Every farmer has a story to tell This book covers the diverse range of Scottish farmers and crofters from those farming the rugged hills of the Highlands to the sandy loams of the Lowlands From owner occupiers, tenant farmers, share farmers, crofters, farm managers, starter farmers, to new entrants, farming from 10 acres to 31 000 acres – the people are as diverse as the landscapes and environment in which they work
Scotland covers 7 8 million hectares, of that 5 7 million or 73% is farmland, or 79% if common grazing is included
This book has photographs of 200 farmers and interviews with 109 from across the country from Orkney to Berwick and Durness to Stranraer within its 288 pages It is available from the outlets listed opposite or direct from the author To order direct: drop an e-mail to Eilidh MacPherson at editor@farmingscotland com or private message on facebook – farmingscotland com for details
200 Farmers of Scotland is available at the following outlets:
AY R S H I R E
AYR – Carrs Billingon
DALMELLINGTON – Jet Petrol Station
DALMELLINGTON – Just to Say *
GALSTON – Gibbs of Galston
TARFF - Dundonald
MAYBOLE – Cooshed
A R G Y L L S H I R E
CAMPBELTOWN – Old Bookshelf
LOCHGILPHEAD – Harbro
LOCHGILPHEAD – Argyll Book Centre
OBAN – Carrs Billington
F I F E
CUPAR – Cairnie Farm Shop
LEVEN – Blacketyside Farm Shop
ST ANDREWS – J & G Innes Ltd
ST ANDREWS – Balgove Farm Shop
PERTHSHIRE
MILNATHORT – Carrs Billington
PERTH – Carrs Billington
PERTH – Harbro
BORDERS
DUNS – Harbro
EARLSTON – Harbro
HAWICK – Harbro
JEDBURGH – Carrs Billington, Mounthooley
MELROSE – Masons of Melrose
PEEBLES – Harbro
PEEBLES – Whities
SELKIRK – Carrs Billington
SELKIRK – The Forest Book Shop
ST BOSWELLS – Tarff Valley
STOW – Post Office
ABERDEENSHIRE
FORDOUN – Castleton Farm Shop & Cafe
HUNTLY – Harbro
HUNTLY – Orb Bookshop
INVERURIE – Harbro
MINTLAW – Harbro
TURRIFF – Harbro
HIGHLANDS / MORAY
CORPACH – Harbro
ELGIN – Harbro
GRANTOWN – The Book Mark *
KINGUSSIE – Caberfeidh Bookshop *
NAIRN – Strachans of Nairn
THURSO – Caithness Livestock Breeders
ANGUS
BLAIRGOWRIE – East of Scotland Farmers
FORFAR – Harbro
KIRRIEMUIR – Peel Farm Shop
ISLANDS
ORKNEY – The Orcadian Bookshop
ORKNEY – Stromeness Books & Prints
SHETLAND – Harbro
ISLE OF BUTE – Print Point
ISLE OF SKYE – McIntyre’s Newsagents
ISLE OF SKYE – Tippecanoe
ISLE OF LEWIS – Lewis Crofters
ISLE OF HARRIS – Harris Tweed, Tarbert
ISLE OF SKYE – Harbro
ISLE OF NORTH UIST – Taigh Cheasabhagh
ISLE OF BENBECULA – MacGillivray's
ISLE OF MULL – Boots & Tackle
ISLE OF ISLAY – C&E Roy, The Celtic House
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
ANNAN – Carrs Billington
BEESWING – Loch Aurthur Farm Shop
CASTLE DOUGLAS – Tarff Valley
CASTLE KENNEDY – Tarff Valley
DUMFRIES – Tarff Valley
DUMFRIES – Kilnford Farm Shop
GLENLUCE – Tarff Valley
MOFFAT – The Moffat Book Shop
MONIAIVE – Watsons Grocers
NEW GALLOWAY – Cat Strand
RINGFORD – Tarff Valley
ST JOHNS OF DALRY – Post Office & Shop *
THORNHILL – Harbro
LOTHIAN
DALKEITH – Harbro
HADDINGTON – Kesleys Bookshop
PENICUIK – Carrs Billington
S QUEENSFERRY – Craigie's Farm Shop & Cafe
LANARKSHIRE
BIGGAR – Atkinson Pryce Bookshop
LANARK – Lawrie & Symington Country Store
CARLUKE – The Oven, Overton Farm Shop
CENTRAL SCOTLAND
BALLOCH – Carrs Billington
BLAIRDRUMMOND – The Smiddy
GARTOCHARN – Post Office
LOCH LOMOND – Auchentullich Farm Shop
STIRLING – Harbro
STIRLING – Carrs Billington
IRELAND
CO ANTRIM, Cushendall – Glens Farm Supplies *
ARMOY, BALLYMONEY – Glens Farm Supplies
BALLYMENA – Glens Farm Supplies
MARTINSTOWN – Glens Farm Supplies
ENGLAND
CARLISLE – Bookends
HARKER – Laings of Harker
KESWICK – Bookcase
LONGTOWN – Tarff Valley
Editor
Chinese Coronavirus is having a knock on effect across the world, with Kiwi meat plants and forestry workers downing tools as Chinese ports have slowed down and NZ cold stores are at capacity
Eilidh MacPherson
hundred and fifty acres here at Marbrack are also to be planted in the next 2 years, so it is a bit demoralising to say the least!
On a more positive note – Brexit is finally done and dusted! Interesting times ahead
Scanning is the next job on the agenda on the home front, here’s hoping for a good lambing 28 18
We have a New Zealand article from Johnny Templeton, Lake Heron Station, this issue He seems to have escaped the flooding in the deep South Nearer home we are enjoying inflated lamb prices but it is the growing number of forestry plantations that is the worry in this area. Our neighbours have sold out to forestry, the farm opposite and one a couple of miles away are both destined the same fate, while another has already been ploughed Two
We have some interesting features this issue, including the Ampertaine Limousin herd from Northern Ireland, Barra Bronze Turkeys in Aberdeenshire, Horseradish and Olive farming in more outlandish areas and a farm shop and dairy closer to home
Eilidh MacPherson Editor/publisher farmingscotland com Magazine
Marbrack Farm
Carsphairn
Castle Douglas DG7 3TE
016444 60644 0797 7897867
www farmingscotland com farmingscotland com on facebook
New Report Looks at Redefining Productivity and Efficiency of UK Farming Systems
Areport launched by OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers) proposes a new approach to the way we assess productivity and efficiency of UK farm businesses, with the view of building a more resilient and sustainable system of food production
While the current approach to UK agricultural economics focuses on a growth in outputs and optimising inputs, the report, which has been written by independent consultant Christopher Stopes, states that a change in assessing the economics of food production must happen if we are to address the major environmental and social challenges facing us
With the Agriculture Bill back in parliament and the proposed New Food Strategy setting out clear aspirations that will require a systemic shift, the report comes at a crucial time
“Business as usual isn’t an option,” says Roger Kerr, chief executive of OF&G “We can’t carry on eroding natural assets to the point of no return Despite a well-intended approach, driven by a profit and loss method of accounting, it’s unintentionally led to serious negative consequences to the environment, while not actually improving farm incomes.
“Although yields did initially increase between the 1960’s to 1980’s through the use of ‘modern’ farming chemistry, they have since largely plateaued And, nutritional value has actually decreased In fact, it was
recently reported that we now need to eat twice as many calories to receive the same nutritional content, which among other things, is driving the obesity crisis[1] ”
Mr Kerr says farmers’ quest to become efficient and productive in its current definition, clearly is not working and objectives must change “In principle, if you can produce two things from the land where you once produced one thing, you ’ re doing a good job. But the question is, at what cost, and for what gain?
“Current conventional models of production mean we are failing to produce food within environmental boundaries, resulting in climate change, biodiversity loss and soil degradation Continuing to mine resources in this way, will ultimately provide results for no-one ”
The report sets out an alternative way of defining how we measure farm productivity and efficiency “Like in other business models, UK agriculture needs to change its financial principles and consider the entire balance sheet, including wider assets and liabilities. Rather than a traditional profit and loss approach there needs to be a focus on overall equity value or net worth,” says report author, Christopher Stopes
“Factoring in non-cash outcomes in the context of the environment, such as soil carbon content, biodiversity and agricultural landscapes, resilience to flooding and rural vitality, is essential to
prompt the system shift required to address the challenges we face ”
Mr Stopes says organic is well-placed to address these challenges “Organic defines a whole system approach to food production that can help reverse negative impacts on the environment, by providing healthier soils and a more abundant and diverse mix of flora and fauna, while reducing pollution and nutrient overload.
“It’s clear, however, to address the broader challenges our food system faces organic and agroecological approaches to food production must be accompanied by a reduction in food waste and more on-farm nutrient cycling – important for all crops especially when rearing livestock
“There’s a misconception that we need to produce more food to feed the growing world population, which is anticipated to be 9 7bn by 2050 The reality is this call to increase food production by 2050 only applies if we continue to prioritise the growing population of livestock and automobiles (via biofuel) over hungry people
“Around a third of the food we produce is currently lost or wasted so if policies were directed to avoid waste and encourage balanced dietary choices with meat and non-meat foods, we could feed 9 7bn now The real challenge then is how we continue to do this in a way that protects and enhances our increasingly frail and dysfunctional environment,” concludes Mr Stopes
New degrees aimed at equipping graduates with the skills to meet climate change goals are being introduced by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).
Sustainable Land Use: Food and Bioresources, Agricultural Technology and Wildlife and Conservation Management are three new degrees being added to the courses offered at SRUC’s Barony campus in Dumfries and Galloway from September 2020
Sustainable Land Use will examine how land use practices can help tackle today’s critical challenges of climate change, biodiversity and food security
Students will learn about sustainable agricultural systems that can provide a growing population with food, bioproducts and bioenergy, while
The value of beef and lamb exports from Scotland has increased to over £82 million in the past year, according to the results of the annual exporters' survey conducted by QMS
Speaking recently at Anuga food and beverage fair in Cologne, Germany, Kate Rowell Chair of QMS, revealed that exports of red meat increased in value by 9% in the year ending July 2019
During a reception held on the QMS stand, Mrs Rowell said that even though Brexit uncertainty is casting an extremely unwelcome shadow over European and international trade, the figures clearly demonstrate overseas demand for our world-renowned brands – Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI. "We have promoted Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI at five international trade shows this year, which have been instrumental in strengthening our relationships with our much-valued, long-established overseas customers who recognise all that sets our beef, lamb and pork apart – our
New Degrees to Tackle Climate Change
helping to combat climate change, enhance biodiversity, and minimise pollution The first year of the degree will be taught together with an HNC in Bioscience, providing an access route for students with CC at Higher level, or equivalent.
