Spring and autumn are the two busiest times for us.
’The autumn is the busiest but there’s usually quite a lot of activity in springtime so we missed lots of possible sales,’ says Peter as we enjoy a cup of coffee in his garden at Ballagraingey Farm, in St Mark’s.
He adds: ’We had one sale and we asked only farmers who were bidders or buyers to come and we marked a one-way system, so that worked quite well. We sold 80 cattle and the prices were good.
’Some were for finishing but quite a lot were for future suckler cows. Now would be the right time to buy them to put them with the bull ready to have them calving next springtime.
’We also sell machinery and there are soon to be some car sales.’
When the Mart lost its site in St John’s a decade ago it had no permanent new location and the future was uncertain, but in 2012 the new Mart was built at Knockaloe and everything changed.
Peter said: ’The new mart is a great asset to Manx agriculture. Manx farmers were amazing to put money into it and the government gave equal support, so we are lucky to be able to provide a functioning auction mart.
’It’s a service to agriculture and we’ve got a great team: Roger Chadwick is the chairman and there’s Gordon Clague and Murray Cringle, and my wife Sheila is the secretary.’
Sheila is also the one in charge of a new website for the Mart which they hope to have up and running soon.
Their online presence is something which, Peter admits, could become much more advantageous in the future.
He says: ’Sometimes we put pictures on to show the type of stock that are coming to a sale but our heart is in trying to get people to come to the Mart and try and sell from there.
’We have had some private sales of cattle, but when someone rings up with an offer you don’t know if that will be the best price you’ll get or if you should wait and see if someone comes with a better one.
’There’s nothing better than everyone coming to the auction. When bidding at the ringside all customers can bid and maybe the next bid might buy the animals, or maybe just one more bid!’
Traditionally the Mart is more than just a place to buy and sell stock. Farming can be a lonely occupation and a visit to the mart can be a great antidote, a place to catch up and exchange stories with fellow farmers and friends.
Peter said: ’Lots of people do come and some people just come for interest, to have a chat and a cup of coffee - obviously we want as many bidders and buyers as possible, but it is a social gathering.
’After the busy autumn calf sales, we have the Annual Prime Stock show which is organised by the show societies: even the governor comes. Not only is it superb beef and lamb destined for the meat plant, but also young pure breeding stock which is judged with their young handlers. The animals go home for future breeding.
’There is a very popular stock judging event when around 60-70 young farmer members take part. They have excellent catering that night, the Mart is packed and it has become a very popular night.
’The last busy event is the annual Christmas Poultry Sale complete with the Crosby Silver Band, carols and market stalls.’
As someone who has spent his working life casting an expert eye over livestock to give them a valuation, Peter has a strong appreciation for a quality animal.
Ballagraingey has only 77 acres with around 15 cows and a small flock of Texel and Suffolk sheep.
He has pure-bred Simmental cows and one bull and some Simbra - his own Simmental cows crossed with William Christian’s Brahman bulls.
One delightful Simbra heifer has striking black and tan stripes and Peter points out a pure-bred Simmental bull calf he is especially pleased with this year.
Like all farmers he is dependent on the weather and the market which he reckons is in reasonably good shape despite the associated problems of Brexit, Covid-19 virus and the increased costs of living on an island.
Peter said: ’Those increased costs have temporarily paled into insignificance by the fact that our island life has been protected from the coronavirus and we have been lucky to farm and live reasonable normal lives safely.
’The Manx people have also been brilliant to buy Manx products.’
And he added: ’Rearing livestock is challenging. Manx farmers produce super products and most times do not know what the end price may be.
’Luckily UK prices have held up firmly and we are closely aligned to those prices, but we are totally dependent on our Meat Plant to process our animals when they are ready.’
As an institution that has been at the heart of Manx farming for several decades, it’s good to know the Mart is still around and in good shape to give farmers the best chance to get good prices for their stock.