Farming Scotland Magazine (May-June Edition 2020)

We salute all our farmers and agricultural workers for producing great food for our tables. THANK YOU.

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

Trailers #ROFTING IN THE /UTER (EBRIDES Parlour Safe /PEN &ARM 3UNDAYS #LYDESDALE (ORSES 4OPIC Stirling farm diversification 7ORLD &ARMING Costa Rica

In Focus Agriforest Made in Scotland Braw berries!

)NTERVIEW With Sally Williams

Travel Scotland Escape to Craigduckie

£3.50

plus

June 2020

3COTTISH #OUNTRY ,IFE s .ORTHERN )SLES .EWS "EATHA AN %ILEAN s "AKING WITH BERRIES s 4RAINVIEW 4ALK including our regular news sections and columns

contents

16 26 36 56 60

Crofting in the Outer Hebrides Trailers Open Farm Sunday Parlour Safe Clydesdale Horses

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND 16

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24

MAIN FEATURES 22

June 2020

FARM DIVERSIFICATION

BAKING WITH BERRIES

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96

The art of delivery

TRAVEL SCOTLAND 44

Apples, chocolate etc

Escape to Craigduckie

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

TOPIC

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20

TRAINVIEW TALK

Stirling farm diversification success

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MADE IN SCOTLAND 24

66

WORLD FARMING 32

Costa Rica

INTERVIEW 35

With Sally Williams

NORTHERN ISLES NEWS 38

With Catherine Sloan

Diary by James Cameron

IN FOCUS

Braw berries!

Articles from Orkney and Shetland

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

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Agriforest

BOOK SERIAL 68

Part 3 of ‘Into The Peatlands’

BEATHA AN EILEAN 94

Life on the Islands

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE 95

With Linda Mellor

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

With Wendy Barrie

NEWS AREAS 6 11 31 34 40 48 50 53 54 58 59 62 65 70 93

Arable Root Crops Environment Science & Technology Investing in People Beef Livestock Sheep Dairy Pigs Horses Estate Forestry Machinery Finance

COLUMNS 6 8 10 15 17 19 31 34 41 49

Editor’s Bit In my view R.S.A.B.I. Farm Advisory Service Scotland the Brand Hutton Institute Farming for the Climate Southern Belle Next Generation Crofting

ADVERTISING MANAGER Barry Tweed Tel. 01738 550157 Email: barry@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

46 51 52 53 55 63 64 93 98 98

Quality Meat Scotland The Vet NSA Scotland NFU Scotland Scottish Land & Estates Conservation Matters The Money Man People on the Move Book Review

SUBSCRIPTIONS 97

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COVER IMAGE: Supporting our farming heroes

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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

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arable Tenant Farming Commissioner editor's welcomes recommendations bit

Things have to change!

I am not going to mess about here with my own views on how our farmed produce is made available to the public.

Farmers throughout Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales all produce fantastic high quality beef, lamb, pork, chicken, vegetable, and yes, even salmon.

Everyone knows how great our home-produced food is, and right now, our farmers are once again ‘feeding the nation’ throughout these difficult times.

Here in Scotland, supermarkets must now step up to the plate and support their own ‘local farmers’, and this means Scottish farmed produce in Scottish supermarkets where possible, and identified as such, and the same rule should apply for all or our nations.

The time is now for a big push throughout Britain to get more British produce on the shelves, rather than meats from the likes of Poland, New Zealand and even Lamb form Peru (Which I once saw here in Perth).

In Scotland, our national flag is the saltire, so let’s see it being used to tell people how local their farmed produce is. And the same goes for the flags of England, Ireland and Wales, get them all out there, don’t hide, be proud of where you’re from and who you are.

The supermarkets need to support our farmers, not compete against them with cheap imports.

“We’re backing Britain” is an old slogan, but “Keep it local” is the new one for the 21st century, and it’s better for the environment too.

Slàinte, Athole.

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Scotland’s Tenant Farming Commissioner, Bob McIntosh, has welcomed recommendations madeintheScottishGovernment’s review into the functions of the role.

Scottish Ministers are required by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 to review the functions of the Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC) after three years. The review, published on gov. scot, asked stakeholders to give their views on the operation of the Tenant Farming Commissioner’s functions and whether the Commissioner’s powers are sufficient.

One of the main functions of the Tenant Farming Commissioner is to prepare and promote codes of practice providing practical guidance to landlords and tenants and their agents. The Tenant Farming Commissioner has published six codes of practice which have been well received within the tenant farming sector. Respondents in the review consider the codes easy to understand, useful, fair and robust and play a key part in improving relations between tenants and landlords. Bob McIntosh, welcoming the positive feedback, said: “A thriving and prosperous tenant farming sector relies on a strong and constructive relationship between tenants and landlords and a positive and professional approach by intermediaries acting on behalf of the landlord or tenant.

Bob McIntosh

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 97

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arable Do you know your beans?

Researchers from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have joined scientists across Europe to study factors affecting the yield of beans. As part of a new project called Legume Gap, they will look at the climatic, genetic and management factors affecting yield variability before designing novel cultivars and management strategies to reduce this variability in the future.

Grain legume yields are more variable than those of cereals – particularly winter cereals – and this is a major factor influencing decisions to grow beans.

However, the researchers say growing legumes is one way of addressing agronomic problems in cropping systems dominated by cereals.

As part of the project in the UK, which is funded by Defra, scientists are calling on farmers who grow beans in both England and Scotland to help them understand the factors influencing yields by completing a short survey.

The EU imports 30 to 40 million tonnes of soya bean and meal annually in order to meet its requirements for plant protein. In contrast, it only produces around 2.5 million tonnes of soya bean and 5.5 million tonnes of other pulse seeds.

Christine Watson, Professor of Agricultural Systems at SRUC, said: “We know that yields of major crops in Europe are now stagnating because of agronomic problems in cropping systems

dominated by cereals. We also know growing legumes as a break is one approach to addressing this.

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To complete the survey, visit: https://www.surveygizmo. eu/s3/90220084/Default.

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In my view

arable The Ultimate in Grain Care Equipment from BDC Systems BDC Systems is based in Wiltshire but boasts experienced and knowledgeable Area Sales Managers across the UK, including John Wilson in Scotland.

In addition to Skandia Handling Equipment, BDC is exclusive UK agent for SVEGMA continuous flow grain driers and acts on behalf of many of Europe’s leading and most respected manufacturers of grain cleaning and storage equipment. These include SOBY equipment, BM silos, JKF dust extraction, Zanin rotary cleaners, Aagaard pre-cleaners, Denis and Kongskilde equipment.

As we head to harvest 2020, BDC Systems is able to support UK Farming customers get their Grain Plants ready. BDC Systems working along with their approved dealer network can visit sites, design and supply equipment or replacement parts if required. BDC Systems keeps a vast amount parts for the equipment in stock at its warehouse in UK for immediate delivery.

Skandia handling equipment is available exclusively in the UK from BDC Systems. Skandia offers three ranges of equipment,

A view to the future

from general farm use 30-60tph right through to commercial use equipment at 600tph. Belt and bucket elevators, chain and flight conveyors, belt conveyors, silo sweep conveyors and dust & chaff extractors are all available, with only a 4-5-week delivery period.

For all your grain drying, cleaning, storage, handling and ventilation/ aeration enquiries.

Contact your local Area Manager - details Visit www.bdcsystems. com. BDC Systems Ltd, Grafton Road, Burbage, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 3BA, Tel: 01672 810851, email: sales@bdcsystems. com

Modern swedes offer nutritious out-wintering option

UK field trials with the new generation swede variety Triumph have demonstrated its 8

By John Cameron Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife

value as a cost effective outwintering option for livestock farmers.

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At least we are now seeing Brexit removed from our headlines albeit it has been replaced by a much more serious story. Who would have thought some three short months ago that we would ever be facing a world crisis of this magnitude. It certainly puts things into perspective and certainly emphasises the importance of farmers in terms of keeping the shelves in the food stores sufficiently stocked. Perhaps a classic case of “not missing the well until the water runs dry!”

Seriously this crisis has given the industry an opportunity to follow through this crisis with some carefully worded material which spells out in a factual sense the importance of reliable continuous supply of quality home produced food. If this were done in a supportive explanatory way and not in a confrontational manner, then I do believe we have an opportunity to beneficially influence not just our consumers but also our politicians and our general media.

Perhaps it is also a poignant reminder to all of us in the industry how fortunate we are when it comes to ‘lock down’ that the majority of us can continue to operate and

continue with our husbandry activities – whether it be livestock or arable. Of course we are going to encounter problems but at least we can avoid total shutdown and mass unemployment.

The sector I worry about in particular is the fruit and vegetable sector which depends on having an adequate supply of labour within a short critical time frame. Elsewhere in the industry we seem to be able to cope. The livestock auctioneers deserve our appreciation for coming up with a workable system of keeping at least the majority of the regular sales going.

Our suppliers of a whole range of necessary products have gone to great lengths to keep us going and keep delivering.

On the practical side, the weather appears to be improving. Lambing and calving doesn’t stop for anyone and to end on a bright note – this season’s calving has produced the biggest number of twin calvings that I can ever remember. We are not finished yet but we currently have around 20 sets of twins. I am now giving the bulls concerned an extra bite!

Just keep sensible – and keep healthy will follow!

arable In studies carried out by forage seed specialist Germinal GB during 2018 and 2019, crops monitored on farms in England, Wales and Scotland recorded bulb yields of 9tDM/ ha with high levels of leaf retention resulting in significant additional crude protein.

With average growing costs calculated at £385/ha, Germinal believes the cost of

dry matter from the swedes to be in the region of 4p/kg, creating opportunities for livestock farmers to build greater sustainability into their production systems.

“From the results we’ve seen with Triumph, there’s no doubt that swedes offer a cheap and simple out-wintering option that has the potential to reduce costs of production in both cattle and

sheep sectors in the UK,” says Germinal GB’s Ben Wixey.

“Whilst the bulb is the primary feed source from swedes, contributing as much as 120,000MJ/ha of energy, we’ve been impressed with ability of the variety Triumph to retain its leaves through into the grazing period. From measurements taken during our programme of field trials, we estimate the

retained leaf material to provide around 1t/ha of crude protein to grazing livestock, which is a significant bonus.”

Further information on establishing and managing swedes for out-wintering is available at Germinal GB’s Knowledge Hub at https:// germinal.co.uk/knowledge-hub/ brassica-growers-guide/

Return on Investment with Reseeding Farmers who don’t treat grassland as a crop are missing out on thousands of pounds worth of production if they rule out proper management and reseeding grass leys.

The agricultural grass team at Barenbrug has calculated that farmers that reseed grass leys can expect a ten-fold return on investment as a minimum depending on the focus of their farm. Using control *RGCL figures, Barenbrug estimates that reseeding with perennial ryegrasses has the potential farmers to achieve grass yields of around 11.63t DM/ha on a two cut silage system. That’s enough grass to generate 133,320 MJ of energy or the equivalent of: • 25,150 litres of milk worth = £6966 • 2050kg of lamb worth = £8286 • 2400kg of beef worth = £8544 Including autumn grazing which has the potential to provide around 4t DM yield and 52,906MJ produced in addition to the 2 cuts take the total annual production to 15.6tDM/ha and 186,226MJ of energy.

As a sward ages, generally the proportion of sown species drops and weed ingression increases and in 2017, AHDB estimated the average yield of grass in the UK to be around www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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arable

Industry Support Sought for New Charity Farming Tales Book 7t DM/ha. Calculating seed sales against the temporary and permanent grass area in the UK, the UK reseeding rate stands somewhere between 2 and 4% per year meaning we are more likely to drop in overall grass production than gain.

When you compare an older sward which is yielding around 7t DM/ha and achieving only 86,400 MJ, livestock farmers could be missing out on £2451 of milk, £2914 of lamb or £2954 of beef within the first 12 – 15 months of reseeding perennial species which will continue to perform after that initial period used to calculate.

With the average full reseed costing between £650 - £700*2 per hectare, we speak to many people who struggle to see past the initial expense but the potential production from increasing average productivity by even 20% more than covers the cost. Reseeding, when done properly and with attention to details WILL provide a huge

return on investment for a number of years. Commenting, Mhairi Dawson, Research & Development Manager at Barenbrug UK, said: “Future proofing your forage by investing in a reseed is a great way to improve productivity and resilience, and counter the weather-related problems we’ve seen over the past eighteen to twenty four months. It can be difficult to comprehend the value of a reseed, until you see the impact it can have on production levels - particularly when growing conditions are unfavourable. * RGCL = Recommended Grass and Clover List 20192020. Independent data. *1 AHDB 5 year average price (2014 – 2018 inc) *2 Calculated using National Association Agricultural Contractors Prices (2019 2020) For more advice please visit www.barenbrug.co.uk

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out July 2020 10

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We’re urging the Scottish agricultural industry to get behind a new book of light-hearted stories being published to raise funds for RSABI. We hope the initiative will also raise the spirits of farming and crofting communities at this challenging time for everyone and encourage people to connect by sharing their humorous memories and entertaining tales.

The new book, “Farming is Still a Funny Business”, is being compiled by farming journalist, Andrew Arbuckle, who needs around 300 stories for the publication.

The latest initiative follows two previous books compiled by Mr Arbuckle and his brother John, which have collectively raised over £72,000 for RSABI. Mr Arbuckle hopes that the proceeds of the third book will take that total to over £100,000.

“The type of stories needed for the book can be very wide-ranging – from quirky tales of things which happened in years gone by to wry observations from people in this exceptional industry,” said Mr Arbuckle.

“More than ever before there is a need to be able to connect with people and relax and the aim is to get the book finished and published in time for autumn so it is available to buy as a Christmas gift.”

Mr Arbuckle is appealing to people in the farming community to contact him with stories for the book, which will be sold with all profits going to RSABI. He can be contacted by email: Andrew@andrewarbuckle.org or by phone on 01337 870209.

More information on becoming a supporter can be found on the website www.rsabi.org.uk/Donate .

RSABI has a team of dedicated staff who provide vital financial, practical and emotional support to individuals and families with links to Scottish agriculture. The charity also offers support through its helpline, 0300 111 4166, which is open from 7am to 11pm, 365 days a year.

If you would like to learn more about RSABI and the good work we do please contact the Development Officer in your area.

Also, look out for them contacting you!

Call the helpline on 0300 111 4166

root crops New lower-capacity model joins Bunning spreader range for 2020 Norfolk-based muck spreader specialist GT Bunning and Sons Ltd used LAMMA 2020 to unveil an addition to its Farmstar HBD spinning disc range, targeted at small- to medium-sized farms requiring a wider spread pattern than is possible with a vertical beater machine, particularly with materials such as chicken manure, gypsum and composts, as well as general farmyard manure.

Designed as a light yet robust spreader capable of sustained workloads in conjunction with smaller tractors, the 8.0 cu m model can be equipped with extension sides to increase heaped capacity to 10.2 cu m.

Maximum payload is 8.5 tonnes.

The new machine uses the same body and floor construction as the established Bunning TVA models, and blends this with a

new design of HBD (Horizontal Beater and spinning Disc) spreading mechanism, using the same spinning discs as those fitted to larger HBD models. This helps the new model to achieve the same spread patterns as the larger machines in the range.

Design features include heattreated boron beater flighting and reversible boron beater blades, plus heavy-duty beater roller drive chains. Individual dynamic balancing of the beaters takes place after their production at the factory. Manufactured from Hardox steel, the 1.0m-diameter spinning discs feature adjustable blade angles. The new model is fitted as standard with a single axle rated to 13 tonnes, equipped with 406 x 120mm brakes with slack adjusters.

The launch follows almost two years of development,

with a pre-production machine being built in May 2018 and pre-production testing taking place across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Holland, spreading materials ranging

from lime, straw bales and gypsum to compost, sewage sludge, chicken, pig and cow manure. Dealer recommended retail price for the new model starts at ÂŁ30,045.

Revus shows strength against aggressive blight strains The evolution of more aggressive genotypes of potato late blight has highlighted the need for robust anti-resistance strategies with all applications, advises Syngenta Technical Manager, Michael Tait.

A Eurofins trial in Derbyshire last year to test the intrinsic fungicide activity of blight products, in inoculated and irrigated plots, which were also shown to be infected with the aggressive EU36_A2 genotype,

showed mandipropamid with a drift retardant to be the most effective fungicide against all the blight isolates in the trial.

Mr Tait highlighted oxathiapiprolin was not included in the trial, to fulfil industry

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commitments to avoid its expose to resistance pressure with season-long intrinsic activity trials. “The trial results showed that Revus is inherently active on all blight genotypes present,

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root crops including EU36_A2,” he reported. “The priority to learn from the evolution of more aggressive new isolates is that robust treatments can help protect the efficacy of every application in the programme for season-long control.”

Mr Tait added that whilst the trial had been inoculated with Pink 6_A1; Blue 13_A2 and Green 37_A2, subsequent analysis by James Hutton Institute showed that EU36_A2, which infected naturally, was the dominant late blight genotype in infected plots.

The incidence of EU_36 A2 increased exponentially last season, to 27% of all blight genotypes identified in overall analysis of UK monitoring. That was up from 17% in 2018 and less than 2% when first found in 2017.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out July 2020

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root crops Haith Group and Grimme UK & Ireland announce strategic partnership Two of the most respected and well-known agricultural machinery manufacturers have announced a strategic collaboration for the UK and Ireland.

Haith Group, which manufactures vegetable handling equipment, and in-field root crop and vegetable machinery specialist GRIMME, which is best known for its planting and harvesting innovations are joining forces in the UK and Ireland to increase their respective product offerings.

The new relationship is designed to benefit UK and Irish farmers, who will now be able to buy complete solutions from either company’s sales team.

The agreement will see the sales teams of both companies

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root crops being trained on the others product range and will give customers of both companies easy access to the innovative market leading solutions offered by both Haith and GRIMME. GRIMME customers may, for example, wish to add a Haith Supa-Wash washer or market leading Rota-Tip box tippler into a GRIMME finance and service plan, whereas a Haith customer could take advantage of having a

GRIMME Cleanloader to work alongside a Haith mobile washer.

“This announcement is a game-changer for UK and Irish farmers,” says Duane Hill, Sales Director for Haith Group. “The strategic collaboration sees two of the biggest manufacturers in the sector coming together to offer the most comprehensive product range available. We’ve never been in competition with GRIMME, rather their product range complements

ours and makes this arrangement a perfect fit.”

GRIMME UK Ltd.’s managing director, Patrick Graf Grote adds: “Before now, farmers looking for a complete solution to their needs would have to talk to more than one different company. Now, they can talk to Haith’s team or ours and have access to the full spectrum of root crop and vegetable harvesting and

handling machinery. We believe this agreement with Haith Group, means we are now able to offer the most comprehensive range of machinery in the UK and Ireland.”

For more information about Haith and its leading range of vegetable handling solutions, please visit www.haith.co.uk, and for the latest innovations from GRIMME please visit www.grimme.com.

New man at the helm of Bradley Refrigeration Bradley Refrigeration is pleased to announce that following the retirement of the Bradley family, David Marshall has now taken over the company.

An employee of 30 years, David brings exceptional knowledge and expertise, particularly with regards to the design and installation of crop cooling equipment. Former UK Refrigeration Student of the

Year David is looking forward to developing the company through its next phase whilst providing an excellent service to customers old and new. To help with this, a new service management system and growth to the existing workforce is currently being implemented, with David confident the changes will help establish Bradley Refrigeration as market leaders in the agricultural world.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 97

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root crops Fewer desiccation options puts pressure on management planning Unusually wet growing conditions has put enormous physical and economic pressure on Scottish potato growers, and a reduced tool box of effective haulm desiccants and ways to control blackleg/tuber blight has brought the situation into sharper focus.

Crop Services (Scotland) Ltd’s Perthshire-based agronomist, Russ Kelsey says the loss of diquat for 2020 leaves him with one single effective product to cease tuber growth – Spotlight Plus (60g/l carfentrazone-ethyl) – which until recently he has used effectively in conjunction with diquat.

He says that desiccation decisions are now more crucial than ever before – and the market the crops are grown for – either seed or ware will have a factor in deciding what route to follow.

But, there are other factors to consider before the crop is desiccated, variety, optimum seed size for the desired market, planting date and fertiliser regime can all be manipulated to initiate maturity and the onset of senescence to put less strain on the available chemistry.

“Some maincrop varieties mature very quickly in the later stages of their growth and a single dose of Spotlight Plus at 1.0ltr plus a twin application of diquat has in the past been sufficient to open up the crop canopy and desiccate haulm and stems without compromising the tuber size for the intended market,” says Mr Kelsey.

With the loss of diquat, flailing will no doubt be considered by more ware growers, which Mr Kelsey describes as ‘taking down the engine room of the plant’ but this decision must be carefully considered on a field by field basis.

“The key factor is having a disease free crop and a competent person on the flail – ideally leaving little or no leaf material

Who’s feeding your beasts tomorrow?

attached to the stem – which should be around 20-30cms in length,” he says. “A single dose of 1.0ltr Spotlight should then be sufficient to complete the job – however growers may need to consider the rate depending on the variety. A second dose of up to 0.6ltr may also be required if the flailing hasn’t been totally successful.

“Spotlight Plus is highly effective in this situation, is very safe and when applied correctly, will help to prevent haulm regrowth. It can be applied across all soil types and unlike diquat there are no criteria for soil moisture calculations when deciding the application timing.”

Mr Kelsey strongly recommends keeping a sound blight fungicide programme in place right up until the haulm kill is complete, to mitigate the risk and incidence of late tuber blight infection.

“With the investment in the crop up until this point, it’s crucial that growers see the job through, especially in times where conditions are less than ideal,” he adds.

The management of a seed crop very much hinges on the health of the original seed, he says. If bacterial diseases such as blackleg or late blight are present, then flailing can be highly questionable, as the environment during and immediately following the operation is highly conducive to spread.

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It is not an over-reaction to suggest that every single business needs to prepare for at least a short-term labour challenge created by coronavirus. It is likely that most people will contract coronavirus and whilst for most it will be a mild illness from which they will recover fully and quickly, this still creates a huge challenge for the farming industry as employees or contractors have to self-isolate for 7 or 14 days if they or someone in their household displays symptoms.

No-one can say with certainty who will have a mild illness and who might find themselves confined to a bed, either in a hospital or at home.

Farmers often carry on regardless of illness because stock still need to be fed and work needs to be done. However you cannot assume that you will be physically able to do

this and it is absolutely vital therefore that you have a plan in place so that in the event that you become too ill to work as normal or lose critical staff, the important jobs can still be done – livestock fed, cows milked, crop picked.

ALL businesses need to prepare an emergency plan and the Farm Advisory Service website (www.fas. scot/coronavirus) contains a basic emergency plan template that will take 5 – 10 minutes to complete.

This will be a huge help to others should you become ill. We also have a range of sector-specific contingency planning templates that will help you to maintain ‘business as usual’.

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.

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Bringing apple orchards back to Scotland Once, springtime apple blossom would have been a familiar sight across Scotland, and now a group of apple growers has formed to revive Scotland’s almost extinct apple growing industry.

The production of Scottish apples has declined to almost non-existence, with 70% of apples we eat in the UK imported, a market estimated to be worth around £230m. Local varieties such as the Lass O’Gowrie, Galloway Pippin, Scotch Bridget and the Bloody Ploughman have been replaced by imports on supermarket shelves.

Yet apple growing has deep roots in Scottish history, with orchards grown on a big scale in abbeys and monasteries in the 12th century, through largescale growing on estates in the 17th century, right up until the 19th century when the Scottish landscape still housed thousands of trees.

Now a Soil Association Scotland-led Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) group is trying to bring commercial apple growing back to Scotland.

“The intention for the group is to grow Scottish apples for Scottish consumption, like we saw back in the 1930s and 40s before the demise of the sector,” says Amanda Brown of the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), who is facilitating the group.

“We want to get Scottish apples to Scottish people. As well as being good for the industry, wouldn’t it be great to get kids eating nutrient-rich apples grown locally?”

“I want the group to be there to encourage others to grow apples on a commercial scale again in Scotland,” says group member and grower Catherine Drummond-Herdman 16

of Megginch Castle Orchard in the Carse of Gowrie, who initially came up with the idea for the group. “I would love to see a return of apple growing on a commercial scale in Scotland.

Local, nutrient-dense food, grown sustainably in a selfsufficient manner, this will also be a means by which famers can diversify and create more income streams.

“I was born and brought up at Megginch, the orchard, with the pear and apple blossoms hanging on the ancient trees like ships in full sail, and it was always one of my favourite places.

Fifteen years ago, it was heavily overgrazed with only 91 old trees left. I could feel the spirits of the trees asking me to do something, so I determined to replant it! We had a small SRDP grant in 2008 to fence out the deer and rabbits and started planting with all and

any old local varieties we could lay our hands on.

“We now somehow seem to have ended up with over 1,400 fruit trees, including two National Collections, one for Scottish Cider Apples and one for Scottish Heritage apples and pears!”

Having been enchanted by her ancient orchard, Catherine, with the support of the RISS group, is on a mission to encourage others to grow apples commercially in Scotland again.

More research and collaboration is needed to help growers in Scotland, and the group hope to identify who is currently growing in Scotland and at what scale, and to bring them together to develop the industry in Scotland.

“Research on apple growing currently comes from the south,” Catherine tells us, “but apple varieties are so site-specific that if someone plants a new orchard

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with the wrong variety it will simply fail.

“Collaboration, not competition, and the sharing of ideas and information about different varieties is going to help everybody. The economies of scale work much better in a group than on your own.”

“As well as Scotland becoming self-sufficient in growing all our eating apples, I would like to see a Grown-in-Scotland Mark, so that customers can be confident they’re eating apples which have genuinely been grown in Scotland. It’s also important for the group to share knowledge of growing and marketing skills to raise awareness of Scottish-grown apples.”

Growers interested in getting involved in the group should email Amanda on saos@ saos.coop marked FAO Amanda Brown.

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Scotch Beef PGI campaign in the spotlight at prestigious marketing awards

Scotland The Brand

Thinking Outside the Farm Box

By Ruth Watson

A campaign celebrating Scotland’s heroes of the red meat industry has been shortlisted for one of Scotland’s most prestigious marketing awards.

Led by Quality Meat Scotland, ‘Know Your Beef’, which showcased Scotch Beef PGI, has been recognised in the Marketing Society Star Awards Food category, which celebrates marketing effectiveness from food and drink organisations.

A key focus of the campaign was communicating what goes on behind the scenes in creating one of Scotland’s most celebrated ingredients, from the farmers and processors to auctioneers and butchers, providing consumers with more information on where their meat comes from and what makes it the highest quality.

The awards, which take place on 22 October at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, will see QMS go head-to-head against fellow industry heavyweights Lidl, Podberry, Borders Biscuits, Seafish and Oxo in the category.

