‘Time to focus on the sheep farmers’, says National Sheep Association, as it looks forward to its 2022 activities

Respected for working hard to ensure the security and success of UK sheep farming, the National Sheep Association (NSA), is keen to make sure that in the future, as well as the sector’s production methods and high standards being praised that sheep farmers themselves are credited for the role they play.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker explains: “People are the lifeblood, not just of our sheep industry but also our rural and livestock farming communities. Going forward, NSA is committed to putting people at the centre of all it does – sheep farmers, shepherds, and new entrants in their many guises. We want more people involved in sheep farming in the future, not less.

“I have no interest in our industry ending up with half as many sheep farmers keeping the same size national flock and I want to see our industry continuing to provide an accessible first step on the farming ladder for young people and new entrants.

“Our market structures and policies need to recognise the value of a very ‘human’ sector of farming with a high level of independence. To lose our social capital would be a massive own goal”.

After a covid-19 enforced absence during the past two years, NSA is now looking forward to meeting and networking with its members and the wider sheep industry as its popular NSA Sheep Events return. With NSA Scot Sheep returning at the start of June followed by NSA Sheep Event, the national flagship event of the Association, taking place in July there will be plenty of opportunity to showcase the nation’s sheep farmers and the work NSA is doing to support them. NSA hopes to see many new and old faces there!

More information on the work of NSA can be found on the Association’s website www.nationalsheep.org.uk. NSA relies on membership subscriptions and donations to fund its important work providing a voice for the UK sheep sector. For more information on how you too can support this work please visit www.nationalsheep.org.uk/membership.