The Agricultural Technology degree will cover a range of subjects including engineering and mechanisation; electronics, computing and control systems; soils and crops; livestock husbandry and management
Wildlife and Conservation Management will look at current techniques in the management of wildlife, habitats and recreation Students will take a range of modules which cover the theory and practical application of subjects such as wildlife
conservation, ecology, field skills, outdoor access and land management
The three new degrees will replace existing courses being taught at SRUC and are subject to revalidation in December
Students will also be able to enrol in degree courses in Applied Animal Science and Rural Business Management; HND courses in Agriculture, Applied Bioscience and Rural Business Management; an HNC in Rural Business Management; and a National Certificate in Horse Care.
Professor Nick Sparks, Dean of SRUC’s South and West Faculty, said: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our degree course offer at Barony, together with a wider range of HN and NC courses
“It is an important part of our £35 million plans for the South and West Faculty – which include major investment in our Barony campus, as well as SRUC’s move towards becoming a rural enterprise university ”
Last year, SRUC become one of only two higher education institutions in Scotland to offer a degree in Veterinary Nursing The BSc was also the first degree course of any kind at Barony.
Further courses planned for 2021 include a degree in Agriculture, Advanced Certificate in Horse Care and National Certificate in Horticulture
Scotland’s Beef and Lamb Exports Top
£82 Million
quality assurance and animal welfare messages to our sustainability criteria
"We also continue to seek out and welcome new export opportunities New business leads from these fairs have been shared with all our processors resulting in new markets and customers coming on stream in the coming weeks," said Mrs Rowell
The results of the QMS survey also revealed that exports of beef have reached the £50m mark, with the EU accounting for around 97% of beef exports by value and volume in the same period.
By far the largest markets for Scotch Beef were France and Monaco, Italy, and the Netherlands. Collectively these accounted for a combined 62% of Scotch Beef export sales by value and 60% of the volume
Austria and Germany, Belgium and
Luxembourg, and Denmark, Sweden and Finland were also important destinations, with combined sales of nearly £7 5m
Sheepmeat exports from Scotland totalled £32m, with the EU accounting for around 98% in value and more than 99% of the volume of sales According to the QMS figures, France remains the most important destination for Scotch Lamb
While overseas demand for fifth quarter products remained important for balancing the carcase, generating almost £4m of revenue, sales are estimated to have fallen back from the previous year but still remain a significant opportunity.
Anuga attracts over 165 000 trade visitors from 198 countries, making it a major event for many of the world's most influential buyers
Martin Kennedy to be Returned as Vice President
NFU Scotland’s top team for 2020 is President Andrew McCornick with Vice Presidents Charlie Adam and Martin Kennedy
At the Union AGM in February 2021, under the terms of the constitution, the position of President and the two Vice Presidential posts will all be open for nominations By that time, President Andrew McCornick will have completed the second of his two-year terms.
Mr McCornick commented: “I’m delighted that Martin has agreed to
continue in the role as one of my Vice Presidents alongside fellow Vice President Charlie Adam This continues to be a very challenging time for Scottish agriculture and having two excellent Vice Presidents adds great strength to our official team who are working to support our members and myself ”
Commenting on his impending re-election Mr Kennedy said; “It’s a great honour to represent NFU Scotland as Vice President, a role I have enjoyed over the past three years These are very
busy times for the Union, we are entering a decade that will bring great change, challenge and opportunity and I am delighted to be able to help the work NFUS is doing on behalf of almost 9000 members across Scotland ”
The team behind the inaugural RHET Gala Fundraiser Dinner, which takes place on Friday 21st February 2020 at Ingliston, is offered a sneak preview of some of the auction prizes that guests can bid for at the event
RHET is holding the Gala Dinner to help raise funds to continue, build on and expand their fantastic work In addition to farmer and comedian, Jim Smith, compering the evening, an auction and silent auction will add to the excitement. Prizes up for grabs include concert tickets (which are already sold out!) for a famous artist, a dining experience at Harvey Nichols, wine-tasting, wonderful accommodation and holiday offers, a personal styling experience and a ‘ money can’t buy’ experience with a Michelin starred chef
The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) works with volunteers to provide free educational activities and experiential learning opportunities for
Scotland’s children Arranging farm visits and classroom education and providing teacher training and educational resources, RHET’s purpose is to bring farming and the working countryside and its practices to life for young people The funds raised through ticket sales and auction lots will help enable the delivery of food and farming education
In addition to the superb prizes and lots on offer, the evening will treat guests to a three-course meal of delicious Scottish produce prepared by the chef team from Saltire Hospitality There will be vegetables from East Lothian, Scotch Beef, Scottish Salmon, fruit from Fife and much more Individuals or businesses able to contribute prizes or support the event through gifts in kind, sponsorship or goodie bag donations are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible
Katrina Barclay, RHET Executive Officer, said: “I know it’s a busy time of year but please do get your tickets
Top Prizes for Inaugural RHET Gala Dinner
booked for this much-anticipated event before Christmas so that you are not disappointed We are putting every effort into making sure that the evening is exciting, unique and fun, as well as raising much-needed funds for RHET It will be the perfect evening for entertaining clients or customers or to enjoy with friends, old and new
“One of the auctions may be silent but you can guarantee that the music and surprises we are arranging will make for an evening that is buzzing with excitement and fun.
“We are also still seeking more auction prizes and other commercial support and sponsorship to help with our fundraising goals and so if you have anything you can contribute, I should be delighted to hear from you Everything we raise will be used across the entire RHET national network ”
The Gala Dinner will take place in the Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, on Friday 21st February and tickets are on sale now from www jumblebee co uk/RHETGALA21 for more information visit www rhet org uk/blog/posts/celebrating-our-21st-birthday-on-21-february2020/ or email rhetgala@rhass org uk (mailto:rhetgala@rhass org uk)
World Food Prices Continue Rising in December
World food prices rose for the third consecutive month in December, as a strong rally in vegetable oil prices drove the FAO Food Price Index to its highest level in five years The FAO Food Price Index averaged 181 7 points during the month, a 2 5 percent increase from November and the highest level since December 2014
For 2019 as a whole, the index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities – averaged 171 5 points, some 1 8 percent higher than in 2018 but still 25 percent below its peak in 2011
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose 9 4 percent from November, increasing for the sixth consecutive
month The latest upturn was once again driven by palm oil prices, buoyed by both solid demand, especially from the biodiesel sector and concerns about tightening supplies. Despite the December increase – which also concerned soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils – the vegetable oil sub-index had over the course of 2019 reached its lowest annual average since 2007
The FAO Sugar Price Index rose 4 8 percent from November The rally was in part prompted by rising crude oil prices, which encouraged Brazil's sugar mills to use more sugarcane supplies to produce ethanol, leading to reduced sugar availability in the global market
The FAO Dairy Price Index increased by 3 3 percent during the month, led by
cheese prices, which rose by almost 8 percent amid tighter export availabilities from the European Union and Oceania
The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 1 4 percent, driven mainly by wheat prices amid accelerating import demand from China and logistical problems in France due to continued protests in the country. However, maize and rice price quotations remained broadly stable.
The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 191 6 points in December, almost unchanged from its revised November value The sub-index ended the year 18 percent higher than in December 2018, driven by pig meat quotations both by solid import demand from Asia and pre-festivity internal demand in the European Union and Brazil
84% of Consumers Think Imported Food Should Meet British Production Standards, Research Reveals
The government should ensure that all imported food meets the same high animal welfare and environmental standards in place on British farms.
That’s the overwhelming view of the public according to new research carried out by ComRes on behalf of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (BGAJ)
ComRes surveyed the public in September and found 84% support the view that imports should match British standards as Brexit threatens to open the door to imports from low cost producing, de-regulated markets across the globe
The study found that just 16% would buy food they know is produced to lower animal welfare standards if it was cheaper than food produced to a high standard BGAJ President Baroness Rosie Boycott said: “The results of this study are a stark reminder to government that the public values the high standards of British farming.
“There will always be countries able to produce cheaper food than Britain but it always comes at a cost It could be the safety of the food, the farmer, an animal or the environment
“With Brexit on the horizon we ’ re on the brink of potentially seeing lower quality food imports flooding into the country
“The survey resoundingly shows there’s no appetite for it and it’s the responsibility of government and the entire supply chain to put the safeguards in place to protect both British farmers and the consumer, who’s heads may still be turned by attractive price deals in tough economic conditions, despite how they have responded.”
The results of the study come at a critical time for British agriculture – a sector, which stands to lose more than most if the protection provided by the European Union’s single market is not replicated post Brexit
British standards of food and farming are among the best in the world thanks to decades of progression in the areas of production that matter most to consumers
Many countries, which can produce food cheaper than Britain are often using production methods, which are illegal here and across Europe; chlorine-washed chicken and hormone injected beef being two well-reported examples
Professor of Food Policy at the University of London, Tim Lang, said: “An overwhelming 84% want imported food to be of the same standard as home produced food. Gung-ho supporters of yoking the UK to the USA post Brexit should note this
“The survey suggests the UK public almost certainly recognises the need for UK farming to tick lots of boxes It’s got the message that farming is multi functional But have the politicians?”
Full results
Food production, environment and payment for public goods
84% of GB adults agree the government should ensure all imported food meets the same environmental and animal welfare standards as food produced in the UK Only 2% disagree
A majority (53%) of GB adults would not buy food that is produced to lower animal welfare standards if it’s cheaper than food produced to a high standard of animal welfare. Only around one in six (16%) agree
Younger people are less likely to disagree with the statement than older people – it seems attitude to the trade-off between animal welfare and price swings towards animal welfare the older we get (45% disagree 18-34; 52% 35-54; 61% 55+)
62% of the public agree that UK farmers should receive financial support from the taxpayer to ensure a continued supply of food produced by British farmers post-Brexit, compared to just one in ten (10%) who disagree 68 per
cent of rural and 61 per cent of urban respondents agreed.
Two in five (39%) GB adults agree that a UK farmer ’ s primary purpose should be to produce food rather than carry out environmental work, although just under a third (29%) disagree 33% were not clear (26% neither, 7% don’t know)
Climate change and technology
62% of the public agree farmers have an important role to play in generating renewable electricity from technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels, while around one in twelve (8%) disagree
Just under half (48%) of GB adults agree that a climate change levy should be charged on food with a higher carbon footprint, with the proceeds spent on encouraging carbon-friendly farming methods, compared to fewer than one in five (17%) who disagree.