Lesley Cameron, Quality Meat Scotland’s Director of Marketing and Communications, said: “It’s a huge honour for ‘Know Your Beef’ to be recognised by the Marketing

Society, with the campaign’s fantastic results testament to the value of a strategic partnership carefully considered to deliver key messages.

“Scotch Beef PGI is a hugely recognised and celebrated product, with the campaign going one step further to shine a light on some of the industry’s heroes working tirelessly behind the scenes to create a top quality, globally renowned ingredient.

“A huge congratulations to the entire team and wider industry involved in making the campaign the success it was, and we look forward to hearing the results in October!”

The awards celebrate both innovation and drive, with the judging panel selecting ‘Know Your Beef’ due to a media partnership with DC Thomson, reaching an audience of 442,000across Scotland through a series of articles, recipes, interviews with butchers and For more information on Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork visit www.scotchkitchen. com or The Scotch Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

At the time of writing, the pandemic lockdown looks likely to be extended into the summer. As we heed the warnings to stay at home, supply chains around us creak. The need to selfisolate wrestles with the need to buy food – unpredictable for many as supermarkets struggle to keep pace with changes in supply and shopping habits.

Local food and drink businesses, themselves faced with uncertainty and the loss of usual markets, have rallied to serve their communities. Out of this, comes one of the few positive stories of this epoch.

After three years, Lunan Bay Farm is ready to harvest their first full crop of asparagus, about 7.5 tonnes of delicately-flavoured spears. In normal times, much of this would end up on the tables of small, independent restaurants across Scotland. Like many agri-businesses, the lockdown hit them hard with the loss of 70% of their preorders overnight. However, farm director Jillian McEwan remains optimistic, “Many food service distributors have quickly

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adapted with home deliveries which are a real lifeline to people in their communities.

Customers like the convenience, they love how fresh and well-priced the food is. Some farm shops are doing dedicated Scottish boxes because folk are demanding local food,” Jillian adds.

This is traditional food supply with a modern twist.

Family butchers delivering boxes with cuts of Scotland’s finest meats and local farm produce ordered online by grannies up the glens.

“We’re looking at how a national directory, to search for producers you can buy from in your own area, could help,” says James Withers, the Chief Executive Officer of Scotland Food and Drink.

“There has been such a resurgence in people buying locally in Scotland over the last decade. It may be that some positive momentum to connect people and producers could be one legacy of all this.”

Finding new ways of working, forging local connections within our communities could well be an enduring and meaningful outcome of this health crisis.

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Meaty New Website Set to Inspire Consumers During Lockdown A meaty new website, packed with recipe inspiration perfect for making during lockdown, was launched in April by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

The Scotch Kitchen website, www.scotchkitchen.com has been completely redesigned to provide a high level of user functionality and experience.

The innovative design of the website will provide consumers with exceptional content via a powerful search function. As well as over 100 recipes and tips on cooking Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork, the site will host practical “how to” video content for family meals and feature easier navigation options and a seamless experience across multiple devices.

Designed to be a one-stopshop for all Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork recipes, the website is also a valuable way of reaching consumers with key messages including important health, nutrition, animal welfare and sustainability messaging.

When visiting the site, consumers will be able to use

a range of searchable sections including “Beef, Lamb or Pork”, “Cuts”, “Preparation Time”, “Season” and “Meal Type” to find recipes. They can also search for meals suitable for special calendar occasions such as Burns Night, Easter and Christmas.

Retailers stocking Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork, as well as members of Quality Meat Scotland’s Scotch Butchers

Club and Scotch Beef Club, are also listed on the site, providing consumers guidance on where to buy the brands.

Lesley Cameron, Director of Marketing and Communications with QMS said that with consumers cooking more at home from scratch due to movement restrictions, it is the perfect time

Two new on-trend chocolates unwrapped with support of SAC Consulting The Food & Drink team at SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), has supported two Scottish businesses to develop chocolate products to capitalise on consumer trends. Wellbeing start-up, Revivein10, has created a range of ‘healthy’ chocolate and social enterprise, 18

Grace Chocolates changing lives, will soon launch luxury vegan chocolates.

Working with the development chef at SRUC, both companies have focused on quality, natural ingredients with minimal additives.

Alistair Trail of the SAC Consulting Food & Drink team said, “In the UK, www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

to launch the re-vamped website.

The newly re-designed website is now live and can be accessed at: www.scotchkitchen. com Fans of the Scotch Kitchen can also share their latest culinary delights with others via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ScotchKitchen

consumers are more acutely aware of the nutritional or ethical value of the food they eat, particularly in the 25-35 age group, and ‘healthy’ chocolate is a growth market. The challenge with chocolate is altering the ingredients without losing the familiarity of the flavour or texture profile associated with it. Our SRUC Development Chef Mark Barker has a wealth of experience and technical knowledge, as well as an innate thirst for finding the right ingredient or balance that makes the product the best it can be.

He has worked with both Grace Chocolates and Revivein10 through several iterations to ensure the final product will entice and retain their target markets.�

A nurse by day, Susie Greig has a professional and personal interest in wellbeing. As part of her Revivein10 online toolkit which offers practical bitesize advice to improve health and wellbeing, she wanted to create a range of “healthy� chocolate made with natural, organic wholefoods. She approached SAC Consulting on the advice of Interface, which connects businesses with academics.

Keen for her customers to enjoy sweet treats without the guilt, she said: “Most chocolate will give you a wonderful high, then a slump, but by using wholefood ingredients and only natural sugars from these, we have created a chocolate that retains the nutritional benefits of the raw ingredients and has a lower glycaemic index to make you feel full and satisfied for longer.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 97

Arable Scotland 2020: coming to a screen near you

In recognition of the developing COVID-19 situation, Arable Scotland 2020 – Scotland’s newest field event focussing on arable crops – is moving to a virtual format with key activity taking place on the original date of the Thursday 2nd July and a suite of webinars, videos, podcasts, articles, press coverage and resources delivered online to continue to deliver the important messages and content of this key industry event. We hope even more people will be able to engage in this way and that we can collectively use this as a focal point to meet and interact in a virtual way.

This year the theme is “alternative crops� and the four zones are: 1) Novel crops, 2) Pulses, 3) Intercropping, and 4) Oats, along with other demonstrations predominantly on cereals.

Much of the Arable Scotland site at Balruddery Farm has been sown with demonstration plots in

support of these important and relevant themes. We have had to discontinue management of these plots but the themes will still form the basis of the virtual event, which all can attend online, which will still be supported by the specialists, scientists and industry stakeholders that made the event so successful in its inaugural year.

Another key component will be the “Arable Conversations�, so popular in 2019 which will take place as interactive webinars. These are (provisional titles): s 0LANT (EALTH h%NSURING plant health - Is biosecurity and good practice as hard for plant diseases as it is for human disease?� s :ERO #ARBON h)S ZERO carbon arable farming possible?� s -ARKETS AND /PPORTUNITIES “Is yield really king?� s &ARMING $IVERSIlCATION Alternative Crops/Food and Nutrition: “Is a plant-based diet the way forward?�

Each of these topics will have industry leads introducing some of the key issues, and some comments from some selected specialists and leading stakeholders. We will then have discussion and debate and the chance to table questions and air your thoughts.

The core event partners are the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the James Hutton Institute, with leading media partner The Scottish Farmer. Other key team members and sponsors are Hutchinsons, the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), the Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI) and the Scottish Society for Crops Research (SSCR).

Visit www.arablescotland. org.uk for more information.

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 19

topic

Multiple diversification is key to success for Stirlingshire Farm

By Susannah Pate

Matthew, Fiona and Richard Lamb

When Fiona and Richard Lamb left the Metropolitan Police in London and worked their way, via a smallholding in Lincolnshire, north to take over her parent’s 200-acre farm, they had to think differently and have not stopped since. From holiday lets to gin, with tea and reed canary grass on the way, the varied incomes of the business have created a strong core that has been able to flex with the times and respond to the demands and challenges of the wider environment.

Moving to Scotland in 1997, the former police officers took over Fordhead Farm near Kippen in Stirlingshire from Fiona’s parents after her father suffered a stroke.

The business was mainly based on selling hay alongside running an Aberdeen Angus suckler herd.

“When we took over the farm in the late nineties, farming was 20

at rock bottom,” said Richard. “I learned how to plaster to make ends meet, taking Fiona along as my assistant. We would feed the cattle first thing in the morning then go out on jobs by day and bed and feed the cattle when we got home.”

After a long hard look at the books, and on the advice of their accountant, the couple sold the cattle and focused on building up a holiday let business while continuing to sell hay. Doing most of the work themselves, they converted outbuildings in the steading into four self-catering cottages, latterly changed to longterm lets as other enterprises grew.

A new opportunity arose on another corner of the farm in 2006 when looking at an environmental scheme to create a Scottish native woodland on land where the cattle had been grazing:

“Richard had the foresight when planting the 9000 trees to keep back an area to build a coffee shop,” said Fiona. “Eventually after several years of battling with planners, we gained permission.

He always likes to do things really well, so the coffee shop was a bigger project than we had anticipated but he was absolutely right. It was an outstanding success and a real family effort with our daughter Catriona managing it.

We quickly had to double the size of the kitchen and we extended the footprint to include a farm shop.”

Last year, the family sold the Woodhouse Café and Farm Shop business but have kept the buildings for rental income.

Fiona and Richard’s son Matthew joined the business three years ago which has been a catalyst for some of the more recent diversifications. Demand for hay

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was declining as livestock farmers started to reduce herd numbers, triggering a need to look at other forms of income. There was limited land available and the soil is the heavy clay prevalent on the Carse of Stirling. Thinking outside the box kickstarted three different, albeit interrelated, diversifications.

The first came about when Richard and Matthew were curious about a grass that was growing naturally on field margins. They were put in touch with David Lawson at SAC Consulting, part of SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College), who identified it as reed canary grass, most often grown as a cover crop for pheasants, and on which SRUC had run trial plots to assess its value as a biofuel.

David was able to confirm that low alkaloid strains of reed canary grass were suitable for

topic silage and helped the Lambs to source seed from North America.

Unable to secure grant funding, the Lambs took the risk and invested in growing reed canary grass commercially for animal feed which has proved very productive.

“It grows well in wet ground, has high yields on half the fertiliser and, as a perennial for up to about 10 years, is reasonably low maintenance. We can grow it for both animal feed and biofuels,” said Richard. “David was so enthusiastic and helpful to work with. Trials are still underway but there is potential to extract the protein from reed canary grass for human consumption and also to use the by-product as a fibrous product for textiles in the fashion and packaging industries.”

“Richard and the family are always looking for new ideas and how you can make them work. It’s very impressive,” said David. “By looking at this naturally growing grass in a different way, they have added to the business’ bottom line.

For SAC Consulting and SRUC it has also been really valuable to see it actually grown on field-scale and

the implications of harvesting and weed-control.”

The second recent diversification came about following a chance conversation with a supplier looking to stock tea in the farm shop. There was excess heat available from the biomass boiler the Lambs had previously installed to heat the properties on the farm and for drying chip for local farmers.

Matthew, a horticulturalist at heart, started looking into growing tea and is, he believes, the first in Scotland to grow tea in polytunnels: “Tea plants are most at home in warm, shady and humid environments which is exactly what we have been able to create in the polytunnels using biomass energy. However, we control the heat to take the plants out of their comfort zone which stimulates our tea plants to produce a flavour unlike any other teas grown elsewhere in the world.”

Matthew’s skills and resilience were tested in the first year when the biomass boiler broke down and all 10,000 tea plants were lost.

The typical family entrepreneurial spirit undeterred, Matthew flew to Sri Lanka to source 1,000 of his own plants which he propagated himself. He is selling quite a few plants online for presents.

The tea growing led on to the third new enterprise, selling gin using their own tea as a botanical.

Gintì was launched at the end of 2019, tì derived from the Gaelic for tea and also as a nod to Scotsman James Taylor who introduced tea to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the 1800s. Available to buy online, the flavour profile is described as ‘classic gin - juniper, citrus, dry - but with well-balanced hints of herbaceous green tea’.

Matthew has plans to launch tea tours from the late summer: “We are actually going full circle back to tourism which is where Mum and Dad started with when they converted the self-catering cottages!”.

A further, very different and currently confidential, project is in the pipeline, subject to funding.

“As a family we have often done things quickly but not in a nutty way,” said Richard. “When

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we have faced external challenges – whether it’s Foot & Mouth, declining demand for hay, losing the tea plants and now Covid-19 - we have just been forced into thinking differently. We need to always be looking ahead to see how we can make the best of our assets to run the business at a profit, and we’ve enjoyed the variety of everything we do.”

As he pointed out, there is a synergy between all the enterprises – the biomass boiler heats the polytunnels to grow tea, the tea supplies ingredients for the gin, the tours will promote sales of the gin, and the reed canary grass may, in time, feed the boiler.

Kerry Allison, a senior consultant in business diversification at SAC Consulting, who has been supporting the Lamb family with current and the major pioneering upcoming project, said: “Quietly working away on new ideas, Fordhead Farm is synonymous with future thinking, diversification and always being just ahead of the curve.”

For more details on Gintì see www.gintigin.co.uk

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CROFTING

Crofting in the Outer Hebrides Crofting delivers important social, economic and biodiversity value say Highland and Islands’ SAC Consulting team There are 20,570 crofts in Scotland with 15,388 individual crofters, according to the Scottish Farm Advisory Service (FAS). Around 6,000 are based in the Western Isles.

The Isle of Lewis and Harris demonstrate the fundamental importance of Scotland’s crofters, who underpin the social, economic and biodiversity value of small-scale, and almost

invariably part-time, way of life to Scotland’s Highlands and Islands.

On these Outer Hebridean islands crofting is the predominant form of land use,

Karen and John MacLeod go back to Crofting’s roots Karen has shied away from a conventional approach to crofting on their croft is at Melbost on the Isle of Lewis. The croft has been in the John McLeod’s family since his great grandfather.

Karen says: “Back then crofts would never have been used for grazing sheep, they would have been put out to the moor and their croft would have been used for growing the family’s food.

It’s got a bit lost that people think crofts are for grazing sheep, we’re showing that we can grow vegetables here, as we have done for the last eight years.”

Karen takes an organic approach to her horticultural setup and used a Polycrub - a polytunnel designed to withstand high wind speeds and harsh climates - to grow a range of

Karen Macleod

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entailing managing some of the most difficult agricultural terrain, soil quality and climate in the UK. Crofts can range from a single farm animal and less than 1ha to more than 50ha, with the average holding around 5ha.

Contrary to some expectations, the last few years has seen an increase in the number of female and younger crofters entering the sector, according to SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Crofting has a strong tradition of diversification, and the advisory services are there to support.

“The young people are doing things differently and bringing diversification to our crofts.

Crofters will need support in the future, because their fear is that without it, it will become a desert out here - people will leave,” said Iain MacMillan, agricultural consultant at SAC Consulting in Stornoway.

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CROFTING crops, including grapes and a lemon tree. “I was born in the wrong generation and I want to grow and produce my own food like the original crofters did here.”

Before returning to Lewis, the couple used to live in Glasgow, where Karen worked as an obstetric ultrasound clinician and John worked as a chartered structural engineer in the oil industry. The couple now have three daughters and John works as a self-employed structural engineer.

Karen grows organic vegetables, as well as a huge variety of salads, fruits, including vines and lemons, and even olive trees. Everything is grown on the croft’s native soil, using a no-dig system that is fertilised with seaweed from the shores downhill from their croft. The croft is watered using harvested rainwater.

“The growing conditions are lovely in the Polycrub, even in early March when hailstones are lashing the outside, it’s beautifully warm in here. Our children come out to visit the Polycrub, they work out here with us and it takes them outside away from computers.”

Karen believes that the 80% Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme grant, applied for by SAC Consulting’s, Rob Black, gives young people and families a different, affordable opportunity to start in crofting on the Island. Her first has been so successful, SAC Consulting is applying for funding for a second Polycrub.

“You probably never going to make a living from doing this, but it can provide a lot for a young family. Saying that, I am starting to produce fermented foods like sauerkraut, and there is a potential there to sell this.

It’s also educational for the children in our family and the local schools.”

Successfully achieving CAGs funding for polyunits (the polytunnels and Polycrubs) has encourage a lot of crofters on the Isle of Lewis and Harris to install them to grow fresh produce.

SAC Consulting has now started

Kenny MacKay

a Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) Polyproduce supply chain project with polyunit producers and local retailers, cafes and restaurants, to find out what produce is being grown on the island and how a supply chain could be set up for local food outlets.

Kenny MacKay, South Harris Kenny MacKay is a crofter and joiner, he runs 280 ewes on South Harris and is looking to build a croft house with support from the Croft House Grant scheme, which will enable him to stay near his croft and to maintain the vibrancy in this rural community.

“Crofting is a way of life. Once it goes, there is no going back. I’m a joiner to trade. If I could croft every day and make a living, I would but there is no money in crofting. All the money coming in, goes back into the croft.”

Kenny crofts on 8ha of sublets and his own ground. He also has access to over 3,000ha of common grazing. His grazing includes access to salt marsh, which is managed as SSSI species rich grassland, known as ‘Machair’ land.

“The land is accessed by 41 crofters, all of the shares – and the land - are used, but only by four families,” he says. “We run our sheep and cattle together and pay gatherers to bring in the sheep, all of them have our own marks so that we can identify which animals belong to who.”

The shareholders are working with SAC Consulting to access a Common Grazing Grant to install a new covered fank facility. As a young crofter, Kenny is also eligible for 80% funding for developing his own croft under the CAGS scheme.

Support for crofters includes subsidies paid via the Common

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Agricultural Policy, as well as additional support mechanisms, including the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme for crofters for capital items (80% grant under 41yrs and within the first five years of the tenancy, 60% grant for any other crofter, up to £25k for two years), and for Common Grazings (up to £125k for collaborative investment e.g. new sheep handling facilities); and the Croft House Grant scheme (up to £38k, towards 40% of the costs to renovate or new build).

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 97 23

Made in Scotland Scotland is blessed with its fair share of the world’s best produce when it comes to natural heritage foods indigenous to our climate. We benefit, by enlarge, from steady rainfall and reasonable sunshine, the Gulf Stream and maritime breezes. Sure we have midges and haar but who has beef, lamb, shellfish, berries and game like us? Our dairy farmers are diversifying into high quality ice creams, cheeses and yoghurts and we have Scottish heritage grains grown commercially for the first time in over a century!

Indeed over fifty Scottish foods have been officially recognised as among the world’s valued heritage foods on Slow Food’s International website.

With such fabulous and intrinsically Scottish foods, past, present and future, this regular feature will focus on Scotland’s natural bounty and the folk who have used their ingenuity, passion and business acumen to use the produce in their own imitable ways.

Scotland’s Braw Berries

By Wendy Barrie Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife Director of Scottish Food Guide The other day someone said, and I quote, one of Scotland’s ‘weaknesses’ is its ‘unknown

John at Craigie’s

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cuisine.’ Well I never! Scotland has a strong food culture dating back centuries and Scots traditionally

ate a remarkably healthy diet.

Granted some strayed in the 70’s when international companies and ad agencies came on the scene, attempting to hoodwink us with ready-mashed potato powder, tinned pies and dehydrated curries but those hidden persuaders did not have a long-lasting effect and Scotland’s food culture, such as our berries, is re-established as world class…ye cannae whack it!

That decade was not great for dairy farmers either so the Sinclair family at Craigie Farm

by South Queensferry decided to swap cows for soft fruits and the rest is history. Interestingly when they started growing berries in the 80’s, Scottish berry farms were struggling: berry picking was in decline, cheap imports were threatening businesses and there were ten pick-your-own berry farms on the outskirts of Edinburgh alone. It was a daring move. But right from the start, the Sinclairs had a strategy, re-establishing the pick-your-own-for-jam market into an evolved have-a-fun-dayout-with-the-family, connect with food and return home with your gathered berries, a jar of jam and fresh farm produce. John returned from university in ’89 to join the family business with his parents George and Anne and Craigie’s continued to grow and consolidate its market.

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Sadly George passed away in ’95 but not before he had seen the incredible journey his berry farm had taken. From pick-your-own and jam-making beginnings, there was now a thriving farm shop, an expanding range of homegrown berries, fruit and vegetables and an established Jam Kitchen, run

by Anne, creating a successful selection of jams and chutneys.

John and his wife Kirsteen went on to raise a family and develop the enterprise, opening their café in 2006, doubling its size a couple of years later, expanding their delicatessen range and adding an imaginative choice of adventures for visiting families; from a nature detective trail and meet the animals to tractor and trailer rides.

These days John is a Senior Office Bearer and Member of the Board of Directors of RHASS and can be seen every year supporting the Royal Highland Show. You can also spot their cheery giant strawberry kiosk in the showground each June. For southerners, Wimbledon may be synonymous with strawberries and cream but for us Scots it has to be the Royal Highland!

John has established a range of varietals at Craigie’s, giving customers more berry options and extending his growing seasons. Strawberries are still the most popular by far, followed

by raspberries, brambles and tayberries. Their homegrown cherries are extremely popular but have a very short season. An increasing number of families value local produce, seeing the benefits to the environment and making an ethical choice.

John’s berries taste delicious and, like me, he believes in terroir and has no doubt that his traditionally cultivated fruit and vegetables, growing in Scottish soil with long hours of daylight, allow the sweetness to go down into the crop in a way you would never get from imported foods, often intensively grown, picked too early and loaded on planes

long before they reach retail. In a blind tasting his fruits were highly praised. In addition to berries he has planted orchards with thirteen varietals of apple, both heritage and contemporary, selling single varietal apple juice in season. The Jam Kitchen has a great range of preserves and chutneys – just like granny used to make. The best sellers are raspberry jam, marmalade and their gooseberry and rhubarb chutney.

Gooseberries are making a comeback - who would believe they were once 160 associations across the British Isles? Such was the popularity of competitive gooseberry growing in the

A selection of Craigie’s Jam Kitchen jams

nineteenth century there was a national publication, The Gooseberry Growers Register.

The oldest surviving gooseberry show is Egton Bridge in Yorkshire, established in 1800. If any one knows of any old Scottish varieties in existence do get in touch with me! The farther north, the better the flavour. Once known as the Nordic lemon, gooseberries were regularly eaten with mackerel, herring and duck dishes and also excellent for sparkling and still wines. Chefs with an interest in food culture are once again exploring these combinations on their menus.

Darwin had 54 varieties of gooseberries in his Kent garden and was fascinated by them. This led him to investigate their flowers in relation to the associated shades of the ripening berries and therein is his basis for the survival of the fittest in plant selection!

Growing up with both my parents hailing from Dundee it would be hard to escape the importance of soft fruits to the city’s history. The nearby Carse of Gowrie was world famous for its berries and crucial for the local economy: we weren’t taught jute, jam and journalism for nothing!

Without the modern developments of early and late crops, most berries were harvested in summer

when children were on holiday and families came from as far away as Glasgow to gather berries. Post WW2 there were many who relied on the extra income to make ends meet and labour was never hard to find.

After a couple of challenging decades for the Scottish berry industry, it is fantastic to see they are back in force and appreciated once again. A summer’s drive through the country lanes of Fife and Perthshire will confirm this. Thanks to early varietals and autumn treats there is great scope for delicious berries over many months, sheltered from our harshest weather by sturdy polytunnels. Seasonal jobbing students and professional pickers fill the fields and Scottish soft fruit is renowned worldwide. Some of the larger companies are apprehensive regards having sufficient pickers with Brexit fast approaching but many, like Craigie’s, are not so reliant on seasonal labour, where they retain a core staff and 80% of their berries are pick-your-own.

At the time of writing we are all in #lockdown and we await to see a return to a degree of normality but it looks like a bumper year for staycations – a ray of hope for Scottish hotels and restaurants and good for the berries. Many berry farms already have locals applying for jobs – students who would otherwise have travelled abroad for work are playing safe and getting organised on home turf.

The Sinclairs are a great example of farmers connecting folk with food production: the more young Scots understand how our food is grown, where to find it and what to do with it, the more hope we have for a Good Food Nation where seasonal produce, cooking skills and less processed food make a winning combination.

After all, we are what we eat.

Recipes with berries…

The possibilities are endless: smoothies and cranachan, tarts and mousses, ice creams and coulis. They can also be successfully preserved in jams, chutneys, cordials and freezing.

Check out my berry gateau on the recipe page.

Craigie’s strawberries

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TRAILERS

Trailers A brief look at few models available now in Scotland

Marshall Trailers of Aberdeen Marshall Trailers is an agricultural machinery manufacturer that specialises in trailers, spreaders, livestock containers and tankers. The picture shows the company’s QM-1200 model, which is part of the QM range of monocoque trailers. The range is available from 6 to 18.5 ton capacities in two body shapes, the long, low QM version and the short, deep QM00 build.

Combined with the extensive options list there is a QM model suitable for every farmer and contractor.

There are two unique features of the QM range, the first is the way the product is built and manufactured, and the second is what Marshall’s call the “dealer fit� concept. The company’s manufacturing facility is based in Aberdeen, Scotland and utilises a variety of cutting-edge equipment and specialist manufacturing software. The use of CNC saw lines, plasma cutters and press brakes ensure components and parts are produced to an exacting standard. In turn this allows extensive use of robotic welders

D-K-R

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Main Dealers for BROUGHAN Trailers

Agricultural Merchants Main dealers for MARSHALL and BATESON Trailers

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

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN 4EL s &!8 E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com 26

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

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TRAILERS that provide an unrivalled level of quality and finish; not just once but every time. This is all organised and managed by industry leading SAP software that tracks every part used in every model resulting in a consistent, high-quality product that is delivered on time.

The second important feature about the QM range is the “dealer fit” concept, basically every Marshall model is built in a modular way.

This allows 80% of the optional extras to be fitted without the need for fabrication or paint rectification; the options simply bolt on. The benefits of this are huge, trailers can be re-fitted to match customer requirements, reducing lead times, and there is now the possibility to upgrade machines throughout its life to match changing requirements and legislation. The customer is no longer stuck with the specification of machine originally purchased.

In Marshall Trailers own words, the product really is “Built for today. Driven by tomorrow.”

Over 160 years of Fleming Trailers Fleming Agri Products manufacture a wide range of trailers including general purpose trailers, grain trailers, silage trailers, dump trailers and bale trailers. With over 160 years of manufacturing heritage, and a team of more than 100 staff Fleming Agri manufacture strong, reliable trailers that finished to the highest quality.

The TR12 and TR14 are the largest tipping trailers in the Fleming Agri range and come with a range of options including grain chute and galvanized silage extension sides, making them the ideal multipurpose trailer. The TR12 and TR14 have a uniquely designed sprung drawbar, working with the multi leaf spring suspension to give

smoother towing and a heavy duty 5mm floor.

Fleming Agri tipping trailers start at 1.5T capacity, so

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regardless of the job you have to do, we have the trailer for the job. For moving bales this summer, Fleming Agri offer

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TRAILERS a range of bale trailers with hydraulic braked axles, rope boxes and rear lights as standard.

