NEVER in the whole field of agriculture has so much anger been felt by so many, and this resentment can be most visibly demonstrated by taking over the capital for a short while on Sunday, September 22.

Ten days ago, I stayed with my daughter on their Norfolk farm where posters for the march papered the countryside in profusion; and from whence I understand over a 1,000 school children are going to come and show their distrust of this Government's policy for the future of rural Britain.

Last weekend, I was down in Dorset and visited the village where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were arrested for drumming up support for the protest against the poor working conditions of farm workers 150 years ago.

The six ring leaders were summarily convicted and deported to Australia or New Zealand.

On reflection, this may be not be a bad punishment after all for those involved in this year's rustic insurrection!

On a serious note, and my wife has berated me for the somewhat tedious, humourless tone of this column in recent months; I think we are living in times as stressful as any for both the countryside and those existing in it.

If we don't make a stand now, we could well be washed away when the flood gates of bureaucratic regulation and public access are opened.

Gilda Brader tells me that there are still some spaces on the last train from York and anyone wanting to book please ring on (01377) 288315.

Even if you can't get, and feel that your views should be represented, you can register by e-mail and the address is www.march.info.org.

As a parting shot, I should just like to comment on a conversation from Tuesday morning's Radio 4 programme and, in doing so, perhaps make it clear that the march is not only about hunting but about a whole way of life which will come to an end if we don't do something about it. Anyway, the debate was between the chief executive of the RSPCA and Richard Burge, head of the Countryside Alliance.

They were discussing this week's public hearing which will investigate cruelty to foxes, and it did strike me that the whole of the agricultural community has been shouting for a public enquiry into the FMD scandal but to no avail whatsoever.

It is a bit galling to realise where we rustics fit in the pecking order!

Sheep Sales

Last Friday, we held the Mid-season Sheep Sale of just under 3,000 breeding sheep and store lambs. As with the early sale, there was excellent support and a good atmosphere in the market.

The sale itself was very successful and trade for both gimmer shearlings and store lambs would be up on the previous sale, but the trade for breeding ewes slightly down.

In the breeding section, Suffolk ewes would average just under £60 per head with the top price achieved by J & A B Byas for an excellent pen of Suffolk ewes at £77 per head.

Suffolk X shearlings were a very good trade throughout, with M & E Hall opening up with a pen of shearlings making £90 per head, shortly followed by N Caley Ltd who topped the market with two wonderful pens of Suffolk shearlings at £94 per head.

The average price for the Suffolk X shearlings section was £74 per head.

There was less forward in the Texel north and Continental X ewes section, although a pen of Texel X shearlings from D J Chapman achieved £85 per head.

There was a better show of store lambs, and in the gimmer lamb section, John Medforth topped the market with a pen of 21 Suffolk X gimmers making £51 per head.

G A Snowdon and Huttons Ambo Farms had a fine run of store lambs making £44 per head and £42.50 per head respectively.

In the ram section, there was demand for quality stock, with the top price of the day going to Carl Fawcett of 310 guineas for an excellent Texel shearling. Other prices to note in the Suffolk shearling section were as follows:

300 guineas C & K Milburn

300 guineas T B Hunter

290 guineas Anthony Glaves

We are now taking entries for the Michaelmas Fair on October 2 and, if you have any queries, please let us know.

Some seed from the drill

This week saw the rain cause flooding problems outside the new defence system in Old Malton and it did make me wonder how much we are going to benefit from all the upheaval. Certainly Richard Hopkinson of Yates, together with all the other business owners around Station Road, must be feeling enormous pressure after a summer of disruption.

For the authorities to close off Station Road for so long during the height of the tourist season really does seem pretty inexcusable.

Apart from causing every visitor/commuter a lot of heartache, it must be costing the commercial businesses a packet of money.

Why on earth couldn't the contractors involved with the Station Road work be made to complete the task in ultra short time utilising the full 24 hours in each day?

Challenge Deidre

On the visit to Dorset, we went to look at the local church in which I spotted this little tale and it appealed to my twisted sense of humour.

Sponsors were invited to support Deidre Sprackling in her attempts to raise £1,000 towards the church bells; and if the required sum was raised, the redoubtable Deidre would conquer her fear of heights by actually climbing the stairs to the top of the tower!

I couldn't help wondering, if we managed to raise £2,000 would she bungee jump down again?

Market report

After Monday's torrential rain, cattle trade numbers were better, with a total of 64 forward together with 527 sheep.

More clients are looking at the market, with Edward Hardwick back in town with two fine bulls, one of which made 126.5p per kilo, weighing 620 kilos, and sold to Steven Hibberd. Derek Beal's middle-weight bull made 120.5p a kilo, weighing 555 kilos, to the same purchaser.

Pam Gibson arrived, chauffeur-driven in the new Range Rover, to see her best bullock realise 126.5p a kilo, weighing 540 kilos, to Roland Agar. The beast in question was a trifle frisky in the sale ring and confined Aunty Pam behind the guard rail. Barker was observing from a safe distance.

George Marwood had a fine pen of heifers with a top price of 133.5p per kilo, weighing 555 kilos, to Steven Hibberd, with a 510 kilo heifer at 132.5p for Roland Agar.

Overall average for bulls, including black and whites, was 96.85p, for steers 105.91p and for heifers 107.75p.

The edge was just off the lamb trade on Tuesday, with an overall average of £97.97. Top price lambs were £48.50 for 48 kilo lambs from Gordon Brooke and Andrew. These were purchased by Norman Bramall, followed by Ken Harrison at Risborough with 45 kilo lambs to £48.20 purchased also by Norman Bramall.

Young Mr Jay from Ossett was accompanied in the light lamb section by Ali Shan and Harry Aslam complete with the light brown rinse.

Please note, sales of store stock will commence on a weekly basis as from tomorrow, with entries of lambs from John Malthouse at Silpho and cattle from Alan Tyson at Ayton.

Updated: 11:23 Wednesday, September 11, 2002