34% agree new plant-breeding technologies, such as genetically modified and gene-edited crops, should be used to grow food in the UK, compared to more than a quarter (27%) who disagree Y oung people aged 18-24 are more likely to agree (46%) with the statement than any other age group
Retail and UK marketplace
Only 24% agree UK farmers receive a fair share of profit made by retailers on the food that they produce, compared to more than a third (36%) who disagree Rural respondents were more likely to disagree than urban respondents (43% rural vs 35% urban)
Access to the countrysideº
Almost two thirds (62%) of GB adults agree the public has adequate access to the UK countryside in terms of rights of way and footpaths, compared to just one in 10 (11%) who disagree Londoners and those in the West Midlands were the least likely to agree with the statement (54% and 55% respectively), whereas those in Wales and the North East were the most likely to agree (both 70%)
Four in five (79%) adults are proud of the British countryside and the rural communities which sustain it, compared to just 3% who disagree While urban respondents still have a high level of agreement with the statement (77%), almost nine in ten (88%) of rural respondents agree
Four Charities Share £10 000 Support from SAMW
Four charities shared gift support totalling £10 000 from the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) in 2019, drawing on funds raised during a charity auction at the Association's annual conference and dinner, held in Glasgow
"We're delighted to have been able to support four such worthy charities this year, thanks to the generous contributions made by our members and annual dinner guests," said SAMW president, Andy McGowan.
"This year's charities were all endorsed by our executive committee, recognising some important links between the four charities we selected and individual members and our sponsors, who have been supported by them in the past few years This year's
charities were:
British Heart Foundation Scotland (£4000)
This presentation was particularly special and poignant for all association members, being made in memory of Mike Malone, one of the founding fathers of our association and a long-standing member of our executive board It was also deeply appreciated that Mike's son Derek was able to take part in the presentation on behalf of the Malone family. www.bhf.org.uk
PANS PANDAS UK (£2000)
PANS PANDAS UK was established by a dedicated and determined group of parents with children, who are affected by PANS or PANDAS These are a set of conditions, which result in inflammation of the brain, causing a variety of
NFU Scotland has called on Scotland’s transport system to deliver reliable and cost effective transportation between island, rural and semi-rural locations in order to underpin the agricultural and crofting businesses and communities at the heart of these areas NFU Scotland made the call after responding to a Transport Scotland consultation into the nation’s future transport strategy
Compiling the Union’s submission, Policy Advisor Zoe Meldrum said:
neuro-psychiatric conditions such as OCD, tics and eating disorders
www panspandasuk org
RSABI (£2000)
The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI), founded in 1897, provides financial and practical support and friendship to individuals and their families across a range of occupations with the common theme of working on the land in Scotland. www.rsabi.org.uk
St Giles Hospice (£2000)
St Giles Hospice, founded in 1983, supports people whose illnesses may not be curable, such as cancer, motor neurone disease, heart failure, MS and respiratory disease The charity also offers support for families and helpers www stgileshospice com
Transport System Must Deliver for Island and Rural Scotland
“Maintenance of a safe, efficient transport system is vital for our island, rural and semi-rural members from an environmental, economic and social perspective
“It’s vital any future transport network changes are conducted with a ‘rural first’ approach to ensure all rural enterprises are placed at the centre of infrastructure improvements
“It should always be borne in mind that farming and crofting are mainstays for employment in rural, often remote
communities, as well as a key driver in rural and island population retention
“Many NFUS members live in rural and remote areas and rely heavily on the road, rail and ferry network to go about their day to day business
Considerations such as resilience in poor weather, lack of available public transport options and the ability of agricultural traffic to utilise the road network need to be reflected in subsequent policy ”
New president for Hereford Cattle Society
After an active year as vice president, Mark Roberts of the Herefordshire-based Bromley herd has been elected as president of the Society
Running his own successful mixed farming business, Mark has lived at Bromley Court, Hoarwithy, Herefordshire all his life after returning from studying a degree in economics and agricultural economics in 1981 at Nottingham
His connection with the breed started when his father kept a herd of 80 British Polled Hereford cows This strain, developed from a one-off outcross with a Galloway in the 1950s, were very sought after for suckler and dairy herds in the 1970s but failed to get international recognition and were somewhat marginalised by the 1980s. Growing up with these cattle led him to an admiration for large herds of hardy, unpampered, naturally athletic and dark coated cattle These are still the type Mark likes and has tried to breed since restarting a poll herd in 2005
Through Mark and wife Maddy’s years of farming, they have expanded the area of cropping, taking out short term leys, moved from potato growing
to cider fruit orcharding and also began a poultry rearing enterprise in 1995. They originally reared turkeys, which did well during the BSE turmoil years, but turned the housing over to broiler chickens in 2007 where they grow about 140 000 at a time Mark describes Bromley as having plenty of banky permanent pastures crossed by streams for stock farming, alongside sandy arable land for cropping
In 2005 he re-introduced pedigree Herefords to the farm He bought foundation females from Gerald Blandford, Ernie College and Pete Cobley as well as from Lowerhope, Forde Abbey and Solpoll Most of these cattle carried a fair amount of Costhorpe bloodlines, which he had always
admired for their consistent quality.
Bit by bit, Mark got sucked into greater involvement with the breed He has sat on council since 2015 and has been chairman of the local area association for the last two years
Mark says: “I am proud of what has been achieved by others in the breed over the last 10 years Breeders have developed a type of cattle, which are commercially viable, strong and competitive
“The council has faced up to, and is addressing the need to, promote our breed and its qualities to increase market share and premium value I am excited to be involved in this modernised approach that our breed secretary and council are shaping and to help to strengthen the Society moving forward.
“I don’t see myself as a top breeder but will try to use my position and opportunity to explain the council’s aims and decisions as I travel and meet breeders through this year ”
Representing UK Hereford breeders at the World Hereford Conference in New Zealand will be an honour and a responsibility which Mark says he will take seriously
Organic Research Centre Appoints New CEO
The Organic Research Centre (ORC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nuffield Scholar Lucy MacLennan as its new CEO
Since the departure of long-standing and well-respected CEO Nic Lampkin last year, Stuart Rogers stepped in as interim CEO and continued to develop
the strategic direction of the organisation until Ms MacLennan’s new appointment
Ms MacLennan brings over 25 years ’ experience in the fresh produce sector to the role, including senior leadership and management positions for global retailers and food producers such as Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Kettle Produce
While working as a senior consultant in food quality, food safety and food supply chain integrity and innovation, she is also a non-executive director and chair of the fresh produce board at Red Tractor Assurance.
"I’m thrilled and excited to be appointed CEO at the ORC,” says Ms MacLennan “The work of the organisation to redesign and deliver better farming systems based on organic and agro-ecological principles offers real value to our society
“I don’t think there’s ever been a time where emphasis on the development of
sustainable agricultural practices and organic production methods has been more important With public awareness of climate change and the environment at an all-time high, there’s enormous potential to further develop the work of the ORC and extend its potential reach and impact ”
Since attaining a postgraduate diploma in agri-food and sustainable supply chains from the University of Nottingham last year, Ms MacLennan has been awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to investigate ‘audit and assurance ’ in the fresh produce sector, including conflicting agendas between food safety requirements and sustainability initiatives
“I’m a scientist at heart, so the chance to marry my personal interests and business experience in order to lead such a fantastic and well-respected team at the ORC is a real privilege and I’m committed to continue to build on its pioneering work "
The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) has appointed an Executive Director to intensify its fight for the interests of members and the wider livestock industry
Neil Wilson has started work with IAAS and brings with him more than 20 years of management and leadership experience, most of it in the agricultural finance sector
With a strong farming family background, he has most recently run his own specialist agricultural business consultancy – working with enterprises to help them grow – and was previously Head of Agriculture at HSBC Bank, leading one of the largest sectors within
New Bank for Agriculture IAAS Appoints Executive Director
Anew specialist agricultural bank is set to launch later this year, offering financial services specifically designed for British farmers and backed by key agri-business firms
Established through the collaboration of experienced bankers, farmers, and technology experts, Oxbury – based in Chester – will provide farmers and growers with a bespoke range of competitive lending and savings products
These will help producers to manage their input costs and grow their businesses at a crucial time for UK agriculture.
Critically, services will be offered through the bank’s founding distributor partners: Hutchinsons, Frontier Agriculture, Mole Valley Farmers and KW, part of AB Agri
“There is no other UK-based bank focussing its thinking, expertise and empathy solely on the agricultural market and the needs of British farmers,” explains managing director and co-founder, Nick Evans
“Oxbury’s founding team and investors are farmers and market leading agri-business companies that know the importance of farmers to the UK economy and rural communities.
“It is founded by the industry for the
the company ’ s commercial banking division
The appointment of Mr Wilson, from Thornhill in Dumfriesshire, comes at a crucial time both for IAAS and the wider livestock sector amid a challenging climate for the entire rural economy
He will champion the pivotal part that the IAAS and its members – who represent every livestock auction mart in Scotland – play in addressing those challenges to strengthen agriculture, the food sector, other rural businesses and the communities in which they operate
Mr Wilson will spend time on the frontline with institute members to highlight the powerful role the organisation has in promoting the livestock market system as the only transparent way to secure the best price and guaranteed payment, while also working as an advocate for the industry at the highest levels of Government
IAAS Executive Director Neil Wilson
industry and is designed to work in partnership with long-established agri-businesses that farmers know and trust ”
The bank’s core product is Oxbury Farm Credit, which will provide a flexible, convenient and financially competitive alternative for farmers to a bank overdraft or trade finance
Initially, this will be available to medium-to-large arable or dairy farmers who are current customers of the distributor partners
Further expansion across agricultural sectors and with more distribution partners will take place over the coming months and years Longer term loans will also be available to drive investment in the productivity and sustainability of UK farming
“We know from our close and long-standing partnerships with our customers that Oxbury’s relationship based approach to its customers matches our own approach and values,” says David Hutchinson, CEO of HL Hutchinson
“The current and longer-term trends in British agriculture are creating a requirement for new and innovative approaches to managing farm business cashflow and Oxbury is expertly and uniquely placed to provide flexible
said: “I admire the auction system and the unique way in which it provides the best environment to realise the most transparent and real-time pricing for farmers My father ’ s an auctioneer so I have seen all my life the vital business that’s done in the auction ring
“I have a strong knowledge of the sector and am delighted to have been given the opportunity to put that to use with IAAS to further strengthen its influence I am looking forward to building on the tremendous work already underway to ensure the Institute provides a powerful voice for the members it serves and for the wider agricultural community.
“I see an important part of my role being to forge greater links with other stakeholders throughout the agricultural industry to see where we can join forces and share ideas to meet the challenges we face and seize the opportunities, which emerge as the entire rural sector continues to evolve ”
finance through its Farm Credit product ”
Savings accounts will also be available to any UK individual or business at competitive rates, with the guarantee that every pound saved is lent to British farmers and no-one else
Accounts will be accessed through secure online and mobile applications
Oxbury will offer a personalised service for farmers through experienced agricultural relationship managers to ensure all customer needs are met
“With our involvement in the whole supply chain from crop inputs through to grain outputs we understand the critical need for farmers to access flexible cash flow resources, ” says Mark Aitchison, CEO of Frontier Agriculture
“We also recognise the need for a modern banking service to use bespoke digital systems tailored to support the farmer to manage their invoices, payments and cash
“Oxbury has designed an easy to use, intuitive solution through Oxbury Farm Credit, which will allow our customers to buy their farm inputs and finance their payments at the optimum time that suits them ”
Oxbury expects to launch to market midway through 2020
For more info visit www.oxbury.com
New Auctioneers Head to Harper Adams
Scotland’s newest up-and-coming livestock auctioneers are being backed by the industry’s leaders as they embark on studies that will shape the course of their careers
Four more Scottish students have started work on the renowned Livestock Market Operations and Management course at Harper Adams University in Shropshire
They are being supported in their studies with grants from the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), which is playing a pivotal part in ensuring the livestock sector has the right skills – and the best possible people – to secure success for the future.