Fleming Agri now offer the heavy duty TR10HD 10T dump trailer to appeal to a wide range of users including farmers,

landscapers and civil engineers.

Our dump trailers are designed with multi leaf suspension, twin tipping rams for fast and clean unload and hydraulic back door with drop down door for digger loading as standard. The Fleming

range of dump trailers combine high tensile plate and channel to give a heavy-duty body, along with a hollow section chassis to reduce weight while maintaining strength in unfavourable ground conditions.

A full list of our Trailers and any optional extras can be found on our Website www.fleming-agri.co.uk.

Contact our Offices for more information on +44 (0) 2871 342637.

Broughan Trailers success in Scottish forestry Castleview Plant are one of Scotland’s leading forestry contractors taking on contracts throughout Scotland, ranging from New Build Roads, Road Upgrades, Quarrying and many other aspects of work such as General Plant Hire, Civil Engineering and Agricultural Contracting.

Castleview Plant is a family run business owned and ran by the MacGregor Family. Founder of the company Alasdair MacGregor Senior who is also the owner and manager of Rosehall and Bankhead Farms choose to start a friendship with Broughan Trailers through George at GRT Machinery.

Firstly, we introduced Broughan 20 tonne Dump Trailers to Castleview Plant and after great success with reliability and availability, we are now running 15 Broughan Trailers with a turnover of 22 Broughan Trailers in the past 6 years throughout our Plant Hire and Farming Business.

Castleview Plant run 10 Dump Trailers and 2 Plant Trailers. These Dump Trailers are working 65 Hours a week, hauling approximately 1,000 tonne a week. We are running these trailers 3 to 4 years with little to no breakdowns and a great resale value.

We currently run 15 Broughan Trailers with our maintenance kept to a high standard.

Broughan Trailers are very cost effective for our business with hassle free productivity.

Rosehall and Bankhead Farms are using 2 grain trailers both built to Alasdair’s specification

and a 34-foot bale trailer to assist in the 150 acre of harvest.

As a family, we prefer to stick to premium brands such as John Deere, CAT, Hitachi and most definitely Broughan Trailers.

We believe good business relationships are the way forward. After a recent visit to the Broughan factory, we seen that, like us the Broughan family are hardworking, very hands on and have the drive to deliver for their customers which makes it very easy for us to create a great bond with the company, like George at GRT Machinery who is very friendly and easy to work with.

As our Broughan dealer, GRT Machinery deliver on what they say.

The few times we have requested parts for these trailers, George has it dealt with immediately and down

time is kept to a minimum which is key in our business.

We would recommend Broughan Trailers to any Farming Business or Contractor.

Bailey Trailers reaching throughout Scotland Bailey is the leading brand of agricultural trailers in the UK. The company manufactures a comprehensive range of trailers, which are backed up by a Scottish dealer network that stretches from Argyle to Orkney.

Bailey’s aim is straightforward – to make farmers and contractors work easier by supplying robust, reliable trailers that keep going whatever the load, terrain or conditions. Bailey’s flagship range is TB. Designed to meet a multitude of haulage solutions the popular TB line up spans from 6 up to 24 tonnes.

TB 6 -11 tonne Designed for general-purpose haulage TB 6-11 tonne trailers are the ideal solution for businesses that require a compact,

dependable workhorse. All TB 6 – 11 models are mounted on an 8mm RHS chassis, which is designed to eliminate material spillage onto the road or yard.

Standard features on TB 6 -11 tonne trailers include agricultural axles, fixed drawbar and a swing door. Heavy-gauge sides, strengthening channels and heavy(continued on page 30)

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TRAILERS gauge floors provide protection against wear and tear. Long reach chromed tipping cylinders achieve approximately 50Âş of tip.

TB 12 -24 tonne The TB 12 -24 tonne range is designed for tough off road conditions. Available from 15.8m3 through to 51m3 TB will haul the lot, from arable and vegetables to silage and more.

All models are mounted on either an 8 or 10 mm RHS chassis.

Whether partially or fully loaded the ride is smooth across all terrains. TB 12 – 24 tonne trailers feature heavy-duty

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commercial axles on tandem springs and a sprung drawbar featuring a leaf spring. Braking is smooth too thanks to the hydraulic braking system which Bailey has developed to work in tandem with the tractor.

To compensate for wear and tear when loading heavy materials, all models feature heavy-gauge sides, strengthening channels and heavy-gauge floors.

For more information on the TB range or other Bailey trailers speak to your local Bailey dealer or visit baileytrailers.co.uk

Bateson Livestock Trailers

Bateson Livestock Trailers have been in production for over 70

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years during which time they have developed continuously to keep abreast of ever changing legislation with regard to motor vehicles and the transport of animals.

All standard models have a hot dipped galvanised chassis and are panelled with 2 mm toughened alloy sides and a heat reflecting, plastic coated galvanised steel roof, two rows of recessed vent channels are fitted with punched holes, allowing permanent ventilation, minimising water ingress and eliminating the possibility of trapping animals. The floor is an 18 mm Phenol coated panel covered with aluminium treadplate. All trailers up to 3500 kg are fitted with independent suspension axles and auto-reversing brakes.

Full road lights, locking hitch and spare wheel are all standard.

Model 90 LT and 100 LT are designed for use with tractors and have leaf spring suspension and hydraulic brakes. A cross division gate is standard in these trailers and optional in the other models. The maximum permitted pen lengths are 12ft for cattle. 10ft for pigs and sheep and 8ftfor calves.

A fold down top front section to improve ventilation and reduce wind resistance are also available on models 30 LT to 60 LT. The new Eurostock 336, has all the features of the 326 but with 3 axles and a maximum gross weight of 3500 kg. The trailer has 3 x 1300 kg axles with 165 x 13 8 ply tyres, with reinforced aluminium tread plate mudguards. Everything is designed to make livestock transport easier and safer with a safe environment for the stock. The roof is full height across the width maximising headroom and allowing 90 cm on each deck, making them suitable for calves.

environment Hydrogen fuelled tractor enthusiasm grows on Scottish farm

David Barron of Nether Aden in Aberdeenshire was one of a small number of farmers who has worked with SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), to identify ways to reduce his farm’s carbon footprint.

What started as a cursory interest in adapting practices on the 203-hectare 130-cow suckler beef and arable farm, has resulted in Mr Barron retrofitting two tractors and his farm jeep with a hydrogen electrolyser saving him 20% on his fuel costs, he suggests.

The first electrolyser, marketed as HydroGen, was fitted as part of the Farming for a Better Climate project he was involved in was coordinated by SAC Consulting, in partnership with the Scottish Government. The aim of the project was to define practical ways that farmers could make changes to adapt to a changing climate. A subsequent project funded by the Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) has brought together six Aberdeenshire farmers to explore further applications of the technology, including how to use surplus energy from farm wind turbines.

“The two biggest bills on my farm are fuel and fertiliser, both can be tackled by hydrogen,” Mr Barron, Chairman of the Scottish Beef Association, explains. “My

first hydrogen converter was bought by the Scottish Government as part of the Farming for a Better Climate project, it cost £6,000.

“I’m totally sold on the technology, the unit has worked so well, and now that the price has come down to £1,000 each, so I’ve paid to have two more installed one on another tractor and one in my jeep.”

In addition to the 20% fuel saving for all three vehicles, he has also seen other benefits. “There’s certainly more torque when you drive the tractors in a higher gear, which is very like driving a superior horsepower vehicle, and added to this, there are no emissions - there’s just nothing coming out of the lum.”

In monetary terms, the savings for David Barron’s telehandler – the first machine to be converted – equate to 1,083 litres of fuel, equivalent to 43,440kg CO2 and £596 annually, worth £2,980 over a five-year period. These calculations were made using SAC Consulting’s Agrecalc carbon measurement tool.

The hydrogen converter box is the size of a small suitcase, it contains a reservoir of water and an electrolyser which splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen by passing an electrical current through the tank.

Experimenting with Establishment Zach Reilly, Agricultural Consultant, SAC Consulting

Cover crops are any mixture of plants which are not sold as a cash crop and are usually grown in between crops in a rotation to offer soil protection and enhancement.

They can be used regularly and at different points in the season depending on their proceeding and following crops. Ensuring that conditions are right for growth is key to their success.

A group of farmers under the Farming for A Better Climate (FFBC) initiative are looking at a range of Soil Regenerative Agriculture techniques including experimenting with ways to ensure maximum cover crop growth in Scotland by addressing when and how the crops are sown and what mixes to grow. Finding a place within a rotation for cover crops is difficult due to later maturing cash crops such as spring barley and winter

wheat. However, last year the FFBC group established a cover crop directly into a standing crop two weeks prior to harvest. This allowed the cover to germinate before being covered in chopped straw at harvest. The extra two weeks of growth ensured there was enough heat and moisture in the soil to gain full soil cover for the winter months.

This year, the FFBC group aims to try it again to improve their technique.

One of the group members, Ross Mitchell from Castleton Farm, has modified a sprayer to improve seed distribution after finding that spreading seed with a fertiliser spinner is unable to throw the seed far enough. Ross says “Cover crop establishment timing in the Scottish climate is critical”. Adding “this year we are planning to broadcast cover crop seed into all late harvested crops”.

For more farm efficiency ideas and to read about other measures the Soil Regenerative Agriculture Group are considering, visit www.farmingforabetterclimate.org find us on Facebook and Twitter @SACFarm4Climate.

Farming for a Better Climate is funded by the Scottish Government as part of Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service www.fas.scot 41

Costa Rica A unique experience in many ways

By Fiona Sloan

WORLD FARMING

Costa Rica is unique in many ways from its Central and South America neighbours. Nestled between Nicaragua in the North and Panama in the South, in Central America, it borders both the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans.

It is one of the world’s most popular tourist areas, as it is home to around 5% of the planet’s species and thanks to its political stability, it stands out as a safe destination for travellers. With under five million people, it is also one of few countries in the world which does not have an army and its Spanish speaking people, are generally welcoming and good natured.

Costa Ricans, or Ticos as they are known, will tell you that they have two seasons, the “wet season” and the “not so wet season”.

With a stable political background and unique natural attractions, the country is heavily reliant on tourism, which is its main industry. However, reliance on exports to Europe for farming produce and imports from America of soy and wheat, for its processing sector, has encourage Costa Rica to take a different stand on agriculture from other Central/South American countries, which mostly rely on more extensive and less organic forms of production.

The increase in tourism, though, has seen very small farms disappear, as their workers migrated to this new industry for a better standard of living and those who are left, farm mainly on the mountains between 2000 and 3000 ft. Other larger farms joined and focused their production on constant testing, to ensure that food is being produced to both European and American standards to maintain these important markets.

Anyone not growing to these standards will be confined to a very local market. Chemicals are replaced by local and scientific remedies, which are working well.

Unlike their Caribbean neighbours,

Planting pineapples

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Costa Rica has embraced this new organic production and is thriving because of it.

However, this type of production also comes at a cost and production methods which require hands on attention, require many hands. To produce one pineapple takes one year. Most work is done by hand from planting to harvest.

So, how can we buy a Costa Rican pineapple for £1? The answer is that it has a poorly regulated farm worker system, which involves many poor and migrant workers coming undetected from neighbouring Nicaragua and other countries, earning poor wages and making it difficult for authorities

WORLD FARMING to know how many people are actually working in the sector.

A bunch of bananas for example, which contains around 200 fingers weighs between 35 and 50 kilos. All are cut down by hand, carried to a pulley line, which runs throughout the plantation and hooked on. A “runner” then collects around five bunches and runs pushing them along the line to the packing station, often several hundred yards away.

Pineapples, too, are very labour intensive. 10000sq metres of ground will grow around 70,000 plants, which are technically flowers and not fruits. Workers plant by hand, at an astounding rate and the plants are then fed with manure, through spraying, until they weigh 6lbs, which takes about five months.

The area is then divided into blocks, to make access and monitoring easier and natural

hormones are introduced to encourage the “flower” to appear.

The pineapple is ready to harvest by hand a year after it is planted.

Pineapples attract a particular butterfly, which lays its eggs on the petals and the resulting caterpillars can damage the fruit and so these are regularly treated with a mix of garlic, sweet pepper and fish oil, ensuring the maintenance of the organic system.

Together with sugar cane, rice and dairy produce, Costa Rica also produces top quality coffee. As one of the world’s lesser producers, in terms of quantity, it relies on its coffee, like much of its production, to supply a premium market worldwide, with the poorer quality being used for home consumption.

This small country has found niche markets in its tourism, agricultural production and its politics which, works to everyone’s advantage.

Pineapples are regularly health checked

Bumper crops are buoying South Australia’s almond industry as demand for its long shelf life product continues to soar Almond growers are harvesting a bumper crop in South Australia as demand for their long life and healthy product skyrockets.

As COVID-19 rocks markets globally, the local almond industry has been buoyed by ideal weather conditions, strong demand and machine harvesting being unaffected by social distancing rules.

South Australia’s leading nut producer Almondco is in the midst of seasonal harvest that started in February with 150 staff now working at its processing

Almonds

facility in the Riverland of South Australia.

Group sales and marketing manager Tim Jackson said last year was a record harvest in Australia and this season appeared to be matching figures of about 100,000 tonnes.

“The quality has really stood up, unfortunately drought conditions aren’t good for many other crops but dry weather across the summer is ideal for our industry with less disease and insect pressures,” Jackson said.

Domestic sales are strong with Jackson saying supermarkets had reported huge demand for the longer shelf life almonds and products like almond meal as shoppers cooked more at home during social distancing.

Almondco exports 60 per cent of its product with its key market in China also growing after the Chinese trade war with the United States affected the world’s largest almond growing region in California.

Jackson said China was beginning to lift restrictions and despite uncertainty about ships and container availability, exports looked positive with demand growing for almonds.

It was unclear, at this stage, how the local industry would traverse its other more traditional export markets in Europe and India, with India this week extending its lockdown period.

“We are fortunate we have a shelf stable product, we will be doing our best to sell our whole

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crop this year but we don’t have as much time pressure as some other products,” he said.

“We are also fortunate to have such a healthy product with such a good name for what it provides, people who can afford it are looking for shelf stable products to buy and with healthy benefits.”

Almondco was created as a grower co-operative and counts more than 80 per cent of all almond growers in Australia as contributing members, it is now the second largest processor of almonds in Australia.

The Riverland processing facility at Renmark handled about 28,000 tonnes of almonds last year, and Almondco also has a hulling and shelling facility at Lyrup in the Riverland and one across the South Australian border in the Riverina.

Jackson said work was also on track to create a world-class Renmark processing facility, the $28.55 million expansion was announced late last year.

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science & technology

Barn Owl Wireless, An Agri-Tech Solution to Reducing Waste Thirty percent of yearly food waste on UK farms is cereals, with a value of £26m for wheat alone, according to data collected in 2017 by the charity WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). This, coupled with unexpected events such as extreme winter flooding and the coronavirus pandemic that lead to panic buying of £1billion worth of food in just 3 weeks, means it has never been more important to ensure flexibility and security of our food supply systems. There is huge potential to reduce the amount of waste by simply promoting best storage practice. Martin Lishman’s well trusted Barn Owl Wireless systems have helped farmers all over the UK optimise their crop storage conditions, drastically reducing waste and retaining a higher-quality yield.

The introduction of Barn Owl Wireless systems to crop stores 10 years ago gave UK farmers a newfound ability to monitor and control crop stores remotely and get the most out of their stored crop. Our current need to avoid unnecessary travel to remote sites, and stay safely isolated back on the farm, has reinforced this benefit. The wireless crop sensors, fan controllers and online portal provide not only a first-hand view into the crops condition, but also the ability to turn cooling fans on and off using fully automatic fan control modes when it is most efficient to do so.

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Ian Clayton-Bailey, Martin Lishman’s Sales Director said: “Insect Infestations can wreak havoc in a grain heap if not properly handled; grain temperatures can rise unexpectedly resulting in a drastic loss in quality. Having the ability to drive grain temperatures down quickly and efficiently to an acceptable level with the use of a reliable system such as Barn Owl Wireless, significantly reduces the risk of quality loss”.

Barn Owl Wireless systems use wireless temperature sensors, installed in many different configurations to suit any shape and size of grain silo or flat floor store, to transmit temperature data to the user via the mobile phone network and a cloud-based server. Store managers can then log on to the Barn Owl Wireless web page on any internet-enabled device, check temperature and humidity readings for all their stores and manage the cooling fans according to the data shown on screen. Fans can be controlled automatically to cool or dry the grain without the need to travel unnecessarily to visit the store which, during the current nationwide lockdown, is key to helping farmers keep the essential work going.

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Southern Belle What a difference a year makes!

This time last year, I was confined to quarters looking after six collie pups.

The winter tour season had finished and the summer groups would start arriving shortly. It was warm and dry and the puppies were loving the great outdoors.

This year, I am confined with two adults, who came to celebrate my 60th birthday and never left! The lock down occurred that weekend and three weeks in, we haven’t killed one another, which is a good result for three people who mostly live on their own.

I have offices in the sun lounge and the spare room.

Tourism is non-existent for the foreseeable and I have no work or income. I’ve pretty much turned into a 1950’s housewife. (the only time you’ll her me use that term) My cooking and baking skills have improved no end and my seedlings are sharing the sun lounge with my long-suffering other half. I’ve even cut the grass twice already!

How lucky are we! We have a home we are all stuck in together, no shortage of

food, neighbours who all help one another, a large garden to amuse ourselves in and endless beautiful walks available for remote exercise (not recreation).

Farming is continuing as normal and our usual moans of too much rain then not enough rain continue.

Crops are growing, dairy cattle are starting to appear in the fields and we’ve had the best weather for lambing for a very long time. We await the arrival of the swallows!

Meanwhile, all around us people are falling ill and dying, front line staff are working to exhaustion and we could never have imagined this outside of a sci fi movie. Our week is punctuated by the joy of meeting on a Thursday night, socially distancing outside my cottage and clapping for the NHS, while we listen to the bagpipes and watching the wee girl further up the village do a highland dance.

Who knows what next year will bring?

It will certainly be a changed world we are living in.

Who are you?

I’m Sally Williams and along with my parents, we run a dairy and sheep farm on the Scottish Borders where I predominantly manage the dairy side unit.

My husband works off farm and we have two children aged two and four.

current circumstances, the 2020 Conference theme of “Growing a Healthy Society” seems even more relevant.

As a team we are watching the advice from government closely and will decide what format to host the 2021 conference closer to the date (January 2021).

Could you please describe for me your first experience of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC)?

The first time I attended the Oxford Farming Conference as a Scholar and I was lucky to be supported by SRUC to attend.

Simply going to Oxford and sitting in the great hall creates an energy of learning and I was blown away by the standard of speakers and the variety of delegates that attended – I’ve been back every year since.

Do you have a standout moment from your time attending the Oxford Farming Conferences?

Unfortunately, I can’t narrow it down to just one - I have two.

Mark Lynas spoke at the 2013 Oxford Farming Conference and his speech on genetically modified (GM) crops blew my mind. As a former environmental activist totally opposed to genetically modified food, Mark discovered science, which turned his beliefs about GM around.

The second stand out moment for me was Eve Turow Paul’s presentation at the 2018 conference about understanding food culture and how millennials are changing the food landscape and, most importantly, how we as farmers and food producers need to respond.

When did you first become an OFC Director?

I applied in 2016 to become an Oxford Farming Conference Director and I was unsuccessful.

I decided to apply again after someone recommended I give it another try and that’s when I joined the committee.

I think it’s important for people to know that just because you aren’t successful the first time around doesn’t mean you don’t have the right skills or something to contribute. It’s perhaps not the right time and there’s nothing wrong with applying again.

Why did you want to be part of the OFC Council?

Oxford has given me so much and this is a way of me giving back.

My belief is how can I expect other people to step up and play a part if I don’t do the same? I’ve always been one to put up my hand and contribute, whether it was with young farmers – which led me to be SAYFC’s National Chairman for 2012- 13 – or other local organisations.

There has been a lot of profile given to the Women in Ag movement recently. Although I am not part of that movement, I think it’s important that women are seen stepping up to the plate and especially with two young

THE INTERVIEW Sally Williams Oxford Farming Conference 2021 Chairman

Sally Williams

daughters, I want them to grow up thinking it is perfectly normal for women (and men) to do whatever they turn their minds to without feeling held back due to gender, age or whatever might mark you out as different. By taking on the role of Chairman this year, I am practising what I preach.

What’s the best advice – solicited or not! – that you’ve received?

It’s technically not advice I’ve received, but when Doug Avery was touring Scotland he talked about “flying in your V”, like geese. When he explained that if you can get quality people around you, somewhat like mentors but it doesn’t have to be as formal, you can learn and grow and that had a profound effect on me.

When I examined my “V” or support networks at the time, I thought I could only identify my husband but, in reality, there are many people in our lives we can rely on not just in the bad times, but the good times as well.

What, for you, makes good leadership?

Honesty.

Taking the current circumstances into consideration, what can we expect from Oxford 2021?

Oxford has always been a place for the industry to come together, weather the biggest issues facing agriculture and prepare for the future. In previous years debate has been dominated by issues such as Brexit, but now with the

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Why would you recommend coming to the Oxford Farming Conference?

Each delegate who attends the Oxford Farming Conference does so for reasons different from the person sitting next to them – but that’s the beauty of the conference. Some people go for the ability to network with industry representatives, politicians and the like, whereas others go to hear from thought provoking speakers.

For me, with it being at the start of a new year, OFC is a great opportunity to re-set after the over-indulgent Christmas period!

For more information on the Oxford Farming Conference visit their website www.ofc.org.uk and follow them on twitter at @ oxfordfarming.

Applications are currently open to become a Director of the conference.

Sally’s Twitter Handle: @sals83 35

Gearing up for an Autumn LEAF Open Farm Sunday this year Like many events in the farming calendar this year, LEAF Open Farm Sunday has had to reconsider its options, but plans are still in place to hold ‘farming’s annual open day’ this Autumn.

The organisers, Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) are encouraging farmers all over Britain to open their gates to the public on Sunday 20th September instead of on the traditional date of the second Sunday in June. It will be the first time this annual initiative has been held in September giving the public an insight into farming during a different season.

“Harvest has always been a time of thanksgiving and sharing – by holding LEAF Open Farm Sunday in September it will give families the chance to see what’s happening on farms at a different time of year and pay tribute to our farmers who have kept us supplied with nutritious food over the past few challenging months,” said Annabel Shackleton, the event’s national manager. “In addition to our regular events, we hope that farmers who are usually too busy to take part in June will take the opportunity to host an event in September. Many farms, such as top fruit growers will be at their peak, whilst other farmers will be preparing soils for winter crops.

The Autumn farming story is special in its own unique way – every farm has a story to share, and the public want to hear it.

“We are also very aware that many diversified businesses have been greatly affected by the impact 36

Getting close up with the cows

of coronavirus. LEAF Open Farm Sunday can shine a spotlight on these enterprises and boost business revenue. Hosting a LOFS event enables farmers to promote every aspect of their business producing nutritious food, energy and other commodities, managing our natural resources, plus diversifications such as farm shops and agri-tourism-based businesses.

Farms make a key contribution to the rural economy and we need the public to value this too.”

Organising a LEAF Open Farming Sunday event should not be an overwhelming challenge and Annabel encourages farmers to start small:

“A farm walk or small showand-tell in the yard can make a powerful impression. It doesn’t need to be a big labour-intensive event. This year we are introducing additional off-the-shelf resources for farmers to make it easier than ever to put together a LOFS event.

It’s fully flexible, supporting farmers to design events that suit them and their farm.”

While farm gates will not be opening to the public as planned in June, to mark the original date (7th June), LEAF Open Farm Sunday will be hosting a celebration of farming on social media: Facebook LEAFopenfarmsunday; Twitter @ OpenFarmSunday.

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CASE STUDY: Open your gates this LEAF Open Farm Sunday to promote your diversification business For any diversification business that is public facing, LEAF Open Farm Sunday is a “no brainer”, says Caroline Millar, who runs a 650-acre mixed farm in central Scotland with her husband Ross.

With panoramic views across Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire, the family grows wheat and malting barley alongside rearing 250 breeding ewes and 80 cows from which they produce Scotch lamb and Scotch beef.

OPEN FARM SUNDAY In 2005, after travelling the world and staying in some incredible places, Caroline and Ross developed a diversification business on the farm offering adultonly five-star romantic Hideaways, a collection of self-catering ecohouses each with a hot tub, sauna and woodburning stove.

“LEAF Open Farm Sunday is an ideal way to get people onto your farm and showcase your diversification business – whether it’s a farm shop, adventure tourism or accommodation - while also showing the public first-hand the work we as farmers do to produce food and look after the countryside,” says Caroline.

“There is a large gap between consumers and farmers, and we feel that farmers should take some responsibility and contribute to the sales and marketing of our industry. LEAF Open Farm Sunday is a great way to do this and helps connect the public to the landscape and the agricultural industry.”

The Millars first got involved with LEAF Open Farm Sunday in 2016. Due to their location near a city, Dundee, the family decided to manage visitor attendance using a free ticketing system. They capped the capacity to 300 and had staged arrival times to manage the flow of visitors and prevent any congestion on the roads leading to the farm.

On arrival, visitors were issued maps of the farm and were able to follow a self-guided route marked on the map.

“We had trails, games, bottle feeding lambs and various stations set up in the fields, with designated volunteers and experts we’d asked to help – such as a local egg producer, seed merchant, a vet and an agronomist. This meant there were plenty of people for visitors to talk to and find out first-hand about the farming enterprise and the broader industry,” says Caroline.

As their diversification business is based on offering complete privacy for guests, the Millars didn’t feel it was appropriate to host the event near the Hideaways so they held it on another part of the farm but still took the opportunity to promote them: “We set up a station about the Hideaways and offered visitors the

Open Farm Sunday helper talks about eggs

chance to enter a competition to win a short break. We also asked visitors to fill in feedback forms, where we requested permission to add them to our Hideaways mailing list. The feedback forms were a great success with the majority of visitors filling them out and over 50% allowed us to add them to the mailing list.”

Caroline believes many farmers are put off hosting LEAF Open Farm Sunday because they think they need to have a large event. She recommends starting small: “There is no getting away from it, any event you organise will take time to plan and prepare and the more you offer the more you need to prepare. For anyone that is nervous about hosting for the first time, start small. Host a farm tour for a dozen people from the local village and offer them a cuppa and scone afterwards. Even a small event like this will help build bridges with the local community and consumers, which is really valuable and there is no doubt it’s a really rewarding event to do.”

LEAF Open Farm Sunday offer as much help and advice as you need, including free promotional resources and the Host Farmer Handbook. The Millars used a lot of their resources when preparing for their event, including their risk assessment and ideas on planning, promotion and activities.

