With the present COVID-19 restrictions in place we are obviously unable to hold our AGM in its usual form at this time. There are a lot of points to be considered going forward as to where we would like to be in the next ten years. These will require quite a bit of thought and planning both from a financial and membership point of view and decisions may need to be taken now by the members to allow for a ten year plan to be put in place. With this in mind we will endeavour to hold our AGM in the usual format later in the year when COVID-19 restrictions allow so that members can have their input into whatever decisions need to be made going forward.
Earlier this year we decided to conduct an anonymous survey to ascertain the fertility levels of blackface ewes in our flocks. With the information collated we hoped to be in a position to gain some useful information into possible factors and management practices which may have a knock-on effect on fertility rates and which may help our members to increase the profitability of their sheep enterprises. 43 surveys were sent out to those members who have presented sheep at our annual sale in the last few years but unfortunately only 9 replies have been returned. I know that you are all busy lambing at this time but I would ask you to please take 5 minutes to complete the survey and post it in the enclosed return envelope.
We would like to take this opportunity to inform the members that we have been able to purchase another 100 hurdles this winter with grant aid from DAERA 2020 Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme.