FARMERS from across the country and beyond are set to flock to the world's largest one-day sale of rams next month.

Despite economic uncertainty in farming circles Kelso Ram Sales still broke all records last year with turnover for the day just short of £3 million.

And hopes are high that the 4285 rams which sold in 2016 could be surpassed at the Springwood Park Showground on Friday, September 8.

During the 2016 Sales there were 91 shearlings sold at £2000 or more and 38 lambs at £1000 or more.

Top price of the day was a Bluefaced Leicester shearling from Messrs. Wight, Midlock, which sold for £12,000 to William Keir for his flock at Lancaster.

Three Texels went under the hammer at £7,000 - two of which were from Jack Arnott, Haymount, Kelso, firstly to Peter and Lynn Gray, Scrogtonhead and Messrs. Wight, Midlock.

His other sold to Stuart Barclay for his Harestone flock at Insch, Aberdeen.

The third at £7,000 Textel from the Grays at Scrogtonhead sold to Messrs. Cockburns, Kingside; the Jacksons, Wolfclyde and Messrs. Gibb, Toftcombs.

The top Suffolk of the day was from the unregistered Ring 14 from Messrs Warden, Skelfhill, Hawick went to Mr Davey, Rothbury and Andrew Walton, Preston Mains selling for £4000.

Not far behind were two Beltex shearlings from Neil McQuiston, Airyolland, Ayrshire both at £3,800 - firstly to Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Alnwick and secondly to Mr Knight, Cumbria who also purchased the top Dutch Texel for £3,800 from Mr S Wood, Woolhilloch, Aberdeenshire.

The oldest breed on the day selling since the very first Ram Sales in 1836 – the Border Leicester were topped By Messrs. Tennant, Gilmanscleugh, Lanark when they sold their top shearling to Messrs. Somerfield from Stafford for £2,100.

Since the first Ram Sale was held in the Knowes of Kelso in 1836 .

The first sale by auction took place two years later when 120 rams were offered, at prices ranging from £3 to £6 per head.

The £2 million barrier was broken in 1993 when 6000 tups changed hands.

And few would be surprised if another million milestone is reached when the bell is rung by Union Show secretary Ronald Wilson at 10am on Friday, September 8 for the 2017 Closamectin Kelso Ram Sales.