Farming Scotland Magazine (November - December Issue 2021)

Proud to support Scottish farming, and agriculture throughout the five nations

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

ATV’s Diet Feeders LAMMA 2022 Farm Security Scottish Speciality Food Show World Farming Jersey

Farm Diversification A Christmas Guide Travel Scotland The Isle of Arran

Made in Scotland Goats Galore!

Flavour of Scotland Hampers and Rum

Upcycling for Christmas Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre plus

£3.50 December 2021

Articles Going Green Art of the Chainsaw Johne’s Disease

Northern Isles • Scottish Country Life Farmhouse Kitchen • People Women in Agriculture • Beatha an Eilean The Book Shelf • Food & Drink including our regular news areas and columns

contents

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December 2021

38

34

Features

Travel Scotland

13

58

Scottish Speciality Food Show 24 ATV’s 38 Farm Security 44 Diet Feeders 60 Lamma 2022

Articles 18 23 88

Going Green Johne’s Disease Art of the Chainsaw

Flavour of Scotland 14

Luxury Hampers and Rum

Food & Drink 16

Promoting Farm Shops

World Farming 30 Jersey

Trainview Talk 70 A Livestock Diary

Case Study

34 Goats Galore!

Farm Diversification A Christmas Guide

Northern Isles 54 Stories from Orkney & Shetland

All Editorial & PR enquiries EDITOR Athole Murray Fleming Tel. 01738 639747 E-mail: mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Upcycling for Christmas 128 Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre

People on the Move 130 Who’s going where?

83 Essential ATV’s for livestock farmers

Women in Agriculture 90 Being Tech Savvy

Book Serialisation 100 Final part: The Cairngorms

Beatha an Eilean 102 Life on the Islands

Made in Scotland

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The Isle of Arran

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Scottish Country Life 103 With Linda Mellor

The Book Shelf 104 Two book reviews

Farmhouse Kitchen 105 Pot Roast Goat

All Advertising & Editorial enquiries ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Athole Murray Fleming Tel. 01738 639747 E-mail: mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

News Areas

6 Arable & Root Crops 20 Environment 29 People 32 Technology 36 Renewable Energy 56 Young Farmers 71 Livestock 79 Pigs 80 Dairy 84 Sheep 87 Equine 92 Estate 96 Forestry 99 Finance 106 Machinery 125 Events

Columns

6 Editor’s Bit 9 James Hutton Institute 11 R.S.A.B.I. 15 Scotland the Brand 17 Scottish Government 21 Farming for the Climate 33 Farm Advisory Service 37 Crofting

ADVERTISING MANAGER Barry Tweed Tel. 07547 588401 Email: barry@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

89 57 76 78 85 87 91 93 95 98 99

Next Generation Quality Meat Scotland The Vet National Sheep Association NFU Scotland Southern Belle Scottish Land & Estates Conservation Matters Scottish Forestry The Money Man

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COVER IMAGE: Concept of the environment”

by Romolo Tavani

ADVERTISING MANAGER Trevor Knights Tel. 01738 447378 Email: trevor.knights@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Fleming Email: christina@atholedesign.com COPYRIGHT This publication has been produced and published by ATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD who are the copyright owners. No reproduction, copying, image scanning, storing or recording of any part of this publication without the permission of ATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD. Contents disclaimer: FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is not responsible for any factual inaccuracies within press information supplied to us. Any concerns regarding such matters should be directed to the supplier of the materials.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is designed, produced and published by Athole Design & Publishing Ltd., Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland PH2 7BU. Tel. 01738 639747 est 1994

ISSN: 2041–918X

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arable & root crops editor's bit Time to shout louder?

I would like to say that I am looking ahead to better times in 2022, but that may be wishful thinking.

Yes, more events should be taking place (fingers crossed), but another challenging year beckons for our agricultural industry, of that I have no doubt.

In my opinion the UK is being governed by career politicians who don’t have a clue of what is required in the real world of farming and agriculture.

A perfect example is the utter ignorance of how many EU workers our industry needs.

30,000 is a pathetic number being quoted when you consider that Scotland alone needs that number annually.

Do they really know or care what size agriculture is on these islands?

I ask, because when a cabinet member is ‘surprised’ that Dover is so important to our exports to Europe and beyond, I have to wonder what kind of idiots are running things in Downing Street.

And seeing farmers weeping on TV because of Brexit after voting for it, then to quote “We thought it was our patriotic duty”, is equally as stupid and doesn’t help either.

On a personal level, I detest Brexit and all that it has done to our relationship with the rest of Europe, but look ahead I must.

I look ahead to 2022 with hope that our agricultural leaders at least, stand up and shout loud for the industry and their role in feeding the nations of these islands.

The alternative, if left to the Gnomes of Downing Street is not worth thinking about.

Slàinte, Athole.

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Optimise crop nutrition to maximise yields Arable farmers should consider applying micronutrients and biostimulants to their winter and spring crops this year, to get them off to the best possible start and make the most of declining available chemistry.

Although it’s easy to focus on the key nutrients: Nitrogen, phosphate and potash, none will be effective unless the micronutrient balance is right, says Grant James, sales manager at Micromix Olmix. “Micronutrients help macronutrients to do their job.

Unless the plant is healthy and has sufficient access to everything it needs, then both quality and quantity will suffer.”

Manganese in particular can be deficient in both autumn and spring as the crop starts to grow away, so giving a foliar application including manganese at three-leaf stage and tillering will prove beneficial, he adds.

Mr James advises applying Proplex – a mixture of biostimulants and micronutrients – at 0.5 litres/ha in the autumn; or 0.75 litra/ha if including

Amix manganese in the same mix. “Manganese aids in photosynthesis so is important during crop growth,” he explains. “It also helps with nitrogen metabolism, enables

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enzymes to make proteins, and is a catalyst to important biochemical reactions which improves the efficacy of fungicides and plant growth regulators.”

arable & root crops Bayer’s SpotCheck initiative is open for OSR leaf samples to check for key oilseed rape diseases Bayer’s SpotCheck initiative has opened for the 2021-22 growing season with a new, simplified sample pack request process. Oilseed rape growers and agronomists can request a sample pack direct from Bayer’s website. Leaf samples will be assessed by ADAS experts for signs of light leaf spot and other key diseases, with the results helping growers to adapt their fungicide programmes accordingly.

Light leaf spot is an airborne polycyclic disease, capable of several infection cycles each season. The severity and incidence of the disease

varies from year to year and is driven by weather conditions.

Temperatures between 4 and 20°C and wet conditions are ideal for infection and spread within the crop. It can be difficult to spot; tiny sugar-like spores can occur on either side of the leaf.

Rosalind Martin, Combinable Fungicide Campaign Manager for Bayer UK & Ireland says, “Fungicides perform best when applied in a protectant scenario against light leaf spot, so it’s important to get the timing right.

If growers can get identify the disease in the early stages of infection, decisions can be made

about fungicides in a timely way, to protect the crops yield potential through winter.”

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For more on the SpotCheck initiative visit: https://cropscience. bayer.co.uk/bayer-spotcheck/

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arable & root crops Buzzing about beans The targeted use of mixed legumes in agricultural systems could enhance yields while protecting pollinators, new research by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has found.

Protein-rich legumes deliver a range of agronomic and environmental benefits including providing a substitute to meat-based proteins for human consumption; decreasing requirements for imported soybean in livestock systems; and - by fixing atmospheric nitrogen - reducing reliance on inorganic fertilisers and supressing weeds and diseases.

In addition, legumes such as field beans and clover, provide sugar-rich nectar and proteinrich pollen, helping to mitigate pollinator declines.

However, their value to pollinators under their current implementation and management is questioned.

Researchers at SRUC looked at a range of nitrogenfixing crops grown as monocultures and mixtures and compared their performance in providing forage for a variety of pollinators, from bumblebees to hoverflies.

They found that mixtures did not consistently provide more forage for pollinators, with vetch and beans preventing lower-lying species such as white clover from flowering.

Instead, the use of targeted mixtures - using legumes which bloom at different times during the summer and have a variety of flower structures - provided

a more stable source of forage throughout the season and fed a wider number of species.

The study, which was supported by the Scottish

Government, Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust and Horizon 2020, was carried out on small plot field trials in Aberdeenshire and Midlothian.

Independent study confirms extra benefits from specialist seed treatment use

Even in the absence of soil diseases, results from a new independent study have shown that sowing winter wheat seed protected with the specialist SDHI fungicide seed treatment, sedaxane, can lead to longer roots, greener leaves and increased yield.

Conducted by Dr Tudor Dawkins as part of a master’s

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degree with the University of Warwick, the study tracked the development of winter wheat plants raised from treated and untreated seed on a sterile growing medium in the glasshouse, where disease could be excluded.

Compared with untreated seed, seeds protected with sedaxane, the SDHI in the

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seed treatment Vibrance Duo (sedaxane + fludioxonil), not only showed a trend to enhanced emergence in the absence of disease, but also a significant 28% increase in seedling root length, a significant increase in the length of the seedling’s first leaf, and a small increase in leaf greenness.

Moreover, the benefits from the sedaxane seed treatment continued long enough to give a significant increase in yield per pot, which was equivalent to an increase of 1.4 t/ha, Dr Dawkins calculated.

“The glasshouse tests revealed the rate of seedling establishment was enhanced where seeds were treated with sedaxane,” says Dr Dawkins.

“This has been observed in the field on numerous occasions, but in this instance the growing medium was sterile, so the enhanced emergence could not be due to the control of soil pathogens.

“In addition, the maximum root length recorded on 23 October for wheat seedlings grown from seed treated with sedaxane was 37.15 cm, compared to the untreated which was 29.05 cm. This was a statistically significant difference.”

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Portnellan Farm wins final NEWBIE Award for Innovative New Entrants Chris Scott-Park of Portnellan Farm, on the banks of Loch Lomond, has been chosen as the winner of the final NEWBIE UK award for New Entrant of the Year for 2021. Originally a successful organic beef business, Portnellan Farm now features a thriving water sports business started by Chris, with facilities available to visitors of the popular Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park area.

The European Commissionfunded NEWBIE project (2018-2021) explored business models for innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience in European agriculture. The NEWBIE Award was offered to new entrants in eight European countries including the UK. Since returning from university in 2013, Chris started a water sport business at Portnellan Farm, diversifying his family’s organic beef farm to include boat tours of Loch Lomond, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Chris commented: “I was surprised and delighted to have been given the 2021 NEWBIE Award. It is humbling to be recognised in this way as there are so many new, innovative and inspiring farm businesses out there and I really hope that by winning this award I can help to encourage other new entrants to try something different and to make a success of their ideas.”

Other finalists included Ellie Banwell’s Scrumptious Garden, Sarah and Hugh Asher of Darach Croft, Bryde and Nat’s Falkland Kitchen Farm and Mhairi Player’s Berwick Wood Produce.

James MacKessack Leitch, of the Scottish Land Commission and part of the NEWBIE award panel, added: “I’ve been really impressed with the resilience and sustainability demonstrated by all of the nominees this year, and the breadth of innovation on show made picking a winner very challenging. Given the variety of business models being developed, the clear message for new entrants is that imagination, and a bold vision, could well be the key to success.”

Dr Rachel Creaney, Hutton social researcher, said: “New entrants to farming can face many barriers to start and establish themselves with successful farming businesses. Chris and all of the other finalists showed a great deal of innovation in how they have used their previous skills and taken on new opportunities to carve out successful farm businesses”.

The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading scientific research organisation working to resolve global challenges in food, climate, energy and water security. The Institute works in partnership with people, organisations and governments to enhance sustainable environmental, social and economic development to deliver practical solutions for our shared future. www.hutton.ac.uk

arable & root crops Tong keeps an eye on automation at BP2021 Leading potato and vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, and sponsor of the BP2021 British Potato exhibition, Tong Engineering, will be showcasing

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equipment advances from field to pack, as well as the latest technologies in automation and optical sorting, at the UK’s largest biannual potato event in November.

Exhibiting in Hall 2 at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, Tong is welcoming visitors to the company’s stand to discuss how the latest equipment developments can address the real challenges currently facing vegetable producers, by minimising labour requirements whilst maximising capacity and yield.

“Since the industry last met at the British Potato event the handling requirements of growers and fresh-pack companies have far from stoodstill,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “The priority for our customers to maintain efficiency at every stage of the vegetable handling process is greater than ever, and we have introduced several new product developments across our range during this time that are truly streamlining the potato handling process.”

As part of the company’s ongoing product development programme, advancements have been applied to its in-field, onfarm and packhouse solutions, including the launch of the new FieldLoad PRO mobile fieldloader, MonstaFill high-capacity box filler and patented E-Tip all-electric box tipper, as well as design updates across its best-

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selling range of washing and polishing equipment.

“An exciting advancement for the potato industry is the new internal potato defect sorting capabilities of the MAF Pomone weight grader. We have been the UK distributor of MAF equipment for over 30 years and we are very excited to unveil the new MAF-exclusive, patented IDD8 internal defect sorting technology for potatoes at BP2021.”

“The event is the perfect opportunity to meet with customers old and new to showcase the advanced handling solutions we offer as a dedicated manufacturing partner from post-harvest to pack. We very much welcome visitors to join us over the two-day event on our stand 211, to discuss their upcoming projects with a selection of tasteful appetisers and refreshments.”

Latest version of Haith’s Rota-tip to launch at British Potato 21 With over 170 machines sold, Haith’s Rota-tip range is the potato industry’s most popular box tippler, and visitors to this year’s British Potato will be the first to see the next generation of the class-leading machine.

The Rota-tip PRO, which has had a patent application granted, will take centre stage on Haith’s stand on 24 and 25 November.

The Rota-tip PRO features all-electric drives and a new mechanism to allow it to take boxes of varying heights, which will be clamped to ensure they’re secure and that the contents are not spilled during the process.

Haith has also added a powered rotation lid to the new Rota-tip PRO. In previous models, the web lid is fixed, but in the latest version, the lid extends just before the tipping process starts.

To make transportation easier, the new Rota-tip PRO has a narrower footprint than previous models. The 300mm difference means that the new Rota-tip PRO takes up less space, making it ideal for small packhouses and facilities.

Haith’s strategic partners GRIMME will also have a strong presence on the stand as both companies make their first appearance at British Potatoes since formalising their working relationship.

“As well as our team, who will be able to talk to people about our

RSABI urges people worried about heating costs to seek support

By Chris McVey, RSABI Welfare Manager As we come into the winter months, we’re encouraging anyone in the agricultural industry who is worried about heating their home to get in touch with RSABI. At RSABI we provide emotional, practical and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture, including help with heating.

In 2020/21 we gave grants of £21,000 to people living in fuel poverty.

With winter approaching and recent news suggesting energy costs may increase, we’re concerned there may be a lot of people out there in need, worried about their fuel bills and staying warm this winter.

As well as providing help for heating grants, we can also help by putting

Chris McVey RSABI Welfare Manager

people in touch with other organisations who may be able to help reduce bills or give grants to improve things around the house, such as insulation.

RSABI’s services are available to those previously and currently involved in farming, crofting and occupations involved in agriculture in Scotland.

There are bound to be many people who may need RSABI’s support but aren’t aware of our services. If you know someone who is struggling with heating, or you notice someone’s house is very cold when you visit, please pass on our number, and let them know we’re here to help. All calls to the helpline are answered in confidence.

We don’t want anyone to be cold in their home this winter. If you’re struggling to keep your house warm, please give us a call on 0300 111 4166 or drop us an email at rsabi@rsabi.org.uk.

You can find out more about how RSABI can help on their website: www.rsabi.org.uk. The RSABI helpline is open every day from 7am to 11pm on 0300 111 4166.

arable & root crops

class-leading range of vegetable handling solutions, we will have members of the GRIMME sales team with us as part of our strategic working relationship,” says Duane Hill, Haith’s managing director. “And, just like previous shows, visitors to our stand are guaranteed a warm welcome, and we will be treating them to some

of Yorkshire’s finest food and drink as normal!”

Haith Group has exhibited at every British Potato show, and once again, the company is one of the event sponsors as the company continues to support the industry and the potato growers that have put their trust in the company’s products.

Reduce the risk this autumn

A new tool has been introduced to help growers reduce the risk of water pollution and the loss of a vital post-emergence herbicide for pulses and potatoes.

Leading manufacturers BASF, Nufarm and Sharda Cropchem have developed the Bentazone High Risk Mapping and Planning Tool, identifying high risk areas through a postcode location search.

The tool takes the high-risk criteria from the stewardship guidance; soil depth, underlying soil/bedrock, organic matter and depth to groundwater, combined with Safeguard and Source

Protection Zones, to quickly and easily show the bentazone risk to water across the country. The aim is to help growers who may use the herbicide on crops such a peas, beans, potatoes, leeks and onions (and further EAMUs) plan now to avoid having a need to apply bentazone in a high risk area.

As harvest concludes and the challenging weather is on many growers’ minds, selecting locations this autumn that have reduced chances of leaching, strong soil organic matter and operate with a 6m buffer zone/5m no spray zone, will help contribute to a strong stewardship programme.

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Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is back!

Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is back in person, in Glasgow at the SEC from 23-25 January 2022. With a raft of interesting and innovative fine food and drink exhibitors clamouring for stands, this is a not-to-be missed event for farm shops, fine food outlets, delis, restaurants and hotels north and south of the border.

Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is back in person, in Glasgow from 23-25 January 2022. With a raft of interesting and innovative fine food and drink exhibitors clamouring for stands, this is a not-to-be missed event for farm shops, fine food outlets, delis, restaurants and hotels north and south of the border.

As the only large scale food trade Show in Scotland next year it is expected to attract many food outlets who are desperate to taste and see new products and re-stock their shelves for spring and summer. They won’t be disappointed as there will be some 100 exhibitors, both large and small, who will be showcasing the best Scotland – and beyond – has to offer. Farm shops will be able to source local produce and taste and discover many new offerings that have been launched in the last two years.

Scotland’s Trade Fair Online has been busy throughout 2021,

keeping 175 suppliers and over 2000 retailers in touch all year with a combination of an online product directory and live product sessions.

Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is more than just a buying Show, it will also have Best Product Awards judged by industry professionals, workshops, talks from experts, Nessie’s Den, networking opportunities and more. The Launch Gallery will be a hotbed of creativity and is often the first stop for many buyers.

New to the Show are producers such as Island Bakery Organics, Nuisance Drinks, Ramsay of Carluke, The Ochil Fudge Pantry, Bottled Baking Co, NEST Selected Greek products and Dark Sky Spirits.

Food from the regions has always been popular and it’s great to see Tastes of Fife and Tastes of Orkney both hosting large stands brimming with innovative products, and it’s likely there’ll

be similar regional stands from Lanarkshire and Argyll.

Food and drink distributors, such as The Cress Company and Clark’s Speciality Foods, have key stands with an incredible array of products that will certainly tickle the tastebuds of the many visitors.

Sustainability is a key thread to the 2022 Show with most producers reducing their carbon footprint, using recyclable packaging and maximising their eco credentials. Notable ‘eco’ exhibitors are Ecobags, B plastic free and Bumblewraps.

Nothing beats the actual faceto-face interaction that visits to Trade Shows facilitate, where buyers can meet with suppliers and where they can feel and taste the quality of products, which has been so missed over the last 18 months.

Alan Leslie, Buying Director, Aldi said: “Scotland’s Speciality Food Show has become a key event in the food and drink

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calendar, and its success and future growth aspirations reflect our thriving industry.”

Dorothy Smith from Fife Council which organises the Tastes of Fife stand added: “I can honestly say, I have never had such a positive engagement/partnership approach with an Events company to help and support us showcasing what Fife has to offer.”

Show Director Mark Saunders said: “Although the food and drink industry hasn’t been as badly hit as retail, it’s still been a very unsettling 18 months so we are delighted to be back in January. Interest for the Show from potential exhibitors has been positive and we are pleased to be showcasing many new and innovative producers from Scotland, the UK and beyond.

However much online ordering has advanced recently, nothing quite beats seeing and tasting the products in person, networking and re-connecting with the industry.

We look forward to welcoming you all on 23 January.”

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

The House of Bruar launches five exclusive hampers ahead of Christmas

Scotland’s premier independent country retailer, The House of Bruar, has launched five exclusive hampers showcasing the very best gourmet produce from its awardwinning Food Hall.

Designed to suit a range of budgets, each hand-picked hamper is presented in a traditional wicker basket and showcases fine food and drink with a Scottish slant.

The flagship hamper is The Bruar Banquet - packed full of tempting treats chosen from every corner of the globe, this luxurious hamper makes the perfect gift for any aspiring gourmand. £550.

The Celebration Hamper has been carefully designed with entertaining in mind. Packed full of all those artful little extras that make any party a truly memorable occasion, this hamper features a smorgasbord of luxury comestibles that are sure to delight the senses and tickle the palate. £195.

The bestselling Luxury Hamper is overflowing with

choice items and represents the very best in Scottish produce and provisions, punctuated by select goods from further afield. £125.

Designed with overseas shipping in mind, the Highland Luxury Hamper features a rich array of preserves and provisions that offer an authentic taste of Scotland to friends and loved ones in far off places. £125.

The Classic Hamper features a choice selection of bestselling products, from own label chocolates and preserves to traditional favourites from well-loved Scottish brands such as Highland Fine Cheese and Edinburgh Preserves. £69.95.

To order multiple hampers as corporate gifts email hampers@ houseofbruar.com.

Rum couple wake up and smell the coffee While the rest of us were on our summer holidays pilot-turnedrum-distiller Matt Hunt and his wife Becky from Strathaven, Scotland, were busy looking ahead to their Christmas ‘brew’.

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Newly recovered, after covid dimmed their taste and smell, the rum producers set about creating a new flavour of their Old Mother Hunt rum in time for the festive season.

“It felt a bit odd taking the kids to the beach for a swim and then coming back home and working on a rum for Christmas,” said Becky, 31, who trained as a teacher.

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“We could see a gap in the market for a coffee and chocolate flavour rum that was dry in taste and were raring to get going with that.

“But we didn’t know when our taste and smell were going to come

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Scotland The Brand

What Are We To Do About Wool?

By Ruth Watson

back, which could have put a real spanner in the works as having a good ‘nose’ is vital.

“So were delighted walking past our local ethically sourced coffee roaster and seller Fower one morning and found we could smell the roasted beans and were overjoyed.

“It was a case of wake up and smell the coffee”.

Wasting no time, Becky put in an order with Fower owner Stuart Jamieson, for Guatemalan beans – known for their chocolatey-cocoa flavour, and toffee-like sweetness – to infuse in the rum.

Now the first batch of the rum which is also infused with cacao nibs, has been bottled and ready to drink and are available in 20cl and 50cl bottles.

“We’ve had the chance to do some mixing and come up with an espresso rum martini that really packs a punch and a rum hot chocolate which is deliciously indulgent,” added Becky.

“We are excited about what the next few months will bring.

Rum is one of the fastest growing alcohol sectors in the UK as well as being interesting to make and full of flavour.

“The advantages of small batch production means, we can develop our own bespoke recipes and flavours and ensure that taste is consistent for our customers.

“Back in March 2020 when Matt was made redundant, things felt all very bleak. So, I’m thrilled something good has come out of such a difficult time.”

Matt, 34, and Becky who have two young children, recently secured their own distillers’ licence, now create their own rum from scratch from molasses.

The couple are now working on their second batch of their coffee and chocolate rum.

Their existing bespoke range of flavoured rums includes Smokey Oak, Number Seven, Stiff Neck, Signature and Winter Spiced which are produced in Strathaven, Scotland.

For more information visit: https: www.oldmotherhunt.co.uk.

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In the corner of my local community garden sits two sacks of beautiful moorit fleece, donated by a smallholder who – like many sheep farmers in Scotland doesn’t know what else to do with the piles of wool sitting in her byre.

Covid has been the catalyst for this particular farming crisis but, as we often find these days, the issue stems from a systemic decline in local processing, skills, and facilities. Julie Hermitage, director of Uan Wool, makes everything from bedding to the curls for dolls’ hair from the flock which run in the hills outside her door.

“Wool is a magical fabric.

It can be used to mop up industrial oil spills, to insulate our homes, to clothe us, and yet it is so hard for a farmer to make money from it,” she says. “A big selling point for my business is the product comes from my own sheep but because British Wool is set up for the big merchants, they can’t guarantee I’ll get my own wool back. I need to travel for hundreds of miles to get my wool graded.”

The problem doesn’t end there. Rosemary Champion is a smallholder with a mixed flock. She produces high quality yarn in a range of natural colours but her biggest problem isn’t finding customers; it’s getting the wool processed. The only mill taking private business in Scotland has a waiting list of 8 months so Rosemary, like many Scottish producers, must send her fleece to one of the few remaining mills in England.

“I would love to get my wool processed locally and sell it with a Scottish wool label. It would add value to my product. A Scottish Wool Co-operative, a scaled-up version of what we see in the islands, could be transformative,” Rosemary says.

Scotland has centuries of textile and engineering know-how. With the right facilities and some vision, we are perfectly placed to make the most of wool.

Ruth Watson is the founder of the Keep Scotland the Brand campaign.

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food & drink

Promoting our Farm Shops An extensive project which aims to discover the true value of Britain’s farm shops to the nation has been launched by the Farm Retail Association and Harper Adams University.

The project – which is being backed by researchers in Harper Adams’ recently-created Food, Land and Agri-Business Management department – will seek to discover the impact farm shops have not only with their local communities, farmers and suppliers, but also upon the wider economy and the UK’s rural landscape.

It is estimated that there are well over 1,000 premises up and down the country which would fall under the definition of farm

shop – though the research will aim to clarify this as it seeks to build a clearer picture of the sector.

It will also draw upon the views of Farm Retail Association members, who are to be sent a survey in the coming days which asks them for their views on the sector, its impact, and more.

It is anticipated that the survey results will be released in spring next year.

Senior Lecturer in Food Retail and Marketing, Alastair Boot, is among the team at Harper Adams University, the UK’s leading specialist university for the agri-food and rural business sectors, who will be conducting the research.

He said: “We know that farm shops are valued – both by the retail and agricultural sectors, and by the communities they serve.

“Many of us will have a favourite farm shop in our area, for instance – and there’s been some evidence over the past 18 months that, as we all strove to stay local, retail patterns have changed – with a growing appetite for British farm shops.

“However, there is a need to build up a picture of the sector as a whole and its impact across the country – and this is where our research, commissioned by the Farm Retail Association, will come in. Once we develop that clearer understating, it can

be used to make the case for the nation’s existing farm shops, and to help develop the sector further.”

Chairman Rob Copley said: “This is the biggest research project that the FRA has ever undertaken and the results will fly the flag for our industry.

“We are encouraging all farm retailers to take part in this nation-wide survey to get a clear picture of what our sector is worth to the economy and reflecting the vital role our farm retailers play in communities.

This will then help not only promote farm retailers but also support those businesses with planning application and funding bids.”

National Beef Association (NBA) congratulates Asda for fulfilling commitment to supply 100% British beef In an open letter to the joint owner of Asda, Mr Mohsin Issa CBE, the National Beef Association (NBA) has extended its congratulations to the supermarket chain for fulfilling its commitment to supply 100% British beef on Asda’s fresh meat counters.

In the letter, NBA CEO Neil Shand referred to an earlier letter sent to Asda in 2020, prior 16

to Mr Issa’s acquisition of the supermarket chain along with his brother Zuber and private equity partners TDR Capital, in which the NBA questioned the decision to stock imported beef products from Poland during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Shand says in the letter, “At the start of the pandemic last year, ahead of your acquisition of

Asda stores, we rather publicly challenged the decision to fill your shelves with Polish mince.

“Whilst we understood the pressure to stock your shelves, this happened at a time when the farmgate price in the UK was at rock bottom and, in many cases, below the cost of production.”

Mr Shand goes on to say, “Moving forward, it is therefore

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food & drink fitting to acknowledge your show of support for UK beef producers, and for honouring the commitment you made in September 2020 to stock 100% UK/British beef by the beginning of October 2021.”

Mr Shand praised the ‘patriotic support’ and welcomed

the stability this move provides to the industry, from one of the biggest retailers in the UK. On behalf of the NBA and its membership, Mr Shand offered his thanks for Asda’s continuing commitment to the UK beef industry.

AHDB report highlights role of red meat and dairy in health market Over a quarter of all meals eaten at home in Britain are consumed for health reasons – with the market worth an estimated £26.5 billion, growing eight per cent year-on-year.

According to the latest report

by AHDB, ‘Consumer Focus: Adapting to Consumer Health Needs’, more healthy meals were eaten in March of this year, than in any other month over the last five years.

Analysts at AHDB believe the impact of Covid-19, which led to heightened media attention and governmental focus on health, may have fuelled this recent growth.

However, in May last year at the beginning of the pandemic – the total amount of calories consumed in-home was 15 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, only falling slightly to ten per cent throughout the second half of 2020.

AHDB Consumer Insight Analyst Rachel Rose, author of the report, said: “During periods of uncertainty and reduced consumer confidence, such as the credit crunch of 2008, Brexit and the pandemic, health often takes a back seat, with many people turning to indulgent and comforting foods.

“However, health is never fully out of mind and throughout the pandemic, we have seen a significant fluctuation in the

amount of food eaten for health reasons. In March, it reached the highest level in the last five years.”

AHDB’s new report takes an in-depth look at how the health market has performed over the last year and where red meat and dairy sits in this growing trend, as well as highlighting key opportunities for producers and processors to maximise on the growing trend.

Among its findings is the importance of communicating the health benefits, flavour and versatility of red meat and dairy – providing clear messaging on the vitamins and minerals they contain.

Rachel added: “With health very much under the spotlight it’s important to talk to consumers about the role of a balanced diet and the health benefits red meat and dairy provide. For instance, AHDB is currently running the ‘We Eat Balanced’ marketing campaign which reminds consumers about the positive role both can play in a balanced diet.

“This report provides an in-depth look at the health market to help our levy-payers understand what needs to be done to meet changing consumer demands and needs by providing tasty and healthy food choices whilst clearly communicating the health benefits of both red meat and dairy.”

Animal welfare in Scotland

By Mairi Gougeon The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously and we are committed to ensuring the highest standards in Scotland.

I am delighted to announce that on 1st September changes to the law came in to force which will enhance and further protect the welfare of animals in Scotland.

The new legislation replaces existing dog breeding and pet selling laws, as well as introducing new licensing requirements for those breeding cats and rabbits, animal rescue centres, rehoming centres and other rehoming activities.

The changes will also see Lucy’s Law introduced in Scotland.

The introduction of these measures will see Scotland become the first country in the United Kingdom to require cat and rabbit breeders, animal sanctuaries and animal rehoming activities to be licensed. It’s important to note that rehoming licences are only required if you rehome 5 or more animals in any 12-month period.

These important new measures will further protect animal welfare and ensure they experience the best quality of life possible.

Regrettably, there is a small minority of breeders and dealers that operate outwith the law and see animal breeding and the selling of animals as pets simply as a way of making money. This minority has no regard for the welfare of animals in their care.

This new legislation gives buyers confidence that they are buying from a responsible breeder and the animals have had their welfare prioritised. I hope these new measures raise awareness of the dangers of illegal breeders, both for the animals and buyers.

I would encourage animal breeders, pet sellers, operators of animal sanctuaries and those engaging in animal rehoming to familiarise themselves with the changes to the law and, where required, ensure they apply for and obtain the relevant licence.

If you are looking for a licence and you live or have a rehoming premises in Scotland you should contact your local authority to obtain this.

If you rehome animals as pets in Scotland but don’t reside or have premises linked to your rehoming activities in Scotland you may need a licence. In this instance you would email animalrehominglicence@gov. scot to apply for a licence.

Article

Going Green

Ayrshire farmer Alex Paton believes we all have our part to play in carbon reduction - but calls for incentives to help farmers make the figures stack up

By Maureen Young As Scotland welcomes one of the largest ever gatherings of world leaders and international experts to discuss climate change at COP26, Glasgow, the spotlight falls on the efforts being made in the UK to tackle carbon emissions.

And with agriculture said to account for almost 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, farmers are again being asked to focus on carbon reduction and sustainability as we look to the future.

One of Scotland’s respected voices on these issues facing Scotland’s farmers is Alex Paton, farmer at Cairnhill Farm, Girvan,

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and director of “We hae meat” one of the most sustainable meat manufacturers in the UK. Together with other invited guests, Alex will be a panellist at a Scotland Food and Drink dedicated short session during the global United Nations summit where sector businesses will showcase and answer questions on their carbon reduction successes.

And the businessman farmer will also open his doors to host Scottish Government Ministers focussed on the Net Zero agenda - again to highlight the work being done at his Ayrshire farm and business.

“We hae meat” – one of Scotland’s leading suppliers of square sausage - has already reduced its carbon footprint by 97% and is on target to be carbon neutral by early 2022.

A series of investments including the installation of a renewable power plant; the introduction of fully recyclable product packaging; replacement of fleet diesel vehicles with electric hybrid models; implementing regenerative farming techniques on the family estate and utilising waste cardboard for animal bedding - has placed it at the forefront of Scotland’s sustainability ambitions.

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But while Alex maintains there is a role for farmers in the fight against climate change, he accepts it’s a difficult concept for many to embrace.

“I’m no eco-warrior,” he stressed. “All the sustainability steps we’ve taken in the business and on the farm have come on the back of sound financial results.”

