Zanna Dennis on the importance of support.聽
The parting words 聭It聮s聽good to know you聮re not聽on your own聮, were said聽by two farmers as they聽went their separate ways.
Although the sale was long over,聽with buyers and sellers dispersed,聽the two had lingered to catch up and聽find out how each other really were.
But is that not half the battle to know聽you are not facing the challenges of聽the industry alone?
Working in a livestock market,聽alongside my role as development聽officer for the Livestock Auctioneers聽Association, I see the benefits of the聽live ring beyond the point of sale.
Many farmers will tell you that the聽visit to the livestock market will often聽be the only time in the week when聽they meet with others.
Making new friends, catching up聽with old, enjoying a mart cafe dinner聽and keeping a close eye on the trade.
A good laugh and friendly banter聽over a market gate can be good聽medicine however, many of our markets also offer a range of professional聽services and are uniquely positioned聽to support farmers with their mental聽health and well-being.
Crucial support
The support is crucial, as the聽industry has some of the worst聽mental health statistics which are聽result from working long hours,聽being isolated and under circumstances beyond their control.
Growing up I would hear the聽ringing of my dad聮s phone, knowing聽that as an auctioneer, many of his聽conversations with customers聽would go beyond business.
He聽would offer a vital listening ear in聽challenging times, but that is the聽privilege and responsibility we have聽as auctioneers working in the heart聽of our rural communities.
Our markets are supported by聽numerous agricultural charities聽such as, the Royal Agricultural聽Benevolent Institution and the聽Farming Community Network,聽alongside Agricultural Chaplains,聽who are on-site weekly to provide聽professional advice and support.
Many are volunteers, who give聽their time to our farming communities. As Meg Elliot, of Bagshaws,聽explained recently, during a time聽of need it is crucial to speak out聽and access help and support.
Over the past decade we have seen聽the development of Health Hubs in聽livestock markets, as featured in the聽recent BBC Countryfile at Bakewell聽Auction Mart.聽
Renowned for taking their livestock to the vets long before they聽would take themselves to the doctors,聽health hubs in livestock markets have聽provided farmers with frontline care聽delivered by medical professionals in聽an accessible setting.
It would be no exaggeration to say聽that such services have saved lives,聽with early signs of serious illnesses聽spotted and referred for treatment聽that would have gone unnoticed.
Additional benefits
If anyone should be in doubt of聽the importance of the additional聽benefits of the live auction ring,聽recent reports, such as More than a聽Mart by the Prince聮s Countryside聽Fund, have highlighted the vital role聽livestock markets play as a social hub聽in their local community.
This is a message that we should聽continue to shout about, especially in聽such challenging times.
And finally, to the large-scale retailers who are 聭proud to support British聽farmers聮, I invite you to come and buy聽in our livestock markets and support聽the places that provide a competitive聽and transparent marketplace for聽farmers to sell their livestock and also聽a place that offers critical services to聽support farmer聮s health and wellbeing.
Now that would truly be聽backing British farming!聽
Zanna Dennis
Zanna Dennis is the聽developement officer of the聽Livestock Auctioneers聮 Association.
Call 07930 115 838 or email聽[email protected]