Caroline’s Top Tips 1. If you have a diversification, make sure you showcase and utilise it at your LEAF Open Farm Sunday event: a. Competitions to win an experience/produce b. Capture visitor information for mailing lists c. If it’s not possible to show the diversification business, have a station with information (e.g. leaflets or PowerPoint slides) 2. Your LOFS event does not have to be massive. Whether its for 12 or 120 people, make sure you feel comfortable and can cope with the number of visitors you attract.

3. Plan – no matter how big or small your event, it will be a lot less stressful and run more efficiently with proper planning. We start planning for our event a couple of months prior to LEAF Open Farm Sunday.

4. Use friends, family and neighbours – they love getting involved and it takes the pressure off you to do everything.

You can also get other local businesses involved to sell their own products. For our activities, we invite local businesses, such as the vets, butchers and other small rural businesses and farmers that were on hand to talk about their profession, service or product.

5. Feedback forms – during the event you often don’t have time to reflect and take in what is going on around you.

We found the LOFS feedback forms very useful in order to see what worked well and as a record of memories from the event, with visitors writing what they enjoyed and what they had learnt from visiting our event.

6. Have fun! Enjoy sharing your farming story with the local community.

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NORTHERN ISLES News

Environmentally friendly fresh milk Shoppers in Orkney aiming to be more environmentally friendly will now be able to get their milk in refillable glass bottles thanks to a new venture involving two local family firms.

Kirkwall retailer William Shearer is hosting the refill station for milk from Crantit Dairy in a move that is aimed at cutting down on single-use plastic and reducing food miles.

William Shearer from the Victoria Street general merchants explained that the bottles folk will buy are in the very retro style of the old Crantit Dairy milk bottle, which would have been delivered to local doorsteps until 2002.

He told the Orkney Farmer: “People will come in and can buy their bottle and then get a refill of a pint of either low-fat or full-cream milk. They can even take back their plastic bottles and get them refilled. The idea certainly is to reduce the plastic and get refills of the old-fashioned milk bottle.”

Fresh milk easily dispensed

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It is all part of the growing drive to reduce, re-use and recycle.

William said: “I was aware from speaking to Graham Bichan from Crantit Dairy that up until 2002, when they stopped the flatpacked milk cartons and also milk bottles, they took home four artic loads of cardboard milk cartons but now they take home around 40 artic loads a year of plastic milk bottles, so it’s trying to greatly reduce the plastic and help the environment as well.”

William hopes that the move will be received positively. He said it was about doing something different to the supermarkets, although he thought they might follow in time.

He explained that it was an idea that he had been working on since being in touch with Shetland Farm Dairies.

“I actually thought about it last year but looking at the size of some of these refill machines they

William Shearer is hosting the refill station for milk from Crantit Dairy

were hugely expensive. Shetland Dairies came up with an excellent idea there of a small dispensing unit. I think the younger folk are now more environmentally aware, and David Attenborough on the Blue Planet has made everybody even more aware of the need to cut down on plastic use.”

Speaking of the link up with Crantit, William said that using local milk was every bit as important as the waste reduction part of the venture.

“I think that it is very important to support the local dairy farming industry in the respect that people need to be more aware of the low food miles as far as the transporting of milk goes,” he said.

Graham Bichan from Crantit Dairy agreed that it was “massively important” to support local farmers.

“For us, with no farmers there is no business. This offers an option where it has to be local milk, so it is a point of difference from the milk coming in from south.”

Speaking of his part in the new venture, Graham said: “It is something we have been wanting to do for a little while, there has definitely been a demand.”

He said he had seen vending machines, but they were very

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expensive. However when he had seen the Shetland Dairies solution, he realised it was doable at a smaller scale.

“William at Shearers obviously had seen it at the same time and was very keen. It fits in well here with his other refillable options.”

Recycling was a key part of the new venture, Graham agreed.

“I think it is very important. There has to be a change; we have to stop using the plastic bottles and this is a small step towards that.”

On the partnership itself, Graham said: “It’s very good.

We are both family companies and we’re both well established within Orkney. We didn’t have to push it; we both had the idea at the same time and just wanted to make it happen.

This is very small scale, but you have to start somewhere, and the solutions aren’t always there. It’s not easy for us to just stop doing plastic and switch to glass especially at our scale because the dairy industry has really been taken over by superdairies. There are only two or three plants supplying the whole of Scotland so for the guys making the plant there are few dairies out there, so they don’t make small kit.”

Shetland’s farmers and crofters to survey for wildlife Council - Natural Heritage and a small number of land managers also involved.

Shetland is home to high numbers of waders such as lapwing and curlew. Nationally, these birds have seen dramatic declines. In Scotland for example, we have lost over 60% of curlews in the last 25 years. Here, after a long winter away, they are back to nest on inbye land. They depend

on farming and crofting practices that maintain their favoured sites, like wetlands and wet grasslands lightly grazed in the spring.

Nathalie Pion, RSPB Conservation Advisor in Shetland says: “Waders depend on how farmers and crofters manage their land. Farmers’ knowledge and skills are key to their protection.”

The pilot project will give a group of 10 land managers an opportunity to learn about the birds on their own land, and what they need to successfully nest and raise chicks. The participants will collect information on their fields during spring and summer, such as the sward length, the plants they find, and the birds they see. They will receive a financial reward to do so. The information will then be used to create a scorecard to measure the quality of fields for waders, and best-practice guidance to share management methods that

work for waders with the wider Shetland agricultural community.

Cecil Eunson, SLMG Chairman, encourages any farmer or crofter interested in learning more and participating in the project, to get in touch: “With current uncertainties around the future of agri-environment schemes, it is very important that the agricultural sector engages in thinking about how we can best manage our environment.”

No prior knowledge is required. Training, guidance and support throughout the season will be given. Due to current Covid19 restrictions, training will be delivered online and support will be provided remotely. An internet connection will be needed.

For more information, have a look at the project’s introduction video and contact SLMG on slmgoffice@slmg.co.uk or 01595 694392.

Photo by Amy Millard, RSPB Images

Photo by Ian Francis, RSPB Images

A new project is launching in Shetland to help farmers and crofters get involved in looking after wildlife on their land.

The 10-month ParkLife project is a partnership led by Shetland Livestock Marketing Group (SLMG), with RSPB Scotland, Scottish Organic Producers Association, SAC Consulting, NFU Scotland, Shetland Amenity Trust, and Shetland Islands

Curlew Silverford

Lapwing

In association with

info@orkneyfarmer.co.uk Tel: 01856 876406

www.shetlandtimes.co.uk Tel: 01595 742000 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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Investing in

People

Scottish land matching service launches new website The unique Scottish service which matches new entrants and developing businesses with wellestablished farmers and crofters who may be looking to step back has a new dedicated website at: www.slms.scot Momentum behind the Scottish Land Matching Service launched last year has continued to grow.

Before lockdown, manager Ian Davidson had been busy meeting with people interested in the opportunities for joint ventures. The new website will ensure it continues to build on that interest.

The website explains how the service operates and will allow people to register their interest,

whether seeking or offering an opportunity. It also includes listings of opportunities that are already registered. Regular blogs will also appear to keep people up to date with anything that might have an impact on opportunities.

SLMS manager Ian Davidson said “I am really pleased that we now have the website live. We have aimed to keep it simple to follow and use.

“The site will allow all those with an interest to keep up to date – whether offering or seeking opportunities.

“If anyone using the site finds something of interest then please contact me for a confidential discussion and more details.”

Ian Davidson

Union backs Lantra skills matching hub Service set to keep businesses staffed during crisis NFU Scotland is backing a new skills matching hub designed to help livestock farm businesses should coronavirus affect their workforce.

The service, provided through Lantra Scotland, will look to match up employers with the right potential employees.

It looks to hear from individuals with skills and experience in areas such as general agriculture, animal care and machine operation who are perhaps looking for work, a career change, or even those who are just happy to lend a hand, if needed.

To join the skills matching service, visit www.scotland.lantra. co.uk/skills-matching-service.

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Find out more by contacting Lantra Scotland on 01738 310164 or emailingscotland@lantra. co.uk.

NFU Scotland Policy Manager Penny Middleton said: “During the Covid-19 epidemic, work carries on for farmers but that does not leave them, or their workers, immune to infection or a need to isolate.

“Farmers or crofters advertising for skilled individuals for specific roles may easily be overrun with applicants. This hub will help ensure those with the right skills can be more easily identified.

“As well it being important to ensure continuity and avoid animal welfare problems resulting from illness or staff absences, farms and other key

rural businesses need to be able to access the wider skilled and experienced workers they may require.

“The Lantra ‘hub’ will filter and match requirement and demand. This will include key skills required by farms and other land-based businesses (such as telehandlers, tractor work, livestock handling etc.) or where animal welfare might be a priority.

“It will also track students and workers to effectively ‘filter’ applicants for farmers and other key rural land-based businesses to streamline the process. Lantra and Scottish Government have been in touch with vet schools and agricultural colleges and asked them to contact students who may be available

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Penny Middleton

futurefarmer AGCO’S acclaimed apprenticeship scheme filling the staffing void and delivering the next generation of expert agricultural engineers AGCO is helping to address some of the staffing issues within the agricultural sector as its dealership network is able to take advantage of one of the most recognised and renowned engineering apprenticeship schemes across all sectors.

Now in its 21st year, the AGCO Apprenticeship Scheme has helped an overwhelming number of young people to join the land-based engineering sector in the UK, and develop a career for life with leading brands such as Massey Ferguson, Valtra and Fendt.

The scheme is a partnership between the industry leading AGCO Corporation, and agricultural engineering education specialists Moreton Morrell College, part of WCG in Warwickshire, and Coleg Cambria Llysfasi in Wales. The industry created and approved training is designed for young engineers to develop into positions within the agricultural sector with AGCO dealerships across the UK. It has been the starting point for some of the most highly respected and coveted agricultural engineers in the sector. Supported

by AGCO’s nationwide network of service dealerships, the AGCO Apprenticeship scheme offers aspiring engineers the opportunity to build a rewarding vocation, often in a sector they had not previously considered.

Anthony Linfield, AGCO Training Development Manager explains, “Our dealership networks are actively encouraging new members of their service teams to undertake

the apprenticeship scheme. It delivers an industry approved qualification, while allowing participants to gain fantastic hands-on practical skills within their depot, through the AGCO backed scheme.”

This year, some 40 new budding agricultural engineers have taken the first-steps to a career through the AGCO Apprenticeship scheme, as they join either from the Year 1 Cohort or join from a Level 2 status elsewhere to continue to the Level 3 qualification offered via AGCO. They join a total of some 90 apprentices across all year Cohorts of the apprenticeship scheme, which now includes the new end-point assessment (EPA). Under new apprenticeship reforms, all apprentices must now complete an EPA, designed to test whether each has gained the skills, knowledge and behaviours to complete their apprenticeship.

“The EPA further enhances what is already recognised as one of the best engineering apprenticeships across all industries,” explains Mr Linfield.

He concludes, “Ultimately, AGCO dealerships benefit from highly trained engineers and technicians, and the graduates can develop a career for life in a sector that sits at the cutting edge of technology.”

Contact the AGCO training departments directly via MasseyFerguson.

Apprenticeship@agcocorp.com, Fendt.Apprenticeship@agcocorp. com or Valtra.Apprenticeship@ agcocorp.com for more details.

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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.

There is no question, life is about to change

By Rebecca Dawes Most of us have had time to reflect during the lockdown and refocus on what is important, both personally and professionally.

This includes the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) which was established in 1957 and has held a conference every two years, bringing together delegates from almost fifty show societies across twenty-one countries.

The conference that was due to be hosted in Norfolk in 2020 will not go ahead but the opportunity to bring people together is not lost.

Never before have we felt as close with our friends across the world thanks to the advancement of technology.

Until recently, the video conference tool Zoom was primarily used in a professional capacity however households across the world are now logging in to use it for virtual pub and quiz nights. More than 200 million meeting participants are using it daily, an increase of 728% since March 2020, with conversations now taking place outside of “9 to 5” so international participants can join.

Events are looking to restructure so they take

place online, offering a wider scope on the topics and speakers that are involved thanks to the ability to connect anywhere in the world without the high cost of travel expenses, and the increase in availability as everyone reassesses their diaries.

Connectingthecommonwealth is not just about sound.

A recent survey by Royal Society for the Arts (RSA) and the Food Foundation discovered more than 19 million British people (38%) are cooking more from scratch with 3 million (6%) ordering food or signing up for a veg box scheme for the very first time. I was recently introduced to crowdfarming. com, a transparent and sustainable way to source your food right from the country and the farmer who has grown, made, or reared it including honey, pasta, oranges and lemons. Yes, we must support British but our desire for products we can’t produce here in the UK will not diminish so perhaps our newfound passion for cooking and ordering online can be extended across the Commonwealth

Rebecca Dawes is the Next Generation Trustee for the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) and Director of the Rural Youth Project.

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farming diversification

The Art of Delivery

By Janice Hopper

Whilst many consumers still love the ease of ordering their meat and veg direct from one of the big supermarkets, there’s been a passion for supporting small producers offering something different. The quest for organic, vegan, vegetarian, low food miles, and local provenance are all trends and genuine passions that have pointed people in the direction of farmers and growers willing to deliver.

The public increasingly wish to support local businesses, rather than anonymous multinationals.

They wish to track their food, be healthier by avoiding toxins and chemicals, and lower their plastic consumption by receiving a crate of veg, rather than every fruit and vegetable in its own plastic/ polystyrene container.

Bridgefoot Organic Coop started back in 1991 in Newmachar, Aberdeenshire, one of the first in Aberdeenshire to start selling organic vegetables via a box scheme. Farmer, Colin Ward operated a relatively small eighteen acre farm supplying 400 boxes a week. A combination of poly

tunnels, fields, and a chicken coop, allowed Ward to grow a variety of hardy Scottish veg, combined with more delicate salads and organic eggs.

AFFORDABILITY The term ‘co-op’ emerged after Ward retired and the community stepped in to buy the business, and Bridgefoot pushed another key topic - affordability. Organic vegetable boxes don’t necessarily sound cheap, but Bridgefoot state, “we often beat the supermarket on like-for-like items … Organic food is cheapest when bought directly from a farmer or a producer …

Buying local, organic food often costs less than the non-organic equivalent”. Affordability is key.

TIME Another burning issue for potential consumers is time. People may have good intentions, but if they’re time-short the reality of regularly visiting a farm shop or traipsing to a farmers’ market simply doesn’t happen. Home deliveries, ideally on a simple direct debit scheme, win the day.

CHOICE The surprise element of what vegetables are actually in each box can appeal to some consumers, but perhaps flies in the face of those who prefer to organise and meal plan. Many customers will accept a randomly selected box when it’s pointed out that it clearly helps with food waste. Alternatively, Bridgefoot does offer a bespoke box for an additional £3.50. Giving consumers options to suit their needs and preferences usually delivers.

COVID-19 At the time of writing, the food delivery industry had gone into overdrive, as the public tried to supplement supermarket shops, avoid them entirely, or replace them as delivery slots became elusive. Farmers who’d diversified into mail order food had their work cut out for them as they suddenly became part of the frontline army keeping Scotland fed. Whilst most of the public were urged to #StayHome, the farmers were more important than ever.

Suddenly, nobody was eating out,

MARSHALL’S FARM SHOP Marshall’s, a popular farm shop with a tea room near Kintore, had to temporarily shut its cafe but, instead, was allowing customers to place orders for those who were isolating, and deliver items to their car. This service then expanded into orders for everyone - boxes straight to the carpark, maintaining the social distancing guidance. The boxes were vast and varied - fruit and veg, meat, bakery, cheese and eggs. Homemade items such as pies, sausages rolls, quiches, scotch eggs, fish cakes, cheesecakes, sticky toffee pudding, and rice puddings could also be packed away for hungry recipients. Simple takeaways were available too,

Bridgefoot Extra large veg box

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so the demand for cooking with fresh ingredients significantly heightened.

Bridgefoot reported that ‘our orders have increased by a minimum of 2400%’. Respected veg box providers, such as Vital Veg near Inverurie, had to update their Facebook page in March to say, ‘We can’t take any new customers at the present time.

We have been overwhelmed with orders and enquiries.’ Bridgefoot announced a similar position in the same month, establishing a waiting list ‘prioritising those who are elderly and self-isolating or are in enforced isolation, as well as expectant mothers and those with compromised health and key workers’.

These producers were worked to utter capacity, and it must have been so rewarding to make such a difference. Small companies cannot magic staff out of thin air, or produce/source tons of extra vegetables overnight to meet vastly growing orders, but they did their bit, to the best of their abilities. In some cases, farm shops adapted their offering to step into the breach.

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farming diversification

Bridgefoot Propagation Trays

alongside new products to help out, such as bags of flours, pulses, rice and sugar.

As Mother’s Day passed in a blur for many of us, Marshall’s organised Afternoon Teas for mum.

For £9, mummies were treated to scones with clotted cream and jam, baking treats, sandwiches and vol au vents. An imaginative treat under extreme circumstances.

MAIL ORDER MAESTROS! DONALD RUSSELL Aberdeenshire is certainly home to some mail order pros. Donald

Marshall’s assorted groceries

Russell boasts forty years of craft butchery. Alongside the lamb, pork and beef, seafood and game are also on offer via online orders Communication was key for these suppliers, to the extent that Donald Russell drafted a Covid-19 FAQ page for its website.

Alongside basic information, Donald Russell offered assurances that the supermarkets couldn’t.

Whilst orders with supermarkets became increasingly hit and miss, rife with substitutions or cancelled items, Donald Russell could say that ‘If our stocks are too low,

we’ll remove the product from sale – simple as that … but as a rule, if you’ve been able to order it, you’ll receive it.’ Those with a family to feed truly appreciated such guarantees.

Admittedly, when we come out of this crisis, the world will have changed in ways we can’t yet predict, but it seems the popularity of local veg and meat boxes may be here to stay. Hopefully an increased appreciation of local

food production and the people who grow it for us will stick in customers’ long term memories.

Please check the current order times, and who is/isn’t taking new customers here. Situations are changing quickly:bridgefootorganic.com vitalveg.co.uk marshallsfarmshop.co.uk donaldrussell.com

Marshall’s meat selection

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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Travel Scotland

Escape to Craigduckie Shepherds Huts

by Janice Hopper At the time of writing travel was simply not on the cards as a global population faced a unique period in history. But when a slice of normality begins to return, and we cautiously start to explore Scotland and the wider world again, then remote, rural and beautiful destinations will be a gentle reintroduction for tentative travellers.

Craigduckie Shepherds Huts in Fife are an excellent example.

Two pastel green huts perch on a country hilltop, with a track connecting them to a working sheep farm. In these picturesque and rugged surroundings visitors

Janice and family meet the lambs

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can escape from it all. This glamping experience is the pride and passion of farmer Katie Roberts, who welcomed her first guests in April 2019.

“I’d considered welcoming guests to the farm for some time’, says Katie, ‘and we’d be looking up wigwams and pods, when I came across Shepherds Huts, created by Wigmarsh Shepherds Huts in Shropshire.

They were a perfect fit for us.

Traditionally, shepherds would retreat to the hills and remain in their huts for the lambing season, so we’ve adapted that history for modern tourists”.

A fire pit and barbecue allow for outdoor cooking on long summer evenings, but step inside the huts to discover interiors that are cleverly practical, yet cute as a button. Inside, discover a family dining area bedecked in tartan, which folds away to reveal a double bed. Bunk beds for little ones are tucked away by day, and provide colourful arguments over the top bunk as night falls. The kitchen area is furnished, with condiments and cleaning products and cloths provided. A wood burning stove truly pumps out the heat, making these huts cosy and welcoming after farmyard adventures.

And a smart shower room with piping hot water ensures that Craigduckie is at the luxury end of the glamping spectrum.

Guests bring their own food and drink, but, as an added treat, breakfast hampers can be ordered, packed with local produce. Simon Howie bacon and sausages, black pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, orange juice, breakfast cereals, bananas,

Surrounded by lambs

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yogurt, warm freshly made bread, and butter, mean that a hamper lasts the weekend. It’s also possible to preorder lamb burgers direct from Craigduckie, to get the barbecue started.

Guests at Craigduckie are welcome to visit the farm, accompanied, and join Katie for a farm tour. But for 2020, she introduced a Lambing Experience to allow Spring visitors to really get involved with the animals. It’s only available to those who overnight at the huts, there’s no additional cost to participate, and there’s no pressure to take part if it’s not your cup of tea.

“We wanted to add something different, a special reason to visit our glamping huts rather than anyone else’s. We’ve always had friends visit at lambing time, and everyone loved the experience, which made us think there may be a demand for an actual ‘lambing experience’, says Katie.

‘Guests can feed, water and bed the ewes who have given birth, check the pre-natal shed for signs

Travel Scotland of lambing, monitor the ewes and lambs that have moved to the nursery shed, bottle feed the pet lambs (we feed them four times a day at 7am, 12 noon, 5pm and 10pm), and muck out the pens.

We’ve found that what really appeals is simply holding the lambs, and getting close to them in a way that most families simply haven’t experienced before. We have around 120 ewes lambing in March, followed by another 1000 in April, so there’s no shortage of lambs ready for a gentle cuddle”.

Guests learn about the scanning system on the pregnant ewes and can ask questions about the different breeds or sheep

Ewe View hut

on location, how the lambing is managed, and about the farming process. It’s an excellent place to teach young and old alike about how their food, their lamb, is produced. The wool is another product, sold direct to British Wool each summer.

There are approximately 1100 sheep on the farm, with mainly mules and some Suffolks, Texel Crosses and Shetland sheep.

Beulah ewes are purchased from Wales and crossed with Blueface Leicesters. Katie’s sons also have two Hebridean ewes. The farm is also home to sixty breeding cows, which are a mix of Limousin, Hereford

and Blonde Crosses, all put to a Blonde bull.

Three sheep dogs, Fly, Nellie and Mist, welcome the guests and pad alongside them as farm tours get underway. Craigduckie also has two pigs who are a huge hit: whilst guests can’t enter the pens with them, they certainly take photographs and help provide them with food and fresh straw.

The Roberts have young children of their own, who make the farm a welcoming place for youngsters. Like most farmer’s sons, Lewis and Logan, aged 9 and 6, accompany their parents around the farm, and help out as appropriate. For family holidaymakers at the huts, the boys are great play-fellows for visiting young children, and naturally encourage and interact with visitors.

“It’s a great experience for our lads too’, says Katie. ‘They don’t live on a cul de sac, playing with neighbouring children, so they love meeting other children and showing them around.

Children seem to instantly make friends. ” For the most dedicated visitors, it’s possible to attend and assist with a birth, with

guidance of course. Katie will phone her guests in the middle of night to alert them of a birth, and it’s up to them if they want to leave the cosy confines of the shepherds huts. This is a holiday experience, so guests dip in and out of the farming experience, there’s no pressure to attend.

Meanwhile Katie and her husband work through the night as required.

“It’s certainly challenging, running the farm, lambing by night, looking after the children and welcoming the guests too, but the lambing period is only a brief window of time. We can always see light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s a pleasure to share this experience with people.”

When guests meet Katie it’s easy to sense her genuine warm welcome, and down to earth passion for the project.

Not everyone has the right personality for the hospitality industry, but Katie and her boys make it look easy.

Whilst it’s perfectly possible to remain holed up in the Shepherds Huts, or experiencing the farm, the Fife town of Dunfermline is a mere ten minutes drive away.

Key stops in the town include Carnegie Museum and Gallery. Its cafe dishes up stunning afternoon teas with sweeping views over the Abbey.

The building sums up the key events, people and industries of Dunfermline. The town itself was a gift from James VI to his new wife Queen Anne of Denmark.

Famous faces from Dunfermline include entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, musician Barbara Dickson and author Iain Banks.

The vibrantly peach-coloured Abbott’s House is on the doorstep of the museum, and the Abbey comes under the stewardship of Historic Scotland. Escape to greenery once more by taking a tour around the town’s expansive Pittencrieff Park. Then return once more to Craigduckie, and the lambs, for a cosy night in.

Discover more at craigduckie.co.uk

Craigduckie

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Women in Agriculture Scotland Getting on with the job of farming

Women have always had a key role in farming but their contribution is hard to quantify either because unpaid work or, in more modern times, off-farm income is often not recognised.

For previous generations in agriculture, women were often expected to stay at home and help their mothers with housework and to fill the tins with freshly made home baking to take to the men who were out working on the farm. Their mothers perhaps helped with the paperwork in the farm office but they were seldom encouraged to assist with livestock handling or drive a tractor. These were jobs for the men to do.

With this segregation of the duties of men and women on the farm, it is not surprising that in the past we have heard of stories of people coming to a farm with a delivery and on being greeted by a woman coming out to unload the delivery being asked “Is the farmer around?”. When the woman replies “I am the farmer”, they are then asked “Well can I speak to the boss?”.

Thankfully that is changing.

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Catherine Sloan

Catherine Sloan, the youngest member of the Women in Agriculture Scotland Committee, is an agricultural and rural property solicitor in Edinburgh. She is also a keen member of SAYFC and is currently the Agri & Rural Affairs Vice Chairman for SAYFC. Catherine grew up on an arable farm in Perthshire and continues to be actively involved in the family business at home.

She said “I feel fortunate to be part of a generation where a woman working in agriculture is considered to be ordinary rather than extraordinary. At SAYFC our Agri & Rural Affairs events are often attended

by equal numbers of men and women. Today there are many more women choosing to undertake training and careers in agriculture. I have many female family and friends who are farmers running their own businesses who do not want any recognition for being a ‘woman in agriculture’, they just want to get on with doing the job they love. For young women, things are definitely changing.

Unfortunately for other women there are still stories where women feel disheartened because they feel ignored or they have been pushed away and they don’t have any influence in the decision-making on the future of

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the family farm. To that extent, there is still more progress to be made.”

The aim of Women in Agriculture Scotland is to support, inspire and develop women in Scottish agriculture to achieve their aspirations and create a more progressive, successful and inclusive industry. The events held by the organisation are designed to give women the confidence to reach their full potential within the agricultural industry. They also cover practical issues too and can be a useful opportunity to undertake CPD training with workshops often covering technology, banking, legal and accountancy updates. The events are also an opportunity to share ideas and develop a network of contacts.

For Catherine, “the success of the organisation and for all women will be when being a woman in agriculture is no longer newsworthy”.

For more information on Women in Agriculture Scotland, search for Women in Agriculture Scotland on Facebook.

TRAINVIEW TALK

COVID-19….there wont be a person in the country that hasn’t been affected in some sort of way. Thankfully we are all well and I can’t help feeling how fortunate we are.

The farm work and important role of producing food has to continue.

The biggest impact has been trying to work my part time job at home with two kids under three to also entertain… many working parents will understand that challenge!

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with so many new pressures and sometimes you just have to step back and say enough is enough I cannot do it all! Something I know I can struggle with.

For Trainview it’s pretty much business as usual with some important changes to how we operate. We had cattle booked for UA Stirling the week restrictions tightened so we decided to delay selling until the week after and I have to say well done to auction marts for their swift action to keep marts going. The process was seamless and we were happy with the prices achieved for what was our ‘gather up’ sale.