The new students are already employed by auctioneering companies, where they have been gaining a grounding in the industry at its coalface
That on-the-job experience will dovetail with learning the academic aspects of the business – including its legal, regulatory and financial frameworks – taught by the team of experts at Harper Adams during block
releases there
The new students are:
George Brown, of Orkney Auction Mart Ltd
Michael Craig, of Craig Wilson Ltd, Ayr
Joel McGarva, of Harrison & Hetherington, Lockerbie
Murray Steel, of United Auctions Ltd, Stirling
IAAS President Scott Donaldson said: “Nurturing the skills of Scotland’s next generation of livestock auctioneers is critical to the success of our industry, and a core part of our organisation’s work to ensure the sector is fit for the future.
“We have worked with Harper Adams and our members to ensure the best possible training for up-and-coming auctioneers and valuers, equipping them with all the skills they need for a successful and rewarding career
“For our auctioneers and farmers, there is nothing like the experience of selling in the ring to ensure fair and transparent pricing I am delighted that
The academic achievements of a hard-working Scottish student have been rewarded with a prestigious livestock industry accolade Judith Cowie was presented with the MJ Thomson Award as she graduated from the Livestock Market Operations and Management course at Harper Adams University.
The prize, awarded by the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), recognises the dedication of an up-and-coming professional to succeed in their studies on the industry-leading course
Judith, 29, is a Livestock Procurement
Judith Wins IAAS Award
Officer at Wallets Mart and Galloway Primestock in Castle Douglas
The MJ Thomson Award is presented in memory of former IAAS President Matthew Thomson, whose family have long played a leading role in auctioneering in southern Scotland.
His grandson John Thomson, a director of C&D Auction Marts, said: “Matthew Thomson would have been delighted to see this award being won by an up and coming member of the Institute and particularly by someone from South-West Scotland
Congratulations to Judith Cowie ” Judith Cowie said: “I am absolutely
IAAS is able to support the new students with their tuition fees and look forward to seeing them put their skills to great use in the rostrum ”
IAAS is supporting students from across Scotland working across four year groups
Harper Adams’ course in Livestock Market Operations and Management is tailored for aspiring auctioneers and market managers, offering a four-year academic pathway into the industry It is the route to membership for the IAAS Students work in their first two years towards achieving a University Foundation Certificate, designed to provide the bedrock of knowledge and skills needed for livestock auction practice The final two years builds to the Certificate of Higher Education, which equips students with the knowledge they need to become future mart managers and directors
Speaking recently about the importance of the auctioneering industry, Harper Adams University Vice-Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn said: “Livestock auctioneers can be linchpins of rural communities They employ people and manage property to play an important role in their local economy while also turning a profit
Harper Adams is widely recognised as one of the United Kingdom’s leading education establishments for rural skills and research. Set on a 635-hectare farm, it was recently ranked among the country’s top 20 universities by The Times, securing the title of Modern University of the Year
delighted to have received the MJ Thomson Award following the completion of the course at Harper Adams
Judith, from Gatehouse of Fleet, also farms in her own right with 160 ewes and 30 cows, 10 of which are pedigree Belted Galloways She is well known on the agricultural show scene and had a successful 2019, winning the Beltie breed championship at the Royal Highland Show and Champion of Champions at Wigtown Show with Copelaw Ruby She is also secretary of Glenkens Show and of the Dumfries and Galloway Branch of the Blackface Sheep Breeders Association.
The MJ Thomson award is awarded to a Scottish student while its equivalent is awarded south of the border by the Livestock Auctioneers Association
Donat io n o f £3000 for New RSAB I Book
Anew publication, to help people in Scottish agriculture take steps to prevent stress and anxiety, is being produced by RSABI
Photos this Issue:
Page 5 – Donna MacKenzie - Editor
Page 7 – Supplied
Page 8 - NFU
Page 9 – RHET
Page 12/13 – provided
Page 14 – IAAC
Page 15 – RSABI
Page 16/17 – Johnny Templeton
Page 18/20 – Barra Bronze
Page 21 – Provided
Page 22 – QMS
Page 28/30 – Chris McCulloch
Page 32 – Andrew Hunter Blair
Page 40 – Landrover
Page 48/55 – Petra Jacob
The development of the publication is being supported by a £3000 donation to RSABI from the Aberbrothock Skea Trust Ewan Pate, Chairman of RSABI, said the charity, which provides vital financial, practical and emotional support to individuals and families with links to Scottish agriculture, was delighted to receive the support
“We greatly appreciate the funds, which have been provided by the Aberbrothock Skea Trust and will go some way to funding the development and production of our new ‘Fit for Farming’ publication,” said Mr Pate
“RSABI currently has 25 to 30 new clients every month and many of those who are calling our Helpline have mental health concerns. The new publication will be an important addition to the range of tools we have in place to help people look after themselves and recognise any issues at an early stage. This is key as we know that the earlier people seek support the better ”
The Aberbrothock Skea Trust was founded 40 years ago with funds from two Arbroath families and annually donates around £100 000 to charitable organisations
RSABI runs a confidential helpline (co-funded by the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland), 0300 1114166, which people from Scottish agriculture are encouraged to call if they are in need of support
The charity is also currently running a major campaign to encourage people to become members of its Supporters’ Schemes which include individual, business and corporate memberships The aim is to double RSABI’s members hip numbers in each of these three supporter categories by September 2020 – more information can be found on the website www rsabi org uk (http://www rsabi org uk/)
Since the last article we have shifted to another position at Lake Heron Station in the middle of the South Island, in the Ashburton Lakes district, where both Sharon and I are supporting the Todhunter family (Philip, Anne and teenage family Maria, Alex and Oscar) in their farming operation Their family has been here for 104 years, which is a long time in NZ farming history considering we only got sheep farming established around 1850!
The Spring in NZ was cold, slow and wet, just getting summer now with high temperatures. Grain harvests will be under way with near perfect conditions I would say and ready to buy store lambs for outside wintering
The Station covers some 19 000ha with rainfall from 750 - 1500mm over a 40km stretch and is a mix of flat to rolling improved paddock country to extensive High Country The latter is used for summer grazing the wether flock then lower semi or unimproved for wintering wethers after the snow cap is form to avoid them climbing back to the darker higher country again,which would be fatal
The Station supports: a 5500 strong Merino ewe flock, with 20micron wool, a head 2300 Wether Flock, 1250 ewe replacements and 750 wether
replacements and 65 rams On the cattle front there are 450 Angus calving cows, 118 R2 Hfrs115 R1 Hfrs and 14 bulls.
The genetics are all provided by Philip’s brother at Cleardale Station in the Rakaia Gorge, which is one range further north,
Lake Heron Station ranges from 620m above sea level – where we live –to 2706m at the highest point. Winters can be harsh, followed by slow springs with a genuine 100-120 day nil growth, so we rely heavily on supplements for young and breeding stock
Basically hoggets are crop feed all winter on brassicas and balage. Ewes in late pregancey and calves are fed balage Cows winter on unimproved country up the valley and wethers basically around the corner a bit in the head waters of the Rakaia River. The native country is reasonably steep and prone to avalanche as snow builds on the steeper faces they graze on
Merino Wool is contracted to Icebreaker on a 5-10yr revolving contract basis. The Merino wether lambs not kept for wool production are sent out on a Sharefarming arrangement down country A mob of Merino ewes are put to an English Leicester Ram and ewe lambs go to Philips Brother again at Cleardale, to support his 1/2 Bred Flock.
Ashburton
South Island New Zealand
Calves are sold straight off the farm to a repeat buyer
Living anywhere in a valley East of the Southern Alps can be vulnerable to wind erosion, so particular efforts are made around land management and grazing patterns to minimize this.
We also live in a very delicate environment in general with a vast catchment of streams, creeks and river, running through the property and draining into Lake Heron en route to the Pacific Ocean.
Philip and Anne also have a postive approach to visitors and as in so many of these areas in New Zealand, they are creating more and more interest annually. They like to promote NZ High Country Farming at the best level possible in a distinctive High Country enviroment, which needs careful mangement
Johnny Templeton Lake Heron Station
As in all parts of the globe the microscope is on what we do, when we do it, and for what reason
Spawning Salmon come up from the sea via theRakaia River and end their journey here, in what is, I think a dedicated and dramatic way to end ones life, to start another – one of natures miracles.
The Station also has a tourism component with cottage accommodation at the Station and meals available and up valley at a well appointed Hut
Farm Tours are run and Philip has a commercial pilots license and offers flights around the station and surrounding area, which includes several amazing Rivers, Lakes, Glaciers and the West Coast – ‘Just over the top,’ you might say in Kiwi terms!
Markets have eased from record highs on all fronts from Venison,Velvet, Beef, Mutton, Lamb, Merino, Wool, Dairy. A lot of it is on the back of Swine Fever, of course, with the exception of Strong Cross Bred wool, which is absolutely a disaster – the lowest prices on record And for a product with so many advantages and grown with minimal impact it just doesn't make sense
Well thats my lot from this side of the world! Looking forward to my yearly going out period of Dog Trialing in a new region, so will be a bit disadvantaged not knowing some of the courses But I imagine they all have easily found beer!
Sharon is in her special place with Dressage season and she is about to go south for South Island Champs – yee ha!!