And Alex is encouraging other farmers to look at changes which can not only help save the planet, but save them money at the same time.

“We have recorded both environmental and financial gains from our sustainability measures which means it works for us,” said Alex.

Article “While I feel it’s incumbent upon us all to look at sustainability, we can’t ask farmers to invest heavily in projects that offer no financial return. And there can’t be a blanket policy that suits everyone.

“We’ve seen grants made available in recent years to help farmers introduce carbon reduction measures but farming is a slow burner and we don’t see any returns for several years.

“Farmers are businessmen and women and while they have their part to play in securing the environment for the future, they have to have clarity and be incentivised if we want to encourage uptake of sustainability projects throughout the industry. Farmers have to see the figures stack up to allow agriculture to go greener.”

Cairnhill Farm is a mixed family farm which supplies prime beef cattle destined for the family’s “We hae meat” processing factory just 500 metres from the family farm.

The business sustainability journey began when the family learned of the crippling electricity costs involved in trebling the size of the plant several years ago.

“We looked at alternatives, prompted by an independent Carbon Audit, and decided to install a combined heat and power biomass plant,” explained Alex. “This used wood chips from our own estate timber, sourced under licence with replanting carried out to negate the effects of felling.

“This now provides most of our electricity and all our hot water needs and will see a surplus output in the future.”

The independent Carbon Audit also highlighted other areas where savings could be made - simple cost-effective measures to keep costs and carbon emissions down.

“That was where it started and we’ve now embraced many different ways to become carbon neutral,” said Alex.

“On the farm, that includes chopping all waste cardboard to use as winter bedding for our cattle and introducing regenerative farming techniques.

We’re also researching the opportunities around controlled farming and investigating the viability of growing crops previously considered impossible in our soil and climate.

“Next year only 15% of our land will be deep ploughed. We are all encouraged to reduce ploughing and the use of chemical fertilisers - but we have to be able control the weeds and grow crops that are financially viable.

“We opt for middle ground where we do some ploughing and at other sites use minimum soil disruption and planting methods.

“And our social welfare initiatives include wild flower meadows and disabled-friendly public footpath networks.”

Alex accepts that his example is not a blueprint for everyone.

“I have introduced sustainability measures on the farm because of the positive results on our business side,” he said, “but every farmer has to look at what might work for them.

“I always want to see the science proved before I will accept any new methods. I won’t for example, be jumping into using any professed methane-reducing foreign food supplements to my herd. The welfare of my cattle is my priority.”

Alex believes that to get sustainability and environmental

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protection measures over the line we have to show commercial benefits.

“It’s a hard sell if it’s just to ‘go green’. And farmers should not just be beaten into submission. I’ve suggested to NFUS that, from my experience, they should lobby Government to create incentives for farmers.

“The average age of the Scottish farmer is 60+ and to embrace change at that stage is difficult without financial incentives.

Any sustainability measures have to be commercially viable and we need farmers to look at it and work it out for themselves.

“If there are savings to be made then why not do it? You can start small - little changes matter.”

Alex also hopes COP26 will focus those responsible into creating consistent measuring methods for carbon emissions, citing the fact that the current system views the destructive power of a Jumbo Jet alongside that of a gassy cow!

“We need clarity and we need consistency,” he said, “and we also need a tightening of ‘greenwashing’ tactics.

“We are at a crucially important moment in the whole climate change debate and farmers have a voice worth hearing,” said Alex. “We want to leave our farmland in better order for the next generation and may have to accept a changing and challenging role in order to do so.”

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environment Farmers need to adopt agroecological practices

Agroecological farming practices include focusing on permanent pasture grazing over temporary grassland

Scottish livestock farmers need to be supported to adopt naturebased farming practices which could contribute to climate and biodiversity goals, new research has found.

An agroecological farming approach - which aims to optimise production while minimising external inputs - is needed if the country is to meet climate and biodiversity targets set by the Scottish Government.

However, a survey of farmers found that while Scottish crop farms are ahead of their EU counterparts in their adoption of agroecological tillage, fertilisation, pest and weed management practices, livestock farms lag behind in the overall adoption of agroecological practices.

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The survey, carried out by researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), compared Scottish adoption with a concurrent sample of EU farmers.

In total, the survey had 1,335 valid responses from farmers in Austria, Germany, Greece, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Scotland and Sweden – including 109 from Scotland - covering a range of farm types including arable, livestock, permanent crops and mixed crop and livestock farms.

It highlights which practices Scottish farmers promote within their farming systems and where there is scope to do more relative to their EU counterparts.

Scottish livestock farmers only outperformed those in the EU in relation to stocking density criteria.

While Scottish crop farms were in line with, or ahead of, their EU counterparts in the overall adoption of agroecological practices, areas for improvement include increasing plant diversity and rotation as well as cover cropping.

A wide range of practices can support an agroecological farming approach with different practices relevant for different locations and aspects of farming.

For cropland management, practices include reducing reliance on inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides and instead using green manures; introducing natural predators or managing weeds through variety selection; limiting tillage and making use of crop rotations and cover crops to support soil health and to control pests and diseases.

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For livestock management this may mean reducing reliance on inorganic fertilisers for grassland; focusing on permanent pasture grazing over temporary grassland; favouring high forage over low forage diets; good manure management; and careful use of antibiotics.

Lead researcher Dr Bethan Thompson said: “Overall, we see several opportunities for Scottish livestock farmers to adopt agroecological practices that could help contribute to climate and biodiversity goals if they are properly supported.

The survey of Scottish farmers took place as part of the EU funded LIFT (Low-Input Farming and Territories) project between January and March 2020.

environment

Scotland’s natural capital opportunity must work in the public interest

Scotland has a big opportunity in using its land to drive a just transition to a net zero economy.

New value and investment associated with carbon and natural capital can bring significant benefits if harnessed well.

This is a rapidly developing sector influencing the land market and land use decisions in Scotland, and it will be important that communities and local economies benefit and share in this value.

That is the message from Scotland’s land reform body, the Scottish Land Commission, which is working to understand the effect of carbon and natural capital in the land market to advise Scottish Government and the sector on the risks, opportunities and steps needed to ensure the market works in the public interest.

The fast growth of new carbon and natural capital markets raises some fundamental questions for how land is owned and used, who owns and benefits from carbon rights and natural capital and how land is bought and sold.

The interest in the markets for carbon and natural capital are being driven in part by socially responsible investment (SRI), with organisations seeking to be increasingly climate positive.

This is already leading some companies and institutions to acquire land directly to offset emissions. Others may also be attracted at the prospect of trading carbon credits and anticipated future value. There is, however, much uncertainty in these early stages of market development.

Hamish Trench is Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, a public body which is working to create a Scotland where everybody benefits from the ownership, management and use of the nation’s land.

He said: “One thing is clear – much of our land is finding new forms of value.

With climate action our urgent challenge, Scotland is well positioned by virtue of our geography to make the most of the significant finance that governments and investors around the world are turning to in this societal challenge, creating a win-win of economy and nature benefits.

“This brings both risks and opportunities, it’s going to be important that national and local economies and communities benefit from changes and the increasing value of the land. This is the right time to be shaping these markets in the public interest.”

Carbon audit puts spotlight on business efficiency

By Seamus Murphy, Consultant, SAC Consulting.

Carbon auditing is an increasingly important management tool for the farm business; for those that have carried out regular carbon audits over the past few years the benefits of doing so will be clear.

A carbon audit shows your business in a new light and can highlight areas where money and carbon can be saved that may not be obvious without it. There are plenty these ‘win-win’ scenarios where changes can be made to increase profitability and reduce carbon emissions although they are just one of the reasons why a carbon audit is beneficial.

It is likely that in the future carbon audits will be a requirement for farms, so carrying out one now and getting a good understanding of what’s involved could put your farm ahead of the game. It is also very likely that any new payment scheme will determine a payment level off the back of where your farm currently is in terms of numerous different metrics, meaning that farm

businesses that have taken positive action in terms of carbon emission reductions could receive a higher payment. This possibility makes carrying out a carbon footprint now and acting on it, a long-term investment in the business.

Another area where the carbon audit could be of great benefit in the future is when it comes to obtaining finance from banks. Financial institutions are looking more closely at the types of companies that they support in terms of environmental credentials. This is beginning to slowly make its way into agriculture and is a definite prospect for the future.

Carbon audits can help you tell the right story and reap the benefit of the work you have done.

Carbon footprinting is not going to go away, and whilst one carbon audit is good, the real benefit is found in annual audits which can tell a longer story of your farm’s journey.

The first step of any journey is to make a start.

To find out more about carbon auditing, practical ideas to reduce emissions from your farm, and to read about what other farmers have done, visit www.farmingforabetterclimate.org find us on Facebook and Twitter @SACFarm4Climate #26days26ways

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environment

Grampian Growers unveil new green HQ

Farming co-operative Grampian Growers has revealed new green, low carbon headquarters thanks to a £750,000 funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland.

The horticulture business, which was formed in 1968 by a group of like-minded farmers, is a leading producer and exporter of market crops including daffodil flowers, bulbs and potatoes.

Nearly four years in the making, the new office building, designed by architects The Building Workshop, replaces the existing facility which has been in use since 1978.

Known for their unusual, eyecatching designs, The Building Workshop created an eco-friendly office space that would blend into

its natural surroundings – with the exterior similar to a potato shed.

Constructed by local company Algo, the open plan office has been built with future growth in mind, with room for capacity to double.

Solar panels were installed at the Grampian Growers HQ in 2013 with the support of Royal Bank of Scotland’s sister bank, Lombard. These solar panels generate electricity worth up to £25,000 for the site year-round, with an air source heat pump providing heating to the building.

Natural ventilation is embedded into the design of the new office to mitigate the need for carbonemitting air conditioning, with windows in the roof allowing hot air to escape.

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Article

Actiphage detects Johne’s Disease – the hidden assassin Study finds Actiphage® offers early diagnostic for Johne’s Disease in farmed deer Farmed deer are susceptible to Johne’s Disease, a chronic wasting condition that results in reduced meat yields, lower fertility and premature death. The condition is difficult to detect, but now a proof of concept study has shown that a new diagnostic, Actiphage®, can directly detect the presence of the causal mycobacteria in cervid blood samples – offering clear potential for the control of this economically damaging disease.

Research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science* used a blind test of 132 animals from four production units to detect the carriers of the disease. Actiphage detected the presence of the causal bacteria, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), mainly in one breeding unit and in a small number of animals in another.

When some of the MAPpositive animals were tested again one month later, the results were reproducible.

One of the authors, Dr Cath Rees, Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Nottingham, comments: “Early identification of carriers using Actiphage allowed the introduction of a disease management strategy on the farm.

“In addition, Actiphage was found to be a useful additional screening test before animals were moved to reduce the risk of spread of infection.”

In infected animals, MAP is shed in faeces as the disease progresses, with ingestion of contaminated faeces the main source of transmission.

Currently the main diagnostic for deer is an antibody ELISA, which detects the presence of MAP-specific antibodies produced by the animal in

response to infection. There are a few commercially validated tests available that can identify high shedding animals, but these have a lower value in early stages of infection, before shedding occurs, and so are of limited use within a disease control program.

Actiphage directly detects the presence of the mycobacteria in blood or milk. It acts as a lysing agent, efficiently releasing genomic DNA from the MAP cells. Sufficient DNA can be released from just a few cells to enable detection by signature specific PCR assays Actiphage therefore enables the diagnosis of both Johne’s Disease and bovine TB (M. bovis) from a single blood sample even where just a few cells of mycobacteria are present.

The study also showed that a simpler method of blood preparation could be used to recover white blood cells, replacing

the more complex Ficoll gradient method that has been previously used. This dramatically simplifies the assay procedure and produced cleaner samples with lower levels of red blood cell contamination which can inhibit the Actiphage reagent.

The study showed that Actiphage reliably identified Johne’s Disease at an early stage of infection and provided insights that enabled the farmer to isolate the infected animals to restrict the progression of the disease through the herd.

Dr Cath Rees, CTO, PBD Biotech

Red deer grazing (open access)

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ATV’s

ATV’s

The farmers’ flexible All-Terrain friend A look at some of the ATV models for 2022

Can-Am unveils 2022 line-up of ATV and sideby-side vehicles The Can-Am Maverick lineup of performance off-road vehicles is synonymous with power, handling, and…winning. For 2022, Can-Am is upping the ante, becoming the first side-by-side manufacturer to offer a 200hp engine. That’s a lot of power. And coupled with an allnew pDrive roller clutch system, the entire dynamic changes through quicker acceleration and instant-on power at all time.

And while the Can-Am Maverick delivers the best power-to-weight ratio in its class,

handling remains critical to allaround performance. That is why BRP engineers worked tirelessly to ensure the lineup handles terrain with ease, thanks to Smart-Shox adaptive suspension, new 30 and 32-inch Maxxis Carnivore tires, a stronger frame, and higher ground clearance and stance.

“The 2022 Can-Am Maverick is the pinnacle of performance side-by-side vehicles,” said Hailie Deegan, professional racer and Can-Am brand ambassador.

“And the best part of working

with Can-Am, is they keep making it better and better”.

Speaking of power, CanAm is introducing two new

Rotax engines to its lineup – the HD7/700 ACE and the HD9, replacing the HD5, HD8, and 800.

3-cylinder 993cc Yanmar Diesel engine, which is Euro 6 compliant and gives excellent fuel efficiency and range, and homologation Type EU T1b.

Other standard equipment includes two adjustable seats, skid plate, 4x4/4x2 system,

2-point safety belt, adjustable suspension and 244-litre onboard storage with 450kg cargo box. Pro and cab packages are available together with a range of original manufacturer accessories. The Corvus Terrain models come with a 2-year warranty.

The Corvus Terrain 4x4 utility range

The Corvus Terrain range of 4x4 utility vehicles was introduced in the UK in 2019. Since then the Terrain has gone from strength to strength to create a UTV that adapts to the user and their work environment. Corvus, Europe’s first manufacturer of 4x4 Side

by Side vehicles, offers an efficient Yanmar Diesel engine, market-leading onboard storage capacity and a well-designed full cab option. Now they have increased the Terrain’s comfort levels with the new CAB CLIMA package. Starting from the current integrated system of doors, air conditioning and heating found on the Terrain DX4, CAB CLIMA improves the 24

vehicle’s working conditions and comfort with a central console to control heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Now you can carry out any task safely protected and isolated from the weather outside, all-year-round.

The air conditioning system with electronic control is simply operated through the central console with airflow control in three positions. There are front windscreen and anti-fogging diffusers to keep your forward vision clear and safe. With a total of eight diffusers, four of them are able to rotate through 360º.

CAB CLIMA joins the other Terrain high specification levels of full instrumentation,

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ATV’s

Honda’s Pioneer 520 Honda’s UTV Pioneer 520 combines the benefits of side by sides and ATVs, marrying up safety and space found in side-by-sides with the nimble handling and a small, narrow footprint.

In 2015 Honda America launched the Pioneer 500, promising a true all-rounder that was as versatile as it was compact. A powerful workhorse, engineers behind the two-seater designed it to stand-up to tough off-roading and a wide variety of testing work environments where Honda’s legendary reputation for durability, quality, and reliability is demanded.

The key to the Pioneer’s enduring flexibility and allround ability has always been its layout. The 520 takes this to the next level with the introduction of a gas-assisted tilting rear bed. Measuring in at useful 29 inches in length, 38.7 inches in

width and 9.8 inches high, the ample dimensions can swallow a multitude of items from multiple standard hay bales to buckets, crates and more. The ridged base design, three bed divider slots for ¾” partitions and five D-ring locations ensure the load stays secure regardless of the terrain.

Aiding this load carrying versatility is a tailgate that folds flush with the bed floor when open and integrates four cupholders, giving the operator somewhere to sit on a work break, or at the end of a hard days work.

Such useability has not come at the expense of durability, with the bed designed to carry loads of up to 204kg. The one-piece plastic item is hard wearing and features integrated taillights for a more modern look. The monocoque shape and design of the rear bed weighs less than traditional steel items, aiding the

520’s handling for those seeking recreational fun.

This highly capable load lugging capacity is boosted further through an ample towing

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capacity. Capable of towing 454kg, the Pioneer 520’s overall load capacity of 658kg makes it a very useful tool for agricultural and commercial applications.

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ATV’s

Kawasaki Announce Complete 2022 MULE and ATV Line-Up The 2022 utility range will feature the popular Kawasaki MULE Pro DX, Mule Pro DXT, Mule SX 4x4, and Pro-MX vehicles. Also included in the range is the BRUTE FORCE 4x4i EPS ATV, which will be available in two colours.

The MULE Pro DX and MULE Pro DXT remain the flagship vehicles in the range, with both machines retaining their current specification for 2022. At the core of each machine lays a 3-cylinder, OHV water-cooled, 993cm3 Bosch fuel injected diesel engine; a feature of particular interest to multi-vehicle users pursuing a “single fuel” policy. Driving through a dual range CVT, both vehicles offer selectable 2WD

and 4WD delivering 17.8 kW @ 3600rpm and 52.1 Nm of maximum torque at 2,400rpm.

For the MULE Pro DX, a spacious tipping load bed and impressive towing ability mean that almost no task is too big to ask of it. The MULE Pro DXT helps to push the range into new customer bases, thanks to the additional ability to move work crews into difficult or environmentally sensitive locations with minimal impact.

Featuring such user-friendly features as tilt adjustable steering wheels and speed sensitive electronic power steering plus front and rear independent suspension, both these sturdy vehicles certainly make light of heavy work and leave their

operators fresh at the end of each demanding day.

The entry-level MULE range will again be comprised of the MULE SX 4x4 and Pro-MX.

Polaris Off Road welcomes all-new RANGER models for 2022

Following a year that saw more consumers engaging in outdoor activities than ever before, Polaris Off Road has unveiled its 2022 model year line-up for Europe, Middle East and Africa, with new models, colour options and upgrades across the RANGER, RZR, GENERAL and Sportsman brands.

Headlining the 2022 range is the all-new RANGER SP 570 and RANGER Diesel Deluxe, taking the industry’s No.1-selling 26

Both models offer outstanding value for money and boast selectable 2WD and 4WD with Hi-Lo dual-range transfer case and a rear differential lock.

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utility side-by-side vehicle to the next level with user-inspired innovations and advancements.

RANGER 570 has been the top choice for farmers, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts for more than a decade, and now, with riderinspired features to deliver enhanced capability, comfort and drivability, the new mid-size RANGER SP 570 works harder and rides smoother than ever before.

ATV’s “Our customers lead a busy lifestyle and they don’t want to compromise on the two things they care most about: doing good quality work and enjoying time with the family,” said Chris Judson, Vice President of RANGER, GENERAL and ATV, Polaris. “The RANGER SP 570 was designed so they don’t have to make these tradeoffs; it’s great for work, fun to ride and the perfect fit.”

Redesigned from the ground up, the RANGER SP 570 features a bold, updated style along with a host of riderinspired improvements. The redesigned cargo box is nearly 30 percent larger, delivering class-leading volume with a single-handle tailgate for quick and easy access for loading and unloading cargo. Integrated tiedowns, slots for cargo dividers, and Lock & Ride attachment points allow users to easily secure cargo and maximize utility.

The Suzuki range

Suzuki’s range comprises of three versatile models; the KingQuad 500 and 500XP as well as the KingQuad 750XP (XP denotes power steering). These robust utility

ATVs are the culmination of years of refinement and their high levels of technical specification and ease of handling make them suitable for a number of applications including

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hill and lowland farming, estate management and use on equestrian properties.

Not only is the product class-leading, but Suzuki GB’s

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ATV’s Nationwide network of expert Dealers is equally as impressive.

Many of these Dealers are longstanding Suzuki representatives and with excellent coverage in Scotland and the Scottish Boarders customers can be reassured that however remote they are, they’ll find a Suzuki ATV Dealership within reach.

Understanding its customers and the environment in which they work is part of Suzuki’s ethos. To this end, Suzuki understands that ATVs are an important and valuable asset, which is why it provides a theft deterrent system as standard.

The CESAR Security System powered by Datatag is the official security initiative of both the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) and comes FREE on all new Suzuki utility ATVs. This Suzuki Datatag kit will give each ATV a unique ‘fingerprint’ with an identity that

cannot be erased, however hard a criminal may try.

should the worst happen, as well as reducing insurance premiums.

2022 Yamaha range revealed

Agricultural Merchants Main dealers for HONDA ATV’s

Visit our website for new and used tractor & machinery stock lists and older model/refurb parts lists

www.jandwtaitltd.co.uk Sparrowhawk Road, Hatston Industrial Estate Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1GE

Tel: 01856 873003 / 872490 Email: info@jandwtaitltd.co.uk

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This acts as a strong theft deterrent and a tool for recovery

Yamaha has launched a new range of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational off-road vehicles (ROVs). New special editions of the Kodiak 450 and 700 ATVs are both available with two tone paint work and alloy wheels, whilst the Grizzly ATV can now be specified with exclusive graphics and 27-inch Zilla Maxxis tyres on 14-inch cast aluminium wheels.

For the first time Yamaha is offering customers the opportunity to specify their own ATV and ROV using a digital configurator. “The configurator enables customers to personalise a Yamaha product by choosing accessories and paintwork options. Once happy with the specification the customer can request a quotation and share it with a dealer of their choice to source their vehicle,” explains Yamaha ATV manager William Kay.

The Yamaha Kodiak 450 ATV features diff lock as standard on all electric power steering (EPS) models and Ultramatic® transmission, throughout the range, which maintains tension on the drive belt to provide a consistent throttle response. The rider is also able to automatically switch between 2WD, 4WD and diff lock settings with the push of a button.

Yamaha has committed to fitting Warn VRX 25 winches as standard on all Kodiak and Grizzly ATVs. The 15-metre winch has a 1,134-kilo pulling capacity and a rocker switch mounted to the handlebar. “We are also one of just two manufacturers offering a tracker free of charge on all new ATVs,” says Mr Kay. “A Datatool Stealth S5 device will be supplied free of charge with new ATV models to offer farmers safety, security and peace of mind,” he added.

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people Lecturer nominated for top innovation award A lecturer at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has been recognised for her work to enhance teaching and improve the student experience during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cath Seeds, Programme Team Leader for Wildlife and Conservation Management at SRUC’s South and West Faculty, has been shortlisted in the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year category of the annual THE Awards.

During the coronavirus pandemic, she has used her experience in both e-learning and nature conservation, to embrace digitally enhanced teaching with a focus on the student experience.

From supporting a crosscampus re-design of a key

programme, to developing a virtual field trip during the first Covid-19 lockdown and completing the Scottish Academic Leadership Programme, Cath has been both passionate and imaginative in her support of colleagues and students.

Cath, who is one of eight lecturers from across the UK shortlisted for the award, said: “I am both shocked and delighted to be shortlisted. It has been an unprecedented time for everyone in education and it is lovely to be recognised for the hard work and creative energy that went into delivering our programme over the last year.

“I found it an extremely challenging time but also an inspiring one, to see how far

we could take our teaching delivery to ensure our students on the Wildlife and Conservation Management course could gain a high-quality experience despite the effects of Covid.

“It is also an opportunity to reflect on the brilliant team at SRUC who inspire and support

each other. We are a team and as such the last year has been truly a team effort.”

The 17th annual THE Awards – which are widely known as the ‘Oscars of higher education’ will take place on 25 November at the Hilton London Metropole in central London.

HRH The Princess Royal opens the extension of the Cargill Centre The Princess Royal officially opened Ringlink’s head office expansion at Laurencekirk on 14 October. The last 18 months of the pandemic has not held back this co-operative from continuing to grow and support its members, as it remained fully operational throughout the crisis.

The expansion of the Cargill Centre began on 3rd September 2019 and what should have taken ten months to complete ultimately took two years due to Covid-19 delays.

HRH The Princess Royal joined Ringlink staff, trainees, and VIPs for a tour of the old and new facilities to celebrate the landmark achievement of the business, before unveiling a plaque commemorating the opening of the new extension of the Cargill Centre.

Ringlink Managing Director, Graham Bruce said that the expansion will support continued growth of Ringlink which

provides machinery hire, along with labour and training, and it will play an important role in tackling the current labour crisis.

“The Board approved the significant investment to expand the Cargill Centre, doubling the size of the facilities so that we can continue to operate efficiently and strengthen all

aspects of the business, with a focus on providing additional value and services that are in the best interests of our membership for the foreseeable future.”

Ringlink Chairman, James Porter welcomed HRH The Princess Royal to the premises by saying: “We are a pragmatic, practical, hard-working, and dare

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I say it, an outspoken bunch on occasion. It is therefore a great pleasure and honour to welcome such a kindred spirit here to open the new office.”

More information on upcoming courses is available via the Ringlink Services website – http://www.ringlinkservices. co.uk/about-us.html.

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Jersey An island and a brand

By Fiona Sloan

WORLD FARMING While Jersey is a constitutional part of the United Kingdom, it is very much its own master when it come to running its affairs. Originally part of the Duchy of Normandy, its language and history are steeped in the influence of France more than Great Britain, as it sits only 14 miles of the north-west coast of Normandy.

It was the only part of Britain, which was invaded during the war and Churchill’s speech on VE day, still means a great deal to the Channel Island when he announced their freedom.

The story of the occupation is brilliantly told in the Tunnels Exhibition on the island.

Land in Jersey is measured in vergées, of which there are just over two to the acre, with agricultural land running to 5895 hectares (32,748 vergées).

However, with the push for more

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housing, not always “affordable” on the island, productive land is shrinking year on year.

The famous Jersey Royal potato, which heralds the arrival of spring in our supermarkets, is the main victim of the decrease in available productive land. As its main export, it is fundamental to the wellbeing of the island and its agriculture. The potatoes are still planted by hand on the small fields of the south facing slopes of the island. The land is “ploughed” by a pulley system, which pulls the ploughs from the top of the hill, or côtils as they are known, then planted from hand-held boxes, which both carry the potatoes and measure the distance between.

Without the need or capacity for machinery, the potatoes are planted from January through to April, regardless of the weather, allowing them to take advantage of the early

market. Such is the demand for the Jersey Royal that the main UK processor, Albert Bartlett Ltd, has recently developed a processing plant on the island.

When thinking of Jersey, the first thing which comes to mind, is the Jersey cow. It is the gold standard of the milking breeds and still commands a premium for its milk, butter and cream, which can be found in delis and farm shops all over the country.

However, the pressures of costs on an island industry, has taken its toll and the number of dairy herds has reduced over the past 10 years, settling at around twenty. The dairies work well together and the need for adding value to their product has not passed them by. While Jersey milk still commands a premium, several of the big dairies have developed their own brand of ice cream and in the case of one, a butchers’ shop to better market and sell their whole product.

The once valueless bull calves

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are becoming increasingly more popular in restaurants as the yellowish fat of this dairy breed is conducive to a unique and enjoyable overall taste of the steaks it produces.

While Jersey Royal and Jersey cattle are known throughout the world, the island is also famous for its shellfish, which it produces on the shores of the islands. 130,000 oyster beds can be seen at low tide alongside 10,000 mussel stakes, which grow the mussels on their wooden sides, covered by nets to protect them from the sea and predators. The warm island tides travel around three kilometres from high to low tide, making them perfect for production.

When harvested, the oysters are taken to the processing plant, where they are carefully cleaned over several days by introducing sterilised water through their system, to replace the sea water already there, ensuring they are bacteria safe, before they head off

WORLD FARMING to the top restaurants on the island and around the world. Jersey Oysters are well sought after due to their size, taste and quality and have been enjoyed for hundreds

of years. The shells of hundreds of Jersey Oysters were found in William Shakespeare’s garden.

Jersey is a fabulous tourist destination but look behind

the hotels and golden beaches and you will see an island which is still producing quality produce commanding a market anywhere in the world and in

quantities to ensure economic growth in its specialised production.

Next month we look at Guernsey and Sark.

Small-scale farmers need decent wages IFAD calls on world leaders to commit to action at Food Systems Summit It is an outrage that rural smallscale farmers in developing countries, who grow a third of our global food, are paid a pittance for their work, said the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) who today asks world leaders attending the UN Food Systems Summit to take concrete actions to change this.

“It is a terrible irony that those who grow our food cannot afford to feed their own families healthy, nutritious diets,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD. “With no savings and no access to capital, farming families also have no cushion against climate change and other

shocks. Today’s Food Systems Summit is our chance to commit to concrete changes. We mustn’t squander this opportunity.”

The majority of rural people in developing countries earn their incomes from agriculture.

Rural small-scale farmers working on farms smaller than two hectares produce over 30 percent of global food, and up to 80 per cent in parts of Africa and Asia. According to a recent study of a number of crops sourced from small-scale farms in developing countries, only 6.5 per cent of the supermarket price is paid to the farmer. Traders, food manufacturers and retailers take the lion’s share.

According to IFAD’s Rural Development Report released earlier this week, the growing concentration of power within food systems have seen profits for large food companies escalate, while the people working to produce, process and distribute our food are trapped in poverty and hunger. Inadequate incomes are a major reason why around 3 billion people in the world cannot afford healthy diets.

“When rural people are paid fairly for their labour, the ripple effect is enormous. Profitable small farms put children through school, pay for diverse, healthy diets, generate employment, and boost rural economies,” said

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Houngbo. “Conversely, poverty and hunger are key drivers of migration, conflict and instability.

Which future do we want?”

IFAD is calling for governments to work with the private sector to implement policies that promote employment generation, decent wages and improved working conditions. A major focus needs to be on local small businesses which work across our food systems and produce, process and distribute food while creating local jobs and boosting rural economies.

In particular, there needs to be a commitment from all actors to ensure small-scale producers can access existing and emerging markets on fair terms.

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technology

Vogelsang launches virtual showroom on biogas technology 360-degree view of solutions for economical biogas production Multimedia impressions through animations and application videos In their new virtual showroom, Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG offers a 360-degree view of its solutions for the biogas industry. Via various touchpoints, visitors can interactively experience technology and components for economical biogas production.

“With the showroom, we are responding to the high demand for digital and virtual consulting concepts. With the help of videos and animations, as well as practical examples, we offer our customers and interested parties a new product experience,” explains Carsten Wenner, Marketing Manager for Biogas and Wastewater at Vogelsang.

To access the showroom: www.vogelsang.info/int/biogasshowroom

Vertical farm rollout offers green shoots for UK produce industry

A new type of commercial ‘vertical farm’ could boost postBrexit Britain’s ability to grow its own fresh produce.

Harvesting is now underway at developer Shockingly Fresh’s first vertical farm in Offenham, Worcestershire with thousands of heads of lettuce and pak choi grown indoors in towers – and they are now planning the rollout 32

of more farms country-wide.

The green-fingered entrepreneurs developed the 12,000 square metre system in partnership with salad growers Valefresco and indoor farming specialists Saturn Bioponics, whose low cost naturally lit vertical farms use hydroponic towers to grow multiple crop cycles of fresh produce such as salads and herbs.

Gene editing decision ‘most significant for 20 years’

The UK Government has announced new plans to unlock the power of gene editing to help farmers grow more resilient, nutritious, and productive crops.

The British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) chief executive

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Samantha Brooke commented on the Defra announcement saying: “This is the most significant policy breakthrough in UK plant breeding for more than 20 years.

We welcome confirmation that Defra will adopt a more scientific

technology and proportionate approach to the regulation of genetic technologies such as gene editing.”

It is hoped that changing the way new agricultural breeding technologies are regulated, by differentiating gene editing from the genetically modified organism (GMO) rules, will provide plant breeders with greater research and innovation freedoms. “This will help to develop healthier, more nutritious food, and make farming systems more sustainable in the face of climate change,” says Ms Brooke.

Agri-tech project highlights benefits to dairybeef sector

A project which uses cutting-edge precision technology to tackle calf pneumonia and scours in the dairy-beef sector was recently highlighted in October.

The £1 million Innovate UK Well-Calf project, which involves partners from Smartbell, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Parklands Veterinary Group and Agri-EPI Centre, has developed a solution for optimising the production efficiency of the sector through improvements in health and management.

The webinar on 26 October highlighedt the benefits of WellCalf, which has been trialled onfarm, as an effective youngstock rearing solution.

Approximately 50 per cent of beef production in the UK originates in the dairy herd but there is large variation in the productive weight-for-age and health status of young calves entering rearing units from dairy farms. As a result, disease incidence and antibiotic use is high.

An animal’s early life health status influences its performance efficiency in later life, and projected industry losses due to suboptimal early-life management is estimated to be £120 million per year, while the impacts of disease cost the industry £80m per year.

The Whole Farm Benchmarks Tool

By Sascha Grierson

SCOTTISH FARM BUSINESS SURVEY: Tools available for all farmers Each year at the end of March, the Scottish Government publishes the annual results from the Scottish Farm Business Survey. This is an in-depth survey of the economic and environmental performance of over 400 Scottish farms covering the main farming types. After the overall data is published each farm in the survey receives an individual performance report. This report compares individual participating farm businesses with their group average figures for that crop year.

GROUP AVERAGES These individual performance reports are then collated into group averages for each farming type.

We remove the organic farms, as they often don’t compare like with like, and we also remove farms that are undergoing significant change.

All farms in the survey are grouped into seven different categories depending on what most of their farming output is. These reports allow farmers to compare their individual results for outputs, in terms of price and productivity, and compare their input costs with similar farms of a similar size to their own and with the top performing 25% of farms in their group. No two farms are the same, but benchmarking on costs and outputs can help businesses find ways to improve their performance.

