A programme to help English sheep farmers get the best prices for their animals has been unveiled by the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). The Better Returns Programme, which is to be launched this autumn, is a three-pronged initiative designed to bring £12 million (€16.7m) of benefits.
The EBLEX project, which has received a £1.5 million Defra grant, will help English sheep farmers get the best value for their lambs by through encouraging greater price transparency.
This will be achieved through the introduction of a comprehensive price reporting scheme, which will ensure producers know where to obtain pricing information and how to interpret that information.
In addition, a number of practical workshops will be run to help farmers select the lambs that best meet their customer requirements.
Acting chairman of EBLEX David Raine will chair the project steering group. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the English Sheep Industry and a real vote of confidence by Defra in our abilities to change and adapt to the ever more precise demands of our customers," he said.
"I am personally very committed to this project, and with the help of a steering group that I will announce next week, we will be working to deliver a significant and tangible benefit to a re-energised industry."
EBLEX strategy manager Simon Mead said: who responsible for the project on behalf of EBLEX, said: "We think that there is nearly £60 million for the industry to take, for an initial layout of £1.5 million.
"What we have to do now is to give people access to the programme and for the industry to respond in a positive and forthright way."