One thing that has helped has been a pretty kind spring, we have been able to turn out all cattle except for those still to calve. We’re only about half way through spring calving with some nice calves on the ground.

One bitter disappointment has been 2 of our Pedigree Shorthorn cows having Limousin calves after a neighbours bull broke in several times. I am biting my tongue to what I really want to say about the whole situation.

This was our last chance to get calves off our stock bull Trainview Prince before he was sold south. These are both valuable cows who have produced great pedigree

DIARY

Trainview Talk Our new diary page

By James Cameron calves. The potential financial cost aside it feels like our hard work has gone to waste. We have some great neighbours but not all are cut from the same cloth! One thing at least the calves are healthy and will get sold as weanlings in the backend.

Fortunately we have been able to secure all our grazing already this spring, even before the Angus grass lets were cancelled due to Covid.

All except some youngstock everything is within a few miles of home, which will be a big fuel and more importantly time saver.

Our Herdwicks are lambing and we are very pleased with the cross with the Ryeland tup. They are very

good at getting on with the job themselves. Frustratingly a suspect a fox has been behind the disappearance of a lamb so a field shift and some tar has been deployed to hopefully mitigate any further loses, on our tiny flock vermin could soon have a terrible impact. One pet has also just landed in the kitchen of which both boys are just delighted with…how soon will the novelty wear off?!

James’s work at Dunlouise continues there is plenty of spring grass work to do which is highly compatible with social distancing. One change is that James has reduced some other not so essential self-employed farm work so as to help protect

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our small family and working group.

On a very exciting note I am delighted that I will be growing seasonal cut flowers once more with local grower Kelly Orr (no relation!) of Blooming Bees in Forfar.

Before moving to Scotland I grew a large range of seasonal flowers commercially and it’s something I have really missed.

We both have kids the same age so by bringing together our combined skills we hope to bring lots of fresh seasonal flowers to Angus. There’s no denying that the flower industry has been badly hit by Covid, with 90% of all flowers sold in UK imported from abroad flower crops worldwide have had to be destroyed with flower shops closed and weddings cancelled. Large Angus daffodil growers have been impacted too. Our flower season is just starting and we have just launched an online ordering and delivery system in line with all safe social distancing measures outlined by authorities. The response has been quite overwhelming!

Flowers can bring so much comfort and joy in what are unprecedented times.

Covid has turned our supply chains upside down, a whole rebalancing of food production for one is going on and I just hope that a turn to buying Scottish and British food first is a lasting one.

Local butchers, grocers, farm shops have all stepped up to the mark and have to be commended for the services they are providing in such challenging times, keeping everyone including our NHS heroes all fed and watered.

As I type I have just had to rescue poor pet Lamby as Alec (almost 3) thought it would enjoy a hurl down the slide! Stay safe folks and take time to enjoy life’s little treasures.

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beef Bielgrange Benefits from Electronic Identification Regularly weighing and electronic identification in cattle has helped Bielgrange Farm to monitor the health of livestock and optimise their performance.

2018 Agriscot Scottish Beef Farmer of the Year, Niall Jeffrey of Bielgrange Farm in East Lothian operates a mixed arable and beef enterprise in which he rears and finishes cattle.

Weighing cattle can aid in management decisions such as selecting breeding females, deciding an appropriate weaning time and when to select finished for slaughter. At Beilgrange weaned calves are weighed every six weeks throughout winter and fattening cattle every 3 to 4 weeks through the finishing period.

Time and geographical restraints are the biggest limitations to weighing cattle for the Jeffreys who run a mixed farming business over four different farms. This makes weighing through the grazing season difficult with the main handling facilities at one steading.

Mr Jeffrey commented: “Electronic identification has been a game changer for weighing cattle. It doubles the speed of the process and the information recorded is more accurate and reduces the chance of human error.

“The EID tag is read as the animal enters the crush, then when the weight is stable the weigh head records the weight against the UK ID number of the animal. At the end of the session you can look though the statistics of animals on the screen or upload the file to farm management software on the office PC. This process takes about 10 - 15 minutes and once on the office PC you can run reports and look at statistics till your heart is content”.

The use of EID and weighing equipment has come at an extra expense for the business; the tag cost is about an additional £1/per head at birth and stick reader is around £600. However, Mr Jeffrey believes this is fully justified commenting: “The labour saving alone is worthwhile before you add in

the removal of human error, the weigh crush can have two people accurately weigh 100 fat cattle in an hour”.

As well as using EID to monitor weights, the Jeffreys have the use of two Ritchie beef monitors installed through AgriEpicentre.

Mr Jeffrey added: “The Ritchie beef monitors are primarily used for animals 450kg

and above through the finishing period, but we have used them in 350kg weaned calves as well.

“I would love to use them with a group of bulling cows to track their performance through the bulling season then cross check the information with scanning results to get a better understanding of fertility, but, unfortunately, we don’t have enough beef monitors for that.”

Call for greater transparency in the beef chain NFU Scotland was written to the UK government calling for action to deliver better price transparency in the beef supply chain once the

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COVID-19 outbreak is over.

Strong sales of beef, particularly mince, through retailers and butchers’ shops

throughout the pandemic have been hugely encouraging for the red meat sector. More traditional joints have been more difficult to sell. To secure better carcase balance, promotional activities over the Easter weekend have focussed on higher value cuts such as roasts and steaks.

However, farmgate prices for beef cattle have been falling.

In a letter to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice MP, NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said: “Transparency is one of the conditions required for a free market to be efficient.

From farm to fork, food prices develop along a food supply chain that involves farmers, the food

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processing industry and retailers.

“While the work of the Grocery Code Adjudicator has delivered a significant amount of oversight between the relationship of processors and retailers, there is little transparency on what determines the price processors pay to farmers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the marketplace. Food service sales have plummeted, and retail sales are strong in parts and are fluctuating in others.

“There is huge frustration being expressed by beef farmers right across the country on what is happening to beef prices and this is a direct result of the lack of transparency in the meat industry”.

beef Claims cutting beef consumption helps climate scientifically wrong

crofting Crofting in the crisis

By Patrick Krause, Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation

Claims that a world without ruminant livestock and diets free of red meat will reverse climate change are scientifically wrong.

That was the message from Dr Jason Rowntree, associate professor in animal science at Michigan State University who addressed the World Hereford Conference in Queenstown and tackled some of the issues associated with the now perceived environmental benefits of eating a plant-based diet.

Jason said: “Common sense has been missing in debates about the role of livestock and climate change. Managed properly, grass-fed ruminants, such as Herefords, can enhance and improve the environment by increasing organic matter, microbial activity and biodiversity while sequestering carbon in the soil.”

The nutritional density of red meat is also forgotten, he explained. With Hereford cattle internationally recognised for their ability to convert forage to high quality protein, Jason was in good company to discuss these merits.

He explained: “For instance, it would take three cups of quinoa totalling 670 calories to get the

same amount (25 grammes) of protein as a 85g (3 oz) serving of beef at only 170 calories.

Comparing apples to pears is difficult leaving the subject open to statistical miscalculations and casting a misleading light onto beef.

“Growing vegetables is hard and extractive on the soil.

Pasture-fed livestock can help to capture carbon, which is more stable in grassland than it is in forests,” he said.

Jason went on to state 1 billion of the world’s poorest people directly depend on grazing livestock for their livelihoods. These ruminants are being unfairly pinpointed as the source of greenhouse gases, he said, but as an industry we need to get better at counteracting these claims.

He said: “If all livestock in the US were eliminated and every American followed a vegan diet, greenhouse emissions would only reduce by 2.6 per cent, or 0.36 per cent globally.

“It’s a drop in the bucket,” he said. “And, at the same time, this would lead to an increase in use of synthetic fertiliser, a nutrientdeficient diet and increased soil erosion.

Crofting is not easy at the best of times but the current Covid-19 pandemic situation is exacerbating any usual problems and creating more.

Lambing and calving have started and help is probably of major concern to many; relatives, friends and workers who usually come to muck in not being able to travel. The animal welfare situation can become critical very rapidly and the urgency of this is appreciated. In response Scottish Government has asked Lantra Scotland to set-up and operate a skills matching service to help fill any shortages. In particular, there are significant concerns about probable shortages of workers with the necessary skills to help with lambing and calving. If you have appropriate skills or are needing help, find out more by contacting Lantra Scotland on 01738 310164 or emailing SMS@lantra.co. uk.

Crofters are experiencing difficulties with abattoirs no longer taking small-batch private kills, but apparently this was a temporary overload due to an initial response to the pandemic and normal service will hopefully resume. Crofters

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were considering home-kill, but the rules forbid meat being shared outwith immediate family. This has been raised with Food Standards Scotland but no relaxation of the rules will be made.

Our mental health is often overlooked in a situation like this as we tend to focus on the danger to our physical wellbeing.

Our mental wellbeing is just as important and we are currently being put under an abnormal amount of strain. RSABI supports people from agriculture emotionally, practically and financially in times of need. Don’t be shy to contact them on 0300 111 4166. If they can’t directly provide the support needed, they generally know someone who can. The Scottish Rural Mental Health Forum website also has lots of helpful information and contacts.

Crofters are very resilient and good at helping each other, something that is essential for living in crofting areas. There has never been a time more important to show the spirit of a good neighbour. May I finish by saying that I hope that you and all your loved ones are well, and long may that be.

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livestock Paddock Grazing Success on Orkney Willie Harcus from Quanterness Farm has improved both grass and livestock performance on his Orkney farm since adopting better grazing management over the last year.

Part of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Orkney Managed Grazing Group, Quanterness Farm has 370 Aberdeen Angus cows and 580 Shetland cross ewes along with cereals across 546 hectares.

Orkney Managed Grazing consists of six pioneering farmers based on Orkney and Shetland who are working with leading livestock industry experts to develop and implement a managed grazing system that is suited to the local grass growing conditions. The overall aim of the initiative is to increase the profitability of red meat production in Orkney through a peer-to-peer knowledge exchange network Being part of the group has encouraged Willie to consider the changes he could make to increase margins. One of the new initiatives implemented at Quanterness is the introduction of rotational grazing.

Willie Harcus commented: “The previous system of set

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stocked grazing was always a bit of guess work as we would have great peaks and troughs when it came to grass growth. Spring growth was late and slow, and the summer was awash with grass. I had tried some paddocks in the past with some success, but it was never really explained that well.

“Being part of the QMS Orkney managed grazing group has given me the knowledge and confidence to introduce a rotational grazing system successfully across the whole farm and I now measure grass using a QMS sward stick and input figures into the quick and simple QMS grazing spreadsheet to work out feed budgets. Being part of the group has made me think seriously about the changes I could make to increase margins.”

Download a free copy of the QMS Quick and Simple Grazing Planning spreadsheet by visiting https://www.qmscotland.co.uk/grazing

A wide range of animal husbandry products from BD Supplies B D Supplies. We are a leading supplier of Animal husbandry and Hoof trimming equipment.

The owners of the company are from farming families and worked in the agricultural

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industry before establishing B D Supplies in 2000. Starting small by just supplying the Medi-Dart injection system from Canada and Parke Rotary Clippers from Australia then increasing our product range to become one of the UK’s leading suppliers of hoof trimming equipment.

We can supply anything hoof trimming from a basic knife right through to the hoof trimming chutes which won us Gold in the Royal Highland Technical Innovation Award 2016. We also offer a comprehensive range of animal husbandry equipment.

With expansion into a thriving Biomass Wood Pellet delivery business, becoming fully BSL and Hetas registered and offering both bagged and bulk deliveries into the domestic and commercial market. With the investment into two lorries specifically designed to deliver bulk pellets in their optimum form has definitely been worthwhile for our expanding company.

livestock First Year of GrassCheckGB Programme Delivers Strong Results We took the wood pellets on with the same ethos as the agricultural side of the business - Quality products which we believe in and trust rather than just price.

Agriculture is still a huge part of our business and we are always looking at bringing new products to the UK market and promoting products which we feel have a benefit in the UK farming industry.

We pride ourselves on customer service and to us ‘the customer does come first’.

Introducing the SmartBunker from Greenans The perfect storage bin for animal feed, whether it is for your farm animal or family pet, the smart bunker has an easy to dispense lever, keeping animal feed dry, fresh (first in first out), and vermin proof.

SmartBunker® has a unique easy to operate dispensing mechanism. Simply place the bucket inside, then pull the handle downwards to release the meal. Very little force is required.

As you let go, the handle returns automatically and flows into the bucket stops.

What you need to know?

Animal Feed storage bin or barrel’s or plastic bags, sitting on the ground creates condensation and damp, Resulting in mouldy feed that is feed to your Animal.

SmartBunker maintain’s a high level of hygiene due to low levels of mould and yeast growth.

The first year of the GrasscheckGB programme has delivered strong results for the nine beef and sheep pilot farms in Scotland.

GrassCheckGB aims to improve grassland productivity and pasture utilisation on dairy, beef and sheep farms through a grassland performance monitoring network.

This project is a collaboration between Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), together with CIEL (Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock) and researchers at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Rothamsted Research, as well as industry sponsors Germinal, Waitrose & Partners, Sciantec Analytical, Datamars Livestock and Handley Enterprises Ltd. CIEL is supporting the purchase of equipment on farms through funds from Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency.

Pilot farmers are required to measure grass each week throughout the growing season, with regular grass samples taken for quality analysis. Each farmer has an electronic plate meter to measure grass yield on their farm and an automatic weather station to record key meteorological data such as temperature, rainfall and sunlight levels.

The recent end of year report has highlighted

Scottish on-farm grassland production averaged 11.298 t DM/ha. Through rotational grazing and measuring grass weekly, Scottish farms managed to utilise over 80% of the grass grown, showing a high level of technical expertise from the Scottish pilot farmers.

Regional grass growth differences were shown to be linked to weather conditions, with the south of England experiencing extreme summer heat followed by a very wet autumn. This was confirmed by the on-farm weather station data with Scotland recording the UK’s highest grass growth rates during June and July due to an ideal combination of soil moisture and temperature.

One of the pilot farmers, John Ritchie of Montalt Farm near Perth said he has seen many benefits of being part of the project.

“The output at Montalt farm has increased from 380 kg to 540 kg of live weight sold per hectare over the last five years because we’ve learned how to utilise our grass better by rotating stock and measuring,” explained Mr Ritchie. “As a business, we are now looking to grow an average of 9000kg of dry matter per hectare on our improved ground.”

Mr Ritchie added that paddock grazing has also helped him reduce fertilizer use significantly.

“In 2019 we didn’t use any fertilizer on our grazing

fields and hope this will continue due to better understanding of grass management. Only 75 units of Nitrogen has been used on the ground set aside for silage and we are looking to reduce this further in the future,” he added.

John Evans, Cattle and Sheep Specialist with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), said: “We’ve just entered the second year of the GrassCheckGB programme and farmers will continue to measure grass each week until October, which will be reported to the industry on a weekly basis.

“The automated onfarm weather stations will continue to take regular readings and this, along with the grass data, will allow farmers to make timely management decisions.”

GrassCheckGB publishes weekly summary bulletins on twitter (@GrasscheckGB) throughout the grazing season, detailing average farm grass growth rates across the country, soil conditions and weekly total rainfall. Bulletins include management notes tailored to the current conditions recorded on project farms throughout the grazing season.

For more information and to find your nearest Grasscheck farm go onto the project website at grasscheckGB.co.uk.

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livestock

The

VET

Is your biosecurity any good - if it really mattered?

Storing feed in metal dustbins is not recommended due to the likelihood of condensation (first project) development and an increased moisture content that can promote mould and yeast growth.

Storing feed in plastic feed bags with no other protection did not reduce feed hygiene in this study however it is

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not recommended due to the unstable environment within the plastic bag and the potential for vermin to contaminate feed with faeces and urine.

To obtain a special readers £10 discount, simply mention Farming Scotland Magazine when you call Greenans on 02843 770845

So I’ve just washed my hands, disinfected my keyboard with a wipe and am ready to write this article! We are all now experts in personal hygiene and keeping our distance from each other as well as understanding the principles of epidemiology and “flattening the curve”.It appears that our communal efforts are starting to have some effect but it will be long haul to overcome the coronavirus pandemic. The basic principles of hygiene and isolation as a biosecurity measure apply as much to any other disease whether affecting humans or animals so we should pay heed.

Despite control measures coronavirus has made a good job of spreading itself globally and why is that? - because it affects humans, and we can’t control them!

It’s interesting to watch the different approaches to control being implemented around the world. There is of course not the same global movements of animals but the contingency planning for exotic disease in animals in the UK has some huge advantages over human disease. Where exotic disease eg Foot and Mouth Disease is suspected and confirmed, movement restrictions are immediately put in place , a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone wont be lifted until after usually 30days after no further cases.

Surveillance testing forms one important pillar of control. The second is tracing and testing of in contact animals and this is one of the main reasons why we have identification of individual animals and movement records. It makes it

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By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group relatively easy to quickly stop the disease spreading. So maybe we need humans to have lug numbers too! The third arm of control is looking at the epidemiology of the disease - this looks at the interaction of the host animal with the disease agent as well as the environment and assesses the risks for spread.

Closer to home these same principles help keep disease out, a closed herd with no bought in animals, bought in bulls from known health status herds quarantined and tested prior to joining the herd. Don’t be tempted to buy in that replacement calf!

Secure boundaries with double fencing. Keep visitors, contractors, equipment away from animals. Take the initiative - put up signage, provide disinfectant foot baths - its your farm, protect your disease status. There is then the endemic disease you do have on farm, that needs controlled to stop spread within your farm - we’re back to hand washing! But also cleaning out and disinfection, providing a clean dry environment especially for young animals.

Stocking densities and shared age groups within the same airspace also need thought about - animals don’t like wearing masks!

Take the time to rethink your biosecurity, it is essential for the productivity and welfare of your animals, so it does really matter - always!

sheep New farm manager breaks the mould at JAHAMA Highland Estates

Jahama Highland Estates has appointed Chloe Malcolm as manager of its 12,000 acres of upland farming operations in the Glenshero and Inverlair areas.

Chloe, 25, was born and brought up on a local Highlands farm and has experience in farming in Devon, Dumfries and on the Isle of Bute.

Her appointment, at one of Scotland’s largest hill farming operations, represents a departure from the usual demographic for a farm manager. Only 16% of farm managers in Scotland are female, and only 4% are younger than 35[1].

She has been brought in with a mandate to innovate and to enhance Jahama Highland Estates’ meat offering – including focusing on rearing good quality native sheep, with the possibility of expanding into native cattle and venison.

Jahama’s farms have nearly 600 sheep reared on land close to settlements in the Glens where conditions permit. Over time, the company hopes to create more opportunities for partners to farm on Jahama’s land in order to enhance economic opportunities for local communities.

Julia Stoddart, Chief Operating Officer, Jahama Highland Estates, said: “We’re delighted to have Chloe on board. She’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to our farming operation, which is of vital importance to the local economy and environment.”

Chloe Malcolm said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this new challenge. Our goal is to produce good quality livestock as part of our sustainable Estate business – while taking good care of the landscape and of natural resources.”

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Sheep Health Webinar

By Maime Paterson Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane

The ‘B-word’ has been replaced by the ‘C-word’ and for millions of people, their lives have been turned upside down by COVID-19.

But farm life goes on as normal. Spring has sprung and Mother Nature doesn’t make allowances for social distancing and self-isolation.

However, humans must adhere to the rules, and one casualty of COVID is the programme of roadshows planned by NSA, the Moredun Research Institute and SRUC on the subject of iceberg diseases of sheep.

‘Iceberg disease’ is a term used to describe one of five diseases which may exist in a flock unnoticed, or be diagnosed as a different disease. Affected sheep may be symptom free, or the symptoms may mimic more readily-

lambs and high numbers of younger ewes culled are just a few signals of an iceberg disease lurking in a flock, but surveys show that only 5% of producers are aware of these diseases, and an even lower percentage carry out testing.

All of the iceberg diseases affect productivity and longevity, but despite years of research, no treatment or cure for any of them has yet been found.

Raising awareness of iceberg diseases is the first step on the road to improving flock health and performance, and NSA, Moredun and SRUC have turned to the internet and transformed their roadshows into 3 webinars scheduled for 30th April, 13th May and 20th May. The webinars are open to all interested sheep producers

recognised conditions such as pneumonia. There are five main iceberg diseases; Maedi Visna (MV), Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (Jaagsiekte / OPA), Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA), Border Disease and Ovine Johne’s Disease. Infertility, persistent poor condition, non-thriving

Information and links to the webinar and registration can be found at nationalsheep. org.uk/events.

For further information and help contact NSA Activities and Campaigns Officer Chris Adamson on 07930225150 or chris@nationalsheep.org.uk

dairy New alkalised heifer rearing ration offers opportunity to improve youngstock performance New practical on-farm trial work suggests replacement dairy heifers can be reared highly effectively on an alkalised energy-dense compound feed offering some farmers an opportunity to improve animal performance.

A randomised study looking at the performance of 48 weaned pedigree Holstein heifer calves on a farm in North Yorkshire suggests that the utilisation of a new alkaline concentrate significantly increased daily liveweight gain when compared with a standard proprietary heifer rearing nut.

Calves on the trial were weaned and grouped into pens of four at 12 weeks of age. In total six groups of four heifers were assigned to each of two feed treatments: a standard heifer developer compound feed or an alkalised cake. Ad lib straw and water were available to both groups.

Trial co-ordinator Hannah Booth from FiveF Alka says the results highlight the benefit of feeding an alkaline diet to valuable replacement heifers that are the future of the dairy herd.

“Reducing the rumen acid load that these young animals have to deal with is just as important as it is for adult milking cows. The alkalinity of the diet also influences postruminal fermentation in the intestines, which produces a lesser effect on the calf’s pH homeostasis, in turn promoting better performance,” she says.

Calves fed the alkalised compound feed nut gained, on average, 0.8kg per day whereas those on the standard rearing nut only achieved 0.68kg per day.

Calves fed the alkalised nut also had significantly higher faecal pH scores (7.1 v 6.9).

Farmers interested in alkalisation of heifer rearing diets should contact FiveF Alka for

more information. The company will also be able to provide details

of local feed companies able to manufacture alkalised diets.

Invest in fresh cows and cut costs in later lactation Injudicious cost-cutting may cause more harm than good to dairy herds in the long term according to Mike Chown from UFAC-UK. “In the current situation, every dairy farmer must review

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out July 2020 54

each item of expenditure,” he says. “There are certainly times when cutting costs will pay off, but equally there are times when you will be reducing return on investment. The skill lies in making the correct calls, investing in the correct cows at the correct time.”

He advises that in simple terms, farmers should invest in cows until they are confirmed in calf and then look to scale back on costs of production. In particular, he says this means providing fresh cows with sufficient energy to minimise

body weight loss and promote better fertility.

“The transition and early lactation period are crucial for the profitability of the current lactation, and also for the following lactation, because if you don’t get cows in calf quickly the result is extended lactations, with each extra day open costing £4.50, contributing to reduced profits.

“You need to feed these cows to settle into lactation, to maintain body condition and rebreed quickly. UFAC Dynalac is the ideal balanced

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fat supplement for these crucial cows, increasing dietary energy density to reduce body condition loss and improve overall health and fertility.

“The investment in Dynalac will look after these cows, getting them back in calf more quickly. This will allow you to then cut costs and increase production from forage in later lactation, safe in the knowledge that the cows have been given the best possible start and will repay the investment made in this lactation and the next,” Mr Chown concludes.

Beat the spring butterfat dip Dairy farmers looking to counter the seasonal dip in milk butterfat level immediately after turnout should concentrate on improving the feed fat profile of the milking cow ration and effective rumen buffering.

That’s the advice from ruminant nutritionist Jacob Lakin from Azelis Animal Nutrition, who says that, typically, a herd average winter ration-based milk butterfat percentage of 4.05% in late March or early April can easily dip by 0.3 percentage points to 3.75% in May after turnout. On some farms the butterfat dip may be even greater after turnout.

“If your milk buyer pays a premium for butterfat in the spring, it’s important that you counter this traditional seasonal dip by fine-tuning the lactating cow ration,” he says.

For producers needing optimum butterfat production at grass, Mr Lakin recommends improving the fat profile of the ration. “Butterfat uplifts of 0.3% have been reported – enough to offset the traditional turnout dip – when a high C16 protected fat product is included within the ration. When milk contracts are looking for butterfat, this is certainly cost-effective.

This time of year can also be detrimental for cow condition, so using a protected fat product containing a good C18:1 content may also be a worthwhile idea.

This would help to achieve a happy medium between butterfat production and cow condition,” he says.

Mr Lakin explains that once cows move onto lush green grass, the long fibre content of the ration drops. At the same time, the high sugar content of freshly grazed spring grass makes the rumen more acidic and both these factors combine to reduce milk butterfat level.

NFU Scotland

dairy

We can be extremely proud of the part our industry has played in supporting the nation through this unprecedented crisis

Writes Andrew McCornick, President, NFU Scotland Our pledge to work tirelessly to keep supply chains open and keep Scottish food and drink on the table is being delivered on while vital farming activities such as lambing, calving and spring arable operations continue alongside the ongoing production of our primary products in all sectors.

At time of writing, hard work by many stakeholders means markets are open; processing sites and abattoirs continue to run and shop shelves are being stocked.

The key role that we have played in safeguarding vital food supplies for the nation as part of the UK wide resilience effort was captured in a short video, pulled together by a small team, and featuring 23 farming families from Shetland to Stranraer. Within a week of broadcast, almost 250,000 had viewed it and the messages of appreciation for the efforts of farmers and crofters was humbling.

Understandably, the industry looked to NFUS for leadership, information and guidance.

The creation at an early stage in the crisis of a dedicated coronavirus section on our

website saw more than 70,000 visits, with two key pages receiving greatest attention.

Despite being scattered to all corners of the country, and working from home, the dedicated staff at NFUS produced an extensive ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section on our COVID-19 site.

Updated on a daily basis, this quickly became the ‘go to’ site for farmers and crofters to have any coronavirus questions answered.

Equally busy, receiving more than 40,000 views, was a recruitment page to assist our soft fruit and veg growers. With planting and picking looming, and seasonal workers unable to travel, the site allowed those businesses looking for labour to record their contact details to encourage those at home who had lost jobs or been furloughed during the crisis to apply for work. While we may not know how many places were ultimately filled through the service, we do know that some farms originally listed on the recruitment page asked for details to be taken down as posts had been filled. That is a good measure of success.

www.nfus.org.uk

The way we have kept our members informed throughout all this has changed. More than 600 have now downloaded our mobile phone app from the Apple Store or Google Play and get the latest news direct to the phone. We have also been keeping our social media channels populated with the most up to date news, blogs and video blogs, as well as sending out our more traditional forms of newsletters. And meetings by videoconferencing are the new norm.