WHOLE FARM BENCHMARKING TOOL The remaining dataset is now available on the FAS. Scot website by clicking here https://www.fas.scot/ rural-business/businesstools/whole-farmbenchmarks-tool/ This is a free tool available to all farmers. Click on the link, choose from the drop-down menu which farm type best describes your business, there are 3 sizes

of business in each farming type. Compare your figures on a range of measurements to the size of business that best reflects yours. There is also the column of the best 25% of performing farms in each group marked upper 25%*.

Finally, we would like to thank all the farming businesses in Scotland who have helped to create these resources by participating in the survey. If you believe your business can benefit from participation, we would be delighted to hear from you.

We ask you for your latest set of annual accounts and 2 hours of your time, and in return we give you a detailed Farm Business Report and Carbon Audit, and the above mentioned individual business performance report.

We are especially interested to hear from small beef and sheep farmers with a turnover of between £30 000 and £100 000.

Get in touch: ScottishFarmBusiness Survey@sac.co.uk

If you need help with emergency planning contact the FAS Helpline on 0300 323 0161 – they can arrange for some free advice from a consultant.

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Made in Scotland

Goats Galore

By Wendy Barrie

Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife Director of Scottish Food Guide © Achray Farm

and future. In Scotland there are native feral goats, remnants of our turbulent past: the Highland Clearances and massive upheavals in land ownership combined with early industrialisation. Goats were

© WB

In a land where cattle graze and sheep abound, goat farming makes up a tiny fraction of the ruminants reared in Scotland yet nonetheless goats play an important role in our food system; past, present

Islay native goat

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Shadow & Trixie

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melt-in-the-mouth consistency, and Glazert (named after the village burn), her soft white mould-ripened cheese, a fresh chalky log, ideal for grilling. Ann’s fresh cheeses will return to the shelves come spring but in the meantime her Bonnet is available all year round and her delightful tearoom is also open for soups, bakes, refreshments and of course to buy her excellent cheese.

East of Dunlop, over in Lanarkshire, is the Errington family.

Famous for his ewes’ milk Lanark Blue, founder Humphrey Errington and his family have been making their signature cheese since the 1980’s, and more recently have acquired Saanen, Toggenburg and Alpine goats in addition to their flock of sheep. Over the years, they too have won awards and have a delicious range of goat cheeses: Tinto (named after a local hill), semihard with a mildly nutty flavour; Bonnington Lynn, a cheddar-style farmhouse; Goats Curd, crowdiestyle, sold fresh in tubs; Biggar Blue with a smooth tangy finish; Elrick Log, ash finished with a citric fresh flavour, and Blackmount, similarly fresh in the middle but increasingly spicy towards its yeasted rind, matured for about two weeks. They have recently opened an on-farm self-service cheese shop where you can buy a splendid selection of their cheeses.

Many who are allergic to cows’ milk find goats’ milk easy to digest so it’s no surprise goat milk ice cream is also available in Scotland, from Achray Farm in the Trossachs where Nicola makes small-batch artisan ice cream. A popular haunt for families, cyclists and walkers, their smallholding runs on

regenerative principles, offers yearround farmhouse accommodation and is pretty self-sufficient. They close their dainty ice cream cabin late autumn and reopen in time for the spring school holidays.

Nicola uses seasonal ingredients and foraged flavours from the rich pickings of the surrounding hills and valleys, including meadowsweet, garden mint, bramble and elderflower.

Now with a dozen or so Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian goats, they purchased their first two milking goats in 2017 and embarked on a steep learning curve of milking and learning the associated crafts and skills. Nicola was inspired when they visited the Ardeche National Park and took part in a foraging walk – surrounded by a flock of goats doing what goats do, nibbling a shrub here and a herb there. She immediately saw how their Trossachs home could provide the perfect landscape for goats and she takes regular walks with her charges so they can forage contentedly in nature whilst getting to know her better. Yes, in every case goats become part of the family and in return can provide affection, mischief, healthy food for the table and good business economy in an ethical way. What’s not to love?

Dunlop Dairy http://www. dunlopdairy.co.uk Errington Cheese Co https://www. erringtoncheese.com Elchies https://www.elchies.co.uk Achray Farm https://achrayfarm. co.uk Wendy’s goat recipe is featured on our Farmhouse Kitchen page © Dunlop

and, along with Ryeland sheep and alpacas bring a rich biodiversity to the landscape. Between them, the animals provide a medley of flavours and fibres, offering ethical meats and natural products, all available mail order and at their innovative 24-hour fully automated farm shop. British Boer goats are sufficiently hardy to withstand highland weather conditions and are very good mothers. They live a freeranging life – within high goat-proof deer fences – and provide excellent meat that is both high in protein and low in cholesterol and fat. Nothing is wasted: in addition to meat, the skins are transformed into beautiful throws and horn is also available.

The goat offal is set aside to make their own haggis – a very popular dish for bespoke events at the nearby Macallan Distillery, served topped with goat loin to create a fabulous local speciality dish.

Goats’ milk, in the right hands, makes exceptionally good cheese.

In Ayrshire, Ann Dorward at Dunlop Dairy has been making cheese from her Saanen and Toggenburg goats since 1989 and in 1990 she entered her Bonnet, a hard goats’ cheese (named after the mills in the nearby town of Stewarton where military bonnets were made) at the International Cheese Show where it was awarded Gold – a pretty good start and recognised as one of Scotland’s gifted cheesemakers ever since. From modest beginnings, Ann now also has a herd of Ayrshire cows but never stopped making her sought after goats’ cheeses.

Alongside the Bonnet - matured for 6-10 months - Ann produces Ailsa Craig in the shape of the famous Firth of Clyde rock with a creamy

© Dunlop

left behind in the chaos that ensued whereupon they fled to ravines or remote coastal woodlands, inaccessible to most humans, where they can thrive – and should be allowed to do so!

Never underestimate a goat.

In many countries, where marginal land quickly rewilds into bushes and invasive species given half a chance, goats can be part of the solution, saving habitats for butterflies, bees, insects and native plants. In America, goats are increasingly recognised as the environmental answer for land clearance. Instead of spraying areas with glyphosate, your four-legged fix can also produce delicious byproducts, all in great demand.

Smallholders looking for financial self-sufficiency, or seeking a work-life balance alongside parttime remote working, are growing vegetables and keeping a few animals. For them, goats are a great way to start. Small and manageable, all ages can help and they are the simplest of the ruminants to feed, enjoying almost everything: from kitchen garden leftovers to gorse, branches and weeds. The great range of resulting produce: dairy and meat, skins, horn and fibre, are ideal for small-scale production.

All goats are gifted escapologists, loveable hooligans!

Domesticated ones can usually be relied on to return home and enjoy being taken on tethered walks, supplementing their diet as they graze en route…and above all, they are real personalities!

Julie Comins at Elchies would agree with me! Although the Speyside lands are among the most historic in the parish, their British Boer Goats are a fairly new addition

Ailsa Craig-goat

Bonnet-goat

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renewable energy

OW and Aker unveil ScotWind bids to produce 6GW of energy Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind have unveiled ambitious joint bids to make Scotland a global leader in floating offshore wind.

The proposal would revolutionise energy production in Scotland and power our everyday lives, delivering a net zero future by harnessing the power and potential in Scotland’s deep waters - creating thousands of high-skilled jobs in the process.

Ahead of a major conference in Aberdeen this week, the partnership can reveal it has submitted bids as part of the ScotWind process for several sites in the Outer Moray Firth, using floating devices to deliver 6,000MW of energy – which would be by far the largest wind energy development in the UK and power millions of homes.

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It would create thousands of jobs as part of the country’s ‘just transition’ and delivering a giant boost for Scotland’s supply chain and the economy with exportable technology innovation.

The project is designed to enable Scottish businesses to ramp up ahead of production, with a commitment to 40 per cent minimum supply chain content in Scotland and 60 per cent in the UK. Mapping and engaging has already resulted in agreements with suppliers to enable early investment priorities.

Floating offshore wind is the latest advent in renewable energy technology.

Around 80 per cent of the world’s wind resources

are in waters deeper than 60 metres and are unsuitable for fixed foundations, but floating turbines can make massive contributions to the energy grid because the infrastructure is based away from the coastline in deep water.

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ScotWind is the process currently being undertaken

by Crown Estate Scotland, at the direction of the Scottish Government, to grant property rights for the seabed in Scottish waters for new commercial scale offshore wind projects.

renewable energy

Poll shows majority of people in Scotland want planning system to enable more onshore wind farms to go ahead New polling commissioned by RenewableUK shows strong support for onshore wind in Scotland, including reforming the planning system to enable more wind farms to be built.

70% of people in Scotland agreed that the local planning system should broadly encourage the building of renewable energy projects like onshore wind, with only 8% opposed. Support is slightly higher among people who live within five miles of a wind turbine in Scotland (74%), and it increased to 79% among SNP voters.

When asked specifically whether a Scottish project should go ahead if it has majority support among local people, 81% agreed. Only 11% said total community consensus was needed. SNP voters were even more in favour of majority consent at 87%. In the Highlands and Islands 73% supported this and in the south of Scotland the percentage rose to 92%.

74% of people in Scotland support replacing old onshore wind turbines with new ones when they reach the end of their natural lifespan. Support for repowering rises to 78% among people living within five miles of an onshore wind farm in Scotland.

Repowering is popular across the political spectrum too, with

70% of Scottish Conservative voters and 82% of SNP voters supporting it.

When asked directly asked whether they support installing modern turbines which are taller in order to generate more power, 67% of people in Scotland remained supportive, with only 11% opposed. This increased to 77% among SNP voters.

Support for repowering is strong in areas likely to see much of it, such as the Highlands and Islands (67%), north east Scotland (77%) and the south of Scotland (78%).

73% of the Scottish public want the Government to set a long-term target for wind energy ahead of the UN change summit in Glasgow (COP26) in November. Support is even higher among SNP voters at 79%. RenewableUK is urging Ministers to enable 30 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind by 2030, more than doubling our current capacity.

76% of the Scottish public agree that the Government should work pro-actively with the onshore wind industry to boost jobs and local business opportunities in onshore wind - setting a specific deployment target would unlock billions of pounds in private investment to achieve this.

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crofting

Effective regulation of crofting is essential for the system to thrive

By Patrick Krause, Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation The media has recently had some excellent coverage of the crisis crofting is facing; too many crofts are unused but not passed on, and those that appear ‘on the market’ are unaffordable to local or young people and are being bought as development investments. A regulated system has been allowed to be corrupted by the open market and this clash of ideologies just doesn’t work.

In 2008, Professor Mark Shucksmith, chair of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting (CoIoC) commented, “Scotland requires a wellpopulated countryside which sustains a diverse and innovative economy, attracts visitors, cares for natural habitats, biodiversity and carbon stocks, and sustains distinctive cultures. Crofting has had success in relation to these objectives, and – given the right support – has the potential to contribute much more.”

The situation has deteriorated since the Committee of Inquiry reported, stating back then that crofting, and the many benefits it offers, is in danger and needs urgent attention.

Yet the recognition of the value of crofting has increased during this same period. It is now far more appreciated that low-

intensity land-use is the way forward in addressing climate change, the depletion of biodiversity and environmental degradation, and that more people using the land and producing food on a smallscale tackles depopulation and increases community resilience.

Despite its best efforts, the Crofting Commission is failing to manage the system, let alone the crisis crofting faces. A great deal can be done now through effective regulation, if the commission is given adequate resources, and some issues will need legislative reform. A great deal of work has been done on this with ‘The Sump’, a collation of the anomalies and glitches in the law that need sorting, and the Crofting Bill Group spent hundreds of hours working on a bill that would form more effective croft law. The bill was stopped in the last session of government because Brexit was taking all resources, but it was promised that it would receive attention in the new session.

The Cabinet Secretary reiterated this at the SCF AGM, saying that whilst it is not explicitly in this year’s programme, crofting law reform will happen in this parliament and preparations will start imminently.

www.crofting.org

Farm Security

Combatting Rural Theft in the UK’s Farming Communities

Theft is becoming a rising problem for the UK’s farmers and rural communities. The cost of rural crime has been steadily increasing over the past five years, from £42.5 million in 2015 and peaking at a record £54 million in 2019.

According to NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime Report, in 2020, rural theft cost the UK an estimated £43.3 million. While this was a decrease of 20 per cent on the previous year, the pandemic has likely only delayed potential theft, with lockdown forcing a larger police presence in the countryside deterring people from nonessential travel.

As coronavirus restrictions ease, we should expect theft to become a prominent problem for rural and farming communities again. After the dip in 2020, are we set to see rural crime on the rise again? Our Google searches certainly anticipate that this is an increasing and returning problem.

Searches for ‘farm theft’ in the UK have hit a high in 2021 – 73 per cent higher than its six-year average according to off-grid energy supplier, Flogas. While farm theft fell in 2020 due to the lockdown, it’s surprising to see such a rapid return of crime this year. Searches for ‘farm theft’ in 2021 have increased by 28 per cent compared to the previous year.

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More must be done to combat rural theft, preventing lost equipment and profit for UK farmers at a time where resources are already stretched.

But what are the main concerns for theft, and how can we combat this problem? Here, we explore some solutions for combatting rural theft in the UK.

More innovative methods can be used to deter theft or resolve crime even if your equipment is stolen. Alarms can raise awareness of ongoing theft, while tracking devices allow vehicles owners to see the location of their vehicle. This allows authorities to locate and recover stolen goods.

Agricultural vehicle theft Vehicle theft contributes £9.1 million in losses every year.

Tractors are among the most valuable equipment used on farms, and their mobility makes them easy for criminals to target and take away.

Tractors can be scrapped for valuable engineering parts, sold on the black market, or even shipped abroad. To combat agricultural vehicle theft, we must first identify what makes some farms appealing to criminals.

A lack of preventative measures can be attributed to some theft, where poor surveillance and protection allows thieves to easily infiltrate and steal equipment. Lights and CCTV equipment are a simple solution to deter theft, where if criminals suspect they are being watched, they are less likely to attempt a theft.

Domestic oil theft Rural theft isn’t just on the farm – in fact, it can happen close to home. Heating oil theft is a major problem, particularly in off-grid communities. Thieves will decant, syphon, or pump oil from your domestic tank to use themselves or to sell. As some oil tanks are outside homes, targets can be easily identified.

Like agricultural vehicle theft, domestic oil theft can be deterred with simple solutions. Of course, CCTV can be used to identify intruders. However, modern solutions may help your rural home become more sustainable and avoid theft. An oil to gas conversion removes your oil-fired heating, using liquid gas to power utilities and heat the property instead. There are more benefits to switching to liquid gas too; not only is it harder to steal, but it’s also a cleaner and more sustainable fuel.

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Another benefit of LPG is that it can be placed in an underground tank, further aiding your anti-theft considerations.

This alternative storage method for liquid gas makes it even harder for thieves to tap into your energy supplies.

Livestock theft Livestock theft costs the UK £2.3 million every year and is perhaps one of the most disheartening aspects of rural crime. It is not only distressing for owners but for the animals themselves.

Gangs or thieves may steal livestock for their pedigree or for slaughter. It can include the theft of sheep, pigs, cattle, and working dogs.

To avoid livestock theft, you should ensure that all livestock is marked and up to date. This ensures that livestock has a recognisable owner.

Furthermore, livestock should be kept in grazing fields away from roads. This prevents thieves from making a quick getaway.

For rural theft, the best deterrent is prevention. Calling the police when theft is attempted is the best way to prevent thieves from damaging rural livelihoods.

However, other intelligent and theft-deterrent ideas should be considered.

Farm Security

Secure doors for all farming and rural outbuildings from Advanced Roller Doors Since 1997 Advanced Roller Doors have been providing a quality service in the supply, installation, service and repair of roller shutter doors, steel doorsets, rapid roll doors, insulated doors and Fire Rated doors from our base in East Kilbride, just south of Glasgow.

We service across Scotland and the North of England through our expanding network of clients.

Our vans are just as likely to be seen on Farms & Equestrian Centres as they are at Shopping Centres, Warehouses, Workshops, Superstores and Domestic premises.

We run a fleet of vans fully equipped to install, as well as repair, your doors.

Most roller shutter doors are manufactured at our factory in East Kilbride with specialist doors being sourced from our Key Suppliers.

All door types are built to suit site sizes and all openings are generally surveyed prior to manufacture.

For friendly advice do not hesitate to contact us or arrange to pop in to our factory: 19a Hawbank Road, East Kilbride, G74 5EG

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Farm Security

Watching over your property with Livestock Eye Livestock Eye are leading specialists in livestock surveillance & rural security systems.

We are a family run business based in North Lincolnshire providing high quality affordable & self-installed CCTV surveillance cameras.

Livestock Eye cameras use the latest technology, combined with a simple easy to use system to provide remote round the clock viewing, accessible on a smart phone tablet & computer.

We supply both 4g sim cameras & Wi-Fi cameras.

The 4g sim cameras operates on a mobile phone network & are for use in areas where no WiFi signal is available.

All cameras can be powered by mains electricity or a 12v battery & being water resistant IP66 rated they can be used indoors or out.

Using motion detection & humanoid technology you can set up alerts to send notifications to your phone & tablet when activated.

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The cameras can be used in many areas, such as: · Livestock Sheds · Farms · Stables & Tack rooms · Fields · Construction Sites · Holiday & Park Homes · Fishing Ponds · Workshop & Storage Units Having the ability to record all footage & playback direct to your phone means you never miss a thing.

Infrared night vision provides quality clear footage even in total darkness.

The cameras save you not only time on unnecessary visit but the economic saving of fewer lives lost means the initial outlay of the camera is soon recovered.

We offer 12 months warranty on all of our cameras & ongoing technical support.

Head over to our Facebook page Livestock Eye to view footage & testimonials provided by many happy customers

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farming diversification

Christmas Guide to diversifying

The run up to Christmas is an inventive time for farmers looking to diversify, either with brand new festive projects, or with products that simply make a great present. Below we outline a handful of Scottish farmers and landowners whose gifts you can purchase for your nearest and dearest.

By Janice Hopper A TASTE OF SCOTLAND The Mackenzie family have farmed in Easter Ross for over 150 years. Traditionally they grew oats, barley, potatoes and turnips, as well as rearing sheep and pedigree Aberdeen Angus Cattle. Today their farms concentrate on winter and spring barley (for malting), wheat, oilseed rape, potatoes and Limousin/Angus cross suckler cows.

When Robert Mackenzie visited a ‘Farm Africa’ project in 2006 the seed of an idea began to germinate. In Kenya Robert witnessed a coldpressing machine producing sunflower oil, and he was tempted to create cold-pressed rapeseed oil in Scotland. Fast forward to 2021/22 and Cullisse Farm creates a select range of rapeseed products including oils, marinades and wholesale

supplies. But, as a Christmas gift, a foodie treat from the Scottish Food and Hampers Company is an indulgent way to try a range of Scottish products, including Cullisse’s rapeseed oil. Consider the Fort William Gift Box, an alcohol-free selection at £65 that includes Scottish shortbread, chocolates, clootie dumpling, soup and chutney. cullisse.com scottishfoodandhampers.co.uk/ the-fort-william-gift-box-392

Jenny wrote the book when she discovered that about 18,000 tonnes of pumpkin are thrown away each year in the UK alone. Many of her customers would like to cook with this nutritious vegetable but don’t always know where to start, so Jenny spent lockdown inventing pumpkin recipes in her kitchen and testing them on the family. The

most popular dishes made it into the book.

For those who’d like to rustle up pumpkin treats — from soup and cake, to even a pumpkin pizza, milkshake, smoothie or coffee — then this is a novel Christmas gift at £8.00. udnypumpkins.co.uk/pumpkinpatch-cookbook

GET COOKING Jenny Fyall runs Udny Pumpkins, primarily known for its pickyour-own-pumpkins fields in Aberdeenshire. In time for Christmas she’s diversified into writing, creating a book called The Pumpkin Patch Cookbook: ‘forty recipes celebrating the magic of pumpkin in the kitchen’.

Beanie knitting pack - Low Auldgirth Steading

Farmer & Author Jenny Fyall (left) and illustrator Annie Grant (right)

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Gotland bear family - knit pack Low Auldgirth Steading

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farming diversification NEEDLES AT THE READY Low Auldgirth Steading is a family run, regenerative small holding in Dumfries and Galloway that manages flocks of Ryeland and Gotland sheep as well as Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, chickens and geese. Using traditional farming methods and working with heritage breeds, the farm produces slow grown meat that’s sold online to individual customers and local restaurants.

Farmer Ruth Ashton-Shaw comes from a family with a long history of knitting, weaving and creating with fibre, so she felt it was a natural progression for a regenerative farm to explore ways to celebrate this natural product. The first balls of wool arrived at the farm just as lockdown hit the country, so there was plenty of time to experiment with what could be created from just a single ball of wool. These little lockdown projects were so popular that Ruth decided to create knitalong-packs so customers could knit their own creations, from beanies to bears. So for anyone who enjoys getting crafty, then a quirky Christmas gift of sustainable Scottish wool plus all the info needed to create the design can be bought online. nurturefromnature.co.uk HONEY FOR YOUR HONEY, WITH DRAMBUIE Drambuie honeyed liqueur is an icon of cosy Christmas celebrations, made using heather honey harvested from the moorlands of Dumfries and Galloway.

Beekeeper, John Mellis, has been harvesting honey for decades, but a rewarding contribution is supplying Drambuie with their precious honey, and he’s done so for over twenty years. With over 300 hives situated in a 15-mile radius, John’s honey has a rich and smoky flavour yet isn’t overly sweet. It’s paired with Drambuie’s secret recipe of herbs and spices, creating the iconic whisky liqueur.

John adds, “Both Drambuie and us produce food and drink produce that’s inherently Scottish and that’s something that adds an extra layer of authenticity to our partnership. Our honey tastes the way it does because the bees forage on the heather rich moorlands of Dumfries & Galloway – and this taste of Scotland goes into every bottle of Drambuie. It’s a Scottish drink that deserves to be made with the best quality Scottish produce, including my heather honey.”

A 50cl sized bottle has been introduced in time for Christmas.

A festive gift at £18, from most good supermarkets. groceries.morrisons.com/ products/drambuie-557771011 SCOTTISH PAMPERING For many Scottish landowners diversification is the name of the game. Gordon Castle welcomes customers to its Walled Garden and Natural Play Area. There is also a café and shop on site, and it’s renowned for hosting events and providing quality accommodation.

For a Christmas treat visit the Morayshire estate in person, or head to Gordon Castle’s online site for a host of foodie treats and toiletries, with many ingredients sourced straight from the Walled Garden. Consider the Aromatherapy Beauty Box that includes a heady mix of Herbal Foot Balm, Rescue Balm, Intense Hand Cream, Deep Muscle Rub, Peppermint Lip Balm, Comfrey Ointment, Calendula Ointment, Summer Balm, a Peace Pulse Point and Good Night Pulse Point (£80). Soothe aching muscles and tired feet with products crafted using pure lavender and rosemary essential oils grown in the Walled Garden. The Gordon Castle team grow to organic principles, harvest by hand, and tend to over 3000 lavender plants. Distilled on site, the natural fragrances and moisturising properties soothe the skin in the depths of winter. gordoncastlescotland.com/ collections/aromatherapy-range

Drambuie Iced Espresso

Gordon Castle Aromatherapy Beauty Box

Lavender at Gordon Castle

VOUCH FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE Vouchers can be a little, well, dull. But not these pop-up ones from Boutique Farm Bothies near Huntly. If you fancy gifting

a weekend at the Barley Bothy, the Sheep Shed or the Dairy at Denend, then purchase one of these innovative vouchers for a relaxed escape to the country. boutiquefarmbothies.co.uk

Janice Hopper is a freelance writer based in Aberdeen who’s written features, copy and social media text for a range of publications and clients. Her Scottish family travel blog, Scots2Travel.com, covers child-friendly short breaks, attractions and activities. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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Diet Feeders

Diet Feeders

A brief look into some of the options available today

Prepare now for winter with an Abbey Machinery Diet Feeder Diet feeding is a part of a sustainable, profitable, environmentally friendly way of farming. Abbey Diet Feeders unique chopping and mixing action helps the animal to digest the maximum amount of nutrients from the feed they have eaten, to drive performance and even to reduce environmental emissions – from both nitrogen and methane.

This raises feed efficiency improving milk and meat yield per kg dry matter intake.

Grass grazed cows without a properly balanced diet can result in high emissions of ammonia Using an Abbey Diet Feeder can help reduce this by balancing fermentable energy in feed. Creating a mix from cereal grains, fibre from high dry DMD, dry silage and chopped straw fed for a short period morning and evening pre-grazing can balance the qualities of good grass in a consistent manner reducing ammonia emissions. Abbey Diet Feeders provide unrivalled mix quality and a unique tub design allowing for complete movement and mixing of feeds.

Also integral to Abbey feeders is the raised top knife auger for faster breakdown of dry material to maintain consistent mix.

A balanced feeding approach allows the cow to utilise the qualities of good grass in a consistent manner while reducing ammonia emissions. A dry silage, straw and cereal based diet feeder mixed buffer feed offered to cows for 30 minutes morning and evening will ensure better rumen function.

Diet feeding has significant advantages to both dry cow 44

and milking cow health and production, it stimulates appetite whether at grass or indoors, aids

cows in maximising their potential in terms of fertility and milk solids production. Abbey Diet Feeders

successfully contribute to the overall health, sustainability, and profitability of the farm program.

BvL - 21 years of UK diet feeder expertise BvL is this year celebrating 21 years of sales and service for its range of feeder wagons in the UK. A key element in the company’s success

both in the UK, but also over the 41 years since BvL launched the first diet feeder onto the market, is that no two farms are the same.

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Therefore it’s important that a wide range of specifications and options are available, so that BvL’s UK dealers and specialists

Diet Feeders can look at your needs and tailor a machine to meet those requirements.

The BvL V-MIX range of trailed diet feeders covers a wide range of machines, available in single, twin and triple augers variants and in capacity from 3.5m³ up to 46m³. Also increasingly popular is the BvL V-Mix Maximum Plus range of self-propelled single and twin auger diet feeders, available in capacities from 11 up to 21m³.

Instead of cutting, these use a combing action to loosen the silage from the clamp which helps avoid damage and helps preserve feed quality.

At the heart of all BvL mixers are powerful mixing augers, with Hardox leading edges and adjustable knives. Twin and triple auger versions incorporate mixing wedges for a thorough and consistent mix, while the patented EDS (Exact Dosing System) discharge ensures an even forage discharge.

Available as an option and suitable for retro fitting onto older BvL diet feeders is the V-Connect mixer control. Using the control, the operator can easily monitor both auger speed and total revolutions, in addition to displaying and controlling

mixer time. So instead of relying on PTO speed, by being able to monitor the actual auger speed the operator is able to achieve improved repeatability and ration consistency.

Other options include features such as doors on both the left and right hand side of the feeder for feeding flexibility and even simultaneous discharge to

both sides. Additional discharge door options are available, as are discharge conveyors or elevators

and new, highly powerful magnets to avoid metallic objects contaminating the ration.

Diet Feeders from Harry West Harry West (Prees) Ltd now offer the full complement of diet feeding options for your particular requirements.

In our ever changing times the demand to produce more for less cost has never been more prevalent and in the dairy / beef industry this is always a very topical issue.

The range of Diet Feeders available from this North Shropshire based company cover every requirement of the progressive breeder and these include the West Diet Feeder, this paddle type mixer has won many RASE awards and is available in 12 m³ and 16

m³ capacities. This low power requirement, top quality mixing and high feed out design has been very successful and allows clamp silage to be processed to a very high standard.

For customers who require to chop material they can offer the full range of Seko machines, these top quality horizontal and vertical design machines gives us, up to the minute design and a statement of being The Best Unifeed for our market.

The Seko Samurai 5 horizontal range of machines gives us capacities of 5 cu/m up to 30 cu/m in various www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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Diet Feeders configurations consisting of trailed, self-propelled and stationary units. The simple design consisting of 2 augers with 4 convergent windings along with stationary and auger blades give a very good chopping and mixing effect as favoured by their many customers.

Seko also have a complete range of vertical diet feeders called the Tiger series with capacities of 9cu/m to 45cu/m in self-propelled trailed and stationary version We believe that Harry West Prees Ltd has a diet feeder to suit any product and every farm

D-K-R

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Main Dealers for Lucas G Diet Feeders

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN Tel. 01899 220897 • FAX. 01899 221413 E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out January 2022 46

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Diet Feeders

Hi-Spec Vertical Auger and MixMax diet feeders With its range of Vertical Auger and MixMax paddle type feeders, Hi-Spec Engineering Co Ltd offers one of the widest ranges of diet feeders on the market. A particular feature of Hi-Spec diet feeders is the wide range of options available, and they offer one of the widest range of feed-out options available of any machine on the market, ensuring that there is an option to suit all types of building and feeding system.

The Hi-Spec Vertical Auger range of feeders is available in both single and twin auger variants and sizes from 7m³ to 32m³.

A specific feature of the HiSpec range is its ability to quickly and efficiently incorporate complete bales into the mix, due to the unique knife arrangement,

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Diet Feeders which also allows the Vertical Auger mixer to be used with lower horsepower tractors. The Vertical Auger range uses a low pitch mixing and chopping auger that creates a simple cycle action and is fitted with eight selfsharpening knives one of which runs close to the body of the Vertical Feeder. This ensures that once the mix is drawn up by the auger, as it falls back down the side it continues to be chopped and mixed, ensuring a quick and thorough mix can be consistently achieved.

The wide range of options includes various discharge outlet positions or a variable height hydraulic chute or Cross Conveyor with elevator.

It can also be specified with the Digi-Star TMR Tracker fully programmable electronic weighing system. The Vertical Auger can also be fitted with a straw blower so that it can also be used as a bedder, or with a Root Washer and Cleaner so that root crops can be incorporated into the mix.

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Kongskilde complete diet mixers for long and continuous operation

Dairy herds are steadily increasing in size, and there is a trend towards heavier diet mixes and longer mixing times. Diet mixers must be able to produce up to as many as 6-7 mixes per day and mix for longer.

The Kongskilde diet mixers come with features like the new HD-transmission line on their largest diet mixers. The robustly constructed gearbox is equipped with an efficient oil-

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cooling system that ensures a constant and optimal operating temperature for continuous operation under heavy load.

Kongskilde diet mixers include options like the Mix+

Diet Feeders concept that has proved to be a huge success. Mix+ is a wear part concept with replaceable parts for the front edges of mixer augers, meaning that the

Kongskilde diet mixer continues over time provides a far more uniform mixing quality and that the augers last longer and with reduced maintenance costs.

The FeedManager and ProFeed+ software brings a unique overview of the ingredients to be loaded according to a predetermined

feed plan and then compares what has been fed. This gives the farmer the possibility of better control, analysis and reporting.

Kuhn extends large capacity diet feeder range

KUHN Farm Machinery has extended its range of diet feeders offering cross-conveyor feeding with the addition of triple vertical auger models.

The Euromix 3 CL series includes four models with hopper capacities of 28m³, 33m³, 39m³ and 45m³.

The three vertical augers, along with the polygonal shape of the hopper interior, are specifically designed to achieve rapid breakup of whole bales. Augers are designed with a continuous spiral and are fitted with seven knives with asymmetric teeth that have a self-cleaning effect. The auger knives work against two counter knives for faster chopping and optimum mixing.

All Euromix 3 CL models are included with an anti-overflow ring, increasing the height of the hopper to help prevent the loss of fodder during the chopping phases.

Feed distribution is via a large clearance hatch to the right or left of the machine and a broad crossconveyor with a hydraulic motor at each end. The PVC belt structure of the conveyor ensures a quiet and efficient feed-out and easy maintenance. Rear discharge is also an option, to the right or left of the machine.

Euromix 3 CL models have programmable weighing as standard, allowing pre-set mixing times, storage of ingredients and www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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Diet Feeders rations in the system memory, and the accurate control of rationing.

Kuhn’s Intellimix advanced mixer control system is an option on all models. The system works via a continuously variable transmission that is integrated into the tractor controls through ISOBUS. This allows a reduction in start-up torque by up to 50% and – through automated changes to auger speeds in response to loading – optimises the use of power throughout the mixing and feeding process.

With opening and closing of the hopper door automatically triggering the switch between automix and auto-feed modes, and with auger speed able to be pre-set in relation to varying conditions in the hopper, the operation is fully automated and requires no operator intervention.

Kverneland System 300+ provides more feeding options The Kverneland Siloking selfpropelled feeder range has been extended with the introduction of the System 300+ model in the SelfLine 4.0 range.

This new version represents the smallest SelfLine 4.0 conventional-chassis machine

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currently available from Kverneland, and is offered with four capacities – 19, 22, 25 and 27 cubic metres. It slots into the range between the 13-22 cubic metre rear-steer, tricycle-style Compact and Premium chassis models, and the larger System

500+ and System 1000+ models that span a range of capacities from 19-32 cubic metres.

Based on the proven System 500+ version, this smaller System 300+ models offers an airsuspended chassis with four-wheel steering and a 25kph road speed.

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Power comes from a 218hp Volvo engine, with 1,000-hour service intervals contributing to lower cost of ownership.

Equipped with a 2m wide milling head that supplies the mixing tub using a 700mm wide belt conveyor, the system 300+

Diet Feeders boasts twin vertical augers with adjustable, hardened knives and an integral FlowPlus hopper ring to improve bale processing.

