Comment – where is the market at?

This week has been busy, although the lambing has officially finished there are still a dozen or so ewes lingering, demanding food and showing no signs of producing offspring. Come Tuesday, they will be loaded into the ‘sheep express’ and away to J36. If you know what I mean.

Elsewhere seed has been collected, and we stand a chance of getting something in the ground at the earliest date since records began. Oh and my desperate plea for rain was answered with a very satisfying 12 mm over two days earlier this week.

Speaking to friends in the trade this week, it’s clear that business is hit or miss currently. With deals evaporating, and also appearing from the ether in equal measure, this does make stock planning (in some cases) challenging. Not to mention the cashflow concerns for many.

Whilst on a green tractor press trip earlier this week (other hues are available), there was much talk regarding which sectors are investing, and what are they buying. The consensus from the motley crew of assembled machinery journalists and manufacturers representatives was mixed, to say the least. With dairy farmers and sheep and beef enjoying decent prices, the mixed farming world is doing well. Although the uncertainty around SFI, and the APR challenges from the government are giving customers cause for concern, which in turn isn’t releasing purse strings just yet.

We should look for some ‘green shoots’ in the agricultural economy, well the inflation figures are down, which may play out in reduced interest rates, but the BBC says don’t bet on it.

Likewise the Economist has an interesting piece on what the world economy could do if investors sell off US assets as confidence in the US economy wanes. Not pretty reading.

Despite the state of the world, I hope you have a restful and peaceful long weekend, and don’t eat too much chocolate, your cardiologist will thank you.

Andy