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CONTENTS
farmingscotland
4 11
Sheep
12 15
Beef
16 19
Arable
20 21
Education
farmingscotland.com Issue sixty-five • May 2010
Soctsheep, Shearing, Texels
Issue sixty-five • May 2010
M Eilidh MacPherson
farmingscotland EDITOR: Eilidh MacPherson Marbrack Farm, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas, DG7 3TE Tel: 016444 60644 Mobile: 07877897867 editor@farmingscotland.com www.farmingscotland.com PUBLISHER - Eilidh MacPherson ADVERTISING – Eilidh MacPherson Fiona McArthur Alison Martin Wendy Thompson
– 016444 60644 – 01583 421397 – 01292 443097 – 01575 540209
Cover - Jamie Murdoch spreads fertiliser at Marbrack, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas Text and photography by Eilidh MacPherson unless otherwise stated Page 4-
Eddie Gillanders
any Agricultural events are kicking off in May with Scotgrass on the 11th, Beef Expo on the 26th and Scotsheep on the 2nd June, read the previews in the following pages. Attention all pedigree beef bull breeders! You have only two weeks left to enter a bull for the novel Bull Survival Competition at Beef Expo 2010 – and a 1-in-16 chance of winning a cash prize of £10,000! Where else could you get such favourable odds! Certainly not from your local bookmaker! The competition is open to all beef breeds and the closing date for entries is Friday, May 14. All you have to do is enter a bull, which you think can beat off the competition of the other 15 bulls in the judging ring at Beef Expo 2010 ,which takes place at Hexham Mart on Thursday, May 27. The owner of the winning bull goes home with the £10,000 cheque. Contact Sheila Eggleston of Eggs-Port Ltd NOW on 01434 600602 to enter your bull. If you want to take part in the judging, entry forms can be downloaded from the Beef Expo 2010 web site – www.beefexpoco.uk – in advance or can be purchased on your arrival at the event on May 27. The first round of judging will take place at 12 noon. Many Agricultural events are kicking off in May with Scotgrass on the 11th, Beef Expo on the 26th and Scotsheep on the 2nd June, read the previews in the following pages. Another event later in the year – the Winterfair – has just had its sponsorship deal renewed. Scot Proteins Limited is continuing its sponsorship of the Royal Highland Winter Fair, which will take place at
the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on Wednesday 24th November 2010. The company, which is based in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, came on board as main sponsors for the first time last year. “This is the third year of the partnership between the RHASS and the Scottish National Fat Stock Club and with free entry and free car parking this year, we are looking forward to welcoming visitors to Ingliston on 24th November.” It’s lambing time at Marbrack and I’ve been grounded, so didn’t get out to interview anyone! Contributors have helped out no end. Fiona Sloan talked to the new Texel Chairman, Gordon Gray, Selkirk, Eddie Gillanders has covered both Scotsheep and Beef Expo previews, while regular correspondents – Hugh Stringleman and Andrew Arbuckle – have tackled beef and dairy markets and East of Scotland Growers respectively. I’m looking forward to getting out about over the next few months to some of the events and shows across the country. It’s always good to catch up with contacts and meet face to face as so much of my business is done by telephone and e-mail. I’m also looking forward to meeting more readers and receiving feedback as to what you as the reader enjoy – which articles you read first and what you’d like to see more of. You can always drop an e-mail, sign up for our newsletter or even call for a chat. Letters to the editor are always welcome. With the fertiliser spread and now a bit of rain, we are praying for some grass growth like many other farmers across the country. And we just hope we are in for the long hot summer, which has been predicted!
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Beef Expo, SNH, Highlanders
Vegetables, Scotgrass
SAC Dairy Academy
World Markets with NZ correspondent
Hugh Stringleman
Page 6 - Fiona Sloan Page 8 - Shearing Sports NZ Page 12 - Eddie Gillanders Page 14 - SNH Page 18 - Andrew Arbuckle Page 20 - SAC Page 22 - Hereford Cattle Society
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