Barra Bronze Turkeys
Whilst Christmas dinner may seem like a distant memory for most of us, one Aberdeenshire farmer is already planning what might grace your plate next festive season
For award-winning Oldmeldrum turkey producer Craig Michie of Barra Bronzes, thinking about Christmas begins as early as Boxing Day when he surveys customers to gauge how much they enjoyed their purchase – and from then on, the planning process starts in earnest
The Michie family arrived at Lochend of Barra from Glenbuchat in 1928, attracted by better land on the mixed unit. Craig’s father later took over from
Craig’s grandfather and Craig himself joined the business in 2012. However, the farm wasn’t big enough to support the family and it was important for Craig to find his niche and so began a journey during, which Craig has been able to channel his passion for food into a new direction for the family business
After studying surveying and town planning at university, Craig worked in that sector in Newcastle and Edinburgh for a number of years before deciding to travel to South America, where he met his now wife Craig was already contemplating a change of career and eventually the couple decided to settle in the North East
He explains: “I was always going to
by Lesley Eaton
do something food orientated at some point in my life and when I returned home it wasn’t so much about diversifying the farm business as closing a gap in the market and indulging in my love of food I am particularly passionate about good quality meat and with turkey production you have complete control in rearing, diet, how and when the product is processed and I think that results in an amazing product I also felt there was a real need to re-educate people about just how good turkey can be, if it’s done right
“Turkey rearing really ticked all the boxes for me – you have more control in the entire process right almost from day one until you hand the product over to the consumer. That’s important because you can ensure consistency of quality and very high welfare standards For example, in preparation for slaughter, the birds move about 150 metres in total and the only journey they make in their lives is when they arrive here as chicks We grow our own cereals, which we mix for feed and we can carefully manage that side of things too ”
Thanks to a winning combination of research, taking advice, calling on traditional methods of meat production and a little trial and error, Barra Bronzes
soon took off with 180 hen turkeys produced for Christmas 2012 By Christmas 2019, that number had risen to 2500 thanks to steady growth in demand
After clearing the decks from the busy pre-Christmas rush and collating and analysing customer feedback, January sees Craig start to plan for the next festive season with fact-finding visits to fellow producers in other parts of the UK Website traffic will also be examined to help determine demand and by the end of February decisions will be taken on whether or not additional housing, polytunnels, or equipment is needed. Work to prepare sheds, ventilation, etc. is underway by March or April. Then comes a busy time sowing some of the 420 arable acres, which comprise malting barley, as well as oats and wheat
Turkey chicks arrive from Lincolnshire in May and are initially checked every hour At six weeks old, they are able to survive in ambient temperatures and are moved into polytunnels from, which they have free access to the great outdoors
FARM FACTS
Craig adds: “We’ve never gone down the route of hatching on the farm because, to get it right, you are looking at investment of millions of pounds between the equipment itself and getting the genetics right – and the way we do things just now allows us a long cleansing period when the farm is poultry free ”
And Craig’s South American connections are to the fore in the set-up at Barra Bronzes too, with two alpacas roaming alongside the turkeys to help protect them from predators and encourage natural curiosity in their surroundings.
“With the alpacas in beside them, the birds feel safer and more confident to range further from their housing. The further they wander, the greater amount of fresh vegetation they will have access to, the more varied their diet is, the cleaner they are and the better their welfare standards are, ” explains Craig
“We’ve done that since 2015 – it’s something they often do in Latin America and it really works If anyone or anything strange goes in, the alpacas will soon let them know they shouldn’t
Farmer: Craig Michie and family
Farm: Lochend of Barra
Location: Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
Height: 170ft
Area: 1700 acres owned 1300 more rented
Crops: 420 acres barley, wheat & oats
Turkeys: 2500
Alpacas: 2
Labour: Seven or eight seasonal staff
be there so they really do their job well.”
From early summer, the focus is on starting to encourage the consumer to think about their Christmas dinner with marketing at events such as Taste of Grampian at nearby Thainstone Centre in early June Serving up pulled turkey and turkey burgers ensures that people are enjoying Barra Bronzes throughout the year and keeps the product in the mind of the customer
Craig says: “You have to promote the product of course but, at the end of the day, it has to be good and exceeding welfare expectations is crucial all the way through the process because it is key to everything. Even when we move the birds, it’s done calmly, quietly and by as few people are possible. Our methodology means things often take longer or are more complicated –outside the turkeys have a greater chance of being eaten by a fox; it would be much cheaper to put more birds into fewer sheds; mixing their feed on-farm takes longer However, without all of these elements the product would not be what it is and it is these factors, which we believe make Barra Bronzes special,
and tasty ”
As December 25th approaches, seven or eight seasonal staff, often family and friends, will come in at the busy time and Craig tries to make sure the people who help out return year after year –even his wife arranges work shifts around the turkeys! At peak times, Craig and the team will slaughter about 300 birds a day and they will hang for about two weeks before being stored in refrigerated units then picked up by the buyer or sold through shops, hotels, restaurants and butchers – but not supermarkets
“The numbers have gone up, but we ’ re not chasing numbers,” adds Craig “The strategy is to grow the numbers little by little and as people want to buy our turkeys Any increase will be driven by repeat customers being joined by new customers, who are usually people thinking more about food provenance and food quality – all of the things that we are absolutely trying to achieve
“That said, getting the numbers right in any given year is important because a Christmas turkey isn’t worth much after Christmas Day!”
As the third generation of his family, Craig already has one eye on the sustainability and future of the business There is now a fourth generation of the Michie family and Craig’s drive is to help create something sustainable for them to inherit, stating: “there is nothing better you can do for your child than create the opportunity of employment ”
And in case you were wondering, even after seeing turkey almost every day of the year Craig does sit down to a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Day!
Succession planning when
t here's no-one to tak e on t he
farm
On retirement, more and more farmers are finding there is no-one to take on the farm, leaving them to have to make decisions on how they will provide for themselves, while considering those benefitting from their estate
Jenny Layton Mills, partner at McCartneys, explains there are four options for farmers in this situation.
"If you want to make clean break, selling the farm can be a good option. But be aware that in this situation you'd be subject to capital gains tax and it will also increase inheritance tax, so it's important to factor this into your decision," she says
"If this is your favoured option, start by getting the house and land valued, and decide whether to sell by auction, tender or private treaty I would advise speaking to a land agent about any development opportunities prior to selling to help increase the value of the property
"The second option is letting the farm as a whole" she says "This is perfect for
those who want to avoid inheritance tax and don't want to part with the farm just yet
"One of the drawbacks of this route is that it does require having capital to reinvest in a property for you to live in, but the tenancy could provide a good income to help support retirement
"It's advisable to put the farm out to tender to test the market and choose the right person to take on the farm. Once you have the right person lined up, set up a farm business tenancy agreement," says Jenny
Share or contract farming can work for people who want to remain in the farmhouse but are not able to work full time on the farm, yet still want to be involved
"In this situation it's really important to make sure that agreements are set up correctly to protect the agricultural property relief," she says
"You need to demonstrate that you're still involved in farming activities or decisions For example, set up regular meetings with contractors to discuss the
cropping options," she adds
The final option is to stay in the farmhouse and let the land out on cropping or grazing licences
"These licences need to be set up with your land agent to ensure both parties are aware of their obligations," says Jenny
"The farmer needs to demonstrate that they're spending money on the land, not just merely letting it, otherwise you could risk losing the agricultural property relief
"This means maintaining the land, for example fertilising, providing for boundaries The work can be carried out by a contractor, but you must pay for it and provide receipts for proof," she says
"Ultimately everyone's situation is completely different, which is why it's important to talk things through early and seek the right advice from qualified professionals as soon as possible, to ensure you're making the right decision for your circumstances," concludes Jenny
Benefits of Changes at Clynelish Farm
As the three year Monitor Farm programme at Clynelish Farm near Brora in Sutherland comes to an end, it is time for farmers Jason and Victoria Ballantyne to look back at what they have learned and also to look forward to where they want to take their business in the future.
The Sutherland Monitor Farm is one of nine current Monitor Farms that have been established around Scotland in a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds The aim of the programme, which is funded by Scottish Government, is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses
The Ballantynes believe that, as a result of knowledge gained through the Monitor Farm experience, their farming business is in a much better position now than when they started “We have learned a lot about our costs of production through benchmarking and feel we really have our heads round the key profit driver of increasing the kilograms of liveweight produced per hectare,” said Mrs Ballantyne
“The expertise we have been able to tap into has given us the confidence to go ahead and try new things,” she added
This change in mindset has not only had a positive impact on the host farm, but also the wider farming and rural community and at the final meeting three local farmers shared their journey with the audience
Caithness crofter, Graeme Bethune, said that at first, he had been anxious about attending the meetings but over the three years he felt confident enough
to introduce rotational grazing on his own croft, which has enabled him to increase his stock numbers by twenty five percent Mr Bethune also changed his mind-set and diversified his business to create a yarn business from his sheep called Caithness Yarns.
The 125 hectare Clynelish Farm is rented from Diageo, who own the neighbouring Clynelish Distillery The couple farm in partnership with Jason’s dad Murdo and make use of other local seasonal grazing when available They also contract farm 230 North Country Cheviot ewes at a sheep stock club two miles away which graze on 34 hectares of in-bye and hill
The family have 670 ewes of their own and 80 native cross suckler cows and both enterprises operate on low cost forage systems
Mr Ballantyne said: “One of the trials we undertook in 2019 through the Monitor Farm programme was monitoring the daily liveweight gains of our lambs.
“We used innovative weighing equipment to weigh lambs every week and monitor their daily liveweight gains This has shown us that rotational grazing is effective as lambs were growing up to 400g per day and averaging around 250g per day up until the end of October “Using the weighing data to inform management decisions will be a big driver for the business going forward,” added Mrs Ballantyne
As part of the Monitor Farm Programme, an Integrated Land Management Plan was undertaken by local facilitators Willie Budge and Cat McGregor from SAC Consulting Thurso.
This identified early on that the business had an issue with fertility in their suckler cows and through consultation between their local Vet and SAC Consulting, the Ballantynes started a vaccination programme.
This has resulted in a decrease in their variable costs per cow to £273, 20 per cent lower than the QMS benchmark for the top third of producers, and increase their gross margin per cow to £520, again, sitting above the benchmark for the top third of producers from the QMS 2019 Enterprise Costings
A key aim of the Monitor Farm programme is to look at how farming businesses can minimise their environmental impact
A carbon audit undertaken at the start of the programme identified several ways the Ballantynes could improve their efficiency of production
One area the Ballantynes are especially excited about is moving to grass leys with a greater diversity by reseeding old pastures with herbal mixtures.
The Ballantynes are very appreciative of the help they have had during the three years of the Monitor Farm programme from both QMS and the Sutherland Monitor Farm facilitators from SAC Consulting Thurso
Mrs Ballantyne explains: “Being a Monitor Farm has pushed us to do things we probably would not have done otherwise and has moved our business forward 10 years in just three It has been fantastic to focus on some of the solutions that are available to us as farmers and we feel that the programme has left a positive legacy for the farming and crofting community of Sutherland as a result.”
