Dungannon Farmers’ Mart has been at the heart of the local farming community for nearly 60 years. Established in 1958 by Edmund Wylie, Robert David McKeown and Wesley Morrow in Dungannon’s Market Yard, the Mart moved to its current location at Granville in 1987 and is now run by the Wylie family.
Always supporting farmers and the farming community, Dungannon Farmers’ Mart is one of the main centres of cattle and sheep trading in Northern Ireland. Committed to providing buyers and sellers with a fair platform, the Mart sold circa 20,000 cattle and 12,000 sheep in 2013, and continues to go from strength to strength by hosting pedigree cattle and sheep sales as well as car boot, poultry, home produce and farm machinery sales on a regular basis.
The Mart is run by George and Dorothy Wylie and their son Trevor, general manager Stephen Redmond and office manager Ruth Hamilton along with 15 part-time staff. It attracts buyers and sellers from throughout Northern Ireland and also has a strong customer-base in the Republic, especially within pedigree cattle and sheep circles.
“We are a third-generation family-run mart which has been a meeting place for farmers going back 58 years,” says Trevor Wylie, who joined the company in 1991.
“Our facilities are top-class, while our location just off the M1 motorway / Dungannon bypass means we can be easily accessed from any part of Northern Ireland. Our close proximity to the border also means we attract a fair few customers from the South.
“In terms of facilities, we have three sales rings, each of which has its own LED board, a state-of-the-art computer system, canteen, a large holding area and ample parking facilities. Our aim at all times is to make the experience here as pleasant and as hassle-free as possible for farmers.”
Dungannon Farmers’ Mart uses Newline Auction Management Software which provides all the information buyers and sellers need to know, from the weight and age of the animal and its movement, test dates and whether it’s from a quality assured farm. “From the moment the hammer drops, the invoice is prepared. All the relevant paperwork is ready within minutes,” Trevor adds.
Hundreds of farmers descend on Dungannon Farmers’ Mart every Wednesday for the cattle sales at 11am. The sales begin with bullocks in Ring 1, heifers followed by fat cows in Ring 2 and dropped calves, followed by suckler stock and weanlings in Ring 3.
Fat and breeding sheep sales are held every Thursday. The sales get underway at 11.30am.
Machinery sales are held on the second Friday of every month except for January, February and July, while car boot, poultry and home produce sales take place on the third Saturday of each month, with gates open from 7.30am to 1.30pm approximately. Pedigree cattle and sheep shows and sales, as well as horse sales and goat shows, have also become a regular fixture on the Dungannon Farmers’ Mart calendar.
“We have been holding farm and general machinery sales nine months of the year since we moved here in 1987,” Trevor explains.
“Since 2007, we’ve been recognised as the main centre for pedigree Charolais, Limousine, Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle as well as Charolais, Beltex, Rouge, and Ile de France sheep. We’re adding Blue Texel sheep to the list for the first time this year, and that’s something we’re very excited about.”
In addition, Dungannon Farmers’ Mart boasts a live export facility where livestock are checked by authorised veterinary inspectors before they are cleared for export. The facility is designed in such a way that the off-loading and onward shipping can be achieved in the minimal amount of time or without putting stress on the stock. The transportation is catered for by local company Grovemount Livestock.
George Wylie is the Mart’s main auctioneer, while the voices of Trevor Wylie and Stephen Redmond are also very familiar to traders. The well-known auctioneer, Michael Taaffe of Taaffe Auctions in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, is now hosting regular auctions in Dungannon. Taaffe Auctions have conducted auctions all over Ireland together with high-profile sales in England, Germany and Holland. They are specialist dairy livestock, pedigree and non-pedigree auctioneers among other things.
“We are delighted to have teamed up with Michael to host some of our auctions. He is a highly-respected auctioneer in both Ireland and abroad. Our association with him is certainly good for our profile.”
The Dungannon Farmers’ Mart report on May 18 2016 read: “A larger entry of stock saw Steer prices peak at £1,165 675kg Char (173.00), while Heifers topped at £1,140 565kg Char (202.00); Fat Cows sold to £740 590kg Lim (125.00); A large entry of dropped calves sold to £350 Her Bull and Heifer Calves to £300 AA Hfr; Suckled Cows and Calves sold to £1,875 SH Cow & Sh Bull Calf at foot; Weanlings peaked at £865 480kg Lim Steer (180.00) While Weanling Heifers peaked at £795 330kg Char (241.00).”
Trevor concludes by saying: “We have remained busy thanks largely to the wonderful and loyal support of the local farming community.”
Dungannon Farmers’ Mart
90 Granville Road,
Dungannon,
Co. Tyrone BT70 1NJ.
Telephone / Fax: 028 8772 2727
Web: www.dfm-ni.co.uk
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 6, July/August 2016
