Farm Stock Scotland Member Meeting... Finishing lambs off early sown Winter Wheat

The benefits to both crop and animal of an old grazing technique are being trialled for a second year at an arable farm in the Scottish Borders Members of the farmer owned co-operative Farm Stock (Scotland) Ltd recently met at Paxton South Mains Farm, Berwick for an update on the trial by farm owner Alex Home Robertson.

The members enjoyed the beautiful Berwickshire sunshine, headed out to see the field of 200 lambs, which were indulging in the succulent August drilled winter wheat crop Alex Home Robertson explained to everyone that; "It is a key objective of mine to reincorporate livestock back into the arable system, why use a tractor to add nutrients to my soil when I can get the livestock to do it for me "

He added, "I have been really pleased with how it has gone although it wouldn't have been possible without the support of the team who have really embraced the concept following on from a successful trial last year, which showed no distinguishable impact on yield."

The lambs come from an upland farm near Lauder also owned by Mr Home Robertson, which is managed by Joss Jones

Key findings from the trial so far Arable:

• Wheat was drilled after peas in late August in ideal conditions allowing for quick establishment.

• Earlier wheat sowing spread the Autumn sowing workload

• Minimum tillage establishment left firm ground conditions for grazing even after really wet weather

• Electric fencing system has been easy to use and suited the system well Small farm scale trial last winter led to no distinguishable impact on wheat yields even where wheat was grazed tightly

Sheep:

• Lambs grazed and performed well with lambs on the wheat into early March last year

• Smaller hoggs lambs or tail end performers have been finished without concentrates rather than sold as stores, adding value.

• Despite there being no significant permanent fences the temporary electric fencing, which are powered by solar energisers have performed well with no escapees, although lambs were electric fence trained before arriving

• There had been no losses, with lambs double vaccinated and dosed for parasites before arriving.

• Farmer owns both the lambs and the wheat so a clear incentive to make it work

• Good staff buy in into the concept from both the livestock and arable team

Still to discover:

• How hard to graze off the wheat crop

• How early and how late to graze

• The change in soil organic matter and carbon levels

• The agronomy benefits from removal of diseased leaf by sheep

Jonny Williams, Operations Director for Farm Stock (Scotland) Ltd who organised the meeting said "I believe that there is huge opportunity for arable farmers to boost soil health and margins by working collaboratively with our livestock farmer members who have high levels of attention to detail "

He added, "Alex, has demonstrated clearly that this innovative idea of coupling management practices not widely seen for a generation with new science and technology, can be a win-win for both arable and livestock systems "

Catriona Mclean, Precision Agronomy Manager for SoilEssentials discussed the importance and efficiencies, which could be made by d etailed soil testing across both arable and grazing systems Kev Bevan highlighted the results of a recent Scottish Government funded KTIF project on soil health, as well as sign posting the soil testing and carbon foot printing funding, which was available as part of National Test Programme

As shearers on the other side of the world are setting new records, the Scots are preparing to stage the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing Championships 2023 at the Royal Highland Show from 22-25th June

This event will be the 19th World Championships since its inception at the Bath & West Show in 1977 The event usually alternates between Northern and Southern hemispheres, but the last one was held in France 2019.

So far twenty-nine countries have entered, but names and numbers have yet to be finalised. Most teams from the Northern hemisphere have been selected, following the 2022 circuit, but due to timings of competitions in other countries the selection processes are still on-going

Competitors and their partners will be mainly housed at the Heriot Watt University campus, which is a five minute drive/ bus ride or 15 minute walk to the show ground A couple of hotels are ear-marked for any overspill