Meat Marketing

Report on a Nuffield Farming Scholarship study visit to the united Kingdom and other European countries, 18 February to 8 August 1980.

Topics of Study:

1. Marketing of lamb
2. The role of producer co-operatives
3. The management of sheep at high levels of prolificacy
4. Agricultural training at a regional level
5. The European Common Market and its effect on agricultural trade

Introduction:

During my studies, I was able to visit or stay on 57 farms. This included six in France and four in Denmark. Most of the farms ran some sheep, but these were rarely the main enterprise.

I had 26 appointments with one or more persons regarding meat marketing and 14 meetings or visits to co-operatives. This included three in France and one each in Holland, Denmark and West Germany.

I had five meetings on agricultural training and 16 other meetings relating to agriculture. I visited the International Wool Secretariat at Ilkley and in London, and the British Wool Marketing Board in Bradford.

E.E.C.:

With four other Nuffield Scholars, I attended a two day briefing on the European Economic Community at Wye College in Kent at the Centre for European Agricultural Studies. Time was also spent –

1. Two and a half days in Brussels with the four Nuffield Scholars and Capt. John Stewart, our Nuffield director, studying aspects of the E.E.C. Corrrrnission.
2. Three days at the Royal Agricultural Show at Stanleigh.
3. One day Roskilda Agricultural, Denmark.
4. Two and a half days at a seminar organised by the Southern Counties Sheep Breeders Group at the Royal Veterinary College, Potters Bar, London.
5. One day Sheep 80 Melvern, organised by the National Sheep Association.