And as we enter the reset and recovery phase, members can be reassured that the Union is working hard with government and other key stakeholders to ensure that agriculture remains at the very forefront of discussions at the highest levels. There are many lessons to be learned, not least around the importance of food security and fairer, more transparent supply chains.

These are unprecedented times. However, times such as these are exactly what NFUS was made for and the entire NFUS team has its shoulders firmly to the wheel.

PARLOUR SAFE

Parlour Safe: An aspirational industry standard The dairy industry is promoting a further education scheme for technicians and engineers throughout the UK. Parlour Safe is a training and accreditation scheme created by the Milking Equipment Association (MEA).

It is open to those involved in the supply, installation, maintenance and testing of milking machinery.

Much like Corgi in gas fitting, Parlour Safe has become synonymous with the experience and professionalism that dairy farmers should expect from technicians and engineers. “The MEA is encouraging all dairy farmers to question whether their technician or engineer is

Parlour Safe accredited in a bid to increase cow welfare and farmer safety throughout the UK,” explains MEA Chair, John Baines The MEA has worked closely with its industry members such as Lely, DeLaval, GEA, Boumatic and Fullwood Packo to develop four categories of accreditation. Dave Stobo, manager of Dairyflow based near Kilmarnock, was one of the early advocates of Parlour Safe.

“We install and maintain GEA equipment and I spoke to Stewart Fraser at GEA who suggested that I, and my technicians, attend a course to become Parlour Safe

accredited. I was one of the first to attend the course and four of my technicians have begun working towards different categories of Parlour Safe accreditation,” he says.

In association with Reaseheath and Hartpury colleges, the MEA has developed a modular course that offers the latest practical and technical guidance about milking machine construction, performance and use. “The industry is changing at an alarming rate with new technology being introduced every year. It is important that technicians have a way to be identified as qualified to work

Dave Stobo receiving his accreditation from Dave Kynaston, Vice Principal of Reaseheath College

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on all types of dairy equipment to give farmers peace of mind,” says Mr Stobo. The training covers milking management, from dynamic testing and cow welfare, to health and safety and building design. “I met like-minded people who shared the same challenges I have for years. It was an opportunity to learn new methods but also to compare ideas,” says Mr Stobo.

Registration to Parlour Safe is free of charge and open to anyone entering the industry or starting an apprenticeship. There are three further categories that all require a level of learning and assessment to take place which have an enrolment fee.

“I have invested in four of my staff and myself taking Parlour Safe courses,” says Mr Stobo. “Two have completed Category 3 to become Dairy Engineering Technicians and two have completed Category 2 after they joined the business as apprentices,” he explains.

It is hoped that investment in those choosing to work in dairy equipment will increase employment retention and offer technicians a chance to achieve a nationally recognised and transferable accreditation. “One of my technicians came to me at 17 from school. He had no GCSEs and wanted to learn.

Parlour Safe is an accreditation that he can be proud of and now he has completed Category 2 I want him to progress to Category 4 and teach others like him in the future,” says Mr Stobo.

Formerly the Milking Machine Manufacturers’Association (MMMA) founded in 1955, the MEA is the only independent organisation dedicated to representing the interests of companies involved in the manufacture, supply and service of milking machinery. “We introduced Parlour Safe to be a

PARLOUR SAFE professional standard and career path for milking equipment technicians like Mr Stobo and his colleagues,” says Mr Baines.

“This has driven up standards and competencies throughout the industry and given technicians a professional accreditation they can be proud of,” he adds.

The primary role of encouraging the dairy equipment industry to embrace and promote Parlour Safe and its principles is to safeguard cow health, milk quality and dairy farmers by encouraging professionalism. Mr Baines says: “Those involved in manufacturing, installing, maintaining and using dairy equipment should aspire to the highest standards to make sure the safety and productivity of the dairy industry is protected.”

Installing and maintaining milking systems involves many skills and disciplines but, until now, has not required any official recognition or accreditation.

However, the MEA expects that by promoting Parlour Safe, and encouraging both existing and trainee fitters to take a course, it will drive up standards and create a benchmark all farmers expect.

Due to the success of welfare schemes like Red Tractor, milk

buyers are encouraging farmers to raise all welfare standards.

Red Tractor is a trusted and well recognised logo that has become a staple amongst products on supermarket shelves. Within the Red Tractor dairy standard there’s a requirement that the milking machine must be tested at least annually, and any faults identified must be rectified and recorded. “Red Tractor recommends that testing and maintenance is carried out by an engineer or technician, who holds accreditation through the Milking Equipment Association, or a similar body,” says Mr Baines. “It is our hope this advice passes to farmers and that they always ask if their technician or engineer is Parlour Safe accredited,” he adds.

Like Red Tractor, The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) has also acknowledged the professionalism of milking machine technicians and engineers. Parlour Safe Categories 3 and 4 now benefit from IAgrE approval. This gives qualifying individuals the opportunity to join IAgrE and register as Engineering Technicians (EngTech) with the Engineering Council. Mr Baines, says, “It is important for everyone

involved with Parlour Safe that the accreditation has the support of organisations like the IAgrE. It reinforces the need for technicians and engineers to learn and sustain the highest level of service”.

It is hoped that Parlour Safe accreditation will encourage more individuals to become involved in the dairy equipment industry. “The increasing level of performance and complexity of milking equipment means that there is a need for more skilled

fitters/technicians with a much broader understanding of the needs of dairy farmers. Parlour Safe offers this level of learning and an opportunity to become specialists with the knowledge to teach the next generation. This will drive up standards, ensure skill knowledge is retained in the industry and give dairy farmers the professional, experienced practitioners they need today, and in the future,” concludes Mr Baines.

Parlour Safe is broken down in to four categories.

• Enrolled Technician – This helps to identify apprentices, or those new to the industry, who want to work towards becoming a dairy technician.

• Dairy Technician – Is a dairy technician is trained to work safely and carefully for the well-being of animals and farmer’s equipment.

• Dairy Engineering Technician – is defined as a skilled and experienced technician who is capable of supervising others and leading a team.

• Master Dairy Engineering Technician – The highest category is a professional technician with a proven and assessed track record of specialist technical ability who can manage and mentor others.

Group shot of Parlour Safe graduates

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pigs Aberdeenshire Farmer Shares Successes of Pig Monitor Farm Project Being part of the North-East Pig Monitor Farm Programme has brought huge successes for Aberdeenshire farmer Patrick Stephen. Over the last four years, the farm has made significant changes in key areas that have impacted on business profitability and sustainability by trialling new practices and technology.

The Pig Monitor Farm Programme is funded 50:50

by Opportunity North East (ONE) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). The aim is to help improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of pig producers through practical demonstrations, the sharing of best practice and the discussion of up-to-date issues.

Mr Stephen’s unit is run by manager Wayne Ducker, and a staff of four people on the 900acre farm. Patrick also has a commercial herd of 530 sows housed on straw and runs JSR

females with a Danbred terminal sire.

The finished pigs are sold through Scottish Pig Producers marketing group to Quality Pork Processors (QPP) at Brechin or Woodhead Brothers.

Since the start of the project, Mr Stephen’s unit has made improvements in most of the key production parameters, with the unit now seeing an increase of 20% in pig-meat sold per sow.

Mr Stephen explained: “Being a monitor farm has pushed us to improve the business and has helped put the business in good stead for the future. We have become more efficient by improving management practices and are regularly investing in new buildings, for example, an environmentally controlled 1800 place weaner shed and a 1600 space grower/finisher shed to improve feed conversion and growth rates.

Before the programme, six hundred pigs from Mill of Carden were finished on a site close to the

unit. They are now finished at Mill of Carden due to the new grower/ finisher shed being erected.

Bayer launches global Care4Pigs grant to advance pig wellbeing Bayer Animal Health has launched a global Care4Pigs grant initiative, with a total value of 30,000, which aims to help the industry turn innovative ideas for advancing pig wellbeing into a reality.

Ensuring the wellbeing of animals is of growing emphasis for livestock professionals across the world.

So, in collaboration with the Farm Animal Welfare Education Centre (FAWEC) and the Korean Association of Swine Veterinarians (KASV), the Care4Pigs initiative is offering three candidates the chance of receiving 10,000 58

each to support innovative projects aimed at enhancing pig wellbeing.

Wellbeing is a prerequisite for good animal health, and enhancements that benefit the animals ultimately benefit the farm productivity. Importantly, innovations and advancements in this area are a continuous process and require the longterm commitment of livestock professionals.

Almut Hoffmann, head of farm animal products marketing at Bayer Animal Health, says that livestock professionals are creative innovators who work to overcome various challenges to

keep animals healthy and well cared for.

“We see remarkable and forward thinking work on pig operations around the globe and we’re pleased to extend our support and collaborative knowledge through Care4Pigs to further benefit pig wellbeing.”

The Care4Pigs initiative aims to support and drive farm level innovations developed by farmers, farm staff and vets, as well as researchers and graduate students, who are working to enhance pig wellbeing in innovative and practical ways.

Octavio Orlovsky Eckhardt, head of swine species marketing

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at Bayer Animal Health, explains that the Care4Pigs judging panel will be looking for submissions that demonstrate an innovative approach and measurable benefit on pig wellbeing.

“Each project’s on-farm practicality and applicability through different systems and production conditions will also be considered during the judging process, as well as its economic viability,” he says.

How to apply for a Care4Pigs grant Visit www.Care4Pigs.com to find out more about the grant and to apply.

HORSES

Lockdown feeding advice Harbro nutritionist, Dr Vicki Glasgow, talks about moving to a basic diet during lock down but reminds owners that it is still important to top-up vitamins and minerals.

Below are a few points to consider going forwards, through this situation we all find ourselves in: 1. To my mind, no one should be trying to keep their horse hyper fit at this time, it really isn’t necessary and will only put unnecessary wear and tear on your horse. It also means that, should the unthinkable happen and we are absolutely banned from riding, then you are left with an interesting prospect.

2. I truly believe that the majority of people are being sensible and therefore their horse is now in light work or no work at all. This means that unless your horse is either old and struggles to keep condition, is a youngster (less than 2 years old) or a mare in

last trimester of pregnancy or lactating, there should be no need for anything other than “basic rations”.

3. Basic rations –grass and hay/ haylage, a mineral and vitamin supplement, like our One Scoop or appropriate balancer alongside a light chaff and salt.

I have had a comment along the lines of “oh, tough love?” and quite frankly – yes.

4. Tough love really is necessary, especially if you have a good doer. This reduction in exercise couldn’t have happened at a worse time as the spring flush of grass comes through. I have already heard reports of increased levels of colic due to sudden changes in management.

Normally triggered by sudden 24/7 access to fresh spring grass. Please still try to make any changes gradually and laminitics and good doers should still be managed appropriately, with restricted access to grass, supplemented with low sugar or soaked hay.

5. We should all be on alert for signs of laminitis and increased body condition score, even if our horses don’t normally have an issue with this. Do not underestimate the protective nature of exercise at keeping these things away. Act sooner, rather than later if your horse is starting to get fat. Reduce access to grass, supplement with forage and remember that in hand

exercise will help if you can’t ride or don’t wish to.

6. Be aware that if your horse is not in the same level of work as usual, his body shape may change as his muscle tone will decrease. There is no need to panic and start pumping food back in to them. Muscle will respond to appropriate exercise when we come out the other side of this. If you are able, in hand or ridden polework can help. Just something to bear in mind.

7. We also mustn’t forget that we are now in that awful grass sickness danger period. Please supplement hay where you can, even if your horse has plenty of grass, as it has been shown to be a protective factor.

www.harbro.co.uk/country-stores/

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CLYDESDALE HORSES

The Clydesdale Horse – Style with Substance

By Ian Roy, Secretary, Clydesdale Horse Society All of which might suggest that in the 21st Century, the Clydesdale Horse might have had its day. But for the 700 or so members of the Clydesdale Horse Society in the UK and for the sister Societies in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, nothing could be further from the truth.

Of course, things have changed from the hey-day of the mid-20th Century, but even today very few animals encapsulate the unlikely combination of power, gentleness and good temperament better than the Clydesdale Horse; although arguably as this piece is being written by the Clydesdale Breed

Secretary, an element of bias can probably be expected!

The Clydesdale Horse is a native breed which was founded in Lanarkshire – the word ‘Clydesdale’ being the old name for that district. The history of the breed dates back from the mid18th century when native horses of Lanarkshire were graded up in an effort to produce horses of greater weight and substance using Flemish stallions.

By the mid 1800’s a number of different bloodlines had been established and the ‘modern’ history of the Clydesdale Breed dates back to then. The first such stallion to be used in those days

was imported by the Sixth Duke of Hamilton and was kept for the benefit of the Duke’s tenants who were granted its use, free of charge.

Another leading light in these early days was John Paterson of Lochlyloch, also in Lanarkshire.

Paterson bought a black Flemish stallion from England. This horse had a white face and white on his legs – and these markings, albeit without today’s recognised bay colour, were to become synonymous with the Clydesdale Breed today.

Lochlyloch bloodlines became widely sought after and the recording of pedigrees became the ‘in thing’ – a practice which

Photographs by Miss Amanda Stewart

When asked for their memories of the Clydesdale Horse, most folks of a certain vintage will recall Clydesdales as being the working horses of the past. pulling and sweating over the headland hauling implements across the drills, their white feathered legs caked hard with mud. or if you were a city dweller you might remember them plodding the streets carting coal and materials for the heavy industries of the past. or if you lived near a port, they might have been seen taking loads to or from the harbours of Aberdeen, Leith or ‘doon the Clyde’.

Doura Magic Touch, 2019 Male Cawdor Cup winner and 2019 Royal Highland Show Champion (owner Charlotte Young)

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Hugh Ramsay- Millisle Clydesdales, 2019 Royal Highland Show Turnout Champion, team of six

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CLYDESDALE HORSES remains today with the pedigrees of mares and stallions all being fully recorded; so much so that since then practically every Clydesdale Horse can be traced to its descent.

The development of the breed continued with successive generations of foals being bred under Lochlyloch bloodlines – and the names Lampits, Glancer and a great stallion called Darnley are part of the folklore of the breed.

Darnley was the grand sire of a stallion called Baron’s Pride who went on to sire one of the breed’s most famous sons, the Baron of Buchlyvie. Bred by William McKeich, foaled in 1900 and after a very public wrangle in the law courts, the Baron of Buchlyvie was eventually sold by public auction at Ayr in December 1911 to William Dunlop of Dunure Mains, Ayr, for £9,500, a world record.

Buchlyvie’s most famous son, Dunure Footprint, was born in 1908 and by the time of his death aged 22, he is said to have sired 5,000 foals. His reputation went before him, servicing one

mare every two hours day and night in the main mating season and his diet is said to have been supplemented with eggs, milk and stout! Over his busiest two seasons the stud fees earned by him are reputed to have equated to £2 million in today’s money.

At its peak, Scotland had around 140,000 farm horses plus an unknown number in towns and cities, most of which were of Clydesdales descent.

Between 1850 and 1880 a large number of the best stallions and many good quality mares were annually exported to Australia and New Zealand and between the years 1884 and 1945, 20,183 export certificates for stallions, mares and fillies were issued by the Society with the importing countries being not only the Dominions, but America, Canada and Europe.

In 1914 Clydesdale horses were conscripted by the army to serve in The First World War, a war in which a quarter of a million horses of all breeds are said to have perished.

The conditions prevailing in Britain during the Second World

Judith Grant riding John & Margo McIntyre’s Glenside Matthews Flower of Scotland, 2019 Royal Highland Show Ridden Champion

War required the agricultural industry to meet its highest pitch of productivity, something only possible by the introduction of the tractor. After that, sadly, horses were increasingly replaced by mechanical power.

By the early 1970’s Clydesdale numbers had fallen so dramatically that the breed was classified as a Rare Breed

Heather Keron (with Judge Robert Bailey), 2019 Young Handler Champion

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and it came close to extinction.

Today whilst the Breed is still a rare breed it is categorised in the much happier more satisfactory position of being vulnerable.

Today the Clydesdale Horse Society looks after the interests of 700 members and has 3,600 animals on the records. Whilst for the most part, the days of Clydesdales working in the fields are at an end, there are some who enjoy keeping the old traditions alive, particularly at ploughing events.

Clydesdale Horses still feature widely at agricultural shows across the land and the ‘piece de resistance’ is undoubtedly the great annual spectacle of the Royal Highland Show with classes in In Hand Showing, Ridden Clydesdales, Young Stockman and Young Handlers as well as the iconic Turnouts - singles, pairs unicorns, fours and sixes, all bringing vast crowds to spectate at the show ring every day.

Clydesdale people today are not only those with generations of breeding and history in their families but, the Clydesdale Horse Society is delighted that growing numbers are satisfying a life-long ambition to buy their first ‘Clyde’, either as a personal riding horse or for driving or even just as a pet. With this new-found enthusiasm there is good cause to believe that the future of the Clydesdale Breed is in safe hands.

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estate Diverse farm portfolio with 10 holiday cottages presents fantastic lifestyle opportunity Located in a rural coastal position around three miles from Dalbeattie, and around two miles above the coastal village of Kippford is a diverse farm portfolio extending to some 238 acres Meikle Richorn Farm and Holiday Cottages offers a fantastic lifestyle purchase for the discerning buyer to create a successful diversified farming business, as it goes on sale through leading property consultants Galbraith.

The property is for sale as a whole or in four lots.

The traditional six-bedroom farmhouse has served as the family’s centre of operations, with the successful holiday let business being created out of 10 cottages converted from the original farm steadings in 2007 - 2011. The farmhouse was previously subdivided and could be easily split to create an annexe or additional accommodation for a holiday let manager.

The holiday cottages range from two to five bedrooms and many enjoy far reaching views of the Urr Estuary. There is an enclosed outdoor area and each property benefits from its own hot tub. A linen store allows for a swift turnover and management of the holiday properties.

Planning permission was also granted in 2010 for the creation of a sympathetic development of six holiday chalets nestled in the undulating land located at the centre of the farm, adjacent to 62

the farm steading, all positioned to take advantage of the stunning views of the Estuary.

Around 172 acres of farm land and modern buildings are for sale as one lot. This parcel of land is arranged in a horseshoe following the curvature of the Urr Water. The area is known for early grass growing and mild winters due to the Gulf Stream and is well suited to stock rearing or fodder production. There are

also two excellent modern farm buildings, a cattle shed and a large general purpose shed with workshop and storage area.

Meikle Richorn Farm and Holiday Cottages, Dalbeattie, Dumfries & Galloway, is for sale through Galbraith as a whole at Guide Price of ÂŁ3,500,000 or in separate lots as follows: Lot 1: Traditional large Farmhouse and 10 Cottages currently utilised for holiday

lettings arranged around a central courtyard, ranging from two to five bedrooms. About 37 Acres.

Lot 2: 28 acres of field and woodland with planning permission for six holiday chalets overlooking the Urr Estuary.

Lot 3: Around 172 acres of land and modern farm buildings.

Lot 4: Two potential building plots located at the entrance to the property. About 1 acre.

Available by negotiation.

Landowners join forces to boost rare bird numbers Upland estates and landowners have joined forces to help some of Scotland’s rarest birds to nest and breed. There are now 22 land managers in the Loch Ness area working together to

create habitats for rare species such as Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing.

The results have been outstanding, with more birds returning to the region each

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year and a significant rise in the number of nests which produce chicks successfully. In some areas there has been a 50% increase in moorland and wading birds over the past ten years,

estate The scourge of flytipping

By Karen Ramoo, Policy Adviser (Forestry, Conservation & Wildlife Management) at Scottish Land & Estates

with Curlew and Lapwing the main beneficiary.

The Loch Ness Rural Communities Moorland Group covers 33,000 hectares of moorland spanning 32 miles from Fort Augustus to Farr and includes estates such as Garrogie, Aberarder, Dunmaglass, Glendoe and Corriegarth. Their collaborative approach to conservation is supported by the GWCT (Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust) and RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

Jenny McCallum, coordinator of the Loch Ness Rural Communities Moorland Group said: “Many of the farms and estates in the Loch Ness region

are managing habitat specifically for waders.

This means excluding livestock or keeping the stocking density low in areas where nesting is preferred and creating wader scrapes to allow chicks access to shallow, wet areas to feed on insects. Land managers are trained to carry out wader surveys in the spring to assess the breeding success.

“We also control predators such as carrion crows and foxes, which is an activity registered with Police Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage and subject to stringent conditions. This combination of methods helps the waders to nest successfully and we are delighted with the results.”

Green Bee boosts course playability and beauty at Scotscraig Nestled in the heartland of Golf, Scotscraig Golf Club is a unique course with its mix of heathland and links. The vast areas of gorse, broom and brush on the 45ha site can creep onto the fairways and rough if not managed carefully.

Course Manager Chris Barnard uses the 1.8m Major Green Bee on John Deere compact tractors to cut and collect in the worst areas.

“There’s around seven to eight hectares of heavily infested rough which we use the MAJOR Green Bee to bring back into a manageable and more usable status,” begins Chris. The medium-duty flail collector mows, chops, collects and rolls in one-pass. Heavy-duty flail blades pulverise the material into a 2.2 cubic metre collector,

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The COVID-19 crisis has changed the world beyond all recognition and none of us are certain when normality may return – whatever the new ‘normality’ may be.

There have been many unsung heroes during this period, not least Scotland’s farmers and land managers who have played a vital role in supplying our nation with food for our plates.

Farming businesses have experienced many extra challenges as a result of COVID-19 measures but sadly, one of the issues they have been dealing with has been totally unnecessary – increased flytipping.

Since lockdown took effect in mid-to-late March, Scotland’s beautiful countryside have been blighted by even more junk waste.

Farmers’ fields, laybys and lanes have become hot spots for DIY remnants, unwanted furniture and garden waste dumped by individuals or unscrupulous businesses paid to take rubbish away before they themselves commit flytipping.

Scottish Land & Estates, together with NFUS, Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, Keep Scotland Beautiful and

Zero Waste Scotland, issued a statement to highlight the problem which has occurred across the country – and urge the public to help us tackle this scourge.

Flytipping is criminal act that can have long term consequences, not to mention a fine of up to £40,000. It can be harmful to farm animals and wildlife too and in one recent case, a calf choked to death on a farm after litter got stuck in its throat.

When litter and flytipping occurs on private land such as farmers’ fields, it is down to the owner to have it removed – and to foot the bill for doing so. The costs involved are huge – and this is in addition to the £53 million of public money spent per annum to tackle the issue.

Together we are asking the public to help by acting as the eyes and ears of their community - we urge anyone who notices flytipping to report it, so it can be dealt with by the appropriate authority. This can be done in a number of ways, including through the online Dumb Dumpers website or reporting directly to the relevant local authority.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400

estate

GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count results

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out July 2020 64

More than 1,500 farmers across Britain overcame challenging February conditions to make the 2020 Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) the biggest across the UK since it was launched in 2014.

More than 120 bird species were recorded across 1.4 million acres in the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) initiative. Due to storms Ciara and Dennis hitting both weekends of the count, organisers took the step to extend the count window by a week in response to calls from those farmers who wanted to take part but couldn’t do so. The commitment of those counting at a time when tens of thousands of acres were left inundated with floodwater should not be overlooked.

UK wide an impressive 25 red-listed species were recorded, with nine featuring in the 25 most commonly seen species. Of these, fieldfares, starlings, linnets and lapwings were the four most abundant red-listed species recorded, with over 67,000 spotted in total, equating to 24% of all species recorded. The five most abundant birds seen across the UK were woodpigeons, starlings, lapwings, black-headed gulls and rooks.

In Scotland 60 farmers took part recording 81 species across 81,362 acres.

Nineteen of these species

are red-listed, with the five most commonly seen species being blackbird, pheasant, robin, blue tit and carrion crow.

In 2019 by comparison 61 farmers took part, recording 93 species across 57,881 acres. The mostcommonly seen species then were blackbird, blue tit, chaffinch, pheasant and robin.

Dr Dave Parish, Head of Lowland Research, Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, said: “South of the border particularly GWCT received a record-breaking number of count returns despite storm Ciara and storm Dennis wreaking havoc on many farms. This highlights the commitment of farmers not only to undertake farm wildlife conservation measures but also to record and evaluate the benefits of this vital conservation work.

“In Scotland whilst the numbers taking part were broadly equivalent to last year, the area covered significantly increased.

However, there was no surprising fluctuation in species being spotted, four of the top five remaining the same year on year.

“With a likely increased focus on delivering public goods in the future Government support schemes, understanding what is on your farm is increasingly important.

“Slightly more than a third of Scottish participants

are in some form of agrienvironment scheme, demonstrating their longterm commitment to environmental management.

Across the UK as a whole 36% of farmers taking part were providing some form of extra seed feed for birds, either through growing wild bird seed mixes, or by providing additional grain through scatter feeding or via hoppers.”

The BFBC was launched in 2014 to highlight the positive work done by farmers and gamekeepers in helping to reverse the decline in farmland birds.

The count offers a simple means of recording the effect of any conservation work currently being instigated by farmers and gamekeepers on their land, such as scattering seed through winter or growing crops specifically to provide seed for birds.

Photograph by Marlies Nicolai

which has a tipping height of 2.2m.

“I decided on the Major Green Bee because it is wellbuilt, yet light enough to be fully mounted on our compact tractor,” stated Chris. “Because of the mounted design, it follows the contours of the rough ground without scalping and therefore leaves us with a very manageable finish.” Clearing the gorse and broom in one-pass leads to quick grass recovery and improves the rough as well.

“I’m really happy with the way it helps us to win the war with gorse and broom growth,” added Chris. “By using the Major Green Bee in place of sprays and chemicals, we have seen an obvious increase in wild flowers, insects and wild birds around the course. Last year we counted over forty different species of both resident and visiting birds and that’s a significant improvement on previous counts.”

To book a demonstration of a MAJOR Green Bee, call Major Equipment Ltd on 01524 850501 or visit their website www.major-equipment.com.

forestry Scottish woodland plantings on farm are up and will rise further says SAC Consulting In the last four decades, Scotland has planted more trees than anywhere else in the UK, taking the area of tree cover to just under 1.5 million hectares (ha) says Malcolm Young from SAC Consulting’s Woodland team.

And his expectation is that this area will continue to rise as more farmers better understand the benefits of woodland and forests to their farm business. SAC Consulting is part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Commenting on the 2019 Forest Research report, Mr Young says that woodland and forest plantings have been on the year-on-year rise: “Since 2016 almost 35,000ha of trees have been planted, taking the UK wooded area to 3.19 million ha, 73% of which has been planted on privately owned land. The average area of new planting is 24ha, a clear indication that the bulk of planting is being done on farms, by farmers.”

Mr Young adds that, “the bulk of this planting has been in Scotland, with almost 28,000ha being planted over the same period, with planting levels in 2018/19 being the highest since 2002. SAC Consulting’s woodland team contributed over 1,000ha in the last couple of seasons.”

He cites that recent reports indicate the very high market values of farms being sold with tree-planting potential.