Discharge options include a hydraulic cross-conveyor, and rear doors.

For the operator, the cab includes a 7in colour display showing machine functions including discharge door

indicator, mixing speed and weighing data.

Siloking’s programmable weighing system with feed management software is also included. A colour camera system with quad display offers connectivity of up to a maximum of four cameras, offering scope to watch feed discharge and tub mixing, for example, in addition to a standard rear-view.

Those regularly handling high volumes of straw can now opt for an integral straw chopper.

Available across the SelfLine 4.0 range, this new development sits behind the milling head, and is activated by a push-button from the cab.

This hydraulically driven straw processor delivers a chop length from 2-4cm, helping

to shorten mixing times when including straw within rations.

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Lucas G Feeding Solutions

Lucas G is a French based manufacturer of feeding and bedding machinery offering an extensive range of products to suit all types and sizes of livestock farms.

Recently it has expanded and updated its diet feeder range to include single, twin, and triple vertical auger mixers ranging from 8m³ to 46m³ capacity. One of the company’s highly successful models on the UK market is the ‘Spirmix Jet’ range which features a front mounted fan.

Due to the unique design with a horizontal feed rotor situated between the mixing tub and the fan housing, it can feed out a TMR mix through the fan in addition to being used as s straw blower making it a truly versatile 2in1 machine. This design also allows farms to use the diet feeder in otherwise difficult to access areas and over high barriers or into troughs in narrow passageways where traditional conveyor quipped machines would struggle due to width or feed out height limitations. The Spirmix Jet features a two-speed gearbox of the fan and mixing augers along with bottom tank reinforcement as standard. Other features include 85cm counter knives and heavy-duty augers with 6,8 or 10 blade for reducing the chopping and mixing time of long strand materials and fibrous rations. The standard weighing system can be upgraded to a programmable www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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Diet Feeders recipe management which will assist the operator to maximise feeding accuracy and feed more efficiently by reducing mixing times. In addition to the Spirmix Jet Lucas G offer the ‘Spirmix’ and ‘Spirmix S’ range which can be quipped with various distribution

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Powermix Diet Feeder from Shelbourne The Powermix diet feeder was first introduced back in 1996 and Shelbourne Reynolds have continually kept pace with higher capacity demands as well as ensuring efficient mixing and feed out times to give the farmer of today a machine that matches just that criteria.

The Powermix diet feeder from Shelbourne Reynolds is offered in

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four different ranges. These are the Powermix Pro Popular, Pro Express, Compact Plus and the Wide Body Plus. All the ranges have Shelbourne Reynolds engineering pedigree giving the same quality of feed mix day on day, year on year and meeting the expectations of the customer.

The Pro Popular feeder is the base machine of the diet

feeders. It’s comes standard with one side discharge door with another available as an option. Capacities start at 9 cu/m and through four different sizes rise to 15 cu/m capacity.

These machines are all single auger and have counter knives as standard. The auger itself has adjustable knives and 3 feed out legs ensuring a thoroughly

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mixed diet and even discharge of feed.

The Pro Express range has single auger capacities of 9–15 cu/m and twin auger capacities of 16-25 cu/m. All machines in this range have a front discharge conveyor which can elevate either side of the machine to discharge feed into bunkers, troughs or simply onto the floor. S500 grade steel in used throughout both single and twin augers and the controls can either be direct from the tractor spool valves or operated through a single wired electric control joystick.

The Compact Plus range start at 16cu/m and are available up to 22 cu/m capacity. They are available with both single and twin axles (22cu/m twin axle only). This modern design incorporates a smooth tub shape to encourage faster mixing times and along with the stainlesssteel flights & smooth scrolled augers with 3 feed out legs, produce a very consistent mix and discharge using the front elevating discharge conveyor.

Wireless Bluetooth controls are available as an option.

NORTHERN ISLES News

Orkney’s wild goose chase

By Sarah Sutherland Its downpour is spoiling our crops and causing havoc for farmers.

Each year, it grows larger in size, and the storm that comes in its wake leaves more damage.

But how will we ever solve Orkney’s perennial goose problem?

According to those fighting on the frontlines of this county’s war on greylag geese, a full joined-up programme, involving farmers, shooters, and nature preservation organisations, is the only way to burst through this smog of invasive birds.

But the future of the county’s goose management scheme remains uncertain, for the moment, with long-term plans relying on funding yet to be sourced.

NatureScot, which has helped set up local goose management groups (LGMG) in Orkney and the Western Isles in recent years, confirmed this week that it will continue to provide support on the issue — but that additional funding will need to be found in order to establish a long-term programme.

This news comes amid a growing force attacking the county’s crops, due in part to the pandemic hampering goose management programme.

Indeed, just last month, The Orcadian reported that armed guards were set to defend crops from an “out of control” greylag geese onslaught.

As farmers club together to “put the pressure on” for spring culls, Jamie Bain of Bain’s Water Fowling Orkney, has been hired by several Orkney farmers to help prevent large financial loss.

Catching up with Mr Bain, this week, the newspaper asked 54

for his view on what a long-term programme of goose management should look like in Orkney.

“I wish they would approach more boys and say, would you come on board as a programme and do this,” he said.

“If we could get the RSPB and maybe the ones who are doing the stoat project on board, that could be quite good.”

Mr Bain explained that, while his services and those provided by other gunmen in Orkney are a help, it is not enough to tackle the sheer volume of geese flocking to our shores.

“You’ll be ready for home, and then you’ll drive along the road for two minutes and then they’re just in the next field along,” he said.

“You’re just pushing them from one farm to the next farm to the next farm. For the Birsay Heritage, for example, it’s so hard to grow the bere anyway — and if the geese get in it, they just love it, they go daft for it.

“It’s such an expense to grow that crop — that could be £300 or £400 an acre lost to the Birsay Heritage, which is a huge loss for them.

“You have people chapping at your door saying ‘can you come and shoot?’ and I have to say, well, I’ve got a list and I’ve got to get round these ones first.

“At the end of the day, you could have 30 or 40 boys phoning you and crying out for help.

The farmers here are that under pressure to grow their crops.

We’ve had a dry summer, and now it’s absolutely dancing with rain, so the crops are going flat — so they’re having to rush before the combines come in, and they don’t want to be dealing with the geese.

“Something should be in place where all they have to do is pick up the phone and there’s something in place.”

This desire for a more foolproof system of goose management is also shared by Marty Hay of J. & S. Hay Agricultural Contracting. Mr Hay, who tends crops for Birsay Heritage Society as part of his work, says that as much as five per cent of the bere has been lost this year to the geese.

“There will be about 90 acres, and about four and a half have been destroyed by the geese,” Mr Hay told the newspaper.

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The frustrated farmer has also considered whether a joined up scheme, sharing some resources with Orkney’s stoat eradication programme, could be the answer.

“I thought possibly — because the nearest we would have to gamekeepers here is the guys who are trying to eradicate the stoats — and they found a nest, they could be oiling the eggs.

“But maybe that’s too much like common sense!”

While Mr Bain has suggested that there could potentially be a larger market in Orkney for goose meat, Mr Hay said that he wouldn’t be tucking into the game bird anytime soon. “Geese are just the vermin of the field — that’s how I see them,” he explained.

“I think it’s in my head that it’s vermin and I couldn’t eat it.”

While the long-term format of Orkney’s goose management scheme remains indistinct, it is hoped that a spring cull will be able to take place next year.

Asked this week about plans for supporting LGMGs going forward, a NatureScot spokeswoman said: “We are working with the Orkney LGMG to trial different methods for controlling the resident greylag goose population, and we will continue to support them towards the development of a plan for a longer-term, sustainable approach.

“We have had recent discussions with Orkney farmers, and we have committed to working with them on specific management trials and to assist with the development of a longterm management plan for greylag geese on Orkney, subject to available funding.”

An issue with geese on Shetland

A renewed plea has been made for farmers and crofters to take a stand against growing numbers of geese which blight agricultural land – with a call to introduce organised shooting parties.

Councillor and crofter Allison Duncan is urging isles producers to “come together in partnership working” to help reduce goose numbers.

Mr Duncan has pointed to innovations run in Orkney where he says shooting parties were invited to take aim at the flying pests, and insisted he would “love” to see a similar project run here.

His comments follow demands from the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) for the public body responsible for Scotland’s natural heritage to u-turn a decision to end financial support for managing geese numbers.

NatureScot had previously indicated it would support the so-called local goose management groups that operate in other island communities to put in place sustainable funding arrangements for “adaptive management” schemes.

It is now stepping back from offering financial support, and will instead take only an “advisory role” on behalf of the groups.

In any case, the groups only operate in Uist, Tiree and Coll, Lewis and Harris – and only as far north as Orkney.

Mr Duncan said farmers and crofters in the isles needed to take a proactive approach to help themselves, regardless of what happens elsewhere.

“I called a meeting at the Bigton Hall a number of years ago, but the agriculturalists couldn’t agree with one another,” he said.

“That’s why it never got off the ground here in Shetland – I tried my best, but it just couldn’t come together in partnership working.”

He added: “They are on the increase in numbers.”

“In Orkney, I know they have rifle clubs that come in, to go shooting there with agreement from the clubs in Orkney.

“We just don’t have that here. I would love to see that set up here in Shetland. That would certainly make a difference.

“If agriculturalists would come together in partnership working with the aim of reducing the numbers, that would make an immense difference here.”

He said another problem was that geese were now nesting in the isles, causing numbers to increase.

“Hopefully we can get a committee and do something about it.”

He stressed he imagined the group serving the whole of the isles, but added geese came “in very large numbers” to the South Mainland, where some of Shetland’s best arable land can typically be found.

“The geese know where the best ground is for feeding themselves, and when they come in here they come in very large numbers.

“The geese will go with it, and they make a horrendous mess.”

NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said: “The grazing pressure exerted by the growing resident populations of Greylag geese on many Scottish islands continues to have a devastating impact on farming and crofting businesses. Now is not the time for NatureScot to withdraw support.”

In association with

www.shetlandtimes.co.uk Tel: 01595 742000

www.orcadian.co.uk Tel: 01856 879000 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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youngfarmers

New-look facilities for Barony campus

A £670,000 investment by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has led to the creation of new teaching spaces and an upgraded dining room and external courtyard at the Barony campus.

Other improvements include a laboratory with smart screen and digital microscopes, and a new office for consultants.

With more students returning to the campus for face-to-face teaching following the easing of coronavirus restrictions, the new classrooms will support collaborative and active learning.

The refurbishment of three former offices and a conference room into spaces for studentfocused learning and specialist research and teaching will also help accommodate the consolidation of students and courses from the Riverside campus in Ayr.

Each classroom has flexible and/or moveable furniture, smart screens and walls with a whiteboard paint finish to allow the writing up of ideas during meetings and tutorials.

In addition to the new classrooms, the dining hall has been revamped alongside improvements to the courtyard space to allow for outdoor social and learning activities.

There have also been upgrades to a communal corridor area, to allow more space for breakout sessions, and a research laboratory.

Finally, consultants from SAC Consulting – part of SRUC - have moved from their office at Hestan House in Dumfries onto campus following the refurbishment of Grieves Cottage.

Nick Sparks, Dean of the South and West Faculty,

SRUC has invested money in new teaching and social spaces

said: “During the coronavirus pandemic, when our focus was on enhancing remote teaching and delivering in-person practical sessions, we had an opportunity to modernise the spaces we use to engage with students.

“The upgrade will improve both the student and staff experience at SRUC by supporting more interactive and blended learning.”

To find out more about studying at SRUC, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/study

Manifesto for Scotland’s young people launched The Rural Youth Project Manifesto, which highlights the issues facing young people and how they can be better supported, was presented yesterday to Rural Affairs and Islands Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon.

The Manifesto focuses on nine key areas: enterprise, connectivity, housing, transport, rural learning, employment, community and society, representation, and mental health.

The overarching aim of the asks within the Manifesto is to

Jane Craigie (RYP Director), Mairi Gougeon (Cabinet Secretary) and Rebecca Dawes (RYP Director)

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raise awareness of what young people need, and, above all, it aims to inspire and encourage decision-makers at all levels to meaningfully engage with young people.

Mairi Gougeon said: “We want young people to feel confident and capable to influence and lead change in their communities. They have a crucial role to play in ensuring that rural and island communities thrive in the future – and we want their voice to be heard and their ideas to be taken forward.

“But we also know that many young people are struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic – like everyone else, they are experiencing economic

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and social challenges. And Brexit threatens their long-term wellbeing, particularly to stay and make their lives in rural areas.

“The Rural Youth Project is a valued member of the Rural Youth Stakeholder Group recently established by Scottish Government. It is our hope that over time the group will become increasingly led by young people themselves and will help provide a direct link between their peers and those who make decisions that impact on their lives. They are key to helping us shape a better future for everyone in our rural and island communities.”

Rural Youth Project founders and directors, Jane Craigie and

youngfarmers Rebecca Dawes, said: “Since 2018, we’ve been seeking out, and listening to, young people from across Scotland and abroad. What we’ve found is that young people want to live in rural areas – but the challenges they continue to face are fuelling de-population. The manifesto is a call to action to keep the needs of rural young people in the mind of leaders at all levels when decisions are being made.

“The Rural Youth Project’s growing community of young people is keen to work with policy-makers, local authorities and community decision makers to have their say and help to make changes a living reality,” they add.

The Manifesto draws on four years’ worth of qualitative and quantitative learnings collected by the Rural Youth Project. The key recommendations include: • Creating mobile mental health support services that can travel to more rural and remote communities.

• Establishing a Rural Youth Task Force and give a ministerial responsibility for Rural Youth.

• To introduce a specific rural housing grant for young firsttime homeowners looking to build, buy or renovate in a rural area, similar to the Croft House Grant Scheme.

“Impactful” animal welfare course celebrates 30th anniversary The world’s first postgraduate degree programme focusing on animal behaviour and welfare is celebrating its 30thanniversary this year.

The MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare is a collaborative programme offered

by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the University of Edinburgh.

Established in 1991, it cemented Edinburgh’s reputation as the birthplace of animal welfare science.

Previously, the Society for Veterinary Ethology (SVE) had been formed in Edinburgh in 1966, following public pressure on the Government to investigate the welfare of farm animals – which in turn led to the Brambell Report on Animal Welfare.

The MSc programme utilised contributions from colleagues in SRUC (then the Scottish Agricultural College), the University of Edinburgh – including the departments of the Institute of Ecology & Resource Management, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Department of Divinity, The Roslin Institute and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

More than 700 students from all over the world have since graduated from the programme and gone on to forge successful careers in animal welfare or related fields in research, education, government, veterinary practice, non-governmental and industry organisations.

For more information, or to sign up, visit: https://bit.ly/ MScAnimalWelfareandBehaviourAnniversary www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

NEXT

GENERATION This Next Generation column is a collaboration between the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth Next Generation (RASC) and NFU Scotland Next Generation.

Be Human

By Rebecca Dawes I have just visited Arran for the first time, and it won’t be the last.

Aside from the stunning scenery, nature and wildlife, it is the first holiday where I have come home and really felt “human”.

From the moment we stepped off the Ferry, our shortholiday felt like it was just for us. The Douglas Hotel was warm and friendly, with wellfurnished rooms and fantastic views across the harbour. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was inviting. But it was the staff who really made the stay exceptional. They were personal but professional, attentive but not intrusive and treated us as individuals.

During our visit to Arran Distillery, our guide, Scott, didn’t read off a script but instead took the time to find out where the group came from and with every bottle, shared the “people” story before that of the drink.

Whether it was bottled for a charity fundraiser, or the farmer who had grown the barley on the island and had faced a challenging year with the crop, he knew the detail. Their “white

stag” bottles each display the name of 10 members of the local community, who are randomly selected and come together as a panel to select one cask from 5 cask samples, to then bottle and sell to those on Arran.

And it is not just offline where the personal touch is having a strong impact. Just recently LinkedIn revealed their top performing posts included those that have a people connection.

It could be the celebration of an anniversary, acknowledging a personal achievement or a list of individuals that the user wishes to spotlight. Business accounts on Twitter that now include the users name at the end of a Direct message, or when responding to comments, are been viewed more favourably than those with no connection.

With more Scottish agricultural and rural diversification businesses opening, and a greater focus on food and farming, we need to start asking the question “does this make our audience feel human?”. And if the answer is no, what do we need to change?

Rebecca Dawes is a Next Generation trustee for Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, co-founder and Director of the Rural Youth Project, and part of the Jane Craigie Marketing team.

Travel Scotland

A Farming Escape to Arran

by Janice Hopper Arran is often referred to as Scotland in Miniature, but there’s nothing miniature about its farm businesses and rural economy. From cream to cheese, and from oatcakes to alpacas, Arran’s agricultural offering is strong.

One of the newer and quirkier experiences on the island are Arran Alpacas, run by Tom and Emma Jessop. Situated on the west of the island in Balmichael, Tom hosts ‘Meet, Greet & Wee Treks’ (60 mins) and ‘Meet, Greet & Big Treks’ (90 mins).

Guests are introduced to each alpaca by name as visitors learn curious facts about them (did you know alpacas have three stomachs and their babies are called crias?). The most handson and fulfilling bit is feeding the alpacas and taking them on a trek around the farm. The experience ends with photo opportunities in the paddock, and a cup of tea/ coffee for adults and squash for little ones.

For those who don’t want the alpaca experience to end, the Jessops also have barrel pod glamping accommodation on

Arran Heritage Museum

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site. New safari tents that feature private hot tubs offer a more luxurious option. Also keep an eye out for the Jessop’s flock of Valais Blacknose lambs.

Just along the road, Bellevue Farm in Blackwaterfoot also welcomes tourists. 1.5 hour farm tours allow visitors to help feed the animals, collect the eggs and hear from the farmer about farming life. Alternatively, book a self-guided Farm Experience to see the animals and machinery under your own steam. Animals include donkeys, a Shetland pony, Highland cattle, rabbits, fowl, goats, and alpacas. A picnic and play area are available, plus it’s possible to purchase freerange eggs and home-reared pork and lamb. Two self-catering farm cottages can be booked, both just a five minute walk from the beach.

As visitors explore the island further, green-fingered guests are often surprised by the exotic plants and flowers that grow on Arran. For example, it’s one of the few places in Scotland to have a climate temperate enough for palm trees to flourish, so look

out for tropical fronds swaying to and fro in the breeze throughout your travels.

From the west coast of island, head back towards the capital of Brodick to make a stop at the Home Farm. Once the estate farm for Brodick Castle, today a selection of businesses sell their wares here. Arran Cheese Shop stocks a tempting range, from Claret and Cracked Black Peppercorn Cheddar to Crushed Stem Ginger Cheddar.

Caffeine lovers should drop by Arran Coffee. Luxury toiletries are discovered in Arran Sense of Scotland (formerly Arran Aromatics). Then head slightly up the road to visit Arran Brewery, where the island’s water is transformed into a pint of refreshing Arran Blonde, the slightly more autumnal nutty Red Squirrel ale, and winter warmers such as the Clyde Puffer oatmeal stout.

Other drinks making a name for themselves on the island include Arran Botanicals. They use botanicals hand-foraged on the island to create Isle of Arran Gin. Their location at Cladach

A Retreat, at Auchrannie

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Beach House is a wonderfully scenic pitstop for a G&T, taking in sweeping views of Brodick Bay. When showcasing island tipples, naturally we can’t forget whisky. On Arran, barley has been transformed into the water of life in Lochranza. A second distillery and café is now also open in Lagg on the south of the island. Head along for a tour and whisky tasting, or a spot of whisky shopping.

As well as barley, oats have a name for themselves on Arran.

Wooleys bakery business is renowned for its oatcakes, as well as its Oaties biscuits, Cheese Oaties, and a mix of Rounds including cranberry, coconut and ginger. Wooleys is also an excellent pitstop for a budget lunch on the go - grab a pie from their Brodick shop and devour it at a nearby picnic table while appreciating jaw-dropping views over the bay as the ferries come and go.

In terms of treats, Arran Ice Cream is created from the island’s own dairy cows’ milk, churned in a small dairy beside Brodick Bay to produce flavours such as Scottish Tablet or Mango Ripple ice cream and Arran Blackcurrant

Travel Scotland Where to Stay If you’re seeking accommodation with ample facilities yet set in acres of land then head to the Auchrannie Resort. It boasts two swimming pools, three restaurants, a spa, play barn, and Adventure Centre where it’s possible to book activities such as bicycle hire so you can explore the island further.

Auchrannie’s accommodation is a mix of impeccable hotel rooms, self-catering houses, and stunning ‘Retreats’ with their own outdoor

hot tubs and fire pits. A beautiful setting as the sun goes down. Dog friendly too.

Auchrannie Resort - auchrannie. co.uk Tourist Attractions Arran Alpacas - arranalpacas.co.uk Bellevue - bellevue-arran.co.uk Arran Heritage Museum arranmuseum.co.uk Brodick Castle - nts.org.uk/visit/ places/brodick-castle-gardencountry-park Courtesy of Visit Scotland/Kenny Lam

with views of Jura, Ben Lomond and, in very clear weather, even over to Ireland. A wonderful spot for quiet reflection.

Overall, Arran is an island with something for everyone, from luxury retreats to rugged glamping accommodation, from wild outdoor experiences to castles and museums. But whatever vibe you appreciate, farming life and local produce are key to any quality visit to Arran.

Machrie Moor stone circle Courtesy of Visit Scotland/Paul Tomkins

or Lemon sorbet. While there isn’t a standalone ice cream parlour, Arran Ice Cream can be found in many of the island’s shops, restaurants and cafés.

After everyone’s fully refreshed it’s time to tackle more tourist attractions.

Consider Arran’s Heritage Museum where visitors take in a croft, smiddy, farmhouse, cottage, bothy, milk house, laundry, stable, coach house and harness room. The aim is to reflect the social history and heritage of the islands, with a plethora of farming equipment to appreciate from days gone by.

Arguably Arran’s jewel in the crown is the handsome Brodick Castle, run by the National Trust for Scotland. Inside expect ornate interiors, fine furniture, silverware, porcelain, and paintings. Children can run off steam at the Isle Be Wild adventure play area or look for magical creatures on the Fairies and Legends Trail. The Walled Garden has beautiful views over the water, and the woodland, waterfalls, pools and renowned rhododendrons create an island paradise.

The castle was the ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton and this throws up another story about farming and land management.

The tenth Duke, Alexander (1767–1852), was instrumental in Arran’s Highland Clearances.

The people of Arran and the descendants of the emigrants haven’t forgotten this period of history. At Lamlash on 25th April 1829, 86 people embarked on the Caledonia for new shores - many more islanders followed in their footsteps. At this picturesque site now stands a memorial to those who left their homeland behind.

It reads, “Erected on behalf of Arran descendants across North America to their brave forefathers who departed from their beloved island home to Canada during the clearance years 1829 to 1840.”

A tough and emotive period in Scotland’s history.

Finally, take time to contemplate Arran’s stories and appreciate the beauty of the landscape by tackling Goatfell, Arran’s highest peak at 874m (2,867ft). From the summit take in sweeping vistas of the island,

Gardens of Brodick Castle

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LAMMA 2022

LAMMA 2022 prepares to celebrate 40th year The LAMMA Show returns to the halls of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on 11-12 January 2022 to celebrate its 40th year as the UK’s leading agricultural machinery, equipment and technology show.

“To celebrate this important milestone in LAMMA’s history, we are not only looking at our past, but focussing on the future of our event and the UK farming industry,” said Kate Walsh, Event Manager of LAMMA. “We are planning some exciting new features at the show and re-inventing others. LAMMA’s beginnings are deeply rooted in bringing the best of farm machinery innovation under one roof and looking to the future; something we aim to continue for the next 40 years and beyond.”

The Farm Safety Zone, sponsored by Safety Revolution, returns to the show for the fourth consecutive year. Key organisations, charities and industry figures will raise awareness on vital aspects of farm safety and how to minimise risk and accidents on farm.

The Farming 4.0 Trail is centralised around the theme of “The Future of Agriculture”, highlighting the role data, robotics and other devices will play in

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achieving Net Zero. Exhibitors already on the 2022 Trail include Airial Robotics, Crop4Sight, Agrifac, Bayer, and more.

Also with an eye on the future, LAMMA has partnered with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers to offer the 2021 Young Engineer Award, celebrating upcoming agricultural engineers. The award winner will be announced at the show.

“We are delighted to be part of LAMMA’s celebration of this historic moment,” says Sanjeev Khaira, Director of Arc Media, which recently acquired LAMMA from previous owners AgriBriefing.

“The show’s longevity and success are testament to the vision of its founders, evolving and growing from strength to strength and bringing the industry together year after year. We look forward to seeing its continued growth and support for the industry through future challenges.”

Over 700 manufacturers, dealers and distributors will fill 11 halls at the NEC, showcasing the latest products, knowledge and services available for farmers and producers in all corners of agriculture, including potatoes, barley, dairy, poultry, horticulture and much more.

10 Reasons to attend LAMMA 2022 1: COMPLETE See all the latest ag machinery, equipment and technology under one roof 2: LOCATION Held at the easy-to-reach NEC, close to major road, rail and air links 3: NETWORKING A chance to speak to suppliers, experts and other farmers all in one day 4: SHOP AROUND Compare the latest models of machinery and equipment from a wide variety of top suppliers 5: DAY OUT BUT IN Time away from the day job and winter weather, indoors and in the warm!

6: PRACTICAL High-tech, innovative and practical – everything you need on farm to remain productive and profitable 7: FREE Entry to LAMMA is FREE with freebies and giveaways once you’re inside!

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8: CPD POINTS Plenty of DairyPro, BASIS and NRoSO points available on both days of the event 9: INSPIRATION Be inspired by seeing what’s new across the agricultural industry 10: CELEBRATE Now in its 40th year, this year’s event will be a celebration of LAMMA’s success over the past four decades.

With 2022 marking the 40th anniversary of the LAMMA Show we speak to three former directors about the early years of the event, its role in the local farming industry and its development to become the UK’s leading agricultural machinery show.

The LAMMA Show is now a key date in the calendar for farmers and contractors looking to keep up with the latest in agricultural machinery, but it started life as a much smaller affair.

The idea for the show came from discussions between small manufacturers in Lincolnshire frustrated by the lack of opportunities to exhibit and

LAMMA 2022

promote their products. They put their heads together to organise a specialist local event where they could do just that. The group was the Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association and their annual event became known as The LAMMA Show.

Former exhibitor turned event director Cliff Preston recalls: “The small machinery manufacturers in Lincolnshire

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had no means of reaching the market in an exhibition, other than going to the Royal Smithfield Show in London which of course was a great expense. So that’s where the concept came from. The first show was in 1982 and it really took off from there.”

Robert Willey, managing director of Househam Sprayers, has also been involved with LAMMA for many years, as

a longstanding exhibitor and later as a director too. “Initially LAMMA was intended to be a local show. It was a means of helping to educate people that these products had been made there.

“Over the years, Lincolnshire has been home to a huge number of machinery manufacturers.

There has always been that engineering skills base here.”

It wasn’t long before

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LAMMA outgrew the Lincolnshire showground and the organisers moved the event to Newark, he explains.

“But then we outgrew Newark Showground too and we had to go the East of England Showground in Peterborough. It was a big decision, but we think it worked well.”

Over that time the event had grown from 100 exhibitors in the early years to 900 in its last

LAMMA 2022

year at Newark. The closure of the Royal Smithfield Show in 2004 undoubtedly contributed to LAMMA’s popularity too, adds Cliff.

After a few years it became apparent that the ground conditions at Peterborough were not suitable for a winter event, so a fourth venue had to be found. Given the

growing number of exhibitors and visitors the NEC in Birmingham became the obvious solution. This not only offered more space, but the fact that it was indoors made the event less vulnerable to the weather and proved popular with exhibitors.

John Sartain first joined LAMMA in 1988 as an

exhibitor with his precision farming business, later joining the committee and becoming a director. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being involved with LAMMA, it’s been a wonderful experience. I found myself working with a whole lot of people who were doing this because they wanted to do it.

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“They had all sorts of disparate interests, but they came together on an annual basis and put on a really good show. To me that was one of the most exciting things about it.”

From the start there were strong links with agricultural colleges. “The people who started LAMMA were very keen that this idea of ensuring that

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LAMMA 2022 there is good communication between all of the people involved in agriculture and machinery manufacturing,” says John. “There were opportunities for us to help to improve people’s skills and knowledge too. The show had a commercial basis but it was also an opportunity for people to learn a lot.”

Many of the companies involved were small, some were sole traders, says Cliff. “When LAMMA came along it really was a godsend to them, and over time the publicity grew and that gave them a route into the UK market. I think that’s really one of the main successes of LAMMA was to create a platform for some of those small companies.

“Looking at the programme from the first event in 1982 some of the first exhibitors still exist now. It is interesting to see how they’ve grown over that length of time.”

Encouraging smaller businesses was part of the LAMMA ethos from the start, adds John. “We always tried to encourage the small companies because that’s

where it starts. By doing that we have encouraged quite a lot of innovation over the years.”

The smaller companies also benefitted from the interface with potential customers, hearing feedback on their products and services.

Competitions and awards have been a feature over the years and for the 40th anniversary LAMMA has partnered with IAgrE to launch the Young Engineers Award.

“I think we did a lot of good as LAMMA for the community, to the education of people around and getting the exhibitors a greater presence,” says Robert.

With the increasing interest in LAMMA larger national and multinational companies wanted to be part of this successful event.

Other agricultural businesses such as farm services, fertilisers, agro-chemicals and consultancy firms all became interested in exhibiting too.

“It has always been very much a business show,” stresses John. “We made it quite clear that we weren’t a show that was

going to be full of entertainment, with people coming along selling all sorts of wares with nothing to do with agriculture!”

The winter timing also contributed to the event’s success.

“I think that was an important factor because a lot of farms had a Christmas close down and didn’t go back until the second or third week in January,” says Cliff.

“Holding the show in that period meant that all those farm staff were not at work, so they could come along.”

The central locations were also a plus. “Within a few hours you can be in Scotland or anywhere,” says Robert.

From the beginning exhibitors have used LAMMA to showcase new innovations and technologies to the farming community. “From the mid 90s onwards we began to get into GPS and satellite technology, yield mapping and field mapping,” says John. He, Cliff and Robert all remember the buzz around JCB’s first Fastrac tractors and the early CAT Challengers being shown at the event.

In 2012 LAMMA was purchased by Briefing Media, which later became known as Agribriefing. This year the event changed hands again and it is now owned and organised by Arc Media Ltd. These developments and the move to Birmingham in 2019 have undoubtedly changed the event. “It is a different animal now to when it first started,” says Cliff. “But it’s now competing with the major international shows and there will be visitors from a wider area and therefore the potential for more farmers.”

John agrees: “The last time I was at LAMMA was in 2019 and I was absolutely amazed. It covered a bigger area and had a great atmosphere. It was absolutely brilliant.”

The show’s organisers are determined to continue building on the show’s 40 successful years.

The 2022 anniversary event will of course celebrate the successes of the past, while new initiatives such as the Young Engineers Award and LAMMA 365 ensure its role in the wider industry for years to come.

LAMMA & IAgrE launch award for young, promising agricultural engineers The LAMMA Show has partnered with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) to launch the 2022 Young Engineer Award, providing a platform for young engineers who are working to help UK farms become more sustainable, profitable and efficient.

“From the very beginning, the LAMMA Show was dedicated to promoting and educating young agricultural engineers,” said Kate Walsh, LAMMA Event Manager.

“LAMMA celebrates its 40th year in 2022, and as we reflect on our past, we also look to the future and

what it will bring to the industry.

The opportunity to champion the best and brightest agricultural engineers is the perfect way to celebrate that legacy while also supporting the future of British farming.”

The award showcases engineers who have created or made changes to a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology and, by doing so, improved efficiency, profitability or sustainability on-farm.

“We recognise agricultural engineering can reduce the

environmental footprint of farming through reducing carbon emissions and better fuel efficiency, and by partnering with LAMMA for this award, IAgrE can recognise and reward practical, environmentally efficient and sustainable agricultural engineering solutions,” said IAgrE CEO Charlie Nicklin, who is one of the award judges.

“I will be looking for entries that demonstrate creativity and profitability, a finished product, prototype or concept that will help a farm or business’s profitability

and how it contributes towards sustainability.”

Those interested in applying can do so at LAMMA365.com.

Entry is free, both individuals and groups are eligible to apply, and the award is open to engineers 35 years of age and under as of 1st January 2022.

The winner will be determined by a combination of judges’ scores and a public vote. The winner will be announced at the LAMMA Show in January 2022. The winner’s prize will be announced in the coming weeks.

For further details, please visit LAMMA365.com 64

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LAMMA 2022

….and some news from a few of our exhibiting clients Fendt Raise Technology Bar

Fendt increase their technology offer when the LAMMA show returns for 2022.

The show will give the perfect opportunity to demonstrate updates across the Fendt product and technology portfolio.

The Fendt stand will encompass the latest developments with FendtONE - OnBoard & Offboard technology. The Fendt Off-Board solution will be shown and demonstrated, so you can see how this product can benefit you and your business.

This is accompanied by product

updates and developments across Combine equipment and Grass harvest technology, as well as much more!

There will be a variety of wheeled and tracked tractors, including the New FendtONE generation 300, 500, 700 & 900 Series with the incab FendtONE technology as standard.