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Pleased
Jason and Victoria Ballantyne
Cocooned by the Kielder Forest –Lampert – which covers some 2555 acres, lies north of Hadrian’s Wall, in both Cumbria and Northumberland and in the south west of the Northumberland National Park
Two families – the Hanburys and the Ballantynes – have worked in harmony, rearing sheep and cattle on this upland holding for over a century Current owner, Lucy Porritt (nee Hanbury), who lives in Yorkshire, is the third generation to farm the property, which her grandfather purchased in 1885, while farm manager Angus Ballantyne’s daughter and sons great grandfather took on the role of shepherd in 1920 –a century ago
The Luing herd, in comparison, is a relatively new arrival at Lampert, with the first females bought a decade ago –in 2010
Prior to the Luing cattle a small herd of a dozen Welsh Black, Limousin cross cows roamed the blanket bog and moorland at Lampert They were not paying their way and Lucy and Angus considered a few breeds including Galloway and Blue Grey before the Luing was recommended
“I must admit that neither Lucy or I had ever heard of Luing cattle, when the breed was suggested to us. As I mainly
work alone, I was looking for a good temperament, easy handled breed that would calf unaided and suit our ground,” informed Angus
A visit to Debbie McGowan’s herd in Perthshire sealed the deal “The beasts were unperturbed when we drove into the field and wandered among them ”
Eighteen foundation stock from Mitchellhill, Wooplaw, Craigdarroch, Drinanean and some private purchases from Yorkshire were procured in the first two years
The inaugural bull was sourced online as they had missed the bull sale that year. Kojak from the Barr ’ s Mikieston herd at Peebles dutifully arrived and headed out to the hill to join the herd
Lampert was designated an SSSI –Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1994, partly because of the mire habitats, and
its invertebrates
“The farm is one of the top 200 conservation sites in the UK This helped us become one of the first sites in England to go into the Higher Level Scheme,” explained Lucy, over the phone
Although this designation has been hugely beneficial, financially to the hill farm, it has not come without added stipulations and changes in farming policy They have had to work with Northumberland National Park and Natural England to improve the blanket bogs and mires, making the ground wetter. This involved damming ditches, installing plastic piling dams and gully re-profiling “If peat dries out it gives off carbon A healthy wet peat bog absorbs carbon and locks away CO2 A lot has been learnt about peat restoration techniques, which can now be applied to other sites,” shared Lucy
Sheep numbers were reduced and the cattle have to be housed from November to May resulting in much more fodder needing to be secured and investment and modernisation in cattle housing
The breeding cattle are housed in a cubicle shed, with IAE cubicles and Cosy Cow mats The young stock is straw bedded in cattle courts
Staff: Daughter Kelly works part time on farm, self employed lamber and tractor driver Son Craig self employed, sheep shearer & sheep work
28th May – Beef Expo 3rd June – Scotsheep 18-21st June –Royal Highland Show 20-23rd July –Royal Welsh Show 13th August –Grantown Show 14th August –Open Day –Nunnerie, Elvanfoot
have done a great deal of fieldwork and research at the Lampert over the past four years, combining livestock tracking with vegetation monitoring The cattle and the sheep are fitted with collars that log their position every 15 minutes Their behaviour is also observed –eating, socialising and resting Vegetation quadrants are assessed – this helps to see if over grazing occurs They have found that there can be a ‘heft within a heft’ – certain animals only preferring half of their local area and others preferring the other.
Other on-going projects include flailing the Molinia grasses to improve the vegetation, eradicate tussocks and entice sheep and cattle to graze the cut
area rather than the wetter areas where Bog Asphodel flourishes “We have a huge issue with Yellowsis in our North of England Blackface flock The fresh ‘bite’ of green leaves in spring and early summer can be fatal The chlorophyll in the leaves blocks the bile duct and effectively makes them very sunlight sensitive So it is better if they are grazing the Molinia grasses ”
Investigating dwarf pond mud snails and their part in sheep liver fluke is another fascinating study being carried out at this hill property.
Angus admits that he has bought tups at both Newton Stewart and Lanark in the past “It helps gets the wool off them – there is a lot of Scottish
influence at Hexham now ”
His son Craig, who is a self employed shepherd, is keen on the sheep and prepares stock for show and sale and spends six weeks contract shearing in the summer Daughter Kelly on the other hand helps out with the Luings when she isn’t busy lambing or driving tractors for others Their older brother, Andy, manages Grimmet, near Dalmellington in Ayrshire for the Campbells of Glenrath
The young heifers summer graze 40 acres of grass at Lucy’s in Yorkshire. The bullocks are all sold at 18 months, as forward stores, off the farm to Bob Day at Tebay Tebay are selling 4-5 Luings a week through their
Motorway Service butcheries at Penrith, Gloucester and Lanarkshire “They show the tag numbers at the butchers,” says Kelly, “8 of ours have been killed so far this year ”
Lampert Luings first ventured to the sale in Castle Douglas in 2014, taking out the Championship with a pair of bulling heifers – Poppy and Peggy They also made top dollar in their class
“Last year Andrew Lyth from Orkney bought 10 out of the 14 we had forward and we are pleased to hear that they are all in calf,” stated Angus
This year 14 heifers will be put under the hammer at Castle Douglas
Nunnerie Piper and Benhar Texas are the other bulls that have worked well for the team at Lampert. Angus is on the lookout for a new sire this year. Both he and Kelly favour the dark red colouring. “I like them tall, with a good body and not too much hair, as they are wintered inside,” concluded Angus
Pure Quali ty at A mpe rtaine
by Chris McCulloch
Breeding the best purebred bull or heifer fit for a sale ring is the main goal for the McKay family who run the Ampertaine pedigree Limousin herd in Northern Ireland
Based near Upperlands in County Londonderry the McKay family, William, his wife Jean and son James, established the herd back in 1986
Today the herd totals 130 pedigree cows grazed on the family’s 250 acre farm managed by James who is married to wife Lynn and together have a one year old son called Aston
While pedigree bulls are bred for the British Limousin Society sales at Carlisle, the McKays also breed well fleshed commercial bulls best suited to the commercial suckler producer in Northern Ireland.
Although the family ran a
commercial suckler herd alongside their pedigree herd for a number of years, the decision to move to an entirely pedigree herd was taken in 2002
In order to honour that decision the McKays brought in new female lines from the Kype and Shannas herds in Scotland and became a full pedigree herd
Each year the family sell around 40 bulls from home to suit the demand from the local market and take a further 20 bulls across the Irish Sea to sell in Carlisle
James said: “We like selling at Carlisle as there is always a good selection of buyers both at the ring and online. Our bulls have sold well there achieving good prices over the years. ”
Indeed those prices for Ampertaine bred stock have been exceptional reaching 100 000 guineas back in 2017
for Ampertaine Mozart with a number of other high prices recorded Mozart was born in January 2016 by Kype Orkney and out of Ampertaine Glamourgirl and was the fourth Limousin bull to breach the 100 000gns mark
The British Limousin Cattle Society Autumn Bull Show and Sale held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, in October 2019 saw a top price of 40 000gns with a total of 83 bulls going under the hammer to an average of £5826
That top price was achieved for Ampertaine Opportunity, which was the McKay’s fourth overall champion at Carlisle and was purchased jointly for three pedigree herds namely Newhouse, Spittalton and Goldies.
Born in May 2018 Ampertaine Opportunity came with a wealth of
FARM FACTS
Farmer: McKay family
Interviewing: James McKay
Farm: Ampertaine
Location: County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Area: 250 acres owned
Cattle: 130 pedigree Limousins
CARLISLE
18 - 19 October 2019
• Ideal weights for the market
• Excellent growth rates, fast finishing
• Consistent top carcase grades
• High maternal traits, low heifer replacement costs
CARLISLE Friday 14 & Saturday 15 February Spring Show & Sale 216 Bulls; 57 Females Show of Bulls Fri 11am Sale of Females Friday 5pm Sale of Bulls Saturday 11am H&H 01228 406230
STIRLING
home breeding on both sides being by Ampertaine Gigolo, an Ampertaine Commander son, and out of Ampertaine Juliet, a muscly daughter of Ampertaine Elgin.
Ampertaine Gigolo is quite a famous bull bred by the McKays. He was born in 2011 and was out of Ampertaine Crystal, herself a daughter of the noted Ronick Gains and a maternal sister to 24 000gns Ampertaine Bravo
A half share of Gigolo was sold privately to the Corporation herd, Holland, for an undisclosed five figure sum
Other high prices include the sale of Ampertaine Foreman at 38 000gns in February 2012, Ampertaine Elgin at 32 000gns in May 2011, Ampertaine Commander at 20 000gns in May 2009 and in 2007 the herd sold Ampertaine
Bravo at 24 000gns and Ampertaine Abracadabra at 29 000gns
It’s not only bulls that sell well for James and his family as heifers with the Ampertaine prefix are also highly sought after by both pedigree and commercial farmers.
For ten years in a row Ampertaine Limousins won the large herd category of the Limousin herd competition, which is a further accolade for the McKay family Although they have not entered it in the past two years James is considering entering the competition next time
Down on the farm James is well pleased with the breed, which his father William first brought to their farm in the townland of Ampertaine back in 1984 and then registered the pedigree herd two years later
The Smart Way to Search Your Limousin Sale Catalogue
“We use only AI here on the herd with mostly our own semen with no stock bulls,” said James “All sires are chosen to ensure the herd stays at the forefront of the breed and are selected to maximise ease of calving, milkiness and shape in both our males and females
“Breeding those traits into cattle is important for us as that is what our customers require. Our cows are calving easily themselves and have plenty of milk producing a calf that is alert and grows fast.
“We find the breed does not need any special feeding and can maintain themselves well on good quality silage
and roughage alone,” he said
While the bull sales are important dates in the calendar for the McKay family, selling stock from the farm as well as semen are also crucial aspects of the business
“Our stock has been purchased by customers all over the UK and Ireland and indeed even the Netherlands,” James said. “We have a significant number of repeat customers every year coming back to us for more stock.
“Our bulls are normally sold at between 16 and 18 month while the heifers are sold a bit younger at around 14 to 15 months
“The commercial farmer is looking for a bull that can produce a healthy, fast growing calf that will finish at a young age around 15 months at around 650kgs Our Limousins can produce that calf
“It’s not only cattle we sell here at Ampertaine Limousins as we also sell a lot of semen from our bulls to customers Selling semen is also a vital part of the business and allows a wider range of customers to access our stock ”
With five or six bulls being prepared for the next Limousin sale at Carlisle, the McKay family is certain these bulls will suit the buyers as all have good breeding and figures to match
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Galloway Guys in Germany
On the 17th of January I ventured to Berlin International Green Week on a Galloway Cattle Society learning trip with three other young Galloway enthusiasts – Douglas Waugh, Drife Finlay and John Kennedy Green Week is a celebration of all things food, agriculture and horticulture held annually It takes place within the 27 halls of the Messe Berlin To give you an idea of scale, some of these halls are only slightly smaller than the Highland Hall at Ingleston with many being far bigger The event has approximately 400 000 visitors and 1800 exhibitors of which about 620 are international exhibitors from 61 countries
On the cattle side they have a five year rotation of breeds with 2020 being the Galloways year. Ths German Galloway breeders held their National show with 154 Black, Red, Dun, White and Belted Galloways entered The other breeds on show this year were Salers, Dexter, Welsh Black, Highlanders and Zebu The Galloways were the most numerous breed this year, which is very positive to see Also it was encouraging to see that many of the
prize winners in the show were bred in Great Britain or had British Blood Lines within them.
