves its loyalty to sourcing of UK produced lamb.
2. Work to raise the profile of UK lamb and mutton and wool as a meat/fibre of choice, and support domestic retailers to maintain loyalty to UK sourcing.
3. Support efforts to get UK lamb into the US and other export destinations– particularly at premium level.
4. Continue to make an asset of the UK’s sheep breed and product diversity through NSA’s British Heritage Sheep and continue to support British Wool in its efforts to add value and develop provenance.
5. Continue to work on sustainability measurements to raise the reputation of sheep farming.
6. In England specifically, to ensure sheep farmers have the opportunity to replace BPS reductions through the transition to payment for public goods and other publicly funded incentives.
7. Continue to work in partnership with others to improve sheep health and disease control in a practical way. To encourage responsible vet medicine use and to guide future traceability services and policy. 
8. Continue to develop the Register of Sheep Advisors, in order to support sheep farmers seeking advice through changing times.