The recent updates to the grass harvest ranges will be debuted too, including the new Tigo VR and the new Fendt Rotana, with film binding technology. This will be shown for the first time in the UK.

Come to stand 9.210 on the 11th and 12th January 2022 to meet the Fendt team, and discuss the latest developments and how Fendt can help

Lamma 2022 11th & 12th January STAND NO. 12.246

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make your business more profitable. In the meantime, visit www.fendt.com for more information on the full Fendt product portfolio.

LAMMA 2022

Greencrop are looking forward to returning to LAMMA

Greencrop have much to talk about at LAMMA 2022, after a 2yr break, with new products and solutions to some of your challenges.

One area of focus will be on the clean air legislation regarding slurry spreading, storage and covers, and separation. Plus, the latest updates on the Greencrop irrigation pumps and Irrimec Elite hose reel irrigators.

With the new legislation taking effect from 2025 banning above ground slurry application, slurry spreading will have to

change to shallow injectors, trailing shoe or dribble bars.

Hopefully supporting grants will becoming available soon.

On show will be a dribble bar and other slurry equipment. Also, come and talk to us about our new 100m3 Nurse Tank.

Greencrop have also extended the popular Elite irrigator range from Irrimec. The latest 800 series machines range from 110mm x 600m up to 120mm x 800m hoses. Further developments include the latest GSM and GPS App system, with gun guidance

which will be on display. Plus, the latest versions of our most popular engine pump sets, also a replacement plug and play panel

to replace old murphy panels.

So many exciting products to talk about, make a note to come and visit us in hall 6.

Crop drying real time control from Kentra

New grain moisture management systems from Kentra help growers manage crop drying operations,

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we explore the technical world of Kentra crop drying and discover the capabilities and possibilities

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LAMMA 2022 of Kentra’s unique products.

Kentra, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer of mixed flow crop dryers, has introduced two new moisture measurement and recording systems for growers, and an automated moisture monitoring system ideal for use at the grain intake, adding to its existing range of crop moisture management systems. The highaccuracy products come from Canadian manufacturer Dryer Master, whose long established DM510 control system fully automates the grain drying process with minimal manual intervention. The new DM100 is a lower cost, less sophisticated version that still provides an element of control to relieve the workload of whoever is managing the dryer. Grain moisture is measured at the discharge point and adjustments to the discharge rate are made automatically when operator-set high, low and target moisture levels for each of three discharge

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speeds are hit. Unlike the fully automatic DM510, the DM100 requires the speed set points and moisture targets to be adjusted periodically to maintain optimum performance. The new Moisture Monitor Pro records grain moisture and temperature at the discharge – with the option to add an intake sensor

as well – to help operators achieve consistent results from fully manual control. As with the DM510 fully-automatic and DM100 semi-automatic systems, values are shown on a colour display, are accessible remotely using a mobile phone and can be downloaded to farm computer records.

Do you need a new drier ready for next year?

Perry of Oakley are perfectly placed to supply you a grain drier to fit your specific requirements, including your budget, with their two models: the entry level “Mistral” and the top specification “Savannah”.

Both driers fit requirements and budgets from farms to commercial grain stores. The larger Savannah driers have Perry’s own advanced touch screen PLC panel, whereas the

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LAMMA 2022 more economical Mistral drier has a hard-wired control panel, though this is easily upgradable to the Perry PLC. The handling range at Perrys ensures that your full plant will run smoothly using

various combinations of chain & flight conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners, belt & bucket elevators, belt conveyors & screw conveyors, which come in three different performance levels: industrial (150-1000tph),

light industrial (60-150tph) & agricultural (8-60tph).

The silo range includes flat bottom silos, from 3m to 32m giving storage capacities from 27m³ to 26,000m³ & hopper bottom silos, from 3m to 13m

diameter, with either 45 or 60 degree cones. Perry can also supply complete aeration systems, temperature control systems, unloading equipment, walkways & catwalks, towers & structures.

able to find them in Hall 9, stand 9.210.

Save time on the day and pre-register for the event. Keep an eye on the Valtra Facebook and Instagram pages and website Valtra.co.uk for more information.

LAMMA 2022 is sponsored

by Kramp. Registration for LAMMA 2022 is free of charge; visitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register at https:// registration.gesevent.com/ survey/0jdm155lo8pvd

New Valtra tractors are here!

Even smarter and even more comfortable - Valtra’s 5th generation tractors are now here.

Following the successful launch of the award winning G Series in August last year and the A Series at the start of this year, Valtra continues its development into the fifth generation with its new N and T Series tractors.

Valtra’s 5th generation tractors have been designed to offer the customer the best possible tractor experience and are packed with improvements to make your life

easier. Valtra U-Pilot headland management system boosts precision, and the brand new A-Pillar display puts information right where your need it.

Come and enjoy the Valtra experience at LAMMA 2022. For two days on the 11-12 January at the NEC near Birmingham, you can explore the complete Valtra tractor model range from A Series through to S Series along with all Valtra smart farming solutions, a set of technologies that work seamlessly together. You will be

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TRAINVIEW TALK

Have we reached burnout?

I am thinking the answer is yes but we keep working on!

Hardly a badge of honour but we are muddling through what feels like chaos all the same.

That said most of it has been caused by the one thing we have been longing for. As seasonal tenants we have always had the worry of wondering where next can we house the cattle and how can we grow the business with such uncertainty however all that has now come to an end… we have found a permanent home for ourselves and the livestock! We completed on Hillend of Burnside at the end of the summer, we finally have somewhere to call home.

We had been looking for somewhere for a while however livestock land in Angus is scarce. We had been tenants/caretakers of Hillend for the last couple of years while it had been on the market. We always dismissed buying it as we had convinced ourselves we needed somewhere with more land but one sunny Sunday afternoon while sitting in its garden playing with the boys, I think the penny dropped to us both how much we liked the place despite its rumbled down steading, house that needed renovations and no ready to use cattle sheds… yep bonkers! But sometimes the heart has to rule.

It has to be said none of it would have been possible without the help and many sacrifices that my Parents have made to help us on this journey, something we will forever be indebted to them for. It has opened the door to so many new opportunities and has given us a step up that we could never have achieved by ourselves.

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DIARY

Diary page

By Valerie Orr So it’s safe to say the floodgates have now opened on the workload! It’s our plan to house the cattle in a large open sided Dutch Barn at the farm, however it is taking some creativity to fit it out in time. With the end of October looming and the price of concrete and steel seeming to fluctuate daily we have set ourselves quite a challenge!

We know this year it won’t be perfect but as a friend told me ‘Good enough’ will do.

James is also back up the glen to his Ghillie duties for the stag season, with days at the grouse this year being non-existent as by all accounts the grouse season was a catastrophic failure.

A big loss to the upland

economy. At least where James is they have the stags to bolster things up with a big return of the overseas guests many of whom should have been over last year.

With James away 6 days per week, most of the refit work is falling to my Dad and I when he can get over from NI. The flower season at Blooming Bees is also still continuing with our Bloom Chrysanthemums in full flow until Mid November and much work needing put in now to get next years crops started. We always start to reach a bit of flower fatigue by this time of year and we don’t see much let up between them and Christmas wreaths starting.

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James’s father James Snr (Woody) has sold his small herd of Beef Shorthorns at the September UA sale.

These cows ran alongside our herd. The paperwork falls to me of course and it has really hit home that selling pedigree cattle is becoming a folly. Fees, commission and charges at every corner and that’s before they even enter the ring! We of course will continue to gripe about it but when breeding livestock is in the blood no doubt we will still be moaning about it in years to come and still selling cattle.

Despite that the sale went well. Also that day the Millerston herd was dispersed owned by the late Jack Ramsay and family.

It was great to see a buzz around a sale ring once more with a thrilling piece of auction theatre with a cow and calf outfit topping 17000 gns, a new Beef Shorthorn female breed record. A tribute to Jack’s lifetime breeding cattle, albeit an emotional day for the family. We wish them all the very best for the future.

James has been doing some research on Beef Shorthorns for Andy Fraizers podcast Top Lines and Tails, which was born out of lockdown and turned into one of the top ranking agricultural podcasts. On speaking to Bob McWalter on how the breed has grown since he started with Glengloy all those years ago he said at the Royal Highland Show there was five exhibitors and not enough people at the annual dinner dance to make two eightsome reels now there is 30 in the heifer class alone and no room for the band at the dinner!

livestock Shearwell in Shetland Shearwell Data’s North Scotland representative Jane Thomson visited Shetland in September to meet up with customers and undertake some training with people who had made recent purchases. Jane said, “I’ve wanted to go to Shetland since starting with Shearwell, so I was delighted to have finally been there!”

During the trip Jane experienced ‘Shetland weather’ with strong winds preventing boats from sailing and causing the cancellation of one of the main breeding sheep sales of the year. Despite the challenging conditions, the islanders took it all in their stride - they just added that sale to the next day’s sale!

Jane commented “I loved the island and its inhabitants – the Shetlanders are so welcoming and if I had eaten every meal I was offered, I would have sunk the boat home! It was great to experience the amazing scenery and see Shetland sheep and ponies in their rightful environment.”

While on the island Jane met up with several customers to provide training in how to use equipment such as EID readers and programmes and Shearwell sheep auto-drafters. But she also gathered more visits while she was there – “while I was carrying out training a chap appeared in the shed and asked to speak to me about EID readers – he’d seen the pick-up parked outside and seized the moment!”

“Also while I was at the mart another Shearwell customer approached and asked if I could call in to see her – so I factored that in as well.”

Jane also met with Robert Halcrow who won a ShearWeigh weigh head and load bars in Shearwell’s recent prize draw – “It was lovely to be able to deliver the prizes direct to Robert”.

Jane fully intends to return to Shetland in 2022 and is hoping to take an office at the Mart to run a ‘drop-in’ day for customers to come to talk about products or get some training.

Better genetics: The key to livestock emissions Improving genetics is the key to reducing farmers’ carbon footprints and maximising efficiencies, according to research by ABP.

At a time when the livestock industry is under intense pressure to reduce its emissions, the firm’s research has shown that significant environmental www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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livestock and financial gains can be made through simple breeding choices.

ABP has a goal to reduce its emissions by 1.9m tonnes by 2030 – and with 78% of its emissions linked to live cattle its focus has understandably been on reducing animals’ footprints.

“For ABP to play its part in the environmental crisis we need to look at how to support and enable farmer suppliers to lower their footprint,” explains Dean Holroyd, group technical and sustainability director at ABP. “Economic and environmental benefits travel hand in hand – if you have efficient animals then it helps the bottom line and the environment.”

With over 20,000 calves a year going through ABP’s Blade Farming system, it has been able to evaluate the impact that different genetics have on productivity. Working with Genus it has looked at growth rates, feed conversion efficiencies, carcass values and eating quality – as well as calving ease and fertility performance in the source dairy or beef suckler cows.

At its Bromstead demonstration farm in Shropshire, it has found a £250 differential between the best and worst Aberdeen Angus sires. Progeny from the worst averaged 274kg deadweight while those from the best averaged 334kg.

Feed conversion efficiencies were similarly affected; over a 12-week rearing period progeny from sire 12 averaged 6.4kg of feed per kg of growth, compared to sire five at 7.37kg. “At a value £1.20/kg liveweight, that equates to a £24 variance,” explains Mr Holroyd. “So you have similar feed going in but extra weight coming out.”

Bringing all of that information together has enabled the firm to identify the most efficient sires: Progeny from the top five averaged a gross margin (value minus variable costs and overheads) of £225.79 whereas offspring from the bottom five sires averaged just £81.28 a head.

When it comes to environmental impact, those 72

efficiencies have a marked effect. At Bromstead, based on a slaughter age of 20 months, offspring from the best sire averaged 7.29kg of carbon equivalent emissions per kg of meat (2,543kg/head) while those from the worst sire averaged 8.53kg.

“The average age at slaughter in the UK is 26.5 months, so emissions average 10.76kg

(3,498kg/head); that’s 47% more than offspring from the best sire at Bromstead,” says Mr Holroyd. “If you roll that out across the industry that will have a huge impact.”

The farm has also been trialling ZELP collars which measure and reduce methane emissions by up to 50%, and will look at the impact that different grazing and farm management practices have on

the environment and production economics.

“As an industry, we’re challenged a lot on our environmental credentials,” says Richard Phelps, ABP’s Agriculture Director and Managing Director of Blade Farming. “We need to move away from being defensive to finding solutions and giving farmers positive tools to them to use.”

Breedr offers seamless cattle reporting with ScotEID

Farmers in Scotland will have to log all cattle movements with ScotEID from 4 October 2021, potentially causing problems for those used to reporting to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).

But farmers using the free Breedr app can seamlessly switch their data from existing BCMS records and sync new movements with ScotEID. “We know that some producers are worried about the change to ScotEID, so we have been working with them since summer 2019 to ensure the switchover is as smooth

as possible,” explains Breedr founder Ian Wheal.

“As soon as ScotEID launches, farmers will be able to use the Breedr app to report movements, births and deaths in the same way that those in England and Wales can with BCMS.” So what do farmers need to do? Firstly, they should register with ScotEID and then add those details into the app on 4 October, or before logging any births, movements or deaths. They can also use the system to record movements between primary and secondary holdings.

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The reporting deadlines with ScotEID are different to the BCMS ones: Movements on or off a holding must be reported within 48 hours, dairy calf births within seven days, non-dairy births within 30 days, deaths within seven days and replacement ear tags within 36 hours.

“If you have holdings in both Scotland and England – or are at all concerned about the switchover, then do get in touch and we’ll be able to talk you through it,” says Mr Wheal.

For more information visit www.breedr.co or call 01243 210286.

livestock Protein levels plummet

Suppliers of Fencing and Decking We also stock Creosote Round Fence Posts and Stainers by Gargunnock, Stirling FK8 3BG

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Protein in first cut silage has dropped to the lowest levels for 25 years. Kite consultant Mike Bray has tested silage at a variety of farms, predominately in the south west, and found protein levels as low as 8%.

“I suspect the wet weather that delayed first cuts is partly to blame for the fall in protein because grass was taken past its optimum growth stage. Leaching, due to heavy rain will have also reduced nitrogen levels in the soil which will have had an effect on the overall protein value of the grass,” he says.

The results have been found using a more accurate testing method known as dry NearInfrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), offered by Eurofins Agro. The forage sample is dried and ground to a consistent 1mm thickness which is exposed to the infrared light to provide greater detail.

“This method is quick, affordable and accurate. It provides dry matter and protein data along with ME and 23 other parameters to benchmark the value of the silage and indicate what dietary inputs may be required,” he says.

Mr Bray believes that more frequent forage tests will be needed to better understand the

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value of forage over winter. “First cut silage is low, but that doesn’t mean second, third and subsequent cuts will be. Therefore, monthly testing is crucial to understand any discrepancies between cuts and clamps,” he says.

The implication is that dairy farmers will be encouraged to buy more supplements such as feed grade urea or rape seed. However, whilst this may help to offset the poor first cut, it may not be needed for clamps containing subsequent cuts. “More frequent testing, and a better understanding of the nutritional value of each cut, could save farmers a significant amount of money this year,” he says.

Longer term Mr Bray suggests that reseeding grass leys could add between 30%-50% of dry matter (DM) yield. This could also be enhanced by choosing perennial ryegrass mixes which have a higher D value and protein than Italian or hybrid grass seed mixes.

“Where protein is the limiting factor in maintaining yield, it will pay off long term to invest in higher protein varieties. Protein values can be further improved by the accurate and efficient use of organic and inorganic fertilisers,” he adds.

livestock Follow our farming footsteps

By Jennifer Robertson

It’s hard to talk about food without the topics of where it came from, how was it produced and its sustainability credentials coming up. This makes it more important than ever for us to ensure we are providing engaging, factual and reliable information and teaching resources.

Follow our Farming Foodsteps No, that’s not a typo, we really do want you to follow our Farming Foodsteps! Farming Foodsteps is QMS’s interactive, educational resource exploring the journey Scottish red meat makes from farm to fork.

The red meat food system is split into five lessons: From Farm (livestock farming), To Field (sustainability and the environment), To Food Production (labelling, production, careers), To Health (the role of red meat in a healthy, balanced diet), To Fork (preparing and cooking red meat).

Each lesson has a lesson plan for teachers and a selection of presentations, activities, games, interactive resources, videos, informational links, worksheets and quizzes.

The Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland is based on learning experiences and outcomes, many covering aspects of farming, food production and sustainability.

Farming Foodsteps covers these learning outcomes in a variety of subjects and has a particular focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects, which includes all the food-based courses, as well as environmental science, rural skills and geography.

Discover Farming Foodsteps here: www.qmscotland.co.uk/ farmingfoodsteps.

Mission Sustain The Scottish Government has identified People and Just Transitions as key themes for the COP26 Summit, including a strong focus on young people and engaging disadvantaged and hard to reach communities.

Learning for Sustainability, which is embedded in the curriculum, provides key opportunities to discuss climate change and what Scotland is doing about it. As part of the ‘To Field’ lesson we have developed Mission Sustain, a game designed to encourage discussion around sustainability in Scottish farming in a way young people can enjoy and relate to.

This interactive resource can be used by teachers in the classroom or by pupils on their own. The user is put in the shoes of a livestock farmer and faced with decisions and challenges that will impact their farm’s environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Created in partnership with SAC Consulting, they are as lifelike as possible to show real life scenarios in a fun, educational way.

The QMS Health and Education team is here to help. Along with my colleague Alix Ritchie, we are keen to collaborate and support any work around health and education and welcome feedback on any resources.

We can be contacted at education@qmscotland.co.uk.

New cattle-focused veterinary practice launches in West Wales

The Cattle Vet, a new, independent veterinary practice focused on cattle, has launched in West Wales.

Based in Carmarthen, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan, the practice is led by two highly experienced, cattle-focused vets - Richard Cumming and Lies Beekhuis. Richard’s career choice was driven by his own experience of growing up in the farming community of West Wales; his family’s farm, with pedigree Simmental cattle, is based close to Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthen.

Richard qualified in 2016 and has been working in West Wales ever since.

“My mother has reared cattle since I was a young child and we now show pedigree cattle as well,” he says. “Growing up I remember scenarios where things were going wrong, and my mum was very stressed and then we’d call the vet and suddenly it would all be sorted.

For me, the vet was always the person who turned up and fixed the problems - and I decided that was what I wanted to do. Now as a vet I realise we can go one step further and try to prevent these scenarios from happening.”

Originally from The Netherlands, Lies Beekhuis

qualified in 2006 from Utrecht University and has worked in practice and taught vet students in Carmarthenshire since 2010. She is a European and RCVS specialist in cattle and the partner of a dairy farmer who farms at Gilwen farm in Newcastle Emlyn.

“Lies has been a mentor to me and as is a vital part of the business,” says Richard. “Being a specialist she’s able to train vets and farmers, and offers a very high level of service to address more complicated situations. Her specialist status helps to maintain us at the forefront of veterinary medicine.”

Richard and Lies mainly focus on cattle but are happy to service all livestock on farm. They chose to specialise in cattle because of their extensive experience in this area and a desire to create a practice that excels in one specific area.

The practice covers all aspects of veterinary work including pregnancy diagnosis, sick cows, emergency work and TB testing.

Lies and Richard understand that preventative medicine is essential for farmer’s survival, so they can provide support by helping to improve the overall health of the herd.

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livestock Allflex Livestock Intelligence launches RFID sorting gate

STANLEY, U.K., September 14th 2021 – Allflex Livestock Intelligence has announced the launch of an updated version of its automatic livestock drafting gate which uses RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to automatically segregate cattlle according to preset and/or customisable action lists via the company’s SenseHub, Heatime Pro and Dataflow II livestock monitoring systems.

The new gate is equipped with two RFID antennae located on the side panels of the race which recognise the approaching cow’s identity based on her EiD (electronic identification) ear tag. The 6m long gate can be configured with either a left or right opening gate and is also available in a three-way version.

“As the use of EiD ear tags becomes mandatory, we anticipate more dairy herd managers and beef farmers will be interested in adopting automatic drafting systems to accurately and reliably filter cows for AI, health treatment, foot trimming, PD scanning or group management purposes,” 78

explains Paul Mitcham, Monitoring Sales Manager for Allflex in the UK. “Using an automatic sorting gate to segregate cows for these purposes not only saves precious time, but has also been shown to reduce operator and cattle stress.

We’ve therefore introduced the latest RFID technology to our existing sorting gate solution to make it compatible on a wider range of farms.”

Unlike the existing Allflex LD (Long Distance) sorting gate which can only be operated by Allflex’s cSense neck collars, the new RFID gate is now compatible with standard EiD ear tags. “More users will therefore be able to use pre-set health and fertility reports or manually created lists to take advantage of the benefits of automatic cattle drafting,” Paul continues.

The RFID gate is operated by mains power and compressed air and should be installed on a level concrete surface with a minimal area of L 6500mm x W 1200mm x D 100 mm. The concrete surface should be grooved to prevent cows from slipping.

The

VET

It’s a Fair COP? (26)

So the United Nations Conference on Climate Change has come to Glasgow. As well as the nations of the world trying to agree new targets for green house gases and a common strategy to save the planet, there will no doubt also be protesters loudly voicing their perhaps more extreme views on how to go about it , and yes agriculture and livestock in particular may be their target.

So its good to review the situation and have your logical counter arguments at the ready.

We all have to admit: • climate change is real - lots of evidence from around the world - and human activity producing greenhouse gases is one of the causes.

• After energy, transport, and construction, agriculture comes in fourth largest at 10% of UK greenhouse gas emissions and half of that will be ruminant methane emissions - so significant But we also all have to admit: • Ruminants turn what is inedible for humans into a high quality protein source • Human dietary requirements mean that meat ,milk and eggs are essential for the health and nutrition of our population.

• Food security and supply is a real issue.

• Agriculture as well as producing emissions actually captures carbon as well in the soil which makes it unique compared to other industries.

• This is a global problem so not producing in this country and importing from others instead doesn’t help or make sense.

There is such a lot being done already in our industry and future support mechanisms will reinforce and support them.

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By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group These fall broadly into two areas: 1.

Mitigation of emissions - increasing efficiency of production in the ruminant livestock sector, to reduce methane emissions, it’ll never be zero but can be offset against carbon capture. Improved use of fertilisers to reduce nitrous oxide emissions another powerful green house gas.

2. Maximising carbon capture - the unique dynamic or cycle that occurs between the soil, plants, animals, atmosphere and the energy of the sun allows for sequestration of carbon out of the atmosphere and into the soil. There are ways to improve soil health and maximise that.

How we measure emissions and how these get allocated would appear to be another minefield that need tidied up.

Methane gets degraded in the atmosphere after about 15 years compared to hundreds of years for carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide so are our ruminants that bad after all?

The target for net zero emissions in Scotland by 2045 is ambitious and the technology and ways of doing that don’t yet exist but they will do by then. View this as exciting times and not doom and gloom. A fair Cop? I’ve done nothing wrong Guv!

pigs Extra ventilation needed for backed-up pigs

With overweight pigs backing up on many pig farms, an environmental specialist has made an urgent plea to pig farmers to check the ventilation systems in their finishing houses.

“Larger pigs produce much more heat so fans will be working harder to keep piggery temperatures down, even as cooler autumn weather approaches,” said Tim Miller of ARM Buildings.

A build-up of meal dust and other debris on fan motors and blades can seriously reduce their efficiency, so they need to be thoroughly cleaned. Similarly, the mechanisms on air inlets should be checked for sticking as well as ensuring the alarm and whole emergency ventilation systems are working properly.

“A house of 1,000 pigs at the end of their finishing period can produce 170 kW of heat – enough to heat 8-10 averagesized homes,” he pointed out.

“That’s a massive amount of heat to be dispersed.”

Tim Miller has seen finishing houses with pigs as heavy as 145 kg liveweight. “This is putting a strain on the very fabric of buildings, especially older structures, apart from welfare considerations.

“It is ironic that pig farmers are being constantly lectured on animal welfare and having to consider expensive changes to freedom-style farrowing systems while a build-up of pigs, through no fault of their own, could cause major welfare problems.”

Pig sector needs to start transitioning away from zinc oxide now Producers need to start implementing alternative postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) management strategies now to avoid pig health and performance plummeting once zinc oxide is removed.

This was the overarching message from a recent Elanco seminar, which looked at the options for managing PWD going forward.

Speaking at the event, Faye Murch, consultant at Kingsgate Nutrition, warned that successful management of PWD would be a challenge and emphasised the importance of collaboration between the vet, nutritionist, and producer, in tackling this multifactorial problem.

“Zinc oxide is something of a wonder drug that can hide a lot of potential issues on farm,” said Mrs Murch. “There’s not one single solution to replace it and a multi-faceted approach is going to be required.”

Mrs Murch said good nutrition is one key component in helping manage PWD, although it will not be a silver bullet cure.

“Current nutritional strategies are largely centred around supporting gut health and maximising beneficial bacteria.

“These include increasing the fibre content of diets to control the speed feed is passing through the gut and reducing crude protein levels to maintain gut health. The use of probiotics is also potentially an option,” she said.

Francesc Molist, research and development manager at Schothorst Feed Research, noted that it is also important to avoid overfeeding to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. “Excess nutrients from overfeeding, will act as a feed source for bacteria which may predispose the animal to disease.”

Levy holiday announced for pig producers In support of pig producers in Scotland and England, the two meat levy bodies have today announced a pork levy holiday during November 2021.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board took the decision in response to the continued build-up of pigs on farm, falling prices and high production costs.

The recommendation has been agreed by Ministers in both countries, with the levy holiday across Scotland and England amounting to just under £1 million.

It follows ongoing discussions between the two meat levy bodies, Government and industry to identify ways to help pig producers during these difficult times.

QMS Chair, Kate Rowell, says it’s important to support

producers as they face exceptional difficulties. She added: “After discussions between the QMS Board and AHDB the decision was made to introduce a levy holiday in November for pig producers.

“The pig sector plays an important role in Scotland’s agricultural industry and this relief will help support producers as they work tirelessly to look after the animals in their care.”

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Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “As they move into one of their busiest months of the year, the levy holiday in Scotland and England provided by QMS and AHDB will be a welcome measure to those in the pig sector, especially in light of the issues they have been facing over the past month. This helpful move will not solve any of the issues but will be of some assistance to the sector.”

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dairy Dairy farmers invited to review true value of genetic investment Dairy farmers are being invited to take advantage of a new breeding tool from Cogent that allows a true financial value of genetic investment to be calculated using individual farm records.

The Purity Calculator has been exclusively developed over the past twelve months by Cogent to offer dairy farmers the chance to find out the overall monetary gain of using different sires and different technologies, taking into account details from each herd such as conception rates, replacement rates, usage of sexed semen, cost per straw, genetic gain and calf values.

The calculator is able to provide accurate figures on the value of gender accuracy for individual farms. For example,

based on 200 cows being serviced with SexedULTRA 4M, with a 40% conception rate, farms could gain an additional £1029.40 per year over a lower purity product.

“This is a bespoke service, open to all UK dairy farmers, that gives valuable information on the return of investment from genetics,” explains Ben Hogg, National Business Development Manager, Cogent. “UK dairy farmers invest thousands every year on genetics, and there is a need and desire, to find out more specific data for each farm business.

“Industry figures are useful but do not give a true reflection of individual farm circumstances. This tool allows data from each individual herd to

be inputted, and a personalised report produced.

“A tool providing this level of information is long overdue and gives dairy farmers a much better understanding of the value of the genetics they are investing

in. It will lead to more informed decisions of bull selection and, ultimately, a more profitable herd.”

Dairy farmers should call 0800 783 7258 to find out more or arrange a free Cogent consultation.

New robot batch milking system launched DeLaval has launched a new robotic ‘batch milking’ system to enable dairy farmers with larger herd sizes to use milking robots more efficiently. “The new VMS Batch milking system will

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enable dairy farmers to merge the benefits milking robots provide with the advantages of a larger, or rotary, parlour,” explains DeLaval’s large herd specialist, Robert Jensen.

Demand for dairy workers has increased, yet finding suitable workers is proving challenging in many areas. “With the successful introduction of our DeLaval VMS™ V300 and V310 a few

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years ago and the high capacity of these milking robots, we saw an opportunity to organise the robots in a batch milking setup to offer a flexible automatic milking solution for larger farms. The batch milking concept has been introduced to enable larger farms to produce more milk with less labour. With the new system only one person is required to milk 450 cows,” he says.

Using eight VMS robots a farm can milk 450 cows twice a day by creating fixed milking sessions for batches of cows.

The routine is similar to that of a traditional parlour with cows being admitted to a collection area in front of the robots. As each cow is milked, she exits through a sorting gate making the robot free for the next. “Cows are typically milked twice a day and there are very few changes to herd management and the existing milking system,” he adds.

dairy Global food companies partner to deliver roadmap for regenerative dairy A number of global food companies, including Unilever, Barry Callebaut, Arla Foods, Ben & Jerry’s and Woolworth South Africa, have partnered up with FAI Farms and Farmwel, to deliver a roadmap for regenerative dairy.

‘RE-DAIRY’ is a 18 monthlong project starting in October and aims to engage dairy farmers and businesses around a practical vision for a productive and profitable global dairy sector that also restores its relationship with nature. Øistein Thorsen, chief executive of FAI Farms, said: “We face two great crises in nature: global warming and

biodiversity loss.

We must urgently address agriculture’s impact, but we also have to produce diverse and nutritious food to nourish a growing global population. For global dairy to make the transition we need global collaboration. That is why we invite other partners to join and take a seat at the table.”

The collaboration will define what regenerative dairy looks like from the bottom up.

RE-DAIRY’s vision is to put a spotlight on practices that are having regenerative outcomes on dairy farms around the world today. To help ensure mainstream adoption and impact, the project will investigate practical language

and effective framing for farmer focused communication.

Working with farmer groups and other stakeholders, a roadmap

of critical steps and actions will be created to establish the supply chain conditions for successful transition to regenerative dairy.

GEA’s new rotary parlour improves herd environment and boosts milk yield An expanding family farm has more than halved milking time for its 600-strong Pedigree Holstein herd, improving the working conditions at the farm for both cows and staff as well as increasing

milk yield, after investing in a GEA T8900 rotary milking parlour.

Before making a decision the Icke family – father Martyn and sons Richard and Simon – embarked on a rigorous selection

process for their Wheatlands Farm in Pershore. They visited many dairy sites and installations before travelling with GEA to see a farm in the Netherlands and becoming the first farmers in the UK to order

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the new T8900 parlour, which ticked all their boxes.

Milking three times a day was taking its toll on the farm’s infrastructure, staff and cows.

However, since the installation of the new GEA rotary parlour milking time has been significantly reduced from 15 hours to just over seven. This is a saving which is also hugely beneficial to the comfort of the cows, leaving them more time to ruminate resulting in increased yield, as well as releasing staff to work on other areas of the farm.

The new layout, with a larger collecting yard and a redesigned shed has also visibly reduced herd stress levels, and vastly improved cow flow. On top of this the farm’s Bactoscan level has dropped from somewhere between 25 and 30, to now between 6 and 10. This reduction is attributed to the new GEA glycol cooling system, meaning the milk is cooled quickly and hits the tank at four degrees.

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dairy UK dairy farmers looking to buy British for calves UK dairy farmers are becoming more discerning about the nutrition they buy for their calves and starting to question the origin of milk replacer ingredients.

According to the 2021 Herd Futures survey, 47% of dairy units now firmly disagree with the view that when buying calf milk replacers all you need to know is the price per tonne and nutrient declaration on the bag label.

“It’s clear that UK dairy farmers want more information about what they are feeding to their calves and business sustainability issues are becoming important,” said Volac’s Samantha Sampson, speaking to visitors at the recent UK Dairy Day. “The survey findings also show farmers are keen to ‘buy British’ when it comes to investing in high quality young animal nutrition for the next generation of milking cows.

“For example, the Herd Futures survey found more than 84% of UK dairy farmers

agreeing with the statement: feeding a calf milk replacer product made in Britain from milk produced on British farms is

important for future farm business sustainability,” she added.

Ms Sampson said that sustainable sourcing of

ingredients for milk powder formulations is moving to the heart of Volac raw material buying policy.

Dairy farm profits a credit to producers, says Old Mill Dairy farm profits averaged £185/ cow in 2020/21, despite the cost of production outstripping milk income, according to Old Mill’s annual dairy report.

The Milk Cost of Production report - conducted by rural accountant Old Mill and the Farm Consultancy Group – found that average farm profits fell from £233/cow in 2020/21 to £185/cow last season. “This is on the back of a falling milk price, rising feed costs and straw prices at levels not seen before,” says Dan Heal, rural adviser at Old Mill. “So 82

maintaining profits to this level is all the more credit to the dairy industry.”

It was the fourth year in a row that profits remained stable above £100/cow, as increased yields offset the fall in milk price. Average yields rose by 151 litres/cow due to a favourable milk to feed ratio and good quality forage. However, the total cost of production - at £2,393/ cow - averaged more than the milk income of £2,321/cow.

This loss was offset by a recovery in non-milk income due to the improved beef market. Herd

size has also shrunk – from 307 to 269 - after farmers culled their less productive animals harder.

The top 10% of producers still far outperformed the bottom 10%,

due to tighter control on costs, explains Mr Heal. “The bottom 10% incurred £1,097/cow more costs, spending an average of £2,954/cow.”