“Typically, these farms are being sold due to retirement from farming, with the land often being purchased for forestry investment.

In my opinion, this is the result of a very binary view - forestry or farming, the sentiment of selling out rather than buying in to the opportunity that trees create.

“These two land uses can sit comfortably with each other.

By establishing well designed timber or carbon crops on part of the farm, farmers will be in a position to reap the benefits of

tree planting, while maintaining control of their land. Added to this there is the incentive of cash-boost from grants, growing an investment planned for retirement income and/or succession, the downscaling of farming enterprise, shelter belts, flood mitigation, shooting, and carbon foot-print reduction or offsetting.

Afforestation can be diversification, not part of a binary choice.”

Mr Young says that “the rise in Scotland can be attributed to an increased focus by the Scottish Government, with full crossparty support on meeting global targets to reduce CO2 emissions, renewable energy, addressing a forecasted slump in homegrown timber, and incentives for tree-planting, compared with the wider UK. “Based on the enquiries SAC Consulting receives from farm and landowners in Scotland, the interest in planting trees reflects a growing awareness among farmers of the contribution woods and forests can make to farm businesses, for example for livestock shelter which reduces feed cost and keeps animals in better condition; better utilisation of ground with limited agricultural value, succession planning, diversification or reducing diffuse pollution.”

To find out more visit https://www.sruc.ac.uk/ info/120104/forestry_and_estate_management

Ideal for: - Clearing woodland rides and bracken - Cutting fire breaks in heather on moorland - Contract and clearance work for gorse and rubbish Made in Britain

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From 40HP to 150HP+ there is a machine to suit your requirements.

- Cutting wetland rushes

GG2000 Super Scrubcutter fitted with cutting chains and rear deflector

For a leaflet or more info and advice contact: Sales Tel : 07901 338473 email: sales@fostersalescompany.co.uk website: www.fostersalescompany.co.uk

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IN

Diversify Your Income with Agriforest Founded in 2016, Agriforest are a timber harvesting and forest management company who specialise in small - medium sized woodlands, most of which entail working on farms or country estates.

Most larger operators tend to stick to large scale work, whereas Agriforest are able to harvest and market timber from rough and inaccessible terrain on a smaller scale making them the perfect solution to your forestry management needs.

They provide a bespoke, personal service from start to finish and

one point of contact throughout any work.

The aim of the company is to facilitate the potential return on investment from privately owned woodlands.

Many farmers or estate owners are not aware of the benefits of the timely harvesting of timber.

Agriforest believes that many land owners can diversify their income stream by proactively managing the assets they have.

‘Small but mighty’ Company owner and director, Douglas Mathison, has years of

experience behind him having spent his entire career in forestry.

Douglas initially started out as a tree surgeon before deciding to study rural business management at the Scottish Agricultural College, which led him to a role working for large national timber harvesting firm, Euroforest Ltd. While working as a manager for Euroforest, Douglas noticed a gap in the market – small-medium sized woodlands were quite often not being managed at all. This led to the creation of Agriforest, which has successfully managed to fill the gap for this niche.

Agriforest may be a small business but Douglas has drawn from his breadth of experience to ensure they are a multifaceted organisation. Offering services in timber harvesting and thinning, forest management (including preparation and submission of felling licences and management plans), and ground preparation with subsequent planting.

Often larger companies are not interested in smaller scale work, meaning areas of land have been left under managed and long neglected. Agriforest are the company breathing life back into these woodlands. The company are able to facilitate the potential return on investment from privately owned woodlands.

Forestry is a hugely efficient way to diversify income streams even the poorest quality timber still has a market, and therefore a value.

A complete service Agriforest are unique as they have no upfront charges for their work. No retaining fee is charged (as with some larger companies), a percentage margin is charged for work carried out on behalf of the owner, which is all done ‘open book’. In addition to this, they have no ties to any specific buyers and therefore maintain the flexibility to distribute their timber across a variety of different markets. This tailored, flexible approach aims to achieve the best financial return possible.

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IN

All the gear…

By investing in specific equipment for challenging sites, Agriforest can manage small scale, difficult sites with ease and keep all work ‘in house’. A recent example of investment in the business was the purchase of a brand new 16 tonne Doosan forestry excavator, to be used for ground preparation along with general drainage work, and the installation of forest roads.

This enables the company to ensure contracts are completed on time, and on budget as they have full control over the entire service from start to finish. They pride themselves in their ability to adapt their skills to suit any client’s needs, meaning no job is too difficult or awkward. Whether working on large scale mechanised harvesting of commercial forest blocks or small farm shelter belts they all have the same goal – to provide a complete service and an attractive return for landowners. … and all the ideas!

A recent example

involved

the felling of six hectares of commercial woodland in Dumfries and Galloway. The owners were aware that the woodlands were mature, with some trees starting to blow down. Agriforest were asked to undertake the felling, ground preparation, drainage, and replanting of the felled areas. In addition, the company were also tasked with drafting plans for areas of new planting nearby an old farm land which was no longer used for grazing. In short, the owners will soon have the existing woodland areas back into management, along with a very attractive return for the timber sold. Furthermore, a longterm plan is now in place for the planting of new woodland which will enhance the property both visually and financially.

To date they have harvested, hauled and marketed over 52,000 tonnes of timber. When divided by the number of sites, this gives an average of 1680 tonnes per site which helps to give an

example of the scale Agriforest are working to.

Combating climate change too!

Forestry plays a significant role in combating climate change. Good management can simultaneously reduce CO2 emissions whilst producing a truly sustainable resource – timber.

Forest management is vital to meeting Scottish climate change goals. Unlike deforestation, the process ensures ecosystems thrive. Proper management of our woodlands helps to promote biodiversity through the planting of a wider range of species.

Douglas Mathison believes no piece of land is too small to be managed or planted with trees as ‘all these corners of fields or rough areas of ground totalling a few acres a piece, would add up to quite a significant amount when combined and this would potentially add on hundreds of hectares a year across the country.’

In the long term, this offers further alternative methods for

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diversifying your income stream.

It may be that you are able to sell off carbon credits to major firms. However, timber is now being used to create fuel, pallets, fencing or in construction. This only increases the demand for timber and with Agriforest’s connections and market fluidity they will find ways to ensure your timber is gaining return no matter what the quality.

Agriforest’s vital services guarantee the mutual prosperity of land and landowners.

Onwards and upwards Agriforest are growing from strength to strength and with the majority of work coming from word of mouth it is unsurprising given that their service is second to none. With ambitious plans to grow the business further, the company is set to make its mark on the industry and to become a real alternative to the existing national forest management firms. www.agriforest.co.uk

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BOOK SERIALISATION

An unlikely paradise In the third extract from his new book about Scotland’s peatlands, Robin Crawford looks at their surprisingly rich flora

© Photos taken by Robin Crawford

Humans have for millennia imagined, quested for, aspired to, prayed for and attempted to create an ideal world, a heaven on earth, paradise. It might be an oasis in the desert, a temperate valley in the icy mountains or a garden in the city. What are the elements of this desired place?

It is unusual, set apart from the everyday; it is enclosed, protected by an outer barrier; special knowledge is needed to enter and navigate; water is key.

Scarlet-cup lichen

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Different rules apply there. A raised bog may not be a human paradise, but to the plants, animals, birds and insects that live there it is.

The fluffy white buds of bog cotton wave in the wind like a cheerleader’s pom-poms Kirkconnel Flow is such a paradise. In dry, technical language, it is a low-altitude estuarine moss dominated by an abundance of key peat- forming

species, but to the senses it is a rich jewel set in the rolling Galloway landscape whose colours and textures transform through the seasons of the year as a precious stone held up to the light. Its domed surface, a swollen belly pregnant with life, is covered with a deep cloth woven by the loom of nature out of multicoloured, multi-textured mosses and sphagnums – Golden Bog-moss ranging from green to chestnut to bright orange, or Austin’s Bog-moss hummocked in brown clumps 50 cm tall.

Mixed in are Eriophorum sedge cotton grasses such as bog cotton, whose fluffy white buds spot and wave in the wind like a cheerleader’s pom-poms.

There are sweeps of common heather, which brush alongside ericaceous mixtures and some Molinias such as purple moorgrass. Other species present, to a greater or lesser degree, are deer grass, cross-leaved heath,

Bog cotton

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liverworts, delicate spring flowers (which turn to fruit on juicy crowberries), glossy bearberries, red cranberries, bog asphodel,Verdigris and yellow lichens, bog rosemary and the less than heavenly (and slightly distastefully named) ‘drowned kittens’, which grows fluffily in the wetter areas at the edge of the bog.

The mosses and liverworts are bryophytes, the most ancient of land plants and the initial colonisers after the ice had retreated. They are so adaptable that they number almost 1,000 sub-species and can be found in many of Scotland’s natural habitats, from woodland to mountain extremes, making up a staggering 5 per cent of the planet’s total number of bryophytes. They reproduce in two ways: either sexually (very rarely) through spores in a ‘sporophyte’ stem which disperses through water,

BOOK SERIALISATION or through a cloning-type ‘vegetative reproduction’ of parent material. Due to their sensitivity to any drying-out of the bog, species like Golden Bog-moss and Austin’s Bogmoss are good indicators of a bog’s health.

The jewel-like round-leafed sundews are beautiful when discovered but not so for all – it is a well-known insect eater The low nutrient levels force some plants to adapt to conditions using alternative methods to gain vital nitrogen, in the case of Common bladderwort by ‘eating’ insects. Suited to bogs by having roots which do not need to be attached to soil, it has developed a floating bladder on its leaves which has a flap allowing crustaceans and insects to enter, but never leave, the rotting corpse providing their nutrition.

The jewel-like round-leafed sundews are beautiful when discovered but not so for all – perhaps the most well-known insect eater on the bog, it is most similar to the notorious Venus fly trap, with its sticky hairs attracting flies and then gradually closing on the struggling prey.

After having extracted all the chemical nutrients it needs, the sundew opens again and the husk of the fly is blown away on the wind. Common butterwort also has sticky hairs at its centre, which trap flies caught in its inward curling leaves. Not so paradisal for all, then.

Moorland orchids

The sundews flourish because these Lowland bogs are particularly rich in insect life, with many species being discovered there – pulsating orange-bodied damselflies on Bankhead Moss or violet beetles at Black Moss. The pondskaters and waterboatmen of the Red Moss of Balerno row on top of or dive into its peaty pools.

These two travellers between worlds are joined in the littoral by others who inhabit both land and water – newts, toads and frogs, whose jellied spawn quivers in the springtime breezes like a quaking mire and magically metamorphoses from egg to tadpole to froglet in the soupy broth of bog. Within the transient world of these mosses other creatures are transformed – squat caterpillars crunching on purple moor-grass turn into peat brown, orange-spotted Scotch Argus or the delicate subtleness of Large Heath butterflies; those on the bog myrtle of the central and western Highlands bloom into the exquisite rareness of the Rannoch Brindled Beauty moth.

Larvae become classical-sounding nymphs, then turn into medieval damsel- and dragonflies in the boggy moats to the north of the turf wall built across the slim waist of Caledonia by Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.

A couplet showing traditional knowledge which has a scientific basis of bog formation begins a letter written in 1865 to the local newspaper protesting about the planned draining of Lochar Moss in Dumfries for agricultural land:

“First a wood, then a sea, Now a moss, and aye will be!

“In the event of a catastrophe so lamentable as the cultivation of the Moss, what would become of the adders, the wild-ducks, the ‘whaups’ [Scots: curlew], the stank-hens [Scots: moorhen], the ‘Lang-necket herons’, the hares,‘rats and mice, and such small deer,’ the indigenous denizens of the Moss?

“Look at the valuable additions to our history . . . which are disentombed from the moss every year – flint, Celts, Roman weapons . . .”

To him, the Moss is not just a place that connects him to his ancestors, he and the people who live by it are so interwoven with its nature that they themselves are known by the townies of Dumfries as ‘moss-cheepers’ – meadow pipits and reed buntings – or ‘Green Johns’.

He continues: “Yet the very mention of Lochar Moss awakes a train of old and dear recollections.

Though ‘the place which knew us once knows us no longer,’ yet it still occupies a niche in the temple of memory and the mind, many a time and oft, goes back to the days ‘when my old hat was new’ . . .”

The moss is a storehouse of memories, a place of innocence where its strange and different nature precluded its intrusion; a place treasured by children for play – where adults, when they

intruded, did so briefly – bird hunters and berry gatherers in the youth of the world.

Our Lochar correspondent mentions some of the mammals to be found on the Moss – hares, rats, mice and other ‘small deer’. Also to be found grazing its rich surface would be geese and wildfowl, fallow and red deer, wild sheep and goats, and probably cattle too.

Remains of all have been found preserved in Scotland’s peaty bogs.

As human hunters and gatherers began to turn more and more to settled agriculture in the Neolithic period about 6,000 years ago, our relationship with the bogs, moors and mosses began to change. The move was not a sudden one – the human is a walking creature and, like the seasons, we traverse the globe, moving from place to place, environment to environment, as best meets our needs at the time.

Today we are still restless creatures, our footprints measured in carbon.

Into the Peatlands: A Journey through the Moorland Year by Robin A. Crawford is published

by Birlinn, £12.99. Readers of Farming Scotland can purchase copies at a special price - £10 (inc p&p in the UK). To order please phone Booksource on 0845 3700067 and quote FS2020. A second book by Robin A. Crawford, The River: Journeys Along the Tay, will be published in July.

Round-leaf sundews

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machinery

McHale Fusion 3 Pro The McHale Fusion range has become the machine of choice for Farmers and Contractors around the world. Last season, McHale offered 3 models in the Fusion Range, The Fusion 3 entry level machine, The Fusion 3 Plus with film binding technology and the Variable Chamber Fusion Vario, capable of making a bale from 2’6” up to 5’6”.

To date, the Fusion 3 and Fusion 3 Plus fixed chamber models have been the most popular machines in Ireland and are noted for their patented bale transfer, high speed vertical wrapping ring and strong resale values.

This machine slots in between the McHale Fusion 3 and the McHale Fusion 3 Plus, giving the operator access to a lot more options such as net & density adjustment, bale moisture recording, bale weighing system and cameras.

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machinery Kieran Hughes - McHale UK Sales Manager said: “The McHale Fusion range of integrated baler wrappers are recognised worldwide for their unique patented bale

transfer, vertical wrapping ring and high output. The McHale Fusion 3 Pro provides new levels of operator comfort with its large touch screen monitor, in-cab net and density

adjustment, inbuilt camera, and faster wrapping speeds along with a host of other features.�

Like the Fusion 3 and Fusion 3 Plus, the Fusion 3 Pro

shares the McHale patented bale transfer, which is noted for its reliability, speed and positive bale transfer in hilly conditions.

New Boom Levelling System from Bateman Bateman Boom Levelling system (BBL) takes boom levelling to the next stage.

Designed to work with Bateman’s highly acclaimed Variable Geometry Boom, BBL controls the boom to follow the contours of the ground accurately and effortlessly. The terrain is monitored via a series of sensors, which guide the boom immediately when a variation in height is detected. This results in a more dynamic boom response, greater

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machinery agility and a more stable machine environment when spraying across widths of up to 42m.

Bateman designed an inhouse system that assists Bateman operator’s to fulfil their spraying

requirements. Spraying in various conditions is facilitated without the need to change any preprogrammed spray settings.

BBL supports Bateman’s operators when spraying in mixed

terrain during fading or low light conditions and at night, crucially across a range of speeds. The operator is reassured that BBL allows the boom to follow the ground effortlessly allowing them

to focus on their other spraying duties.

If you’d like to know more about BBL contact Bateman Sprayers on 01769 580439 or visit batemansprayers.com

New front linkages released by Lynx

UK importer and distributor of Zuidberg front linkages and PTOs, Lynx Engineering, has announced the release of new front linkage systems for a range of tractors. The latest tractor models that can now benefit

from Zuidberg packages include the Valtra N Series (Stage 5 134, 154e and 174 models), the Massey Ferguson 6700 S Series (Stage 5), the Massey Ferguson 3700 Series, selected Landini REX 3F Series models and

the Solis 50 RX 4-wheel drive compact tractor.

Lynx supplies Zuidberg front linkage systems for virtually and make or model of tractor, irrespective of age, through the company’s dealer network

in Scotland and across the rest of the UK. Tractor-specific connections ensure a perfect fit every time and the highly compact, integrated Zuidberg design ensures maximum ground clearance. (continued on page 74)

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machinery Front linkages can be set to single-acting, double-acting or transport positions using the multi-valve supplied as standard.

Top link, balls and towing hook are also included, and top plates come ready for the fitting of front hydraulics, 7-pole connector and chain hooks.

Key features of the PTO system include an output shaft that can always be rotated over 60 degrees for maximum ease of connection and variable PTO clutch engagement time for smoother operation. Oil immersed clutch plates ensure a long service life.

Visitors to the new, recently launched Lynx website can find the perfect Zuidberg front linkage system for their particular tractor brands and models by navigating to the product configurator at www.lynx-engineering. co.uk/agriculture/zuidbergconfigurator

Bailey introduces larger Water Bowsers With farm machinery getting increasingly larger, in particular the volumes that self-propelled sprayers can now carry, the demand for trailer mounted transit tanks, which can transport large volumes of water to the field, has become more pressing.

To meet this demand Bailey Trailers have extended their Water Bowser range. The Sleaford, Lincolnshire based manufacturer has introduced both 16,500ltr and 18,000ltr options to complement the existing 15,000ltr model. All models feature an elliptical, low centre of gravity, translucent fibreglass tank. Bailey specify a true fixed baffle tank, which reduces sloshing and offers greater stability. (continued on page 76)

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machinery Bailey mounts all Water Bowsers onto a heavy-duty RHS chassis, which features commercial axles for greater braking ability. On the move the unique sprung drawbar with a multi-leaf drawbar spring provides a smoother ride across all terrains. The inclusion of a multi-positional hole enables the draw bar pitch to be altered to suit any make of tractor.

Michael Bailey, Sales Director at Bailey Trailers, commented; “We listen to our customers and have always said if their idea works we’ll do it. We’ve listened again and I’m confident we have a range of Water Bowsers to help speed things up in the field.”

For further details visit baileytrailers.co.uk or speak to your local Bailey dealer.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription page 97

New CLAAS UK Parts warehouse opens for business As the grass harvesting season starts to get under way, the supply of parts to CLAAS customers and dealers throughout the UK and Ireland has further benefitted from the opening of the new CLAAS UK Parts warehouse at Saxham. The new building is part of the second phase of the complete redevelopment of the CLAAS UK headquarters, which is nearing completion.

The opening of the new central UK Parts warehouse has revolutionised parts handling at Saxham, where as the business has increased over the years, this resulted in parts needing to be stored in five individual buildings.

The new building has a floor area of 4,336 square meters, which is equivalent to 17 tennis courts, and a total capacity of 42,000m3, so making it capable of holding enough malting barley to enable local Bury St

Edmunds brewers, Greene King, to brew around 357 million pints of their best selling Old Speckled Hen bitter!

Best forage through perfect ground tracking from Pottinger Pöttinger, the grassland specialist, revolutionised the front mounted technology with ALPHA MOTION. The ALPHA MOTION technology on the NOVACAT and EUROCAT has been impressing farmers all over the world for a number of years. With the new MASTER and PRO models, mowing and best forage have taken on a new dimension.

The new MASTER and PRO models are attached to the tractor using a three-point mount. This eliminates the need for mounting via the Weiste A-frame and they can be easily mounted to any tractor.

The MASTER models also have the proven linkage system from the ALPHA MOTION mowers as well as a sturdy cutter bar with TRI DRIVE for better power transmission and an extended service life.

The heart of Pöttinger disc mowers is the cutter bar, which has proven itself thousands of times.

The NOVACAT disc mower bars are developed and built at the main factory in Grieskirchen (AT). First-class cutting quality, low drag resistance and strength are the hallmarks of the cutter bars, just like TRI DRIVE for better power transmission. (continued on page 78)

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machinery The special feature of all ALPHA MOTION models is the advanced linkage geometry of the carrier frame. With the ALPHA MOTION headstock the entire carrier frame adapts to the ground contours: The carrier frame slants downwards on downhill gradients and upwards when ascending. Even at high speed and on wet ground, thanks to perfect guidance over every contour, the result is a unique quality of sward protection.

The MASTER provides ground tracking of + /- 16° crossways and + 13° / -7° in the direction of travel while the PRO users benefit from +/- 16° crossways and +12° / -9° in the direction of travel.

The mechanical components are subjected to much less stress thanks to the harmonious flow of the mower and, as a result, wear is reduced and the service life of the mower extended considerably.

Harry West (Prees) Ltd

office: 01948 840465 email: sales@harrywest.co.uk web: www.harrywest.co.uk 78

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machinery 2020 Sportsman XP 1000 S from Polaris The strongest and most capable Sportsman yet; the Sportsman XP 1000 S. Boasting the industry’s first 55-inch width for unmatched capability and highspeed stability, the Sportsman XP 1000 S also features a powerful and reliable ProStar 1000 engine, high clearance front and rear A-arms for class-leading ride height, and incredible front and rear rack capacity, allowing riders to go further, haul more and dominate any trail with confidence.

At 55-inches (140cm) wide, the Sportsman XP 1000 S is not only the widest ATV in the industry, but it’s also stronger than ever before. With an entirely new chassis, it has been designed to tackle the roughest terrain imaginable, paired with 27inch (67cm) DuroŽ Powergrip tyres with a unique tread pattern (continued on page 82)

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machinery engineered for maximum grip in varied terrain. Ride quality has been enhanced with the help of Electronic Power Steering, Engine Braking System, Active Descent Control and on-demand All-Wheel Drive.

Ready to be put to work, the Sportsman XP 1000 S also boasts industry-leading front and rear rack capacities at 91/136kg (200/300lbs) respectively, as well as a 1590kg (3,500lb) winch fitted as standard. No matter where the journey leads to, the Sportsman XP 1000 S can handle anything riders need along the way.

Available in Ghost Grey that features a metallic silver paint finish and bold Orange Burst springs.

For further media information on Polaris ORV products, please contact the Polaris ORV Media Office on +44 (0) 1525 270100 or email us at press@polaris-orv. media or follow us on Twitter @ polarisEMEA_PR

Kramer telehandlers with new features

Beside the upgrade to level V enginges, Kramer telehandlers will receive new features, which

mean increased comfort and an optimal driving experience for operators.

For an optimal all-round visibility, the compact models from the KT306 to the KT407 (continued on page 84)

The Air Compressor and Pressure Washer Specialists

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

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machinery are optionally available with a raised cabin. In addition, the exterior FOPS protective grating was optimised for the high cabin to ensure a better view upwards.

The new protective grating is part of the standard equipment for the performance range from the KT457 to the KT559. To increase safety and comfort, the entry into the machine was improved, which was realised via a recess in the cabin floor.

In addition, the models starting with 3.00 kilogramm payload and up can impress with a fourth steering mode, the “manual crab steering”. The wheel position of the rear tyres can be fixed here, but still manoeuvred with the front axle. This type of steering is very convenient in tight spaces or, for example, when driving along the silo wall.

The models KT306, KT356, KT307, KT357, KT407, KT457 (successor KT447), KT507 and KT429 will still be equipped with the Deutz TCD 3.6 engine with

level V and 100 kilowatt power.

For this purpose, the exhaust after treatment with DOC and SCR will be supplemented with a DPF as a standard. The

models with 5,500 kilogrammes payload, KT557 and KT559, will receive the Deutz TCD 4.1 engine with level V and 115 kilowatts as a standard.

Whether it´s the compact all-rounders or the larger ranges maximum capacities, all eleven models are made for the versatile tasks found on farms.

McHale Pro Glide Mower Range McHale offer farmers and contractors a combination mower, the Pro Glide B9000, which has a cutting width of 6 metres.

For the 2019 season, the McHale Pro Glide B9000 Combination Mower comes with an optional Hydraulic Width Adjustment. The operator can hydraulically adjust the width position of the rear mowers to eliminate striping on slopes and curves. The hydraulic rams integrated into the mower beams

shift the cutter bars sideways either together or independently to allow for up to 400mm overlap on each mower.

James Heanue, Irish Sales Manager for McHale “To maximise the feed value of forage it is important that grass crops are cut when the sugar content is highest, and that the mower leaves clean crop stubble and produces quality forage free from impurities.

Our design team combined there specialist knowledge of

crop harvesting, energy and know-how to develop the McHale Pro Glide range of mowers. I feel these products offer a number of unique features which will deliver better ground following ability and better cut quality.”

All Mowers are fitted with 3 metre cutter bars with tine conditioners and benefit from a number of novel features which result in better ground following ability and quicker reaction times to changes in (continued on page 86)

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machinery

ground conditions. The McHale Pro Glide combination mower is equipped with a number of

common features as standard such as unique patented ground following technology, break-

back protection, hydraulic ground pressure control and heavy duty bed design

which make the Pro Glide a smart choice for farmers and contractors alike.

Amazone FT 1502 front tank for UF 1602 and UF 2002 For many years Amazone has offered the FT 1001 front tank, and with great success, and the flexibility of this concept has now been extended by the introduction of the new FT 1502.

The FT 1502 front tank, when used in conjunction with the UF 02, means that the tank capacity of the UF 02 mounted sprayer is simply and conveniently extended by an additional 1,500 l. For example, combining a UF 2002 with a FT 1502 provides a tank capacity of 3,500 l. The optional FlowControl+ and its compact design make the front tank the ideal extension for a mounted sprayer.

In the yard or in the barn, this compact combination, manoeuvrable on its own

transport wheels, stores readily away. Its easy handling is convincing, and after just a few times in the field, this product proves itself to be the right solution. The ample 350 l capacity of the clean water tank on the UF 02 facilitates the thorough internal cleaning of the complete sprayer combination and the compact sprayertractor unit shows off its many advantages when in transport, particularly on narrow country lanes.

The special feature of the FT 1502 is the 100 % integration of the front tank into the rear sprayer using the FlowControl+ electronic fill level management via an ISOBUS terminal.

The technology behind the (continued on page 88)

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machinery FlowControl+ is the two electronic fill level sensors in the front and the rear tanks and two high-performance venturis.

These venturis are powered by an additional 150 l/min pump mounted on the UF. The transfer rate in each direction is up to 200 l/min. Liquid is continuously transferred between the front and rear tanks ensuring that the spray agent is always optimally mixed. The ISOBUS terminal automatically controls the liquid levels, so that the weight distribution is always kept at the optimum. Any premature reduction of the load on the front axle is prevented and, furthermore, FlowControl+ ensures that both tanks are automatically fully filled during the filling process and emptied during the spraying process.

Both tanks are cleaned out at the end.

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machinery New on-line farm equipment trading platform Farmers may not be able to trade second-hand machinery in person at the moment, but they can certainly do it virtually, thanks to the launch of a new online marketplace.

