Welcome

NSA is an organisation which represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK.

NSA is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry.

History
The National Sheep Association was founded in 1892. It has been dedicated to representing the interests of its members and serving the sheep industry as a whole ever since. The origins of the Association hark back to the 1890's and the pedigree sheep breed societies which were at the time beginning to come into being.

The founders of these societies felt that an organisation was needed to develop a forum for progressive breeders to discuss their respective views and to improve the breeding and management of sheep. In addition, and of paramount importance, the National Sheep Breeders Association, as it was then called, was needed to 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 organisation, involved as it is on behalf of all pedigree and non-pedigree producers in all aspects of the sheep sector.

The Association receives no Government funding or levies on meat or wool, relying instead almost entirely on the annual subscription of its sheep farmer based membership. It does, however, receive very welcome financial support from commercial concerns which work within the industry and support particular projects. The NSA is based at the Sheep Centre, Malvern where it owns its offices and a range of converted farm buildings. The Chief Executive is assisted by seven other members of staff and a further eight regional secretaries around the UK.

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 that the appropriate political authorities in the United Kingdom, Europe and around the World understand the views and predicaments of the British sheep farmer.

This brings the NSA into regular contact with Government Agricultural officials and departments around the UK, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, each of the farming unions, the Meat and Livestock Commission, MPs, MEPs, European Commission officials, and a growing number of environment and welfare based pressure groups.

On behalf of its members and the industry, NSA provides the Government and others with practical views and guidance in response to consultation documents which effect sheep producers.

Structures and Committees
The governing body of the Association is known as the Council - with nominated representatives from across the industry.

The Council has an Executive Board, with full delegated powers to act on its behalf, it consists mainly of Regional chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

To react to the variety of detailed issues now facing the industry, the Association also has a number of specialised committees, and members and individuals of the specific subject areas. These report back to the Council or Executive as appropriate to keep them informed on various issues.

www.nationalsheep.org.uk