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 124 Next issue out January 2022

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case study Essential ATVs perform for livestock farmer Farming 1250 acres without an ATV would be all but impossible for sheep and beef farmer James McTurk. Mackilston Farm was bought by his parents and he, his wife Sarah and four children, have since taken on much of the daily duties. He sees his Yamaha ATVs as vital to his farm work and has invested in three Kodiak 700cc machines to help him, and his two part time farm workers, cover the ground.

With a further 650 acres rented, and 100 acres owned, the ATVs are used almost constantly every day. “The farms are spread out over a thirty-mile radius, so I have one ATV stationed at one parcel of land, and the other two operate out of Mackilston,” he says.

With 400 Black Face, Cheviot and Scottish Mule ewes and 180 Galloway, Blue Grey and Saler cross cattle, plus followers, he is kept busy attending to animal health, lambing, and calving.

“We have two calving blocks, one in autumn and the other in spring. I need the ATVs to get to the livestock quickly and safely.

It is of paramount importance that I get round the herd and the flock to make sure that they are all in good health.” Prior to the ATVs the land was walked twice a day to assess the sheep and cattle. “In the past it would have taken three people to cover the same ground that one can with an ATV today.”

The land is rugged and from his 1250 acres he is only able to make silage from 60 acres. “It’s mostly upland and very steep in parts so I have chosen to run more powerful ATVs because I have greater confidence in the power helping me climb. The last thing I want is to lose power and have the ATV start to roll back.”

This is especially important as he is often carrying heavy loads.

“I pull a sheep snacker and will load it to the maximum 600kg towing capacity of the ATV. The power of the 700cc engine is more than sufficient to manage this safely, even on steep hills.”

The ATVs are used in the summer to check on stock and bring in any animals that require attention using a trailer.

Autumn is largely spent finding and attending to cows in calf and through the winter he uses the ATVs to transport feed to both sheep and cattle. “We are probably busiest in spring. The bikes never stop. The reliability of the Yamahas has been superb and on the odd occasion we have had a problem the back-up from local dealer Alan McCracken has been just what we need. He is always able to find us another bike to use whilst any repairs are being made which is a big help.”

Mr McTurk moved to Yamaha ATVs ten years ago. His previous ATVs were manual, whereas all the Yamaha machines have been automatic. “I’d never go back, it makes tackling the land here so much easier, and I think we use less fuel too because we aren’t

constantly revving the engine when climbing hills.” He has also tried ATVs with an electric manual shift but prefers the ease of the automatic transmission.

“It’s great not having to change gear and I think the automatic Yamahas hold their value better too.”

The Kodiak has independent front and rear suspension as standard. This helps to soften the ride and, because it is adjustable, also helps when carrying heavy loads. “It’s much better for the rough terrain, and my old ATVs, which had swinging arm suspension, used to hurt my back.

These new models are much more comfortable, and the suspension is easier to adjust, which helps when I need to tow.”

The Kodiak has the option of electric power steering (EPS), and it is a feature that is a big help on the varied terrain of Mr McTurk’s farm. “It is much easier

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on the arms, especially on the hills. It also helps with handling in the wet and muddy conditions we often have.” He also relies on the Kodiak’s winch which is fitted to all models as standard.

“It’s a powerful bike and so is too heavy to lift. I therefore rely on the winch to pull the bike out if it becomes stuck. I’d rather use the winch once in a while than not have the power all year round.”

Mr McTurk averages 40005000 miles per year on his main ATV. He chooses to update the ATVs just ahead of the two-year warranty expiring. “The old one becomes the second on the farm and I have a new one. We still have a five-year-old Kodiak that has over 15000 miles on it and is still running well. So far, I haven’t had to use the warranty, but it is still a nice safety net to have because the ATVs are the most important machines on the farm,” he concludes.

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sheep

Worm challenge continues into the autumn

The mild weather and recent rains have given the ideal conditions for worms to continue to be a challenge for lambs at grass this autumn. Sheep farmers who haven’t yet incorporated one of the newer group wormer actives

e.g. 4-AD, Zolvix™ into their worm control plans are being urged to do so now according to an industry open letter.

The warning comes amid fears that some farmers are continuing to rely solely on

the older group 1, 2, and 3 wormers, which are likely to be leaving enough worms behind after treatment to hamper lamb growth rates1. Repeated use of the same wormer groups will also contribute to a growing level of wormer resistance, which will make the problem worse in future years 2.

Matt Colston, vet and ruminant technical consultant at Elanco Animal Health, says a recent study showed 77% of farms with resistance to two or more of the older group 1, 2 or 3 wormer classes.

“This presents a significant production threat, with resistant worms left behind after treatment

able to reduce growth rates in lambs by up to 50%, before any visible signs are present,” explains Mr Colston.

On top of this, he says there are longer-term implications of growing wormer resistance.

“Wormer resistance is a problem that will already be increasing under the radar on most farms. Once established on a farm, a resistant worm population will not revert back to being susceptible, but if caught early, before there are obvious problems, developing resistance can be effectively managed. This would allow effective use of the older group 1,2 and 3 wormers for many years to come,” he says.

A new President for breed society

Sue Martyn of Hornacott Barton Farm has been appointed President of the Border Leicester Sheep Society, following previous marketing and convenor roles within the council.

Based in Cornwall and having dedicated 34 years to the breed, Sue currently has 25 Border Leicester ewes, which she breeds to sell shearling rams.

She has a strong commercial history with the breed, with the 350-acre mixed livestock farm

she used to run with her husband still worked by the family.

Sue is the second female in the Society’s 125-year history to take the helm, and highlights its focus to develop and encourage a more diverse board.

“We’re known as the friendly Society, and I think we embrace everybody: men, women, young or old – it really doesn’t matter.

We are just coming together to promote the breed and do all that we can for the sheep.”

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 124 Next issue out January 2022 84

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sheep Ewe nutrition remains critical during early stages of pregnancy

Celebrate our sheep!

By Grace Reid, NSA Scottish Region Coordinator

Ensuring adequate levels of energy and protein important to foetal development in early days post-tupping says Dr Alison Bond, nutritionist for Rumenco As flocks come through a critical period of body condition gain from weaning to tupping, sheep farmers need to avoid throwing on the nutritional handbrake in the early stages of pregnancy, says Dr Alison Bond, nutritionist for Rumenco.

“In the first month of pregnancy, foetal development is very limited and doesn’t require a great deal of nutritional support. However, making significant changes to a feeding programme would have devastating consequences to scanning percentages and future flock performance,” says Dr Bond. “Research has shown that target body condition scores (BCS) achieved by the start of tupping need to be maintained for the first 30 days of pregnancy to support embryo quality, fertilised ova survival and implantation and then continued later in the pregnancy for foetal development.”

At tupping time, a lowland ewe weighing 60-80kg should have a BCS of 3-3.5 and a typical upland ewe weighing 40-60kgs should have a BCS of 2.5. Most farmers will have had

to push ewes with high quality forage and supplementation to get them back in shape following weaning.

“A 4cm grass sward is sufficient for maintenance but any less or poorer quality grazing may need supplementing,” says Dr Bond. “As forage quality declines towards the end of the grazing season, a multi-purpose supplement like Rumevite feed blocks deliver adequate energy and protein levels while helping to increase forage digestion and utilisation during this key period.”

According to Dr Bond, an oocyte, aka very early embryo, is very sensitive to its surrounding environment and can influence foetal growth and subsequent birthweight as early as six days after fertilisation.

“High feeding levels can reduce progesterone levels, compromising embryo survival,” says Dr Bond. “Similarly, reduced uterine pH is also a factor with effects being more apparent in our ewe lambs compared to our mature animals.

The development of the embryo is affected not only in the short term but also life-long by maternal feed intake but also specific nutrients such as energy and trace elements such as cobalt.”

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“By now we will be in the

many of these communities,

middle of COP26, with high

cultures

level

would disappear, as would

discussions

ongoing

and

of how we can mitigate the

local

services

effects of climate change, our

businesses.

traditions and

small

carbon footprint, achieving

Scotland and the wider

tree planting targets all whilst

UK have a unique and rich

increasing the biodiversity

diversity of sheep genetics

our country has to offer.

with more native breeds than

But what about the value

anywhere else in the world.

of our sheep industry to the

It is this diversity which we

economy?

are incredibly fortunate to

Sheep farmers are much

be on the receiving end

more than sustainable red

of. That is why we need to

meat and fibre producers.

ensure that future policy and

They are the social fabric of

legislation does not hamper

our communities in terms of

the activities of the Scottish

population and employment

sheep industry. We have

opportunities. Without trying

many

to preach to the converted,

systems, management types

sheep

to

and market opportunities for

are

landscape

central

breeds,

production

management,

a reason. Let’s celebrate the

providing public access and

diverse nature of the people

supporting

plant

who strive every day to put

diversity enhancers and also

food on our plates and the

prevent

through

wonderful environment we

In

so proudly display for the

sensitive

tourism,

wildfires grazing.

the

absence of sheep farming,

world to see.

sheep Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is putting the ‘oo’ back into local wool

An exciting new project is underway across south-west Scotland as Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere launches The Wool Gathering, a group to unite farmers and flock owners with the makers and creators who use the wool they produce.

The plummeting value of wool has been a feature of rural news in recent months, drawing attention to the financial stress on farmers already dealing with the impacts of Brexit and Covid-19.

From being regarded as useful and marketable resource only one or two generations ago, wool is increasingly a low value by-product of sheep farming with a significant proportion disposed of as waste.

Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere leads on sustainability initiatives across three local authority areas and is part of the region’s drive to achieve ambitious Net Zero goals. The versatility of wool offers ‘green potential’ that is yet to be fully explored, from carbon-storing carpets and clothes to new uses by enterprising creatives: The Wool Gathering’s preliminary research has already turned up one business which uses Scottish wool to make yoga mats.

The Wool Gathering has drawn the interest of multi-sector 86

partners including NFUS, South of Scotland Enterprise, and local art and craft development organisation Upland. The group will focus on ‘Biosphere wool’ including from Blackface sheep which are so closely associated with the hills of south-west Scotland. While their wool has been historically regarded as unsuitable for garments, the Biosphere is keen to research its potential for knitted outdoor clothing and the breed could enjoy something of a rebrand if the project’s ambitions are achieved. The Wool Gathering is currently in discussion with the British Wool Marketing Board about how to maintain the farm provenance of Blackface wool from sheep to finished product, and has launched two surveys to gather the opinions and expertise of people who are already producing or working with wool in East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway.

The Wool Gathering has launched as a public group on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ groups/gsabwool) and welcomes new members.

Their wool producer and maker surveys are accessible via The Wool Gathering on Facebook, or by email request to info@gsabiosphere.org.uk.

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EquiTrace secures funding €1.25m from HBAN and Enterprise Ireland to develop its global ambitions EquiTrace, a unique app for horses that combines identity, GPS and medical records data using a scanner, a microchip and a mobile phone, has signed an investment agreement with a syndicate of HBAN angel investors led by Brendan Nevin, CEO of Code Institute for 1million euros. Enterprise Ireland will also be investing in the company, providing 250,000 euros.

EquiTrace will use the investment to grow the company, building a sales and development team as well as investing in marketing, and focus on global expansion.

EquiTrace is already in use in five countries worldwide, including Ireland, USA, Canada, Italy and Sweden. The international horse authority, FEI, which covers many sports such as dressage and driving as well as eventing, license EquiTrace’s software. USTA, the American trotting association, have a white label version of the product.

Merck USA recently signed a deal with EquiTrace covering 13 countries.

An integral part of EquiTrace is its ability to eliminate human error around administering medication. The app recognises over 1000 products by barcode.

By scanning the horses microchip staff can ensure the correct drug is given to the correct horse. The app includes a drugs database and suggestions on withdrawal times with complete references to the latest data. The app will automatically adjust withdrawal times according to the route the medication is given and take into consideration factors like the dose used or number of injections given when suggesting a withdrawal time.

NFU Scotland

equine

CoP26 has presented the perfect opportunity to accentuate the positive

According to NFU Scotland’s Climate Change Policy Manager Kate Hopper, who took up appointment in early October The twin crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, along with the security of our food supply are crucial issues in delivering a sustainable future for Scottish agriculture.

The reality is that Scottish farmers, crofters, and growers are already on their net zero journey and have a key role in further reducing emissions to meet climate change goals of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

In the that year COP comes to Scotland, NFU Scotland has launched a #farmingforthefuture social media campaign to highlight what our industry is already doing and that we are ready to face the challenges ahead.

At https://www.nfus.org. uk/policy/campaigns/farmingfor-the-future.aspx we have produced a suite of positive messages around Scottish farming and crofting which are free to all to download and share. Factual, researched examples include: • Our Scottish soils, which are grazed by cattle and sheep, hold a staggering 3,000 megatonnes of carbon.

• Nitrous Oxide emissions from fertilisers, soil cultivation and manure management has fallen by

Kate Hopper, NFU Scotland’s Climate Change Policy Manager

15 percent as farmers have moved to more organic methods.

• The Scottish beef industry has a greenhouse gas footprint that is half of the world average and has already reduced methane emissions by 18 percent.

• The carbon footprint of our milk is one-third lower than the world average.

• Our soft fruit and vegetable production continues to grow, increasing our selfsufficiency and significantly reducing food miles.

• The carbon footprint of Scottish pig farms has fallen by 40 percent in 20 years.

NFU Scotland recognises that Scottish agriculture must also continue to take significant steps if the sector is to increase biodiversity in the farmed landscape.

NFU Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT)

www.nfus.org.uk

are working together on the Champions for Change project to showcase good environmental stewardship of our land. Over 1000 farmers are working on projects which improve soil health, support peatland restoration, deliver agroforestry projects and increase habitats for pollinators, whilst producing high quality, sustainable Scottish food.

With the creation of Scottish Government’s Farmer Led Climate Change Groups (FLG’s); the recent publication of the Farming for 1.5°C report and the Union’s own ‘Steps to Change’ document, we are seeing a consensus in the direction of travel for a just transition that allows for Scottish agricultural businesses to remain productive and profitable, while delivering on both climate change mitigation and increasing biodiversity.

The onus is on Scottish Government to develop and deliver a new post-Brexit, post-CAP agricultural policy for Scotland that delivers on all requirements. While there is a lot more work to do, the Scottish public can be reassured that in the year CoP comes to Glasgow, Scottish agriculture is making positive strides towards meeting its targets and responsibilities.

Article

The art of the chainsaw!

Sam Bowsher is a 23-year-old chainsaw carver from the south of Scotland. The youngest son of “Chainsaw Pete” aka Pete Bowsher – a well know and acclaimed carver himself - Sam has grown up surrounded by chainsaw carving, with carving competitions being an annual occurrence in the Bowsher household. After catching the carving bug from his dad, Sam gave up his work as a welder and threw himself into chainsaw carving as his fulltime occupation. Since then, he has been running a successful chainsaw carving business, completing commissions for various sculptures, and been competing in competitions up and down the country. His most recent win was the Carve Carrbridge 2020 trophy (which his dad has won eight times), beating out some of the best chainsaw carvers there are.

Here Carver Sam counts down his top five creations.

Golden Eagle Bench: “This piece was commissioned by the town of Moffat in the South of Scotland to celebrate their becoming the UK’s first ever Eagle Town. I really enjoyed making this as I was given quite a lot of leeway with the layout and design, and I like how natural the tallest Golden Eagle seems perched on his branch.”

Crocodile: “Now this was a big’un! I was asked to make a crocodile that was 6ft from nose to front shoulders. I really enjoyed the size of it, as it gave me a chance to get details in that I hadn’t been

Golden Eagle bench

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able to in past smaller crocodiles that I had sculpted. I also really like how imposing this piece looks, with its big wide-open mouth and rows of teeth. The lucky owner of this sculpture has it beside a pond and plans to plant tall bushes around it.”

Wildlife Scene: “I carved this whilst competing at the Sandringham Food and Craft Fair in August. I came up with and carved this piece within the 25-hour time limit. I was very happy with how it turned out.

Wildlife is my favourite thing to carve, and this has 8 animals in total! I had also wanted to carve a Roe Deer leaping like that for

some time. I like to think the animals are reacting to a BANG that they have all just heard!”

Memorial Wildlife Bench: “This was commissioned by a group of friends as a memorial for their friend who had sadly passed away. Again, I was given free reign with regards to design and layout. They handed me a list of animals they wanted to be included and were happy for me to add anything else that I thought would fit. This piece features 9 animals in total, including a small cray fish, 2 frogs, an eel, 2 trout, a life-size flying heron, a barn owl, and a kingfisher. It is a functional carving too - I built a

Crocodile

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Wildlife scene

Article picnic bench attached to the back of it. It is placed at the start of a public walk, again in Moffat.”

Border Reiver Warrior: “This was commissioned by a woman to give as a gift to her husband. He had a large interest in history, and Border Reivers were one of his favourites. I was asked to take inspiration from a statue in Carlisle that he likes.

I really enjoyed carving this, I put a lot of research into making sure I was adding clothing and weapons that were suitable for the time period. This was my first life-size human commission, and it was a real challenge that I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope to get more commissions for human figures in the future.

Giraffes Embracing: “The first carving I took from sketch to finished carving just for my own enjoyment. I don’t

have a particular affiliation with giraffes, I just saw a picture of a real mother and calf giraffe online and thought I could turn it into a nice carving. These proved to be very popular when I posted them online too. I’m happy with how I managed to capture them really leaning into each other but still made the mother seem gentle. I plan to do some full body, (not full-size!) giraffes in the future as I really like the shape of them – plus who doesn’t like giraffes.”

“All in all, there really hasn’t been a day where I’ve drudged having to go to work.

It’s true what they say, find a job you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.”

If you’d like to see more of Sam’s work or enquire about a sculpture for your own garden, you can do so by visiting “Sam Bowsher Chainsaw Carving” on Facebook.

Border Reiver

Wildlife memorial

Giraffes

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A new generation of tech-savvy female farmers are finding innovative ways to break into the agricultural industry

By Claire Hodge, Head of Crops, Agri-TechCentre Digital technologies are revolutionising agricultural value chains, providing improved access to inputs, finance, markets and weather information. The Women in Agriculture Scotland (WiAS) group works to celebrate the changing roles of women on and off the farm and, in sharing our stories, we can build communities that continue this revolution.

The Ag-Tech Revolution There’s no question that technology is revolutionising farming. Agriculture is now an infinitely smarter ecosystem where sensors, robotics, 3D printing, cloud-based computing and artificial intelligence are becoming normalised. Drones and connected machines are more affordable, giving rise to smart devices for farming suppliers and service providers, allowing the exchange of huge amounts of data. Farming is also becoming more precise. And, while there are some aspects that digitalisation cannot change – bad weather conditions, crop and animal diseases, and commodity market fluctuations – big data and predictive analytics enable real-time simulations, which can inform risk mitigation strategies to manage these conditions.

But technological development does not exist in isolation. I wanted to speak to the women who are breaking down the stereotypes and not only using the technology to advance their 90

farm businesses but the women who are developing technology which changes the opportunities for the women who work in agriculture.

Sushma Shankar - Co-Founder/ CEO, Deep Planet Limited Sushma is the Co-Founder of Deep Planet, she started Deep Planet to address environmental risk using satellite imagery.

The goal is to help agricultural businesses, supply chain

companies and growers to gain new and unbiased insights from satellite data while supporting sustainability in their operations.

Sushma started out in viticulture developing remote sensor technology for vineyards around the world. She has started working with potato growers in the UK to develop the product SoilSignals. SoilSignal aims to provide an agricultural monitoring service for farmers by using Earth Observation

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and state-of-the-art machine learning tools. SoilSignal’s main objective is to provide a decision support tool for soil health including measuring, predicting and providing irrigation and fertiliser recommendations.

Currently, crop management decisions including water and fertiliser are based on either local ground samples collected on a regular basis during the growing season or using generalised agronomic models, which

Women in Agriculture Scotland provide limited opportunity for profitability for growers. Deep Planet’s AI platform provides highly accurate predictions and, in turn, providing more accurate prescription helping growers take proactive action to improve outcomes and reduce costs, including replacing expensive ground sensors.

Sushma’s background is in Research & Development and Business in the telecoms industry launching 4G to millions of users, leading business planning and large scale transformation at BT, Hitachi and Nortel Networks.

“I was attracted to developing technology for the agricultural industry as I believe there is a huge opportunity for technology to help alleviate the challenges and the pressure that the food system is facing with climate change - something that will continue to accelerate.”

Catriona McLean, Precision Agronomy Manager, SoilEssentials Ltd Lead by Catriona, Precision Agronomy Manager, who has been with SoilEssentials since 2013, their aim is to help farmers across the UK embrace new technology and improve farm efficiencies with precision technology.

Catriona works with a trained and experienced Soil Sampling Team who use GPS technology for a repeatable, accurate, and professionally mapped job.

During peak sampling seasons, between August and March, the team consists of five samplers who travel the length and breadth of Scotland.

Once all samples are collected, they are then sent away to the client’s selected laboratory for analysis. Following this she creates a tailored, easy to read report highlighting and identifying soil status, nutrients, pests and diseases.

Whether it is sampling fields in detail for pH and trace elements, conducting drone flights to produce clear aerial images of crops, or providing land measurement for newly purchased land, the SoilEssentials Agronomy Team strive to achieve a high-quality

service within all our Precision Agronomy services. Catriona explains that this means that every day is varied and she is required to develop new skills to help support her farm network.

Rachel Fife, Farmer, Coldrife Farm Rachel farms at home with her family in North Northumberland.

In 2018 the business lost their second farm, with the acreage dropping by 50%, and they knew something was needed to replace this loss in income.

Rachel explains: ‘I decided to start bucket rearing dairy cross calves as an extra enterprise, starting off with similar batches using our existing sheds on the farm. I could see there were opportunities for me on the farm as my knowledge of the calf rearing grew, I soon discovered our large open plan grain sheds were not suited to calf rearing due to the poor air quality, and I started looking for options.

“Instead of trying to convert our existing buildings, we took the decision to invest in a ‘Optima Climate Calf Barn’ from The Calf company, a specifically designed high health building.

The units are a Dutch design made from Propylene plastic, are low in height, long and narrow with open fronts, making the perfect environment for calves. It creates the optimum temperature that calves need, but also keeps a fresh clean air flow.

“With our new calf unit, we can now have the capacity to house more animals, and we have also dramatically Improved their health and have dropped antibiotic use by 90%. Since putting up our first calf barn, we have had massive interest in our reared calves, and have taken the decision to put up another unit next year so that we can continue to grow our business.”

This next generation of women are emerging as pioneers in the AgTech sector.WiAS is representing women from all backgrounds and areas in agriculture, supporting them to use their innovative solutions to create a more productive, resilient, and equitable agricultural system.

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Southern Belle Hindsight is a wonderful thing Having spent the last week with a group of retired farmers, two of whom met at a chicken trussing competition – whatever happened to those? – I have come to appreciate how lucky we are to have lived across the generations we have.

Every generation blames the one before, as various songs say and we are no different given the benefit of hindsight. We are often accused of “ruining the planet” by the younger generations and again, with hindsight, some of the things we did weren’t ecofriendly but we didn’t know that at the time. It was just progress.

However, we made do and mended our clothes, many of which our mothers had made for us and we didn’t throw them away after two washes. We wore wool, which we washed by hand. We didn’t have mobile phones to see where everyone was and what they were doing, we simply asked them. My current tumble dryer is over 30 years old and still going (with a wiggle of the door).

We are lucky that we didn’t have to pay for The War and we won’t have to pay for the pandemic.

We were probably bigoted and racist but we didn’t realise it, or didn’t mean any harm by it. We didn’t hate anybody. We invented plastic but we still didn’t drink out of plastic bottles, because we drank out of a tap, because we developed clean water for everyone. We never threw rubbish out of the window or ate carryout food from polystyrene boxes. We made our own sandwiches and carried a flask. We always took our rubbish home.

We had holidays in Scotland or England if you had a “family” car. We ate meat and two veg for every dinner and obesity isn’t our fault. We were taught by our parents to treat people as we would like to be treated and always be humble and kind.

This week, I was listening to a BBC Scotland’s afternoon show, when the presenter jokingly suggested that football could help save water by the team returning to team baths, rather than showers, to which his guest scientist advised him that “surveys had shown that the longer you stay in the shower the more water you used.” Who knew!? We did!

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estate Baird Lumsden seeks buyers for rarely available on the open market 5-bedroom Ayrshire farmhouse

Baird Lumsden, the leading rural property specialist based in Bridge of Allan, is seeking buyers for Raggithill Farm, a five-bedroom farmhouse with significant outbuildings and land extending to 4.75 Ha (11.75 Acres) and outstanding panoramic views over the surrounding countryside over the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran. Offers over £625,000 are invited.

This type of readily accessed property is rarely available on 92

the open market as Raggithill Farm comprises a five-bedroom cottage with generous and flexible accommodation. It has scope to extend or alter the property subject to obtaining the necessary consents, outbuildings used in conjunction with a successful dog kennel business, and further outbuildings providing development potential subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

The farmhouse is a traditional whitewashed property under a

slate roof with accommodation over two levels. The property predominantly faces south with a peaceful and private outlook. The gardens, to three sides, are mostly laid to lawn with some herbaceous shrubs and planting. The gardens to the west include a useful outbuilding for garden storage.

The accommodation comprises a ground floor with open plan living room/dining room, dining room/office and three bedrooms, shower room, WC, WHB, showering unit, kitchen/dining

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room, utility room, entrance vestibule, principal bedroom with en-suite bathroom, jacuzzi bath, WHB, WC and showering unit. Bedrooms 4 and 5 are on the first floor.

The land surrounding the farmhouse is eminently suitable for equestrian, hobby farming and amenity use, and includes wonderful countryside walks and cycle routes to be enjoyed from the doorstep.

Call 01786 833800 for more information.

estate New investment in Scotland’s land can benefit nature and nation Ever-increasing interest in Scotland’s land is opening up the prospects of a win-win that benefits the nation and nature like never before, a major conference heard recently.

But there needs to be a collective response across the public and private sectors to ensure Scotland benefits widely from the potentially lucrative demand and investment associated with its ‘natural capital’.

Scottish Land Commission chief executive Hamish Trench believes the way this new value is harnessed will be critical in making a just transition – one in which communities and local economies can prosper as the new sector grows.

Natural Capital was the headline topic at the virtual three day Land Connection conference, which brought experts together to look at the role of land in helping to achieve some of Scotland’s big ambitions for the economy, climate and communities.

Natural capital refers to the elements of the natural environment which provide valuable goods and services to people. But the emerging and rapidly-growing influence of carbon value in the land market is being driven by what is known as socially responsible investment – best characterised by companies and organisations acquiring either land or carbon credits to offset carbon emissions and support their climate change

objectives. Recent high profile examples include the acquisition of land in the Cairngorms by Standard Life and Brewdog.

Hamish Trench told the conference this investment in Scotland’s land has potential to bring significant change to Scotland’s environment and drive a just transition to a net zero economy, but that there are risks to address so that the market works in the public interest.

Hamish said: “There is an opportunity for a win-win, a transformation that benefits nature and people.

“There is no question that this new investment will be much needed in delivering the land use outcomes Scotland is looking for. But there are questions to consider, firstly, about unintended consequences, and secondly, about how emerging value is used fairly and productively.”

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A clear vision is need to achieve Net-Zero

By Stephen Young, Head of Policy, Scottish Land & Estates The onset of autumn has been a busy time for all, not only on farms but at a plethora of events and conferences. One of the many talking points has been the vexed question of investment in land for environmental purposes.

The Scottish Government’s own Climate Change Plan calls for “significant increases in forestry and widespread peatland restoration” to help meet climate change targets, with an increase in new woodland creation to 18,000 hectares annually by 2024/25.

The public purse alone cannot support the investment that is required, and it is landowners of all types and sizes that are being asked to take the risks over the long-term.

There does seem to be a narrative that carbon credits can simply be “dug up from the ground”, which is hugely misleading. As an example, selling woodland carbon credits requires new planting, ongoing management to ensure they are sequestering carbon and there is a risk of fire or crop failure. Indeed, carbon credits can only be verified if it can be demonstrated that the planting was uneconomic without the income, as part of the

‘convention of additionality’ which is intrinsic to voluntary carbon markets.

So, it is not the pot of gold it is portrayed as.

Having said that, nothing is black and white and there are other elements to consider as to the wider benefits. If judged through a single lens of netzero then this is absolutely to be welcomed. However, the wider social impacts also need to be understood.

Buyers of land for environmental reasons have the same responsibilities as any other landowner, to involve and inform communities in what they are doing. At the same time, the impact on local jobs and crucially housing need to be considered, as they are vital to ensure we have thriving rural communities.

As with almost everything this is a nuanced topic, and a wider conversation is being had around whether this is in the public interest, indeed what is the public interest? Will this inward investment help us meet our climate change targets?

Almost certainly. Will it help to build the rural economy, protect jobs and safeguard affordable housing? This is not yet clear but what is important is to judge anyone on their actions rather than who they are.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400

estate Union calls for valuable goose management support to continue

NFU Scotland is calling on NatureScot to reverse its decision to end valuable financial support for managing the damaging numbers of geese found on many Scottish islands.

NatureScot has informed Local Goose Management Groups (LGMGs) on Uist, Tiree and Coll, Lewis and Harris, and Orkney of its intention to step back from any financial support for adaptive management (AM) schemes for Resident Greylag Geese (RGL) and offer a simple ‘advisory’ role going forwards.

NatureScot had previously indicated that it would support LGMGs to put in place sustainable funding arrangements for adaptive management and NFU Scotland believes that this has not yet been achieved. While progress on managing resident Greylag 94

numbers has been made on all islands, there have been recent significant setbacks, with numbers increasing because of the Covid pandemic restrictions limiting sporting activity, contractor and volunteer shooting on the islands and the ability to meet bag targets.

NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “The grazing pressure exerted by the growing resident populations of Greylag geese on many Scottish islands continues to have a devastating impact on farming and crofting businesses. Now is not the time for NatureScot to withdraw support.

“We are fully aware that the adaptive management schemes were always intended to be short term pilots to manage population density and mitigate against the agricultural damage caused

by Greylags. However, the pilots have demonstrated that with early intervention, funding and coordinated effort, farmers and crofters could control Greylag goose populations without harming conservation interests.

“Uist, Tiree and Coll, Lewis and Harris have been able to make some progress towards their reduction targets, but the Orkney pilot only managed to contain the expansion of resident Greylag birds.

“When the pilots were reviewed in 2017, NatureScot recognised their fragile success and the need for further support to help LGMGs secure long-term benefit from them.

“When we look at the objectives that were set in 2017, several have yet to be achieved

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including the development of longer-term funding arrangements for management and development of infrastructure and marketing to allow the sale of goose meat.

“It is our view that until these objectives are met, and the populations of resident Greylags on these islands are reduced to a level where self-help is realistically achievable, it is not appropriate for NatureScot to withdraw financial and practical support and expect the pilots to continue as self-financing.

“Failure to do so will see those farmers and crofters involved in the pilots unable to control geese numbers and the populations rapidly increase - negating all the value of the public funding committed to date and the hugely significant commitment from farmers and crofters.”

estate Act now to benefit economically from peatland restoration Restoring Scotland’s depleted peatlands now rather than later would provide benefits to society worth nearly £200 million a year, according to new research.

A study, led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), has for the first time calculated the monetary costs of delaying restoration of a natural resource that plays a huge environmental role globally, including in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Researchers investigated how improvements to peatlands - which have suffered from drainage, erosion or burning - would be beneficial to society.

Focusing on Scotland, where 20 per cent of the surface is peatland, they concluded that restoration would provide £191m annually of societal benefits for the country - including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, increased water quality and improved wildlife habitat - if it took place by 2027 rather than between 2039-2050.

This is the equivalent of an estimated average of £77.76 per household per year in Scotland.

If restoration work took place between 2028–2038, benefits would be reduced, but would still be significant, at £116m.

Peatlands, which cover 3 per cent of the Earth’s surface, store a third of the world’s soil carbon as well providing multiple benefits such as clean water and support for wildlife.

However, it is thought that by as early as 2050, most carbon currently stored in UK peatlands will be at risk of loss, and that this risk is aggravated considerably by 2080.

Thinking ahead to 2022 could you do more for waders on your farm?

By Rory Kennedy, Director Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

The Game & Wildlife Scottish Demonstration Farm at Auchnerran on Deeside is not a nature reserve, but we take great pride in being working conservationists. Auchnerran is first and foremost a working sheep farm, operating just as many other similar farms, with a typical small sustainable wild game shoot as well. We use an ‘adaptive management’ approach, monitoring our biodiversity and ecosystem services to see how they respond to our activities (eg farming, habitat management, predator control). We then adapt to minimise negative impacts and maximise the positives, whilst maintaining the farm’s productivity. Our aim is to produce a biodiversity net gain.

What does this mean in practice? We take some very simple steps to get the most out of the farm for our sheep flock, whilst also introducing measures that should be positive for increasing biodiversity. So, for example, we lime and fertilise some of our grass to make it the best it can be. We operate diligently at all times, minimising our impacts via sensitive vehicle use and late rolling and cutting of silage fields. This importantly allows

time in spring for our hare and nationally important wader populations to breed. Would this work on your farm, especially should waders be attempting to use your ground at nesting time?