Farm to Farm is the brainchild of Northamptonshire farmer Tris Baxter-Smith, who has decided to turn his simple, printed, new and used farm machinery sales magazine into a national digital trading platform.

“As a farmer myself, I had already had some slightly frustrating and disheartening experiences trying to source machinery on various auction websites, so thought why not build something just for farmers.

It was also clear that we need to move with the times and appeal to a new breed of digital-savvy buyers and sellers coming into the industry,” he said.

The new Farm to Farm website allows farmers and traders to upload a photo of any equipment or goods they have for sale, communicate with potential buyers and then have Farm to Farm take care of the transaction in a safe, simple and secure way.

“On Farm to Farm you can now browse for your next tractor, liaise with the seller on-line, make a deal and pay for it – all without leaving your farm office.

We also have a finance house working with us, so if you need the funds to make a significant investment in machinery our partner can provide

a free no obligation quote,” said Mr BaxterSmith.

Visit www.farmtofarm. co.uk for further information.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out July 2020 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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machinery Adaptable seeder offers effective crop establishment option from Kuhn A cover crop seeding unit, compatible with a wide range of minimum tillage cultivators and capable of applying all types of seed, or fertiliser, at rates from 1 to 430kg/ha, is available from KUHN Farm Machinery.

The SH 600, equipped with KUHN’s Venta metering unit and with the option of 16, 20 or 24 outlets from the distribution head, is designed for uniform seed spread across a 3–9 metre working width. Seed is distributed via discharge plates located in front of the cultivator roller to achieve optimum soil-to-seed contact.

Precise and simple application rate settings are achieved using

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KUHN’s Quantron S2 control terminal, which aligns output with forward speed. Quantron S2 also monitors seed level and controls fan speed and metering unit speed.

With a 600 litre hopper, the SH 600 has big bag capacity, and the machine is fitted with a ladder and walkway to allow safe and easy access when filling.

The SH 600 is specifically designed to operate with KUHN’s Prolander, Performer, Optimer XL and Cultimer L 1000 minimum tillage and stubble cultivators and is sufficiently adaptable to work with other makes of machine.

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machinery Get the latest guidance technology for less Farmers and contractors are being offered the chance to upgrade their old John Deere StarFire iTC satellite receivers for the latest SF6000 guidance technology at a specially reduced price, from now up to the end of June 2020 (extended from the end of April).

The introduction of the StarFire iTC receiver in 2004 established John Deere’s industry leadership in automatic machine guidance, with the familiar cabmounted yellow dome supporting a range of precise global satellite positioning system (GNSS) applications. However, from January 2021 these units will no longer be able to receive SF1 and SF2 correction signals.

After this date AutoTrac automatic steering will only work with the more accurate RTK signal, although applications such as Section Control, documentation and parallel tracking will still be possible using older 2630 or 1800 GreenStar displays.

To benefit from the more advanced satellite receiver technology now available, owners will now be able to trade in any current iTC receiver for the latest, fourth generation StarFire 6000 model with their local dealer. The offer includes not only the receiver but also the more accurate SF3 correction signal, effective down to 3cm, as well as an advanced Gen 4 4240 or 4640 GreenStar display, all at a lower price.

Once they’ve upgraded, customers will benefit from faster signal acquisition and the displays’ ISOBUS compatibility, as well as wireless software updates and the PIN code locking

system to help prevent theft. Further details

are available from local John Deere dealerships.

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machinery Farmtrac strengthens trade links between UK and India Farmtrac is the latest compact tractor brand to the UK market and its arrival has strengthened trade links between the UK and India thanks to the relationship between UK distributor Reesink Agriculture, a division of UK machinery and equipment distributor Reesink UK, and manufacturer Escorts Group.

Reesink Agriculture had been looking for an innovative tractor brand to bring more choice to the UK and in Escorts Group and Farmtrac, Reesink is confident it’s found a partner to do just that.

David Cole, managing director of Reesink, says: “In the last few

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years and up until the recent exceptional times – the Indian economy has been going through a dynamic period with many emerging centres of excellence, particularly in manufacturing, and that wider economic dynamism has been reflected in the ongoing success of Escorts Ltd. It’s a company with a thirst and focus on innovative and sustainable technologies to power farm equipment into the future – the production-ready all-new, allelectric FT25G electric tractor featuring a lithium-ion battery which headlined the launch in the UK is a clear example of that.”

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finance Harbro Keeps Feed Moving in Challenging Times One of the UK’s leading animal feed manufacturers, The Harbro Group Ltd, has reported a slight fall in turnover and profits for the financial year to June 2019. The Aberdeenshire head quartered company’s turnover saw a reduction of £0.5 million over the previous year to £118.5million.

International sales also reduced by £150,000 to £2.9, a result of the Brexit uncertainty. Pre-tax profit decreased from £3.6m to 1.7m, Retained profit by £0.9m.

The Group EBITDA figure was £5.7m.

Managing director Chris Baxter said, “It has been a challenging period for both the industry and the Harbro Group Ltd. The winter of 2018/2019 was extremely mild and the UK market experienced reduced feed volumes, making it difficult to recover increased raw material costs that faced the group.

During the financial period, the Group continued to invest in the future of the business with further investment in its

feed mills and mobile mill fleet, which contributed to a reduction in gross profit while assets became fully utilised.

The Group’s retail division continued to perform well in a mild winter and was further strengthened by the acquisition of a business in central Scotland, which takes the network to 21 Country Stores serving both the agricultural and wider rural communities.

Harbro CFO, Ross Baxter commented, “despite the challenges Harbro remains a robust and diverse business which is continuing to invest in improving processes in an effort to allow the business to become leaner, more efficient and allow better control of overheads.

We are well positioned for the future.”

Ross Baxter went on to say he was pleased with business performance in the current financial year, which ends in June 2020, although COVID-19 will be very challenging.

Lemken, the specialist for agricultural technology, at a stable level In 2019, Lemken the specialist for professional arable farming, was able to maintain its sales levels at 380 million, with an export share of 77%. As a result, the family business has successfully navigated the economic downturn suffered by the wider German agricultural technology industry, which has shrunk by 3 percent.

Farmers and the agricultural technology industry had a difficult year in 2019. After a very good first two quarters,

Lemken experienced an unexpectedly steep decline in sales. Many farmers suffered not only extreme weather conditions, but also political insecurity, and trade restrictions which made business with agricultural technology more difficult.

In 2019 the product range was extended by fertiliser spreaders. As a result, farmers are now able to source their full range of machinery from a single manufacturer, from sowing through to harvesting.

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THEMONEYMAN Covid-19 Relief

By Charlie Carnegie I had intended this article to be a follow up on my previous one detailing the changes to Inheritance tax following the budget but there were no changes and since then the world has been gripped by the coronavirus pandemic which has seen most people being in lockdown although the vast majority of farming businesses have been able to continue as before as maintaining a social distance on a farm is relatively simple to implement.

It is unlikely that many farm workers shall have been furloughed and so the Job Retention scheme shall be irrelevant for most farms unless they have diversified into alternative ventures which are now prohibited.

VAT payments for one quarter can be deferred but most farms receive repayments so its not much help but PAYE can also be deferred if that helps cash flow.

Tax payments due at the end of July can be deferred until next January which might help as it gives time to have the 2020 Tax Returns submitted and exact tax liabilities calculated.

The main source of relevant relief is the Selfemployment Income Support Scheme and HMRC shall write to eligible tax payers in May inviting them to make a claim. This is for sole traders and members of a farming partnership.

In order to claim, the business must have lost or will lose trading profits due to coronavirus.

The scheme will allow self-employed farmers and

contractors to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. Initially this will be for the three months.

HMRC have now clarified the basis of calculating trading profits for the purpose of the grant.

The profits will be based on previous taxable profits, but before the use of farmers averaging and any brought forward losses. For those farming businesses trading through the tax years 16/17, 17/18 and 18/19, the trading profits will be based on an average of those three tax years.

For those who have been self-employed for a shorter period, it will be based on an average calculation.

There are certain farmers who cannot apply for the grant, any person with average profits above £50,000 and those who have more than half their taxable income from nontrading income will not qualify. This could include farmers who also receive the majority of their taxable income through pension or diversified income, such as furnished holiday lets or property rental income.

Charlie Carnegie is a partner in the Perth office of Campbell Dallas and can be contacted on 01738 441888 for any further information

Beatha an eilean Croitearachd aig an Àrd-choinneamh Sgrìobhadair Bill Barron CEO Coimisean na Croitearachd Air 16 Màrt, bha Còmhdhail na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (COHI) gu bhith a’ coinneachadh ann an Nis, Eilean Leòdhais, agus bha an Neach-gairm Rod Mackenzie agus mi fhìn gu bhith a’ gabhail a’ chothruim air labhairt ris a’ chruinneachadh mu chroitearachd. B’ e a’ choinneamh seo aon de na ciad choinneamhan a chaidh a chur dheth air an Earrach seo.

Tha coinneamhan den Chòmhdhail, a bhios a’ gabhail àite gach sia mìosan, coltach ri coinneamhan ‘Àrd-choinneamh’ do na sgìrean croitearachd. Air an stiùireadh leis an Leas Chiad Mhinistear Iain Swinney, is e fòram a th’ ann an COHI far am bi Ministearan na h-Alba a’ coinneachadh ri àrd-oifigearan ùghdarrasan ionadail na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean agus buidhnean eile leithid Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus Coimisean na Croitearachd.

Anns na bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh, tha COHI air deasbad a dhèanamh air inbheisteadh, foghlam agus sgilean, obraichean, bann-leathan, còmhdhail agus taigheadas. Ach aig a’ choinneamh mu dheireadh san Dàmhair, chodhùin COHI cuimseachadh air dà chùis a tha fiù nas bunaitiche: mar a thèid crìonadh àireamh-sluaigh sna coimhearsnachdan iomallach againn a thilleadh, agus cionnas a thèid dèiligeadh ri cùis-èiginn na gnàth-shìde agus bith-iomadachd.

Bha Rod agus mi fhìn a’ dol a chur an cuimhne buill COHI mun taic ana-mhòr agus gun choimeas a tha croitearan air a chur ris an dà chùis sin san àm a dh’fhalbh.

An coimeas ri àiteachan dùthchail eile sa Ghàidhealtachd agus na 94

h-Eileanan, tha àireamh-sluaigh fada nas motha suidhichte sna ceàrnaidhean a rinn sabaid agus strì gus coimhearsnachd croitearachd a ghleidheadh san 19mh linn agus brath a ghabhail air cothroman tuineachaidh fearainn sna 1920an.

Mar an ceudna, bhiodh e doirbh cus a ràdh mun taic a tha àiteachas neo-dhian croitearachd air a chur ri slàinte àrainneachdail na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean. Tha an àrainn machrach air leth, monadh stiùirichte an fhearainn ionaltraidh, agus fearann a-staigh air a dheagh làimhseachadh, uile mar thoradh air gnìomhan croitearachd thar nan ginealaichean agus tha iad uile air cuideachadh leis a’ bhithiomadachad shaidhbhir a tha mun cuairt oirnn, a chumail suas.

Ach dè mu dheidhinn an ama ri teachd? Tha cuideaman dlùthchruinneis agus gnìomhasachaidh a-nis a’ cur uallach dian air coimhearsnachdan fearainn agus air an àrainneachd, agus tha gluasadan an latha an-diugh mìfhàbharach gun teagamh sam bith.

Tha na dùbhlain sin air feadh an t-saoghail, ach tha Ministearan na h-Alba gu ceart ag iarraidh gun taisbean Alba ceannardas - agus bidh sin a’ ciallachadh cuimse ùr air na mìltean heactairean de fhearann an lùib talamh ionaltraidh agus croitean.

Tha fios aig a h-uile croitear gum faodadh barrachd a bhith dèante mun cuairt an fhearann ionaltraidh: tha mòran a bharrachd

cothruim ann airson talamh rèisg ath-leasachadh agus leasachadh a dhèanamh air fearann de ghnè nas fheàrr airson ionaltradh stuic nas seasmhaiche agus nas fharsainge; agus dh’fhaodadh pròiseactan cumhachd ath-nuadhachail air bheag-sgèile an cur an gnìomh còmhla ri leasachadh air fearann coillteach ùr air làraichean iomchaidh.

Tha e cudromach gu bheil coimhearsnachdan croitearachd agus uachdarain croitearachd comasach air na seòrsaichean ghnìomhachdan sin a thoirt air adhart, agus tha brosnachadh gus sin a dhèanamh aig cridhe na cùise.

A thaobh fearann ionaltraidh, tha e deatamach gum bi comataidh gnìomhach ionaltraidh an sàs, a tha comasach air ùidhean an luchdearrannan a cho-òrdanachadh, tagradh airson maoineachadh, agus ceanglaichean a chumail ri pàrtaidhean eile gus sgeamaichean a chur air bhonn. O chionn ghoirid, tha an Coimisean air a bhith ag obair cruaidh gus an crìonadh ann an àireamhan chomataidhean ionaltraidh a thilleadh, agus tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil a-nis na dusanan a bharrachd ann an oifis na bha o chionn bliadhna no dhà.

Tha fios aig a h-uile croitear gu bheil feum air barrachd dhaoine òga agus teaghlaichean inntrigeadh fhaighinn do choimhearsnachdan croitearachd, agus gum faod seo a bhith doirbh mar thoradh air na cosgaisean na lùib. Gach bliadhna,

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bidh na ceudan de chroitean gan iomlaideadh tro shònrachadh, reic, sinnsearachd no leigeil air màl, ach dh’fhaodadh gum feum sinn coimhead a-rithist ri dòigh air a dhèanamh nas fhasa do dhaoine nas òga air bheag tuarastal, inntrigeadh fhaotainn do chroitearachd.

Ma tha beachdan ùra agaibh mu nì sam bith den seo, feuch gun sgrìobh sibh thugam aig Coimisean na Croitearachd no air post-d gu bill.barron@crofting.gov.scot COVID 19 Tha sinn gu làithreach beò ann an àm nach fhaca sinn a leithid a-riamh agus chan eil teagamh agam nach atharraich cùisean eadar àm sgrìobhaidh agus an t-àm a thèid seo an clò.

Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi an t-atharrachadh sin air an t-slighe as fheàrr.

Tha oifis a’Choimisein dùinte.

Tha a bhith ag obair gun bhunait oifis a’ tarraing mòran dùbhlain phractaigeach agus chan eil sinn comasach air seirbheis àbhaisteach a thabhann. Bidh an luchd-obrach againn a tha ag obair bhon taigh, a’ giullachd thagraidhean a tha an làthair cho fada ’s a ghabhas ach chan urrainn dhuinn dèiligeadh ri tagraidhean ùra. Tha sinn a’ postadh atharrachaidhean sam bith air a’ phàtran obrach làithreach againn tro na meadhanan sòisealta agus tro ar làrach-lìn, mar sin cumaibh sùil orra airson ùr-fhiosrachadh.

Nas cudromaiche na sin, feuch gun cùm sibh sàbhailte, tha aig croitearan ri leantainn air adhart a’ coimhead às dèidh stuic agus bàrr, mar sin chan urrainn dhaibh fuireach aig an taigh mar a tha mòran eile a’ dèanamh a-nis.

A Scottish country life means different things to different people: living, playing, visiting, holidaying, and working in Scotland’s vast bucolic landscape. Our rural spaces create an array of employment, with thousands employed, self-employed and contracted to work in the Scottish countryside.

Traditional roles such as gamekeepers, deerstalkers, and hill and river ghillies require working in remote locations all over Scotland. They are dedicated men and women, who take care of our wild habitats and manage the wildlife so sporting enthusiasts may enjoy time outdoors and participate in seasonal shooting, deer stalking and fishing. The countryside ticks over as they go about their daily jobs but what about the remote workers who live and work in far flung locations? Some may see very few people outside of the sporting seasons. Lone working requires a multitude of skills, a high degree of resilience, a problem-solving approach to everything, knowledge of health and safety, and a close eye on the months ahead. Food supplies need to be bought and stocked up in advance, and All Terrain Vehicles and 4 x 4s serviced and equipped with snow tyres or tracks for the winter months.

These days, there are choices of communication channels: mobile and satellite phones, radios, and internet for staying in touch. We read the news, and are led to believe rural broadband is available to all but I have to wonder if it has

by Linda Mellor

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE been rolled out to the most distant of locations? Robust communication technology and power supplies are essential for remote living and working especially so during the tougher winter months.

Being adaptable is a key skill for lone workers, especially as their work follows the same rhythm as the seasons and is subject to change as Scotland’s weather may no longer be clearly defined into four parts. The further north the location, the longer the winters and the unpredictable nature of our modern climate. Longer winters are certainly common in the Scottish highlands as the wintry weather often extends beyond the recognised season and blends into springtime.

‘Lambing snow’, is perhaps the most unwelcome, when the fields are full of ewes nurturing their new-borns lambs.

Prolonged cold, wet and windy weather delays new habitat growth and increases the mortality in farming stock and wild animals such a deer, and,

longer term, it may adversely affect breeding and herd numbers. In normal conditions, country estates hold a number of stags and hinds, if the wintry season is particularly tough, deer numbers drop and herds may move on, and impact on the estate’s seasonal stalking dates.

Remote living and working may be a dream job for some however the percentage of people willing to take on a lone worker role in the wilderness is probably very low but those who do, say the job and life rewards are exceptionally high.

Working on the land, far away from city and towns, inhabited by bird and animal life creates a high degree of job satisfaction, accountability and sense of peace as life blends with nature, and sets its own pace.

A superb account of remote living and working was written by Iain R Thomson in the descriptive and beautifully written book, ‘Isolation Shepherd’ published in 1983.

The book details working and living in an isolated location tending sheep and stalking deer. In the 1950s, the author and his young family moved to a remote cottage on the western end of Loch Monar in Ross-shire, and lived there for four years before the Starthfarrar glen was flooded as part of a hydro-electric project. His cottage ruins now sit beneath the waters of the dammed Loch Monar. The shepherd’s love of Scotland,

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the landscape and wildlife are richly detailed throughout the book. Life was tough but he and his family embraced it throughout the seasons despite limited communication options with the outside world: hanging a flag outside a window to alert a neighbour across the loch or a boat ride across the dangerous waters of Monar. A highly recommended read. It’s the type of book you’d buy and never part with.

Scotland has changed a lot: land use and estate ownership has altered, and yield per acre can be the unwelcome squeeze on some traditional Scottish estates as our native deer are treated like vermin, pushed out and fenced off to make way for trees. Since Iain R Thomson lived on Loch Monar modern technology and communications are now common place. In Scotland, lone workers still embrace the challenge of the wilderness, and delight in life far away from the populous. For those seeking a holiday, the ideal get-away is often a remote location, with the option of doorstep access to hillwalking, deer-stalking and fishing in remote hill lochs.

Life is for living, however, in 2020, we have been made aware of the ever-changing world we live in, and have had to adapt to huge shifts in our daily routines. For now, life is for living but it may mean living a little differently than we are used to.

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BAKING with BERRIES

Berry Genoese Ingredients: 4 eggs 100g caster sugar 75g flour 75g unsalted butter 150mls double cream 350g berries – fresh or defrosted so long as they’re Scottish!

Home made custard – see below 300mls double cream Decoration suggestions: gorse flowers, berry leathers, fresh mint & berries

Photograph © Wendy Barrie

By Wendy Barrie

Method: s -AKE CUSTARD lRST AND ALLOW IT TO COOL COMPLETELY IN THE FRIDGE s 0RE HEAT OVEN ª# s "UTTER AND LINE TWO v SANDWICH TINS s -ELT BUTTER AND COOL UNTIL JUST WARM s 3IEVE AND WARM mOUR BY PLACING CLOSE TO COOKER OR IN A KITCHEN SUNSPOT s 0LACE EGGS AND SUGAR IN A GENEROUSLY SIZED BOWL OVER A PAN OF HOT WATER AND WHISK CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL VERY THICK AND CREAMY white. s &OLD IN COOLED BUTTER FOLLOWED BY SIEVED WARMED mOUR AND LIGHTLY COMBINE s "AKE IN THE MIDDLE OF OVEN FOR MINUTES AT # THEN REDUCE TO # FOR REMAINING MINUTES KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM The sponges should be well risen, set and a little shrunken at the edges. s 4URN OUT ONTO A WIRE TRAY TO COOL s /NLY lLL AND DECORATE WHEN COMPLETELY COLD s &ILL WITH LAYERS OF WHIPPED CREAM COLD CUSTARD AND BERRIES GENTLY PLACING SPONGES ON TOP AND DECORATE AS YOU WISH The recipe is for 2 sponge tins so I doubled it. The spare sponge freezes beautifully for another day. Defrosted berries from Craigie’s are perfect when Scottish berries are not in season. I always keep a few in my freezer.

For custard: 300mls single cream 3 egg yolks

1 rounded dstsp vanilla caster sugar 1 generous dstsp cornflour*

Method: s 4O MAKE CUSTARD HEAT CREAM IN A PAN TO SCALDING TEMPERATURE s -EANWHILE WHISK REMAINING INGREDIENTS TOGETHER WITH A BALLOON WHISK s 0OUR PIPING HOT CREAM OVER EGG MIX WHISKING ALL THE TIME s /NCE SMOOTH AND BEGINNING TO THICKEN RETURN CUSTARD TO PAN ON A VERY LOW HEAT AND WHISK UNTIL YOU FEEL IT START TO THICKEN further. At that point quickly pour custard back into your bowl and keep whisking again to prevent over cooking of eggs. It should be sufficiently thick to spread onto sponge. Set aside to cool.

Any leftover custard can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. * I make thicker custard than usual when spreading onto a cake.

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.

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97

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Professor Wayne Powell The principal of Scotland’s Rural College has been appointed to the UK’s Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) Science Advisory Group (SAG).

Professor Wayne Powell – who is also SRUC’s chief executive – is one of seven new independent experts on the 11-member group and one of only two based in Scotland.

DFID leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty and to help save lives when humanitarian emergencies strike.

Its priority science and research areas are health; agriculture; climate, water, energy; growth; humanitarian; education; governance, conflict and social development; and data for development.

Alongside other noted academics from across the UK, Prof Powell will help provide DFID with independent scientific advice.

Gary Webster Ledingham Chalmers extends north Scotland reach with partner appointment for rural team Renowned Highland rural law specialist Gary Webster, has joined fullservice law firm Ledingham Chalmers in Inverness.

Expanding its geographical reach for this discipline into Moray and the north of Scotland, Gary has joined as partner from another legal practice in the city.

The Aberdeen-headquartered firm is the only practice in Scotland with offices in United Auctions’ Agricultural Centre in Stirling and the Thainstone Centre near Inverurie. It also has a base in Edinburgh.

This appointment is the third for the rural team across Scotland over the past 12 months.

Emma Johnson Haith Group, the leading designer and manufacturer of vegetable handling equipment has appointed a new financial controller to head up its accounts department.

Emma Johnson joined Haith Group, reporting to Nigel Haith, managing director.

With nine years financial experience gained at an industrial hose manufacturer, Emma has been given responsibility for managing all aspects of Haith finances, dealing with day-to-day financial administration as well as producing monthly accounts, forecasting and budget management.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Emma to the team,” says Nigel. “We are enjoying a buoyant period, with a very encouraging order book and a pleasing number of enquiries. As we continue to grow, the amount of work our accounts department has to undertake also rises, so we’ve decided to recruit and are delighted to have found someone with Emma’s experience and skill set.”

Alastair Dixon Pottinger are pleased to announce the appointment of Alastair Dixon to the position of Northern Territory Manager.

Alastair joins Pöttinger UK from a long established agricultural machinery dealer in Bishopton, Glasgow. In his previous role Alastair handled retail sales ˇ for a wide range of agricultural products across Argyll and the Western Isles.

Based from the family farm in Lochgilphead, Alastair is responsible for a territory that covers all of Scotland and the North East England.

“Alastair will be a familiar face to many in the West of Scotland from his previous sales role and time spent actively within ˇ Young Farmers” comments Shaun Groom, General Manager of Pöttinger UK. “His extensive knowledge of the industry will be invaluable in assisting the growth of the Pöttinger brand in the years ahead”

Page Turner’s

BOOK REVIEW Rosemary Goring reviews

Native: Life in a Vanishing Landscape

by Patrick Laurie In her review she said of the book ‘Native is an unflinching account of what it takes to turn into a farmer, bearing callouses, bruises and scars’. She is not wrong.

Fellow writers have poured praise on the book including TV presenter, Matt Johnson and Herdwick shepherd, James Rebanks (author of The Shepherd’s Life). Skilful writing, commitment and sheer emotion rolls un-interrupted through the pages like the hills it portrays, the great beauty of nature and the farmed environment witnessed and captured, the war of attrition on hill farmers perfectly and honestly framed. It is an impressive book with much to tell. And yet it is published into an unfamiliar publishing landscape – bookshops are closed, festivals cancelled, readings postponed.

This book must not be permitted to disappear under the curtain of Coronavirus. It is a vital book in the understanding of our relationship with the natural world – not as a pastime but as a working way of life; farmer and nature together; wildlife and farmed species co-existing, flourishing.

Patrick Laurie found work on a Hebridean fishing boat when he graduated from University. It was a hard job in a fine place but it wasn’t home.

Soon he was making ends meet working as a journalist. It was comfortable, unchallenging.

Journalism paid the bills, just, but it was not where his heart lay.

As he railed in writing against the forestry plantations taking over the Galloway hills he was aware that he did so from the security of an office. He was also covering farming shows locally and it was here that he felt the strong emotional pull back to the land, entranced by traditional methods and old breeds of cattle.

His family had been in farming in Galloway for generations

and he had fond memories of his grandfather’s old ways, the tales and folklore. His father had turned from farming to the law when foot-and-mouth hit the area hard. But Patrick now felt an ache to return to the land, to feel his boots sink into the mud of home, engage with the wildlife he sought to protect – in short, to live the life he hankered after. Over time, he and his wife purchased a rundown farm and invested in a small number of Riggit cows. Rough, characterful animals ‘these beasts smelled of cud and honesty, lightly shaken from the leaves of a history book’.

He prepared for their arrival but found that ‘my first heifers were absurdly independent. I was ready to care for them, but they didn’t need anything from me.

They came of the lorry, vanished into the whins, and I didn’t see them again for a week… they made it clear that my duty was to feed them and then get lost’.

Nevertheless, as these wildnatured, woolly, handsome creatures took naturally to the hills where their ancestors had roamed, the harsh reality of farming took hold.

Three quarters of Galloway’s hill farming have turned to forestry since the second world war, and with this fast-paced change, wild bird populations in Galloway are in free-fall. A very real disconnect with the land and the food it supplies is taking hold and the landscape is changing forever. Laurie’s memoir of finding his feet in farming this area is both moving and motivational. It will change outlooks and perhaps, just perhaps, make us think again about our relationship with the land.

Native: Life in a Vanishing Landscape by Patrick Laurie (£14.99 hbk) is published in April by Birlinn Ltd