They opt for a very different way of showing to us with the show cattle receiving no special treatment before the show They are haltered straight out the field onto the lorry prior to leaving for the show and are fed no extra concentrates before or during the event
However, the quality of their hay on offer at the show was amazing On arrival at, all the cattle are washed, given a good blow dry and have their tails clipped – then that's them ready for showing
As there was such a strong show of Galloways they were judged over the two days with Heifers on the Friday followed by Bulls, Cows and Calves and overalls on the Saturday. It was very interesting to note that all colours were shown together with awards being given for the best male and females in each colour
The main ring was split in two so two breeds could be shown at once creating a great spectacle for the onlookers Before the judging starts all judges give
Andrew Hunter Blair Prime Sheep Auctioneer Ayr
Nethercleugh Galloways Dalry
a rundown of what they are looking for in the cattle and give reasons after each class. Only one judge spoke in English, which was the Hereford judge, who was South African and it was very interesting to hear his comments about the cattle After the judging wrapped up on the Saturday we were invited to a banquet, which was put on for all the cattle exhibitors as a thank you for their hard work – a huge event with a lot of free food and beer
It was great to meet the German Galloway breeders in their own country and get to talk to them about their thoughts on the breed The majority of Galloways in Germany are used for conservation grazing on rough ground to increase bio-diversity. They like the Galloways for this job as they are not huge and require no additional feed and look after themselves. In fact the majority of Galloways in Germany are not fed any concentrates
In Germany by law cattle are to be in wintered to save the ground however some Galloway breeders have managed to find ways round this One example is a breeder who has many wooded areas
round the farm and the cattle are allowed in there during the winter for extra heat and shelter. He also lays down straw when the temperatures get low (sometimes as low as -20) for somewhere for a cow to calf Many of the breeders in Germany are concerned for future dealings with Scotland post Brexit but do still hope to get some cattle over before there are any restrictions
On the final night I got to meet the Hereford judge, PJ Budler He was extremely interesting to speak to and was great to speak to someone who believes that native cattle are the way forward for a sustainable beef industry PJ worked in Scotland in 1999 at Mains of Airies, Stranraer, one of my customers at the market He also knows Alastair Scott who works at Klondyke Farms – small world It was great to hear about all the shows he has judged across the world being the only person to have judged a national show on all six continents!
Despite all the socialising we did manage to get round some of the show but we did not get round the whole place as there was just not enough time. The few halls we saw were with filled with food and drink from all over the world with loads of free samples. My favourite thing was definitely the German lager, it is absolutely outstanding
There was also a whole Dutch hall, filled with flowers and floral arrangements – it really was a sight to behold
Overall I really enjoyed my time in Berlin, I just wish I had more time to see the rest of the show and explore more of this great city If anyone has the chance to attend this event I highly recommend it, I am almost certain you would see and learn something new
Finally, I would just like to thank the Galloway Cattle Society for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip and helping with the funding
Improved Information on Forests Vital for Stronger Climate Actions
The Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) launched a portal – the first such comprehensive platform – to track international capacity development support to developing countries in forest monitoring for climate action
The portal – the GFOI Inventory of Activities – is a one-stop shop with easy-to-access information on more than 400 forest monitoring activities in 70 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean Users can search for information by country or region, by type of forest monitoring activities, and by donors.
"Collecting and disseminating better information on forests is vital for countries and the international community's efforts to take targeted and effective action on climate change," said Hiroto Mitsugi, FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry
The portal will help governments and donors identify gaps, share resources, avoid overlaps and explore opportunities for new partnerships to better address the challenges countries face as they develop their National Forest Monitoring Systems
The portal is a milestone in the GFOI partnership It was designed and populated by the partners leading the initiative including: Australia, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States' SilvaCarbon Programme, the International Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), the European Space Agency (ESA), FAO and the World Bank The platform will be maintained by the GFOI Office, hosted by FAO, with funding from Australia and Norway
The portal displays information from the world's leading forest monitoring development partners, including national governments, development practitioners, space agencies and forestry experts.
It is an example of successful collaboration and open information sharing, which is essential in an era of global climate change as big geospatial data and other diverse and usable information becomes increasingly available
Why is forest monitoring important?
Countries face mounting pressures to deliver up-to-date and transparent information on forests and greenhouse gas emissions that meet internationally
established goals and targets, including those established by the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 13 and 15
Developing countries are working to build national forest monitoring systems that integrate the latest technologies in remote sensing and ground-based observations to monitor changes in the extent and condition of forests.
Tropical deforestation and forest degradation make a significant contribution to climate change
According to the IPCC Climate Change and Land Report (August 2019), forestry and land use accounts for about 13 percent of the total net human-induced Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions Most of these emissions result from deforestation and forest degradation
However, afforestation, sustainable forest management and reducing deforestation make forests one of the most cost-effective and immediate solutions to curb climate change as forests remove large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere as they grow.
Dumfriesshire dairy farming duo – David McMiken (36) and Rebecca Queen (29), recent winners of the Agriscot Dairy Farmers of the Year Award, are the cream of the crop when it comes to enterprise David, who is on the board of representatives for Arla (one of only two in Scotland), took on the family farm –Ernespie – on the outskirts of Castle Douglas in 2012 He certainly did not rest on his laurels, as a new parlour –a 20/40 DeLaval herringbone – along with a 280 head cubical shed were erected on a green field site, next to the existing farmyard, that year He received nearly 50% SRDP funding on his investment
Cow numbers were also increased and upgraded to pedigree Holsteins –305 are presently being milked, yielding 10 400kgs, with a fat content of 4.1 and a protein reading of 3.6.
“Everything was designed with the
comfort of the cow in mind – width of passages, size of cubicles, cow brushes, slurry management with slats and robotic scrapers and automatic ventilation. It was designed to make it user friendly for both man and cow, ” informed David
As a representative on the Arla Board, David visits Denmark regularly He is paired with a Danish farmer – Lars Dissing – an experienced Board Member He will be visiting Lar ’ s Danish Red herd later this month David has found his time with Arla has been great for personal development
Another ‘perk’ of the position saw this enterprising farmer pictured on the ASDA milk bottles for a while!
The cattle are grazed through the day in the summer time on an intensive mob-grazing system on 15-20 acre paddocks. They come in at night.
A new State of the art farm shop and
FARM FACTS
Farmer: David McMiken & Rebecca Queen
Farm: Enerspie
Location: Castle Douglas Dumfriesshireº
Area: 750 acres owned
Cattle: 305 pedigree Holsteins
Other: Farm shop/ cafe/ play
cafe incorporating an indoor play area, with more outside is Rebecca’s domain.
A large red, tin shed, similar to those seen on farms in the Baltic countries, with a fantastic double cow logo (which Rebecca traced off a photo of Ernespie Apple Pappus), dominates the scene on arrival While the inside is cleverly divided into distinct shopping/ eating and playing areas
“It is David’s ‘baby’ really – his vision We spent most of our five year relationship going round farm shops!” laughed Rebecca “It is much bigger than we had first anticipated,” she added Adam Henson’s Farm Shop was their favourite – it was one of the first educational farms in the UK
The retail section is amply stocked
with a range of quality products, including kids clothing and toys and items ideal for gifting any member of the family. “The pocket money stand is the most popular.”
Busy Bees Soft Play, has two areas, with one designated for the under 4’s Outside there is plenty to tire out those hyper-active kids – bouncy cushions, climbing frames, tractor rides , wooded walks, farm animals and a flying fox
As a qualified social worker in her past life, Rebecca tried to make the enterprise as disability friendly as possible: adding sensory lights, tables, a board wall and in the soft play, a infinity tunnel, throughout the building “We did receive LEADER funding for £50 000, on specialist sensory
equipment The building is all on the flat and I would like to add an adult changing area in the future ”
The cafe, is light and airy with a wall of glass, looking out over the rolling green fields. A second eatery is stationed next to the soft play, so noise levels in the main cafe are minimal. The Farmhouse Kitchen serves home cooked meals celebrating local produce The Galloway Platter highlights Cowan Company Cheese, Grierson Haggis, Poachers Pickle from Galloway Lodge, Lockerbie Cheese and Ernespie Honey
from David’s father Brian’s hives, to name but a few
The restaurant, which seats 70, has already catered for meeting, hosting Tarff, the NFU, Womens Dairy, Gordon’s forager evening, ARLA and the RHASS Roadshow. ”It has been a great way of getting a lot of exposure. We had 200 at the forager event and served them home cooked meats with local produce in front of the soft play area ”
The local farming community has been really supportive, as their first monthly evening – an Italian night was a
sell out The young couple, who are catering for around 120 on a daily basis, have a Silver wedding party to cater for shortly and hope to have a drinks license in the near future.
This diversification has been a huge learning curve for Rebecca, but she has had David’s mother Jane on hand for advice Jane owns Panache, a ladies fashion outlet in Castle Douglas and a swish, modern apartment, for holiday lets, The Roundhouse, in Dalbeattie
“I found it hard to get my head round initially that as a retailer, you have to be
thinking almost a year ahead about what to stock in the shop We opened in July and I had to already be thinking about Halloween and Christmas!”
Rebecca has 26 staff on her books, some full time. “We have 14 on a shift, nine at the bare minimum. It has been easy finding local staff for the shop, much easier than to work on the farm!”
This dynamic young duo hope to have a return on their investment within ten years Well deserved winners of the Agriscot title!
FEBRUARY SALES
Friday 7th February 2020 at 12noon
PEDIGREE LUING SHOW AND SALE
55TH SHOW ANNUAL SHOW & SALE OF 171 REGISTERED LUING CATTLE
Friday 14th February 2020 at 1pm
SPRING SHOW & SALE OF 88 PEDIGREE GALLOWAY CATTLE
Monday 17th February 2020 at 1pm OTM CATTLE at 10am
STORE SHEEP at 10.30am STORE CATTLE at 11.30am
Entries close Thursday 13th February at 10am
Friday 21st February 2020 TRACTOR, IMPLEMENTS & SMALL TOOLS
Within Market Yard
Please notify of fice on 01556 502381
John Smith on 07771 506381 with enquiries
Auction Mart, New Market Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1HY
www.walletsmarts.co.uk
Tel:01556 502 381 Fax: 01556 504 414
The Land Rover Defender family showcased its 21st century dual-eSIM connectivity at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, the world’s largest consumer electronics show
The New Defender is the first vehicle with two embedded LTE modems for enhanced connectivity, while Jaguar Land Rover ’ s new Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment has an industry-leading design and shares electronic hardware with the latest smartphones.