We also embrace those areas of the farm that are less important from an agricultural perspective and offer more opportunities for maximizing natural capital. The incentive of a small, sustainable shoot of wild game motivates us to plant pollen and nectar rich cover crops for bees and other insects. We also ensure that farmland birds are fed from winter into spring and carry out the legal control of crows, rats, foxes and stoats, especially during the spring and summer so that the ground breeding animals have greater opportunity to do well. We also maintain a number of wetland areas for their benefit to plant life, aquatic insects, reptiles and birds. Many will have seen the trials of Jeremy Clarkson creating a new pond on Clarkson’s Farm and at Auchnerran these natural features add an important resource to an already species-rich environment.

But we would like it to be still richer.

Simple steps - and nothing as drastic as an alternative, wilder, approach to conservation often advocated today which is not to intervene at all. Some species at Auchnerran may benefit in the short term from this, but equally certain would be the demise of others – including our waders.

In our view, the adaptive management approach is the best way to tackle conservation challenges at Auchnerran. It is important on any farm – as we do at Auchnerran – to study what is or isn’t effective and allow a balance between species; something that is equally important for those which are nationally vulnerable as for those which are already successful. As a farming enterprise, we have also undertaken a carbon audit and a natural capital assessment providing us with essential information and data on which to base our future planning for the farm.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust can provide farm and shoot biodiversity assessments and advise how to achieve biodiversity net gain. Talk to the GWCT Advisory Service tel: 01738 551511 or e: scottishhq@ gwct.org.uk

forestry Different types of wood We spoke to acclaimed Chainsaw Carver Sam Bowsher, who talked us through the pros and cons of working with various timbers.

According to Sam one of the most important things to consider when it comes to Chainsaw Carving is what kind of wood to use.

Every carver has their own preference but for this carver his favourite is Western Red Cedar, which is native to North America. “I love Western Red because it cuts nicely and quickly, the natural wood is beautiful, it smells amazing, and it is a very durable wood without any added chemicals. Unfortunately, it’s not a very common wood to find for sale in Scotland”.

A more commonly found timber that Sam recommends is softwood Douglas Fir: “I find it holds detail really nicely, and I like the colours in the natural timber, I find it holds edges and shadows really well.”

The wood Sam most commonly carves his sculptures from is Sitka Spruce, simply because “there is an abundance of it in Scotland and it grows fairly big. The downside to Sitka is it does take work to make it durable, meaning I apply multiple coats of wood preserver to each piece I make from it. Having said this, I like how it carves and I now have plenty experience working with it”.

And what of hardwoods? “I imagine people expect me to list hardwoods, yet all my choices have been softwoods. This is

simply because softwood is common in Scotland. For instance, people based in say Manchester may have Oak on their list because it’s readily available to them.”

“If I carve something that’s going to be delicate, I do use a strong timber. When I carve Roe Deer Bucks, I make their antlers from Oak as the tines point in different directions across the grain and would be too delicate if carved from a softwood.”

Despite the current demand for Timber in general, Sam says there are some woods that he avoids altogether: “Generally, what makes timber not so good is its durability.

I apply preserver to nearly all my carvings to give them a helping hand, but there’s some wood I avoid carving purely to their lack of durability when outside. This includes Beech, Ash and Lime to name a few.”

You can choose any wood type you like, but when it comes to carving timber, for Sam it’s the fresher the better: “the fresher the timber I carve, the easier it is, on myself and on my tools. As with all timber, as it dries it becomes harder and harder. I tend to buy timber in loads that I know will still be okay to carve in months to come”.

Sam’s expertise comes after catching the carving bug from his dad celebrated carver “Chainsaw Pete”. Sam gave up work as a welder and threw himself into chainsaw carving as his fulltime occupation. Since then, he has been running a successful chainsaw carving business, completing

commissions for sculptures, and been competing in competitions up and down the country. If you’d like to see some of Sam’s finished

sculptures or enquire about a piece of your own, you can do so by visiting “Sam Bowsher Chainsaw Carving” on Facebook.

Winners in Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2021 Tilhill is celebrating after winning the best New Commercial Wood in the Quality Timber Awards category at the 2021 Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards which recognise excellence in forests, woodlands and forestrelated projects across Scotland.

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The winning property, Larriston, located in Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders is managed by our Central Border’s Team.

Jason Sinden of Gresham House, spoke of the Award on behalf of the owner Mrs J C Hands, and

Forest Manager, Andrew Fisher represented Tilhill.

Larriston is a 560 hectare property planted during 2016 and 2017. In total the planting used 1.3 million trees and incorporated 80,000 broadleaves and 127

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ha (c. 340,000) of Vegetatively propagated Sitka spruce. These trees were specially targeted to the better soils, where browsing pressures (from neighbouring mature forests) are lesser. This ensured the best was made of the (Continued on page 98)

forestry

Helping crofters grow trees

By Lyn White, Forestry and Farming Development Officer.

more sensitive planting stock. The owner’s objective was to establish a productive woodland, with the right species on the right soil to maximise timber production and sequester carbon. Within this broad objective, every effort was made to minimise or offset adverse impacts on the archaeological, landscape, ecological and hydrological resources of the site.

Judges at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards said of the Larriston entry: “Wow is probably the best word to describe our [the judges’] feelings about this woodland. The scheme represents professional commercial forestry at its absolute best. It is rare to see schemes of this size coming in and the commitment to deliver it in the way it has been done is outstanding.

The judges were extremely impressed by the local manager, Andrew Fisher, who had gone above and beyond to deliver this scheme.”

“It was clear that a huge amount of professional time and effort has gone into the design and delivery of this large scheme.

The judges felt every aspect of the scheme had been considered carefully and consulted upon. This is one of the largest coniferous plantations created in recent years and is unashamedly focused on high quality timber production.

Tilhill’s Forestry Director, David Edwards said of the win: “I am absolutely delighted that Tilhill

has once again been announced as winners at the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards. I am extremely proud of the hard work and effort that has been put into both the winning properties on behalf of our clients. Congratulations to everyone involved and in particular, Andrew Fisher as Larriston’s Forest Manager.”

Angela Douglas, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, the independent charity that runs the annual Awards programme in an impressive partnership with 18 organisations, said: “The strength of the awards depends on maintaining very high standards and recognising entries that truly deserve the title ‘finest woods’.

“After the Covid cancellation in 2020, I’m delighted we have been able to bounce back with such a high-quality programme - and I would especially like to thank our 23 volunteer judges who put in so much work in difficult circumstances to ensure the quality standard was maintained.

“The breadth and variety of entries this year goes to show that trees, woods and forests are valued and enjoyed by as well as providing all sorts of benefits for everyone all over Scotland. The future looks very secure in the next generation’s hands.”

For more information please visit: www.sfwa.co.uk

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Many people might think that Scottish Forestry is mostly involved in funding large woodland creation projects – but that’s not the case.

In fact, around 80 per cent of recent schemes that we awarded forestry grants to are for smaller scale woodland projects – and this includes crofters.

All tree planting projects, both large and small, all have an important part to play in helping Scotland tackle climate change and reach its goal of NetZero by 2045.

This is certainly very important as the World’s leaders work together at COP26 to make progress in tackling global climate issues.

When the Integrating Trees Network was launched earlier this year, there was a great response from the crofting community.

Crofters were in touch wanting to know more about how they can help develop the network and how tree planting can help their business.

Already, two Tea and Trees with Crofters events have taken place and both

have been well attended.

The main aim of the online events was to promote a relaxed opportunity for informal discussion about tree planting on crofts.

The format has been a success and through the events we’ve heard all about the challenges crofters face with tree planting, but also how they overcame them.

It has been great to have special guests involved too.

Both Iona Hyde, who works for the Woodland Trust on the Croft Woodland Project, and Andrew Hall, a Shetland crofter, have both been able to give practical help and experience.

What was very useful too was getting crofters to speak about their initial reasons for integrating trees into their crofts. We heard much about the species that were chosen and why, the creation of micro climates and grazing opportunities, and why different types of soil makes a big difference.

Other topical issues that were explored included funding and the paperwork involved, growing fruit trees and the use of fencing.

A further project round is planned for Autumn 2021, to register your interest in the assessments contact virginia. hardenscott@forestry.gov.scot.

finance More than half of Scottish farmers now have a Succession Plan in place – highest rate in the UK The number of Scottish farms with succession plans in place has shot up significantly in the past year amid huge changes to the industry, according to new research by leading rural insurer NFU Mutual.

More than half (51.5%) now have a formal plan for how they’re going to hand the farm on to the next generation, increasing from just a third (33.1%) in 2020, findings from an extensive survey of 1,652 farmers across the UK has shown.

Scottish farms are more likely to have succession plans in place than any other area in the UK, and this rise comes while UK farming is undergoing big changes, with the Scottish government starting to develop their own national agricultural policy to replace the EU’s.

Even more encouragingly, the number of farms who don’t think succession planning is relevant to their farm has dramatically decreased from 49% to 33%.

However, 48.5% of Scottish farmers still don’t have a plan.

Around a third of Scottish farmers still don’t think it’s relevant to them but 15.5% agree that a succession plan is important for their farm but haven’t got round to setting one up yet.

With British farming currently undergoing huge financial transition, there has arguably never been a more critical time to discuss how the farm will be handed on.

Jim McLaren, Chairman of NFU Mutual and former president of NFU Scotland, said: “As a farmer myself, I know first-hand that farming isn’t just a job, but a way of life. Farms often involve the whole family and span generations. So when you think about the future of your farm, it’s not just a question of land and assets; the attachment that you and your family have to your farming lifestyle often runs much deeper than that.

These considerations can make it complicated to plan for the future of the farm, especially when it comes to handing over the reins to the next generation.

“There is currently plenty for farmers to contend with - from Brexit to Covid, to subsidies and rising costs. Confronting these challenges often leaves little time for planning for the future. However, it is also true that events such as the Covid pandemic can shine a muchneeded spotlight on the need to plan for the future. Now, more than ever, it’s essential to ensure your farm and your finances are in order.”

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THEMONEYMAN

Forestry and Succession

By Ian Craig The forestry market has been buoyant for a number of years and shows no sign of slowing down. Demand continues to outstrip supply and the Governments in all parts of the UK have set ambitious tree planting targets to try and address this issue.

So why is investing in forestry so beneficial?

Apart from the environmental benefits we can gain from trees, there are also significant tax benefits, not least of which are the inheritance tax advantages available from investing in commercially managed forestry.

Once a sum has been invested in forestry for a period of 2 years, this will qualify for Business Property Relief (BPR) giving the value of the investment complete relief from inheritance tax.

This means on the death of the owner the beneficiaries will receive the full value of the investment, with no tax suffered. Compare this to an investment in the stock market which could be subject to 40% inheritance tax, leaving only 60% of the value for the beneficiaries and you can see why forestry has become such a key part of succession planning.

The value of commercially managed forestry would have to drop by 40% before the Estate were worse off and given recent trends it doesn’t

Ian Craig, Partner at Azets

seem likely that this will happen any time soon.

Forestry can also be extremely useful as a replacement asset for BPR purposes.

Consider the position where a successful entrepreneur has sold their business, which they have owned for many years, generating significant cash for the shares they held. If those shares qualified for BPR then the individual’s inheritance tax liability has changed from 0% to 40% in an instant, as cash does not qualify for BPR. The replacement property provisions allow the entrepreneur to reinvest the cash proceeds they have received into a further BPR qualifying asset, such as forestry, and effectively preserve the BPR qualifying years which had built up on the original asset. On reinvestment into forestry, there will be no need to build up a further two year qualifying period, and the forestry will be eligible for full BPR from the date of investment.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this contact Partner, Ian Craig on 01738 441 888 or email ian.craig@azets.co.uk.

Ian is a Partner at Azets, accounting, tax, audit, advisory and business services group.

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BOOK SERIALISATION

The Cairngorms Shelter from the storm

Commandos, criminals, and even a Prime Minister – all have slept underneath a 1300-tonne rock in the heart of the Cairngorms. In this concluding extract from our exclusive serialization of his book, Patrick Baker finds out what he’s been missing

It made reaching the Saddle, the 800m-high pass into the Loch Avon Basin, feel as though I was accessing a protected gateway, a kind of guarded entry-point into the heart of the Cairngorms.

On the southern side of the Saddle, the land slipped away

steeply towards Loch Avon, which, even in the half-light, resonated with colour. Indented on the shoreline were golden crescents; small half-moon beaches with bleached yellow sands and water gleaming in deepening shades of blue.

Picture: Will Boyd Wallis

Close to dusk, I eventually found my way out of Strath Nethy.

The hours spent walking in the boggy confines of the glen had felt oppressive, at times even dispiriting, but I was pleased to have got through such an enshrouded portal to the range.

Shelter Stone Crag

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At the head of the glen I could make out the silhouette of the Sticil. Better known as the Shelter Stone Crag, the colossal tooth-shaped cliff face served as a waymark for my destination.

At over 250 metres high, the Sticil is so singularly large it

BOOK SERIALISATION is easily the most impressive rock feature in the Cairngorms, if not in Britain. The cliffs are so imposing up close that for ‘a climber standing boggleeyed below its concave prow,’ the climber and writer Greg Strange observed, ‘the upper rocks appear to tilt over the vertical, an illusion which compounds the impression of impregnability.’ Below the crag, somewhere in the scattering of gargantuan rocks, I would find the Shelter Stone cave.

It was late when I reached the wide clearing at the western end of Glen Avon. I was tired and cold from the hard miles that I had covered, and I hoped for company at the shelter. I clambered in darkness among the maze of oversized boulders searching for the cave and its entrance, trying to recall the various descriptions I had read of it.

‘The Shelter Stone,’ wrote Ian Thomson, ‘is the largest of the many boulders which lie, scattered over a wide area, at the base of the Shelter Stone Crag from which they tumbled in one or more gigantic rock falls. The enormous Shelter Stone boulder itself came to rest on four smaller boulders, thus forming a roomy chamber underneath, offering sufficient space for seven or so in reasonable comfort, while in an emergency up to thirty could huddle together safe within its confines. The entrance, which faces north-north-east, is narrow and low but this makes for less draught and the shelter has been made fairly windtight by packing stones, sods and heather into the chinks in its defences. The roof of the howff slopes upwards towards the back so that one can stand almost erect in that part of shelter, a pleasure not permitted nearer to the doorway. A liberal bedding of heather makes for

considerable comfort during the long hours of darkness within.’

I had expected to hear voices or be drawn by the glow of torchlight. Instead the cave was unoccupied. The entrance was dark and tucked below what had to be the largest single boulder I have ever seen: a massive, flat-fronted rock the height of a house. I had to remove my rucksack and stoop low to get in. I scanned the interior with my head-torch, staying low for fear of banging my head. The air inside was cold and my breath steamed in the thin cone of torch light.

It was here that the oldest surviving climbing club in Scotland was formed in 1887 The narrow entranceway opened up into a surprisingly large space within. Further, darker recesses and chambers were visible at the back of the cave. The beam of my torch picked out various random objects: a collapsible camping stool; burnt-out candles; old sleeping mats; a lighter and the inevitable odd sock. Despite the rain, the place was completely dry. At the back of the shelter I was able to stand almost fully upright and I laid out my sleeping bag and quickly piled on all the clothes I had with me.

It felt strange to be settling down for the night with a boulder of such immense weight – 1,361 tonnes, according to one calculation – directly above me. I felt reassured though, by knowing that it has been in use for centuries. It was described as far back as 1794 in the Statistical Account as a place of sanctuary for ‘freebooters’, with enough space to shelter eighteen armed men. During the Second World War, the Shelter Stone was used frequently by Commando parties training in the range,

and the British Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, had also once spent a night in the cave, as have a whole host of climbing luminaries over the years.

More than once, however, the cave has also been associated with misfortune. On 9 June 1930, a student from London, who had stayed the night in the Shelter Stone, died the next day after collapsing from fatigue on Ben Macdui. Tragically, in the case of Alistair Mackenzie and Duncan Ferrier who perished in a storm on Cairn Gorm in January 1933, it was their decision to leave the safety of the Shelter in a fierce blizzard that ultimately cost them their lives.

Few other places in Britain can claim to have such a rich mountaineering heritage. It was here at the Shelter Stone that the oldest surviving climbing club in Scotland was formed in 1887.

The Cairngorm Club came into existence the day after Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Six hillwalking enthusiasts from Aberdeen who had gathered to commemorate the occasion by releasing fireworks from the summit of Ben Macdui, ‘spontaneously and unanimously agreed’, the following day, by the banks of Loch Avon ‘to form the Cairngorm Club’, resolving to open their ranks ‘to the admission of men and women of heroic spirit, and possessed of souls open to the influences of nature pure and simple as displayed among our loftiest mountains.’

Sleep was difficult in the cave.

A draught flowed continuously from the entranceway and I struggled in vain to get warm and was awoken intermittently by the scuttling of rodents.

At one point, I came to at the sound of rockfall outside. The noise was terrific. A thunderous metallic report, followed briefly by silence, then milliseconds

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later, an even louder crack as the rock ricocheted down the hillside past me.

At dawn, a gas-blue light filled the cave and I was able to make out the interior of the chamber: the smooth granite underside of the giant boulder above me and the pinpricks of daylight showing through gaps in the shelter’s makeshift walls.

The hard floor and the constant shivering had left my muscles stiff and painful, but I felt elated by the experience. I had slept in a cave! It seemed an inherently wilder way to have stayed outdoors than to have simply pitched camp. It was also thrilling to have stayed somewhere of such antiquity. It is impossible to know exactly how long the Shelter Stone has been in its current position; centuries certainly, possibly millennia, perhaps even predating the Neolithic. I doubted that I could have slept anywhere with a more historic series of inhabitants.

Near the entranceway I flicked through the pages of the visitors’ book, reading about some of the shelter’s more recent guests: a mix of climbers and hillwalkers mainly, attempting routes on some of the big walls nearby or simply passing through. Outside, morning was beginning to filter into the glen.

I sat on some nearby rocks, my legs drawn up to my chest to keep warm, and ate breakfast.

This is an edited extract from The Cairngorms: A Secret History by Patrick Baker (Birlinn, £9.99pbk). Readers can buy it and/or Unremembered Places: Exploring Scotland’s Wild Histories, also by Patrick Baker (Birlinn, £14.99 hbk), with 15% off while stocks last. Both free p&p in the UK. To order, phone 0845 370 0067 or log on to www.birlinn. co.uk . Quote code CAIRNFS2020.

Offer ends 31 December 2021.

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Beatha an eilean Mìneachadh Taghaidhean Coimisean na Croitearachd Is e bliadhna taghaidh a th’ ann an 2022 do Choimisean na Croitearachd, far am bi cothrom aig croitearan air sia Coimiseanairean a thaghadh airson suidhe air Bòrd a’ Choimisein.

Mar a tha le mòran ghnothaichean co-cheangailte ri Croitearachd, faodaidh am pròiseas a bhith a’ coimhead toinnte, ach gabhaidh na dìomhaireachdan sin am fuasgladh le beagan mìneachaidh.

Bhòtairean Gus bhòtadh ann an taghaidhean Coimisean na Croitearachd a tha ri teachd sa Mhàrt 2022, feumaidh luchd-bhòtaidh a bhith còrr air 16 bliadhna a dh’aois, le an ainm clàraichte ann an clàr taghaidh na Croitearachd ochd seachdainean ro latha an taghaidh agus an ainm a bhith sìos mar an croitear clàraichte.

Gus a bhith nad chroitear clàraichte, feumaidh d’ ainm a bhith air an liosta mar an neachgabhail no an neach-seilbh sa chlàr Chroitean. Chan eil ach aon bhòt mu choinneamh gach croit, mar sin bu chòir do chroitearan aontachadh a dh’aithghearr cò a thèid ainmeachadh mar bhòtair san taghadh agus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil fios aig Coimisean na Croitearachd air ainm an neach sin.

Tha e cudromach bruidhinn ri agus aontachadh leis an teaghlach agad no le luchd-earrannan cò a thèid ainmeachadh mar bhòtair sna taghaidhean sin.

Dh’fhaodadh gum bi croitean aig cuid de chroitearan ann am barrachd na aon roinn-taghaidh, 102

ach cha bhi aca ach aon bhòt a bhios ceangailte ris an roinntaghaidh sa bheil iad a’ còmhnaidh.

Tagraichean Nam bu mhath leat seasamh mar thagraiche airson Bòrd Coimisean na Croitearachd, feumaidh tu a bhith còrr air 16 bliadhna a dh’aois agus slattomhais no dhà a choileanadh; gu bheil thu nad chroitear clàraichte san sgìre croitearachd do am bu mhath leat a bhith air do thaghadh no gu bheil thu air d’ ainmeachadh le croitear clàraichte san sgìre sin gu bhith air do chur air adhart airson an taghaidh.

An Taghadh Tha taghaidhean gan cumail gach còig bliadhna anns na sia roinnean-taghaidh croitearachd, agus is iad sin: Sealtainn, Arcaibh is Gallaibh, a’ Ghàidhealtachd an Ear, na h-Eileanan Siar, a’ Ghàidhealtachd an Iar agus IarDheas na Gàidhealtachd. Tha na taghaidhean dèante tro thaghadh sa phost, bidh dà sheachdain agad airson bhòtadh agus do phàipear taghaidh a thilleadh gu seòladh saorphost. Am-bliadhna,

thèid an taghadh a chunntadh air an 18mh Màrt 2022.

uair sin air an taghadh gu dreuchd Coimiseanair.

Am Pròiseas Bhòtaidh Tha taghadh Coimisean na Croitearachd a’ cleachdadh an t-siostam Bhòt Eile gus Coimiseanairean a thaghadh. Tha seo a’ ciallachadh gu bheil thu a’ bhòtadh a rèir cò an tagraiche as fheàrr leat, tha thu a’ cur 1 sa bhogsa ri taobh do chiad roghainn, agus an uair sin mas math leat faodaidh tu leantainn ort le àireamhan ann an òrdugh do roghainn mu choinneamh nan tagraicheran eile. Faodaidh tu an àireamh de thagraichean agus a thogras tu a chomharrachadh.

Airson a thaghadh, feumaidh tagraiche barrachd na leth na h-àireimh iomlan de bhòtaichean fhaighinn. Mura faigh aon neach de na tagraichean còrr air leth nam bhòtaichean iomlan a chaidh a chur, tha an tagraiche leis an àireamh as lugha ga thoirt às an taghadh agus an roghainn bhòtaichean aca air an cur ri àireamh iomlan nan tagraichean eile. Tha am pròiseas sin air a dhèanamh a-rithist agus a-rithist gus a bheil leth nam bhòtaichean aig a’ char as lugha aig aon tagraiche, agus tha iad an

An Coimisean Aon uair ’s gu bheil na sia buill ùra air an taghadh chun a’ Choimisein, tha iad nan Coimiseanairean do dh’Alba air fad agus chan ann dìreach don roinn-taghaidh bho an deach an taghadh. Bidh iad còmhla ri trì Coimiseanairean eile a tha air an taghadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba.

Tha na naoi Coimiseanairean a’ suidhe mar Bhòrd gus poileasaidhean a stèidheachadh agus co-dhùnadh air tagraidhean a tha toinnte. Bidh Coimiseanairean a’ com-pàirteachadh cuideachd ann an àireamh de bhuidhnean obrach a thaobh poileasaidh air an taobh a-staigh còmhla ri àrdluchd-obrach a’ Choimisein. Bidh na buidhnean sin a’ leasachadh bheachdan poileasaidh is freagairtean do bhuidhnean compàirteach mu cho-chomhairlean aig a bheil buaidh air croitearachd san àm ri teachd.

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Cuir thu fhèin air adhart airson 2022 Tha Croitearachd san àm ri teachd an urra ri croitearan a thighinn air adhart agus a bhith nam pàirt den Choimisean.

Feumaidh Bòrd eadar-mheasgte a bhith againn de chroitearan gnìomhach is fiosraichte a nì strì airson poileasaidh Croitearachd ath-leasachadh agus atheagrachadh mu choinneamh an ama ri teachd. Gus tuilleadh fhaighinn a-mach, cuiribh fios gu Coimisean na Croitearachd aig www.crofting.gov.scot

Can I say that we are back to normal? Normal isn’t a state I usually subscribe to but during 2020 and 2021, I wished for normality to resume. We are still wearing masks in public places and if you pay any attention to the news, radio or read newspapers you’ll know more than me about vaccine passports introduced in early October. No nightclubs or far flung holidays for me, I’m staying here in bonny Scotland, thank you very much.

As our landscape changed from green to yellow ochres and browns, the shooting season got into full swing with dog and gun, and if you are one of the lucky ones, you’ll be kept busy until 1st February 2022. Organised shoots are a fantastic way to enjoy the fresh air of the Scottish countryside in likeminded company, especially at this time of year when the weather is not in its extreme winter phase.

The Stag season is drawing to a close (at the time of writing), and thankfully more guests from further-afield have been able to travel to Scotland to take part. The annual rut started slowly in this neck of the woods, stags started to rut, brought on by the cooler weather, in late September.

We heard some half-hearted roars mid-September and during the last week we watched a few, big, mature

by Linda Mellor

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE stags guarding their group of hinds. For countryside residents and rural workers, these are the signs of the seasons progressing into the colder, snowy months where outdoor work is met head-on by the weather. It’s time to dig out the winter wardrobe, and switch on the heating (some of the more determined, hardy souls will be slinging on an extra jumper or two, and resisting the winter heating switch on for as long as possible).

One of the positives to have come out of the pandemic is having time to think and evaluate what you do, and how you do it. One aspect that’s concerned me has been safety in the countryside. Sadly, the topic of countryside safety only makes the news headlines when there has been a tragic

accident.

Thankfully, health and safety has come a long way in the last couple of decades, attending courses and gaining qualifications are standard procedures in the workplace.

It is essential we are all competent, safe, and able to deal with situations and undertake risk-assessments.

Gaining qualifications is nothing new though, we take lessons and sit a driving test before we can drive legally on the roads. Those with my life experience (aka age) will recall driving without a seat belt. We have to prove we are stable characters, be vetted, and invite the police into our homes before we are allowed to own a firearm or shotgun.

There are many pieces of equipment and a wide variety of vehicles used in the countryside. In late September, I attended my first ATV training course. I had a couple of seasons of experience in driving a Argocat and wanted to expand my knowledge and ensure I was as safe a driver as possible. The course was conducted over one day, and it started with an introduction and some shocking facts about the number of ATV accidents and deaths in the Scottish countryside. After a few hours of covering safe working practice, the small group headed out to a field to learn about daily checks, pre-checks and identifying

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and reporting faults, we also undertook a range of practical driving challenges and controlling the Argocat.

After an al fresco lunch in the autumn sunshine, we headed out to a hilly location.

After the morning’s safety talk by our instructor, Jamie Galbraith, I felt better equipped to deal with the steep slopes and challenging terrain. One of the many valuable things the course taught me was to make safe, informed decisions about traversing the landscape. We made our way up and down hills, backwards, forwards, carried out risk-assessments and planned our routes. As the only woman on the course, I found it very interesting to witness the differing logic and approaches to obstacles between male and female.

After we dodged a sudden downpour and a drop in temperatures, we finished the group practical driving session and headed back to the well-ventilated location of the estate workshop (note the lack of the word ‘warmth’) to complete our course with a short written test. It was a great day, and not only will I have furthered my knowledge and experience of ATC driving, I will be a safer driver with a much bigger awareness.

For more information on course visit Rural Services Scotland http://www. scotlandfarmer.co.uk/ 103

THE BOOK SHELF Coasts & Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook

Christopher Trotter, co-author of the classic cookbooks The Whole Cow and The Whole Hog provided a focus for this year’s Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight with his new book, Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook, which was launched at Welch’s Fishmongers in Newhaven as part of Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight.

The book contains over 50 recipes using Christopher’s beloved native Scottish and British seafood as well as guides on choosing and preparing fish, and how to buy the freshest produce.

Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook - Christopher’s tenth book – cleverly combines recipes for fish by their season with local ingredients which are also at their seasonal best. There are recipes for the more familiar cod, sole and haddock, but Christopher is an ardent supporter of less wellused varieties such as megrim, hake and sea cat.

In addition to the recipes, Christopher encourages readers to incorporate more native British seafood into their diet as a delicious, healthy and sustainable source of protein and to support the nation’s fishing industry whose markets have been significantly disrupted by Brexit.

Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook was produced with support from Native Hebridean Salmon.

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Ahead of the publication of Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook and Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight 2021, Christopher Trotter said: “This book was motivated by three converging factors: our local fishermen need a market now that it is more difficult to export to Europe.

“We should be eating more fish landed from our own waters – the top five fish consumed in the UK are tuna (which isn’t even from British waters!), Pacific prawns, haddock, sole and salmon, whereas the top five landed by weight are mackerel, herring, langoustine, haddock and cod.”

“2020/21 is also Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, a celebration of Scotland’s famous coastline and inland salt and fresh water bodies.”

Su Cox, Communications and Business Development Director at The Scottish Salmon Company, said: “We’re delighted to support Christopher Trotter’s ‘Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook’, which inspires readers to consider using more native British seafood, such as our Native Hebridean Salmon.

“The creativity and simplicity of the recipes show there are easy ways to cook outstanding meals quickly and from fresh fish sourced from within a few 100 miles.”

Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook is available from your local fishmonger, Waterstone’s or via www.christophertrotter.co.uk.

Blood and Gold

A Journey of Shadows by Mara Menzies

This is a book that you won’t be expecting. But it is a book that you need – indeed that we all need. It is a book that will inspire you, exhaust you, move you, uplift you and fill you with hope for Scotland’s future. It is a generous book that offers breathing room to a difficult subject and approaches it with a freshness that will surprise.

This is a book that we have truly never seen before.

Yes, we’re bringing you something quite different this month. Blood and Gold: A Journey of Shadows is a deeply inspiring first novel employing Scottish and Kenyan storytelling traditions to explore racism in Scotland, the legacy of colonialism and the problems faced by a young woman growing up black in a white world. It is also the story of an older generation growing up female, growing bravely, in a community where women were not encouraged to learn and explore.

It is a book that requires you and I, as readers here in Scotland, to consider and appreciate who we are as individuals, who we can become and how as a nation we can grow. It will break open your heart and your mind.

The author, the powerful Edinburgh-based performance artist Mara Menzies, has created a skilful blend of moving narrative, myth and history,

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woven together to create a powerful new platform from which to discuss race. Her writing does not shout but it does cry out – eloquently – as she brings truth and experience through storytelling and lays out concepts of justice and injustice in fantastical prose, inviting us to reflect and to consider the world anew. Her stories are those of a dying mother passing knowledge and understanding to her daughter and that young girl embarking on an incredible journey. As she learns about her African ancestry, Jeda discovers the pain suffered by those who went before her and their loss and sacrifice. She struggles to understand the complexity of worlds torn apart by greed and hatred, of beauty spoiled and a darkness that threatens across the world. But ultimately Mara Menzies tells us a story of sacrifice across generations, pride, love, empowerment and belonging. And hope.

The book is handsome, the cover boasting an illustration by Edinburgh artist Eri Griffin. It is a book to share and to gift. And to read.

The future belongs to brave writers and thinkers. Mara Menzies is one of those.

Blood and Gold: A Journey of Shadows by Mara Menzies is published by Birlinn Ltd. £12.99.

Pot-roasted Goat with Chanterelles

By Wendy Barrie

Ingredients: 1½kg goat leg, weight bone-in

A medium bowlful of chanterelles

Summer Harvest rapeseed oil

50g butter

Blackthorn Sea Salt

½ an apple per person

Freshly milled pepper

3 medium potatoes per person

A generous scrunch of dried marjoram

(e.g. Arran Victory)

1-2tsps runny Scottish honey

Redcurrant jelly or lingonsylt

Photograph © Wendy Barrie

Goat generally works well for any lamb or hogget recipes

Method: • Heat a drizzle of oil in pan/casserole on hob. Seal the surface of the meat to caramelise and season with salt & pepper.

• Deglaze pan by adding ½-1L water. Add herbs and place on lid. Simmer gently on the hob or transfer to a medium oven for a couple of hours, checking occasionally to prevent it drying out.

• Prepare chanterelles by brushing lightly to remove any woodland debris – do not wet them. Trim any stalks as required and tear larger fungi in half.

• Prepare potatoes and cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain.

• Towards the end of cooking the goat meat, pre-heat oven to 190°C (unless your meat is already in the oven). Cut apples in half and scoop out centres with a teaspoon. Place on a tray, brush with a little butter and bake until soft but still holding their shape for 15-20 minutes. Depending on the apple variety, some take a shorter cooking time.

• Remove meat from pan/dish and brush with a little honey. Open roast in the oven for 5-10 minutes to set glaze. Set aside to rest in warm place.

• Meanwhile place drained potatoes in the pan juices and reduce the liquor to a thick glaze that will coat the potatoes.

• Whilst the juices are reducing, cook the chanterelles in a frying pan with a generous dollop of butter and season.

• To assemble, set potatoes on heated plates, top with sliced meat, add chanterelles drizzled with butter and half an apple – topped with a spoonful of jelly.

Serves 4 Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife, Wendy Barrie www.wendybarrie.co.uk is a highly respected campaigner for local sustainable food, popular cookery show presenter and food writer.

Founder & Director of award-winning www.scottishfoodguide.scot & www.scottishcheesetrail.com Wendy is Leader in Scotland for Slow Food Ark of Taste & Member of Slow Food Cooks Alliance. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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machinery Seventy five years and counting, for Paterson ATV Paterson ATV will have traded for 75 years next year and are a thirdgeneration family business, owned and managed by Mark Paterson.

