Looking to the future

A new era dawns for Darlington Farmers Auction Mart with the opening of its new market at Humbleton Park.

The final curtain came down on the old Darlington market at Clifton Road on Thursday and was followed by the first sale at the new market on Monday September 21.

The new facility is situated on a 75 hectare (186-acre) greenfield site, just off the junction 58 of the Al and the A68. It has been built with human and animal health and welfare, as well as energy efficiency at the top of the agenda.

The business is owned by mainly farmer shareholders and run by a board of directors, headed by chairman, livestock and arable farmer, Mark Dent.

Other directors include, auctioneers, Paul Gentry who joined the business earlier this year as primestock manager, store stock manager, Scott Ferrie, a bank manager, a lawyer and a vet, as well as more farmers, who between them, bring a wide range of expertise to the business.

The new market has two sales rings, one for cattle and one for sheep and indoor penning for 900 cattle and 5000 sheep with additional pens available outside if needed. There are 10 loading bays and extensive parking, lairage and washing out facilities, as well as showers available for hauliers.

Within the market building are 10 units available to office or retail rural and agri-business which will all be occupied in the near future, with the company’s own estate agents and chartered surveyor business, Vickers and Barrass, already working from the site.

The market will also be home to Dot’s Café, the 2019 Farmers Guardian Mart’s the Heart, market café of the year winner, run by Dorothy Macdonald and her team.

The café opens onto a function room which can be used by café visitors at busy times and will be available to hire for events and it is hoped, will be used by groups such as Young Farmers Clubs. There is also a smaller meeting room available for hire and Wifi is available throughout the building.

Given the site’s size and location there will also be opportunities for further development of rural and agri-related businesses.

The site has its own bore hole and boasts green credentials with ground source heating and solar panels on the roof plus a water treatment plant. Rain water is collected from rooves and used for washing out

Auctioneer, Paul Gentry says: “This is a really exciting time for everyone involved with Darlington Farmers Auction Mart and we are looking forward to welcoming vendors and buyers, new and old, and to hosting Beef Expo here next year, as well as developing additional sales.

“There is great access to the market by major routes from all directions and the facilities which are second to none, have been designed to make the whole process of buying or selling as streamlined and efficient as possible with animal and human welfare the priority.

“Covid-19 has made this a difficult year in many respects, but credit must be given to Chris Dodds and the LAA for keeping markets open which has been vindicated by the strong trade in the markets.

“As people began to shop locally butchers and farm shops have seen their trade double and this has helped to boost trade through the live ring and demonstrated just how important auction marts are to ensure a transparent and fair trade.

“At Darlington we saw a 53 per cent increase in stock numbers in June and July and August was 44 per cent up on last year. We are looking to build on this at the new market and we are already seeing new vendors and buyers from all parts of the country.”