The North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA) has criticised the North East Combined Authority's rebrand to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, which shares the same initials, calling the move 'disappointing' and warning of a potential 'nightmare' for the association.
Long-Standing Name at Risk
NEMSA, which held its first meeting in Northumberland 50 years ago, fears confusion between the two organisations. President Willie Weatherson, a third-generation sheep and cattle farmer from Haltwhistle, said: 'It's going to cause a real nightmare of a problem for us. We have been the NEMSA for 50 years, I was at the very first meeting at the Greenhead Hotel. It is going to cause us major problems in the North East. We would like them not to use it. It is going to have serious implications in the North of England. It's unbelievable that somebody has tried to take our name.'
Scale of NEMSA Operations
Since 1987, all NEMSA lambs have carried official NEMSA tags ensuring full traceability. Only sheep bearing these tags can be sold through official NEMSA sales. The association's members use 600,000 tags annually, highlighting the scale of its operations. The North of England Mule, a cross-bred sheep sired by a Bluefaced Leicester ram with a Swaledale or Northumberland Blackface dam, is prized for its ability to rear lambs in harsh conditions with minimal farmer intervention, crucial for large hill farms in Northumberland.
Secretary's Statement
NEMSA secretary Charlotte Pye, a Lancaster farmer, said: 'For more than 50 years, NEMSA – the North of England Mule Sheep Association – has been a respected name within the sheep industry, built on the dedication of our members, the quality of our stock, and our commitment to farming families and rural communities. It is therefore disappointing to see another organisation rebranding itself as NEMSA. While we respect its work and shared values, those similarities make the choice of name even more concerning. When two organisations operate under the same name, there is a genuine risk of confusion, with people potentially assuming a connection where none exists. NEMSA's reputation has been earned over five decades through the trust of our members and the wider agricultural community. We believe every organisation should establish and be proud of its own identity rather than adopt one that is already widely recognised. As the saying goes, if you have confidence in your own brand, there should be no need to graze in someone else's field. We remain proud of the reputation NEMSA has built and committed to protecting the identity and heritage that generations of members have worked hard to establish.'
Authority's Response
The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority rebranded on May 18, stating it reflects 'the scale and scope of our ambition' as funding and policy decisions shift from government to the North East. A spokeswoman said: 'We don't want there to be any confusion, so we've been encouraging media organisations and partners across the region not to use the acronym NEMSA but instead say 'the North East MSA'. We're happy to reassure members of the North of England Mule Sheep Association on this, and at the same time recognise and hopefully throw some light on the good work they do for high-quality sheep breeding and farming.' She added that the Government confirmed the authority's status as an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority in March, bringing £1.7 billion of new money for the North East to invest in jobs, transport, skills, and local projects in both countryside and urban areas.