Paterson ATV remain one of Scotland’s top Honda dealer as well as Outstanding New Dealer for Polaris – they operate from two branches in Dumfries and Galloway serving the ATV and UTV market.

The business stocks a large range of Genuine Honda and Polaris Parts as well as a range of ATV and UTV Accessories – including Trailers, Snackers and Snow Ploughs.

Paterson ATV would welcome new Trade Accounts and Next Day Nationwide Delivery is available.

Call Emma, Parts Manager on 01556 610 249 option 3 o remail parts@patersonatv.com For all Accessories call Mark on 01556 610 249 option 1.

Wagtail offers safe and versatile hose handling Tramspread has designed and manufactured a new hose handler to help when spreading umbilically. The Tramspread ‘Wagtail’ Hose Humper pivots to both the left and right which enables more accurate hose placing outside tramlines which reduces pipe wear.

“This is the first hose humper we have designed with the ability to pivot the wheel to either side of the tractor. This mechanism reduces damage to

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the crop when spreading because the operator does not have to leave the tramlines when moving the hose,” says Tramspread managing director Terry Baker.

The option to move hose to either side of the tractor also helps the operator to avoid obstacles more easily. “By having the flexibility to position hose on either side of the tractor it makes moving a hose around much quicker and easier,” he adds.

machinery The hydraulic offset and raising the wheel into the transport position is controlled from the tractors spool valves.

A breaking mechanism allows for the wheel to spin freely or be locked in position. “When the Wagtail is raised it also leaves the tractor pick up hitch available for other implements such as trailed hose reeler or pump trailer,” explains Mr Baker.

The Wagtail can be used to move hose widths up to 8 inches making it suitable for most slurry and digestate operations.

“By choosing to use the Wagtail, operators can reduce stress on pipe and couplings. This will also reduce the risk of leaks and spills, making spreading safer, easier for the operator and better for the crop,” he concludes.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out January 2022

New Holland launches new T7 Heavy Duty tractor New Holland Agriculture presented the new flagship T7 Heavy Duty (HD) tractor to the European trade press in a virtual launch event. Under the heading “INTELLIGENT FARMING ALL_WAYS”, the event highlighted the brand’s vision of agriculture 4.0 and its commitment to making the advantages of intelligent farming technologies widely available to farmers.

The new T7 HD maintains the powerful performance, exceptional agility and outstanding versatility that are the hallmark of this tractor and delivers a superior working experience with the brand-new Horizon Ultra cab and next-generation PLM Intelligence features. It is ideal for contractors who need to multi-task

in a variety of field and transport applications, and look for a boost to their comfort, efficiency and productivity.

“We asked our customers what they expected from their

Made in Britain

future tractor and developed the new generation T7 HD based on their demands, and it delivers everything they dreamed of,” says Sean Lennon, New Holland Agriculture

Standard Spec: - Tanalised wooden floor and sides - Aggressive auger beaters - Hydraulic control of floor and XC belt - NEW wider 24” XC belt - Increased auger speed from beaters for greater chopping and mixing

Foster’s range of Forage Boxes come in 3 sizes on farm from under £14k. For feeding clamp silage and additives for beef, dairy or sheep.

Simple to use, easy to maintain.

D750 feeding clamp silage

For a leaflet or more info and advice contact: Sales Tel : 07901 338473 email: sales@fostersalescompany.co.uk website: www.fostersalescompany.co.uk www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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machinery Vice President Europe. “We designed the brand-new Horizon Ultra cab to give them the best working experience with all

the space, comfort, quality finish they asked for, and the quietest cab on the market. On top of this, the next-generation

PLM Intelligence will make it easier for them to access our intelligent farming solutions which deliver substantial added

value in terms of better decision making and accurate execution, boosting their efficiency and profitability.”

JWI Ltd introduces the Westrup CC-2500 into the UK It’s an exciting time for North Yorkshire based JWI Ltd as they supply the first Westrup CC2500 into the UK marketplace - standing at over 4 meters in height this is one of the largest screen cleaners to be manufactured globally.

The impressive CC2500 boasts: • Total Screen area: 60m2 with below possibilities for flow: Flow 1 – pre cleaning: 20m2 sand screen and 40m2 scalping screens.

Flow 2 – fine cleaning: 40m2 sand screens and 20m2 scalping screens.

• Capacity for pre cleaning wheat at 12t/ m2 scalping screen: up to 480t/ hour wheat, 750kg/m3 with moisture content at 18% • Capacity for fine cleaning wheat at 1,2t/ m2 sand screen: Up to 48t/ hour wheat, 750kg/ m3 with moisture content at 15% • Industrial cleaning of wheat at 6,25t/ m2 scalping screen: Up to 250t/ hour

• Capacity for malting barley at 2,2t/m2 sand screen: Up to 88t/ hour Company Director Charles White, “The JWI team are thrilled to be introducing this high capacity pre-cleaner to our customers – the CC-2500 is the largest seed cleaner Westrup can build and it’s capabilities speak for themselves – it’s an exceptional addition to our portfolio and we are looking forward to seeing our customers reap the rewards this machine delivers.”

JWI are the exclusive distributors for Westrup within the UK – a relationship which is valued on both sides as Willem Verbeek, Westrup Sales Manager, explains, “We are very fortunate to have a great distributor network around the world and JWI is a great example of this. It won’t be long before the CC-2500 is making a notable difference to the JWI end customers.”

The new LION 1002 C, folding power harrows The new LION 1002 C series power harrow with a working width of 6.0 metres sees Pöttinger expand its range of folding power harrows. Designed for tractors up to 500 hp, these models are equipped for the toughest jobs, day in and day out. The new LION is available now.

During the development of the new power harrow, special attention has been paid to current and future requirements in terms of durability and strength.

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A strongly dimensioned tine carrier and a high-capacity central gearbox ensure that high driveline torques are transmitted efficiently. Combined with folding coulter rails, this machine is an extremely effective and flexible implement.

The integration of the folding frame has made the machine more compact and optimised weight distribution.

The result is an extremely short and compact power harrow that

is up to 30 cm shorter than any of its competitors. The centre of gravity is now closer to the rear axle and the weight acting on the front axle is noticeably more positive. The 1002 C folds to an outer width of 3.0 metres so that transport on the road is no problem.

The new power harrow is the answer to today’s standard tractor power outputs of up to 500 hp. A newly developed PTO with 2-speed gearbox enables

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a wide speed range. The 1002 C series is designed for PTO speeds between 750 and 1300 rpm. This ensures that the tractor always runs within its optimum performance range. Reliability is enhanced as a result. A highcapacity gearbox housing provides the necessary cooling.

The rotor speeds vary between 320 and 420 rpm.

This ensures perfect working results while reducing fuel consumption. Thanks to its (Continued on page 110)

machinery strongly dimensioned external gearbox, the power harrow is approved for tractor outputs of up to 500 hp. A cam-type clutch on each frame section protects the machine against overload up to 2,200 Nm.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

Subscription details on page 124 Next issue out January 2022

Kuhn adds compact and lightweight option to Venta drill range KUHN has added a new lighter weight and compact drill to

its Venta range of pneumatic seeders.

Available initially as the 3 metre Venta 320, this new

100 series machine is designed for tractors in the 120 to 150 horsepower range. With an 850-litre hopper as standard, the drill has the option of an extension that increases capacity to 1,150 litres.

The Venta 320 can be used in combination with KUHN’s HRB 302, HRB 303 or HR 304 power harrows. In combination, the seed drill is mounted on the power harrow frame, with the seeding bar guided by the roller frame. This means seeding depth is independent of the working depth of the power harrow and excellent ground following is maintained.

Centralised adjustment of depth and pressure makes machine set-up simple and easy.

The seed bar comprises 20 or 24 rows of single disc elements, each with an internal cast iron coulter positioned at the front

(Continued on page 112)

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machinery of the disc. This proven concept provides constant cleaning of the disc whilst ensuring precise placement of seed in the furrow.

Seeding unit pressure of up to 32kg is applied.

The seed blower on the Venta 320 is driven by the tractor hydraulic circuit and is therefore independent of the PTO driving the power harrow. Improved fan design on this drill, with turbine rotation optimised in line with seed size, results in oil requirement being reduced from 35 litres/minute down to 26 litres/minute.

Electrically powered volumetric metering on the drill helps to facilitate a wide operating range of between 1.5 to 430kg/ ha and ensures all seed sizes are handled with precision. With the QS2 control unit, seed rate can be adjusted from the tractor cab.

Calibration is easily accessible and simple to carry out.

Vaderstad launches the Spirit 600c inline combination drill

Väderstad has launched the Spirit 600C InLine combination high capacity seed drill for the UK market, complimenting

The Air Compressor and Pressure Washer Specialists

the Nordic and Fix fertiliser application systems already in the Spirit range. The InLineversion of Spirit places a low fertiliser rate together with the seed in the seed furrow, providing the plant quicker nutrient uptake and shortening the time of emergence.

Separated airflow ensures fertiliser is distributed independently from the seed.

The intensity of the airflow is easily adjusted, ensuring that both the seeds and fertiliser are placed with optimal precision.

The InLine system is highly beneficial when working with moderate levels of fertilisers.

The fertiliser is metered with the Fenix electric metering system, which is the same unit used for the seed metering. It is both highly precise and noncorrosive. Split cells in the rotor and an angled exit from the metering unit, efficiently prevents any pulsing and ensures that all plants have the exact same access to fertiliser.

The new Väderstad Spirit 600C Inline is available now.

McCormick X7 Short Wheelbase brings power, comfort and versatility Manufacturers and suppliers, W Bateman & Co has an enviable reputation for manufacturing and supplying both domestic and industrial pressure washers and air compressors.

Nationwide DELIVERY on all orders

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01772 862948

email: sales@bateman-sellarc.co.uk www.bateman-sellarc.co.uk

McCormick’s big development on show at the recent Eima International was the X7 range in the new Short Wheelbase (SWB) versions. These confirm and renew the qualities of performance, technology, design, comfort and efficiency

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that are a must for the brand of the Argo Tractors group.

The X7 SWB range was presented in Bologna with new Stage V compliant engines thanks to the HI-eSCR2 (DOC+SCRoF) exhaust gas treatment system.

The tractors are fitted with the (Continued on page 114)

machinery new FTP NEF 45, 16-valve, 4.5-litre 4-cylinder engines and FTP NEF 67, 24-valve, 6.7-litre 6-cylinder engines with Turbo Intercooler and Common Rail electronic injection.

Models in the range include: X7.4 P6-Drive, available in X7.417 with 165hp and X7.418 with up to 175hp; X7.6 P6-Drive, available in X7.617 (165hp) and X7.618 (175hp) with 6 cylinders; X7 VT-Drive with 4 or 6 cylinders, available as X7.418 and X7.618, both capable of delivering up to 175hp thanks to the Power Plus system.

The innovative part of the engines lies in the fuel injection strategy, which leads to increased responsiveness, lower fuel consumption and improved emissions in all forms of movement. The engine installation is designed to have a wheelbase of 2,651mm for the 4-cylinder engine, offering greater stability during field and front loader operations, while

maintaining manoeuvrability and versatility.

In terms of appearance, changes have been made to the 3,500kg front hitch, which improves design and operator visibility. Also, at the front of

the tractor is the new one-piece bonnet, in line with the new McCormick family feeling, with a 90° opening angle for better and more immediate access, also for maintenance work. Also included is the Cooling Matrix

system, which facilitates access to the radiators for easy cleaning, making it the top solution in its class. The cab, adapted from the high-end range, features a roof with 12 LED lights that provide 360° visibility at night.

ACGO launches competition for battery customers, with chance to win £350/€350 spend

AGCO customers based in the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) who purchase Genuine AGCO Parts batteries during October and November will be eligible to enter an online competition, with prizes including £350/€350 to spend with a selected AGCO dealer.

The competition is designed to remind customers of the importance and benefit of using Genuine AGCO Parts batteries for their Massey Ferguson, Valtra and Fendt tractors and combine harvesters.

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Entrants could win one of three prizes: 1. £350/€350 to spend with a selected AGCO dealer.

2.

A fully-stocked DeWalt toolkit worth £250/€250.

3. £100/€100 to spend on workwear from AGCO’s approved clothing supplier, Castle Clothing (UK) or LMA Clothing (ROI).

Rebecca Keeley, AGCO’s Complementary Product Manager for UK & Ireland, saidais to

make use of Genuine AGCO Parts and not fall victim to cheaper, less efficient brands that end up being more costly in the long-run.”

UK and ROI customers can enter AGCO’s competition until 30 November 2021 by purchasing any Genuine AGCO Parts batteries from participating approved Massey Ferguson, Fendt or Valtra dealers. Available batteries are for customer machines as well as for a range of automotive,

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commercial and industrial applications. Each battery unit will be stickered with a QR code and web link, leading through to an online form. Customers may submit one entry only – duplicate entries will be removed before winners are selected. Proof of purchase may be requested from winners. The competition is combined across all three AGCO brands (Massey Ferguson, Valtra and Fendt), with one set of prizewinners across the board.

machinery Massey Ferguson (AGCO) Announces Further Brand Re-alignment Massey Ferguson has agreed changes with existing dealer partners in Scotland on the distribution of the Valtra and Massey Ferguson brands.

These changes support AGCO’s long-term strategy driving brand exclusivity, full-line responsibility, and appropriate brand bundling to support the growth of each brand.

Under these changes, Scot Agri Limited becomes an exclusive Massey Ferguson dealer for the Lothian and Borders area with outlets in Haddington and Kelso complementing their existing Massey Ferguson outlets in Forfar, Huntly and Fraserburgh, covering Angus and Aberdeenshire.

In addition, Ancroft Tractors Limited will add the Valtra

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franchise to their existing Fendt business making Ancroft Tractors an exclusive Fendt and Valtra dealer for the Lothian and Borders area, operating from their outlets at Macmerry, Kelso and Berwickupon-Tweed.

“These new distribution arrangements are the latest changes that will strengthen brand dedication and focus which will continue to deliver market share growth for each of our brands” outlines Mark Casement, Director Distribution Management for AGCO. “We have a clear strategic direction that places an emphasis on maximising brand exclusivity while always improving dealer viability, and we are pleased to make these changes while offering all our valued partners the

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machinery opportunity to grow their business with us in the years ahead. We are confident that this focus will continue to develop the excellent customer-centred support that customers across the area enjoy and expect from our dedicated dealer partners.”

New CLAAS four-rotor swathers with working widths from 9.30 m to 15.00 m CLAAS has launched the next-generation of four-rotor rakes with three completely redesigned models.

The distinctive features of this new range include a low transport height, excellent groundcontour following by the rotors and ease of handling.

CLAAS has long been a leading supplier of rotary rakes and the revamped portfolio for 2022 features three newly updated four-rotor rakes with working widths from 9.30 metres up to 15 metres. Resigned from the ground up, these new models offer numerous

machinery innovative features and unique functions to make life easier for users and guarantee premium forage quality combined with high work rates.

The backbone of the new LINER models is the innovative main frame made from highstrength steel with a geometry resembling that of a telescopic crane. The enormous crosssection combined with the trapezoid profile absorbs forces evenly to guarantee exceptional stability, as proven by extensive endurance tests performed both on the test rig and in the field.

The control block, electronics module and hydraulic valves are located on the inside of the chassis, where they are well protected.

Unlike the previous models, the telescopic arms extend and retract by mean of a three stage patented system comprising of a C profile and slide rails, enabling very rapid adjustment of the working width. On the BUSINESS models the arms can be retracted individually and on the TREND models in pairs. All models provide generous ground clearance and a large clearance height.

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Renton Farm Services joins Bauer irrigation equipment dealer network in Scotland

A new sales, service and parts dealer for Bauer irrigation equipment is offering potential customers a ‘try

before you buy’ demonstration of the Rainstar irrigation reel’s features and performance.

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Renton Farm Services has taken on the Bauer franchise at farm-based premises near Dunbar

machinery to support potato and field-scale vegetable growers throughout East Lothian.

Director Graeme Renton said: “Six years ago we started a family-run business sourcing and supplying parts for farm machinery and related equipment.

“As potato growers and users of a couple of elderly Bauer irrigation reels ourselves, I was aware of local support being limited, so approached Bauer about taking on the franchise.”

With an agreement in place, Mr Renton took the plunge by ordering two new Rainstar E irrigation reels for stock – and the move paid off as the first of those units has already been put to work on a local farm.

“It was a bit of a gamble but I’m pretty confident of finding customers because as a premium product the Bauer reel irrigator has a strong reputation for performance and durability; our own machines are 26 years old and still relatively hassle-free,” he said.

Duo-liner press makes in-field uk debut

KUHN’s new integral furrow press has been on show for the first time in the UK at a cultivation demonstration event in Shropshire.

Available currently for the 4, 5 and 6 body models of the company’s Vari-Master L infurrow ploughs, the Duo-Liner operates totally independently of the primary cultivator to offer the possibility of a drill-ready seedbed in a single pass.

Key to the design are two independent hydraulic parallelogram systems that attach the row of dual 600mm diameter press wheels to the plough. Using KUHN’s Steady Control automatic pressure regulation system, the Duo-Liner imparts up to 90kg of pressure at each pair of wheels to achieve

optimum conditioning of the ploughed ground.

The Duo-Liner comes with KUHN’s KTS 10 control box, enabling the lift and positioning

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of the Duo-Liner from the tractor cab. Turnover control is fully automated and therefore requires no additional action from the operator at the headland.

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machinery Case IH announces new Oxfordshire dealership

Case IH has announced that KFS, based in Chipping Norton, has been appointed as a new Case IH dealer.

The Krone-owned dealership will provide a full dealership service for the Case IH machinery range alongside its existing Krone and Lemken equipment.

Commenting on the development, Paul Harrison, Case IH Business Director UK & ROI, said: “We’re delighted that KFS is joining our dealer network. The dealership is a well-respected business working with strong independent brands, covering an area of the UK that was previously open for Case IH. “From the legendary Farmall to the renowned Axial-Flow harvesting range, Case IH is

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committed to supplying marketleading agricultural solutions and is well-placed to meet the needs of the farming community in this area.

We look forward to working with the KFS team as they grow sales of our products in the years ahead.”

Eddie Caulfield, General Manager at KFS commented: “The addition of the CASE IH franchise, further strengthens our position of providing specialist machinery solutions to our customer base” “Since moving to the area 2 years ago, we’ve seen our customer base grow as the Krone and Lemken brands become established. The addition of Case IH to our line-up, means we’re now in a position to

offer a wide range of tractors and combines, to complement

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our forage harvesting and seed establishment offerings”.

machinery Bobcat Shows Real Claws Again at Innov-Agri 2021

Bobcat exhibited at the outdoor Innov-Agri event from 7-9 September 2021 at Outarville near Orléans in south Paris in France. It was the first major industry show attended by farmers in France and one of the first major events in this sector in Europe, since the Covid pandemic started. Attended by over 60,000 farmers from across the country during the three days of the show, Innov-Agri proved to be a big draw for professionals in the agricultural sector in France.

The star of the show for Bobcat was undoubtedly the brand new TL43.80HF AGRI 4*, part of the new R-series telescopic loader range and presented to the public for the first time in the world at Innov-

Agri. With a lifting capacity of 4.3 t and a lifting height of up to 8 m, the TL43.80HF is the largest and most powerful model of its type and is a result of Bobcat’s innovative ‘Next is Now’ programme. The Next is Now initiative combines innovative product development and diversification with smarter, more connected technologies and services, redefining the way people work on farms.

This new generation of telescopic loaders aims to deliver a first-class user experience. The completely redesigned cab is a modern, intuitive and intelligent workspace offering a unmatched level of comfort. With the new AGRI 4* package, Bobcat has an excellent proposition to offer farmers in the agricultural sector.

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machinery Kubota announces OEM partnership with MX

Kubota has announced a strategic OEM partnership with French manufacturer MX to supply loaders for the M series tractor range throughout Europe.

The agreement covers all M-series models including the M4003, M5002, MGX-IV, M6002 and M7003 models, spanning 66-170hp.

For Kubota (UK), this agreement is expected to significantly increase sales by providing a comprehensive materials-handling solution which is available to order exclusively through Kubota’s dealer network. Importantly for customers, it offers the convenience of combining tractor, loader and attachments, in one integrated solution.

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“This agreement makes it much easier for customers to choose a tractor and highperformance loader package that closely suits their needs,” said

Henry Myatt, product marketing manager for Kubota’s M-series tractor portfolio.

“MX-built Kubota loaders are finished in our familiar

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orange livery to compliment the look of the Kubota tractor range, providing an integrated materials handling solution for all M-series tractors,” he said.

machinery The new TERRASEM pneumatic mulch seed drills from Pöttinger

In addition to optimum soil and weather conditions, choosing the right seed drill technology is essential for perfect seed emergence.

Pöttinger’s TERRASEM mulch drilling concept combines tillage, consolidation, fertiliser application and drilling in a single machine: the perfect combination of high output, reliability and precision seed placement to meet farmers’ specifications.

This newly designed seed drill with or without passive seedbed preparation delivers an impressive performance with its precision universal metering and perfect coulter system to guarantee exact seed placement.

Flexible operation and being able to process up to three components simultaneously at a consistently high output translates into optimum drilling for the best seed emergence.

The high performance features of the Pöttinger TERRASEM increase yield capacity to boost the farmer’s profit. The new TERRASEM is available now.

A new configuration of the tillage tools ensures that the machine works 100 percent in a straight line. The disc harrow as well as the fertiliser coulters (D Z-machine) and seed coulters are mounted in an X configuration.

Optimum seedbed preparation is ensured by the aggressive point angle of the lead tillage tools.

There is no need to grease the tillage tools because they are mounted on sealed bearings. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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events

Tickets are now on sale for Scotland’s Young Farmer’s Agri & Rural Affairs Conference; ‘Selling Scotland’!

This year’s event is kindly supported by; Galbraith, SAC Consulting, Royal Bank of Scotland, Massey Ferguson and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

The Friday evening will see a dinner at Craigies Farm [South Queensferry], where this ‘Pie & Pint’ themed night will host headline speakers on the panel. Taking to the hot seats for discussion and who’ll be in the firing line of questions from an intrigued group of young farmers are; John Sinclair of Craigie’s Farm, Alan Leslie of Aldi Scotland & James Withers of Scotland Food & Drink. The burning questions will be chaired

by SAYFC’s own Agri & Rural Affairs Chair, Alistair Brunton of East Fife JAC.

The weekend will step up a further gear, touring more talents of the country’s industry with visits throughout the Saturday.

With lots of attention in 2021, focused on renewables – The Dandie family residing on the outskirts of Edinburgh will also hold a group fuelled with queries.

Covering the details that matter in order to move the country forward at such a prestigious period of time in regards to climate change, it is set to be one of the many highlights of the conference weekend!

Diversification, a hot topic across Scotland’s forward thinking farming and crofting families. One of which, is Scotland’s AgriScot Sheep Farmer of the Year 2019 Pirntaton Farm, Galashiels, ran

by James Logan & Family. It takes a strong and confident business owner to convert a lucrative pedigree enterprise into one solely reliant on commercial livestock. However, proving a constructive move, the farm’s productivity has been heightened.

With their 540 hectares the family are kept busy hosting 1950 breeding ewes, 120 suckler cows and developing deer herd with 200 hinds.

Locally to Edinburgh, the group will also see firsthand how to make woodland creating work, by exploring the forestry opportunities accomplished by sheep farmers Graham and Becci Barr of Easter Bavelaw Farm.

Having planted 90,000 trees, the practical visit will highlight their

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involvement in the management and funding associated in such a decision – also covering the benefits of woodland for animal welfare.

In returning to Ingliston, Andrew Lacey of Scotland’s Rural College & SAC Consulting will be guest speaker. Conversation will be based around what tools are required for reducing carbon output, assessing emissions per farming activity!

Young Farmers will learn what areas of the industry have room for improvement, how future direct payments are going to be linked with lowering emissions – as well as looking at some evidence based research throughout the afternoon!

Tickets are available on: www. sayfc.org 125

events

Oxford Farming Conference is set to Inspire with a new bursary programme The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) will deliver an exciting new programme for individuals who demonstrate leadership potential and have never attended the worldrenowned event.

The OFC Inspire Programme will offer fully funded grants to 18 individuals to attend the Oxford Farming Conference from 5th to 7th January 2022, including accommodation and dinners.

Supported by the The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), it will deliver a rich

programme of networking, bringing together those who may not otherwise have been able to attend the event, and are at the start of their leadership journey or looking for their next challenge.

In addition to the event in Oxford, they will be required to attend a pre-conference away day from Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd December including dinner, a guest speaker, exclusive visit, networking session and overnight accommodation at The Farmers Club in London.

In order to apply, applicants must be between the age of 30 and 45, and actively involved in the rural, food and/or farming sector.

OFC Director Emily Norton is leading the programme, “I was lucky enough to attend my first OFC through a job offfarm, but as the OFC Council, we are acutely aware that many future stars of our industry will not be in the same position. The Inspire Programme is intended to be one of the main routes through which we can tackle that.

“Anyone who has not been to OFC before and who would otherwise face barriers to attending is welcome to apply, simply by filling in the application form and demonstrating how they will benefit from taking part. We can’t wait to get the first OFC Inspire Programme cohort together.”

To find out more or apply for the Inspire Programmme visit https://www.ofc.org.uk/blog/ ofc-inspire-programme-2022

Sprayer demonstrations are back at The CropTec Show 2021 The latest in spraying technology will be showcased at this year’s CropTec Show, with 10 manufacturers offering working demonstrations of their machines.

Visitors to the event on November 24 and 25 at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, can book individual sessions with exhibitors. They will see firsthand the technology on board, experience the machines in 126

action and put questions to technical experts.

Exhibitors this year include CropTec Show debutant, Bateman Sprayers, one of five British sprayer manufacturers demonstrating equipment.

Other highlights include Houseman’s new ultra-quiet and fully climate-controlled cab introduced across its range this year, the Hardi Aeon Centuraline being exhibited at CropTec for the first time and the unveiling of

Sands Agricultural Machinery’s new boom levelling system.

Gareth Jones, CropTec event organiser for AgriConnect Ltd said: “Sprayers are a huge investment for farmers and contractors, so being able to get in the cab, experience and compare up to 10 machines in one location is a great opportunity.

“Booking a demonstration allows visitors to take advantage of dedicated one-to-one time with the machinery experts. They can

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discuss their specific requirements, ask questions and experience the machines in action.

“We are delighted exhibitors are so keen to return to face-toface demonstrations with our visitors at The CropTec Show again this year. We know the sprayer demonstrations are a highlight for many showgoers.”

Entrance is free – to register visit https:// registration.gesevent.com/ survey/3fib6vrsgs9ko

events Practical steps towards greater precision in livestock production For livestock farmers and vets alike, the challenges and choices in prioritising high return-oninvestment management changes will be tackled by a Precision Livestock Farming in Practice conference on 23–24 November.

A core theme is ultra-early detection of sub-optimal animal performance to prompt timely intervention and strengthening

of preventive measures. More efficient and targeted use of scarce resources, from labour to materials, is the priority of this sustainable precision approach.

The programme covers proven principles of high precision management that can be applied in practice to any livestock enterprise. These will be illustrated by examples in

dairy and beef, sheep and pigs, poultry and fish and will focus on what is possible now and where developments might take the future of livestock production.

The conference takes place in the York Biotech Campus hosted

by RAFT Solutions, the Riponbased research-into-practice specialist. An international speaker panel includes Prof

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Stephen LeBlanc from the University of Guelph, Canada; Dr Nic Friggens of INRAE, France; Prof Andrew Bradley from Quality Milk Management Services; Prof Mark Rutter from Harper Adams UC; and sheep and fish vet Dr Ruth Clements.

Conference registration raftsolutions.co.uk.

at

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Fabulous upcycled ideas for Christmas

Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre is a Community Interest Company set up to champion the environmental benefits of upcycling. The Centre has showcased the creations of over 20 artisans that upcycle materials otherwise destined for landfill.

Lead Artisan and furniture Upcycler, Sarah Peterson, features regularly on the BBC series “Money For Nothing” with 17 episodes filmed in the Centre recently.

As well as offering a wide range of creations for sale, the Centre offers advice and the materials needed for customers tackling their own upcycling project.

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Frida cabinet £345 and Zebra corner cabinet £345

Large lamp and shade £100, engraved bottle lamp £25, drift wood house sculpture £60

Santa bag £15, rucksacks £75, tote bag £32

Bike parts - from £405

www.tucc.co.uk

Fabulous upcycled ideas for Christmas

Art Deco cabinet - £750

Blue bottle lamp £40, cactus £20, candle £29.95, picture £25, coasters £25 set

Sewing boxes - from £250

Red desk £225, black chair £80, cushion £40

ADDRESS Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre Inchmichael

By Errol, Perthshire PH2 7RR

OPENING TIMES Wednesday to Saturday 10 – 5pm Sunday 11 – 4pm Monday & Tuesday – closed

Tel: 07368 860581

www.tucc.co.uk

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Dr Mark Leggett Leading animal nutrition and forage preservation company Volac has promoted Dr Mark Leggett to the role of Global Technical Manager for Forage.

Originally joining Volac in 2014, Dr Leggett was previously a molecular biologist for the company, conducting research and development on silage production methods and the company’s Ecosyl range of silage additives.

His new global role will see him continuing with research and development in a more strategic capacity, as well as taking on added responsibility providing technical support to Volac’s customers and Volac’s regional technical and sales staff.

He will also support the manufacturing side of the business to ensure the company’s silage additives meet strict standards, and provide training on Volac forage products.

Kate Hopper Kate Hopper joined NFU Scotland, taking on the role of Policy Manager for Climate Change.

Her role will be to influence legislation, regulation, commercial practice, and public debate around climate change issues in order to secure a sustainable future for Scottish agriculture.

Kate graduated from Heriot Watt University in 2002 with a Masters in Town and Country Planning, and completed a Masters degree in Climate Change in 2011. She started her career in consultancy before joining the City of Edinburgh Council in 2004, specialising in climate change impacts and mitigation, renewable energy, and communicating and advocating for change in environmental policy.

Looking at her new role within NFU Scotland, Kate said: “I am delighted to be joining NFU Scotland at this critical time in Scotland’s Green Recovery from COVID-19. The twin crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, along with the security of our food supply are crucial issues in delivering a sustainable future for Scottish agriculture”.

Edd Mowbray Agricultural PR specialist Agribusiness Communications Ltd (ABC) has recruited Edd Mowbray to bolster its team of dedicated account handlers.

Mr Mowbray joins ABC as an account manager after spending over four years with Farmers Weekly as a machinery journalist. He began his new post on 1 October 2021.

Established in 1995, Shropshire-based ABC has built up a reputation for offering agricultural sector businesses advice and support on all aspects of PR and marketing communications. The addition of Mr Mowbray brings a wealth of additional machinery and industry knowledge to the ABC team.

“I’m excited for a new challenge with ABC and my aim is to work with clients who want to benefit from greater media exposure and improved marketing communications to grow their brands”, says Mr Mowbray.

“I believe my machinery journalism experience and farming background will help clients trust me to deliver their messages to the wider media.”

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Matt Smith Amazone are pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Smith to the company as National Sales Manager.

With a B. Eng. in Agricultural Engineering at Harper Adams University College, Matt comes with a wealth of experience gained in the agricultural industry having cut his teeth with one of our own dealers during those years of education followed by time within the Househam Sprayers organisation, fulfilling various roles there before ending up as territory sales manager. He was then enticed by Horsch UK to become southern area specialist sales manager for the Horsch sprayer range where he has been for the last few years.

“We are delighted to have Matt on board as National Sales Manager and to be able to utilise those skills gained to the benefit of Amazone customers around the country.

Matt will take over the day to day running of the agricultural sales division as well as building on our relationship with our national key accounts in support of our territory managers at local level.”

Professor Dave Roberts The Scottish Dairy Growth Board is delighted to announce that Professor Dave Roberts has been appointed as an Executive Director with immediate effect. Dave will take on specific responsibility for the Board’s Environmental and Skills related work.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul Grant – Chair of the Scottish Dairy Growth Board said ‘Dave brings a vast knowledge of and expertise in the dairy sector to the Growth Board and I am delighted that he has agreed to lead our environmental and skills work agenda’s both of which are key priorities identified in the ‘Rising to the Top 2030’ strategy. As part of the Board’s work, we have identified areas of future market growth opportunities for the sector and it will be critical that we deliver these by having a skilled workforce as well as minimising our climate change impact and optimising our environmental credentials, so having Dave on board could not have come at a better time’.

Eilidh Corr Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has strengthened its Industry Development team with the appointment of a new member of staff. The addition to the red meat levy body aims to build on its existing work to support farmers to maximise their productivity and profitability.

Veterinary practitioner Eilidh Corr joins QMS as the Animal Health and Welfare Specialist, a new role created to manage the delivery of animal health-focused activity.

After graduating in veterinary medicine from the University of Glasgow, Eilidh worked in a predominantly beef and sheep practice in Strathspey for 13 years. From there, she then moved to work for SRUC Veterinary Services in a disease surveillance role, supporting vets, farmers and producers with disease investigations and diagnostics.

With over 17 years’ experience, Eilidh will be working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to manage the delivery of bespoke animal health projects and research alongside the production of technical information.

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