National Sheep Association is an organisation that represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK. It is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry. If you are not already a member of the association, find an application form here.
Who we are
Chief Executive | Phil Stocker |
President | His Grace the Duke of Montrose |
Chairman of the Board | John Geldard, FRAgS |
Hon. Treasurer | David Croston, MBE |
Registered Office | The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PH. Tel: 01684 892661. Fax: 01684 892663 |
Our NSA Regions and Trustees
NSA Chairman | John Geldard |
NSA Hon. Treasurer | David Croston |
NSA Central | Bob Payne |
NSA Eastern | Andrew Foulds |
NSA Marches | Mike Credland |
NSA Northern | Adam Watson |
NSA Northern Ireland | Samuel Wharry |
NSA Scotland
| Sybil MacPherson T.B.C. |
NSA South East | Bob Blanden |
NSA South West | Robert Jordan |
NSA Wales | Margaret Dalton David Pittendreigh Tim Ward |
Our Committees and Structure
As well as our Board of Trustees (the Management Board), NSA has a number of other committees feeding views from individual members through to every level of the organisation:-
- Finance and General Purposes Committee (Two English representatives, one Welsh, one Scottish and one Northern Irish, plus Hon. Treasurer and a Ram Sale representative)
- UK Policy and Technical Committee (Two English representatives, one Welsh, one Scottish and one Northern Irish)
- Breed and Industry Forum (All breed societies affiliated to NSA)
- English Committee (Three representatives from each English region, plus an elected chairman)
- Welsh Committee
- Scottish Committee
- Northern Irish Committee
- Six English Regional Committees
A copy of NSA’s Articles of Association can be found in the members’ area of the website, by clicking here.
History
The National Sheep Association was founded in 1892 and has been dedicated to representing the interests of its members and serving the sheep industry ever since. Its founders felt an organisation (the National Sheep Breeders Association, as it was then know) was needed to develop a forum for progressive breeders to discuss their respective views and improve the breeding management of sheep, but to also provide a strong and common voice for the industry. Over the next 70 years the association took on a broader role and its title changed to its present form in 1969 to reflect the more comprehensive work of the organisation and its representation of both pedigree and non-pedigree producers in all aspects of the sheep sector. NSA receives no Government funding or levies on meat or wool, relying instead almost entirely on the annual subscription of its farmer-based membership.
The Role of NSA
The remit of the Association is to promote and represent the sheep industry in a general sense to others. This involves the promotion of sheep and their products to the agricultural industry and, to an increasing degree, the general public, whilst also ensuring the appropriate political authorities in the UK, Europe and around the world, understand the views and predicaments of the British sheep farmer. This brings NSA into regular contact with Government agricultural officials and departments around the UK, each of the farming unions, the levy bodies, MPs, MEPs, European Commission officials, and a growing number of environment and welfare-based pressure groups.
National Shows
In addition to NSA’s own events (click here for dates), the association organises Sheep Technology Centres at the major agricultural shows – Royal Highland Show, Royal Welsh Show and Balmoral Show. These centres demonstrate information of interest to producers and visitors alike. They include live exhibits from breed societies, facets of new technology and sheep health, fleece competitions and other details on a variety of sheep matters, whilst providing a suitable meeting point for sheep farmers. NSA regions ensure the association is also represented at a number of regional and local events around the UK. This is an opportunity for NSA to meet its membership and for any individual to voice their views.
Ram Sales
The association holds five major multi-breed ram sales throughout the UK, each organised by its own working committee. The NSA Wales and Border September Ram Sale at Builth Wells is the largest sale of its kind in Europe, and is complimented by an early sale at the same venue for buyers seeking rams for tupping earlier in the season. Other sales are held at Exeter, Melton Mowbray and Rugby. The purpose of these sales is to offer prospective buyers the chance to purchase quality rams that have undergone a basic inspection by an NSA panel. Many of the sales also now include official breed society sales for a variety of breeds.