The fast-responding and intuitive Pivi Pro system allows customers to make full use of New Defender ’ s Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) technology, without compromising its ability to stream music and connect to apps on the move With its own designated LTE modem and eSIM, the SOTA technology can operate in the background, without affecting the day-to-day connectivity provided by the separate modem and eSIM in the infotainment module
The always-on and always-connected Pivi Pro set-up sits at the heart of New Defender ’ s cabin and its 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen allows customers to control all aspects of the vehicle using the same processing hardware as the latest smartphones In addition, customers can connect two mobile devices to the infotainment head unit at once using Bluetooth, so the driver and passenger can enjoy hands-free functionality concurrently without the need to swap connections
The LTE connectivity behind Jaguar Land Rover ’ s infotainment also allows New Defender to roam across multiple networks in different regions to optimise connectivity, so customers suffer minimal interruptions caused by coverage blackspots from individual providers In addition, the cloud-based architecture provided by CloudCar makes it easy to access and use content and services on the move and will even support in-car parking payments when New Defender hits UK streets this spring
In the UK, Defender owners will even be able to pay for parking using the central touchscreen through apps including RingGo, without leaving their vehicle Customers can also take their digital landscape with them when swapping between Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, providing instant familiarity in multi-car households within whichever vehicle is being driven
Land Rover and Bosch have a r elationship that stretches back decades and has pioneered numerous propulsion and motion control features that will go on to become the industry standard, including ClearSight Ground View, Land Rover ’ s Wade Sensing technology and Advanced Tow Assist features – all are enabled by the Bosch driver assistance platform
New Defender 110 is priced from £45 240 in the UK To configure and order yours online, click here: www landrover co uk
Atlantic Circulation Collapse Could Cut UK Crop Farming
Crop production in Britain will fall dramatically if climate change causes the collapse of a vital pattern of ocean currents, new research suggests
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) brings heat from the tropics, making Britain warmer and wetter than it would otherwise be University of Exeter scientists show that, while warming Britain is expected toboost food production, if theAMO collapses it would not just wipe out these gains but cause the “widespread cessation of arable (crop-growing) farming”across Britain
Such a collapse – a climate change “tipping point” – would leave Britain cooler, drier and unsuitable for many crops, the study says The main problem would be reduced rainfall and, though irrigation could be used, the amount of water and the costs “ appear to be prohibitive ”
“If the AMOC collapsed, we would expect to see much more dramatic change than is currently expected due to climate change,” said Dr Paul Ritchie, of the University of Exeter.
“Such a collapse would reverse the effects of warming in Britain, creating an average temperature drop of 3.4°C and leading to a substantial reduction in rainfall ( 123mm during the growing
season) “These changes, especially the drying, could make most land unsuitable for arable farming ”
The study examines a “fast and early” collapse of the AMOC, which is considered “low-probability” at present – though the AMOC has weakened by an estimated 15% over the last 50 years
Professor Tim Lenton, Director of the Global Systems Instituteat the University of Exeter, said worst-case scenarios must be considered when calculating risks. “Any risk assessment needs to get a handle on the large impacts if such a tipping point is reached, even if it is a low-probability event” he said
“The point of this detailed study was to discover how stark the impacts of AMOC collapse could be
”The study follows a recent paper by Lenton and colleagues warning of a possible “cascade” of inter-related tipping points The new study reinforces the message that “ we would be wise to act now to minimise the risk of passing climate tipping points,” said Lenton
Growing crops is generally more profitable than using land as pasture for livestock rearing, but much of northern and western Britain is unsuitable for arable farming.
“With the land area suitable for arable farming expected to drop from
32% to 7% under AMOC collapse, we could see a major reduction in the value of agricultural output,” said Professor Ian Bateman, of Exeter ’ s Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute
“In this scenario, we estimate a decrease of £346 million per year – a reduction of over 10% in the net value of British farming.
”Speaking about the expectation that moderate warming would boost agricultural production in Britain, he added: “It’s important to note that the wider effects for the UK and beyond will be very negative as import costs rise steeply and the costs of most goods climb ”
The study focusses on agriculture, but AMOC collapse and the resulting temperature drop could lead to a host of other economic costs for the UK
The AMOC is one reason that average temperatures in Britain are warmer than those of many places at similar latitudes For example, Moscow and the southern extremes of Alaska are further south than Edinburgh The paper, published in the inaugural issue of the journal Nature Food, is entitled: “Shifts in national land use and food production in Great Britain after a climate tipping point ”
Potato Supplier Goes The Extra Mile
More than 20 employees and supporters of potato supplier Branston Ltd, put their best foot forward in a 500-mile group charity challenge
Staff, suppliers and their families walked and cycled in order to trek a total of 500 miles, in a bid to raise thousands for Maggie’s Centre in Dundee
“I’m so proud of everyone who took part and the money raised so far, plus the remaining sponsorship we have coming in means we have smashed our £3000 target,” said Kevin Imrie, general manager at Branston in Perthshire.
“At Branston, giving back to the community and charity causes is so very important to us as a business and we really value the time and effort put in by our generous team members and their families to support the cause ”
The fundraising challenge saw the group of volunteers give up their
Sunday to complete as many laps of the eight-mile-long circular “Rynd Roond” from Bridge of Earn as they could The distance trekked by each individual was added together and totted up to a total 389 miles travelled on the day adding to the miles previously logged up through lunchtime walking and weekend cycling.
“We are simply delighted with the amount raised and a huge thank you to everyone involved for being a part of such a great event,” said Laura Boyd, centre fundraiser for the charity
“Maggie’s Dundee welcomes over 13 000 visitors a year and it costs around £2400 for the centre to be open for one day This event will go a long way to helping Maggie’s Dundee continue to provide practical, social and emotional support people with cancer and their family and friends ”
To donate, visit Branston’s Just Giving page
L a u n c h o f
N e w O n l i n e
G r a n u l a r
N e m a t i c i d e
T r a i n i n g
Anew updated online nematicide training resource, completion of which is now a requirement to meet Red Tractor standards, is now available for potato, sugar beet, carrot and parsnip growers who apply granular nematicides
Patrick Mitton, chair of the Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP), explains that the new streamlined training resource produced by ARTIS, the NIAB training platform, offers straightforward stewardship guidance on the safe use of granular
nematicides
“The training takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and is in a one stop, easy to use module, which includes information and questions to complete Once finished, it is possible to print a certificate, ready for a Red Tractor audit,” says Patrick
“The training covers the full NSP best practice protocol, including how to protect the operator, the checking and calibrating of the applicator and protecting the environment and wildlife, during and post application ”
Applying granular nematicides in line with the NSP best practice protocol became part of the audited Red Tractor standards for fresh produce, combinable crops and sugar beet standards in October 2019 Patrick explains that completion of the online training will form one of the key measurables to show compliance with the standard
There are also BASIS points available upon completion of the module
The training can be accessed online: http://nspstewardship co uk/
Bruce Farms Publish Results of SPot farm ‘industry trials’
Potato growers Bruce Farms have been able to identify potential reductions in production costs by over £65 a hectare, while increasing marketable yield by over three tonnes
The improvements were a result of a three-year programme of trials as part of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) Farm Excellence network
Findings were revealed on 12 December 2019 as almost 100 growers and agronomists gathered at Guardswell Farm for the Strategic Potato (SPot) Farm Scotland Results Day
The SPot Farm Scotland project, which was part funded by the Scottish Government, used on-farm demonstration sites at Bruce Farms in Meigle, Perthshire to host a series of trials on subjects including cultivation, spacing and nitrogen nutrition
Following a successful final year, Kerr Howatson, Farm Manager at Bruce Farms, said: “We became host of SPot farm Scotland in 2016 in a quest for knowledge We wanted to trial ways to reduce costs and improve yields and then share this valuable information with the wider industry We have identified clear processes to follow that demonstrate cost savings and improved packable yield
“We have learned that by reducing our cultivation processes, both the
number of passes and cultivation depth, we have saved money and time and become more efficient Our nutrition trials have shown that we can cut our nitrogen use in our Maris Piper crops By reducing the amount of nitrogen, we have gained better crops, maintained yield and pack and saved money ”
The new targeted approach, moving away from whole field treatments, is now embedded in standard farm practice at the Perthshire farm, saving £31 per hectare on fertiliser (nitrogen) use and £36 per hectare on fuel and labour
Dr Mark Stalham, Head of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) at Cambridge University Farm, said: “Cultivation, spacing and nitrogen nutrition were our key themes over the last three years of trials on crops of Maris Piper, including a preliminary ‘ year zero ’
“Overall there is a 2 6 tonne per hectare advantage from removing the bed tilling operation compared with bed tilling at 12 inches depth over the last four years We included a preliminary cultivation trial to give us ‘ year zero ’
“Despite much industry scepticism that reducing nitrogen rates would increase yield, the results show the opposite, albeit on a limited basis The overall result of 0 5 tonnes per hectare increase over three years, from reducing
the application rate of nitrogen by 32 kilos per hectare, is small but there was a saving in costs of £31 per hectare and this was combined with no loss in quality ”
Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager for AHDB, Claire Hodge, added: “On farm demonstrations allow us to take research recommendations and test how best to apply them in a commercial setting, which offers genuine difference to potato growers We want to continue to support growers as the industry evolves and we believe the strategic Spot farm network is the ideal forum to do so
“The next round of the programme will see us working with potato seed producer, Jim Reid, from Milton of Mathers farm, St Cyrus, Montrose, who supplies McCain This will allow us to focus on the issues that affect this important part of the industry ”
AHDB Strategic Potato Farms form part of the Farm Excellence programme: a network of over 80+ farms across the UK Farm Excellence provides a channel for integrating farmers and their businesses into the wider AHDB research and knowledge exchange programmes
A searchable list of Farm Excellence farms is available at https://ahdb org uk/farm-excellence
Before Karl Brehm became a farmer, he was an architect, now he is the largest grower of organic horseradish in Germany.
Late autumn is high season for German horseradish The region of Franconia in the north of the state of Bavaria is the center of horseradish cultivation in Germany, with 1500t harvested annually
Karl Brehm (52) runs a horseradish farm in the small village of Lonnerstadt
With 7 hectares (17 acres) of this niche crop, he is one of the largest organic growers in Germany. What you would not suspect, when you visit him on his farm: he was once an architect and had worked for ten years in renowned planning offices at home and abroad
In 2000 his father signed the farm with 50 hectares (123 5 acres) of land over to him Karl Brehm decided then to work his father's land instead of
leasing it out He converted the cultivation to organic practice "My wife and I definitely wanted that, my parents were not enthusiastic about it," he admits
For the first three years he had two jobs He continued to work as an architect and worked the farm as a sideline During this time he realized: "In life you can only concentrate on one buisness." He went back to vocational school and trained as an agriculturalist and graduated with honors. "I learned a lot," he laughs, “and from then on things went uphill with the farm "
In those years he put all cultures to the test Grassland, cereals and potatoes he wanted to keep Karl Brehm decided to included horseradish to be part of the
crop rotation, although little spoke for the culture
When Brehm took over the farm, there were only 50 horseradish sticks left on the farm His mum was still growing some, just to continue the long growing tradition of the family. To provide the horseradish with sufficient nutrients, he grows clover for three years. In addition, he fertilizes the culture with solid dung and horn shavings
He gets the manure from a neighboring dairy farmer, whom he supplies in return with hay from his grassland "This valuable cattle manure is only for my horseradish and the potatoes," says Brehm, "the ground literally craves for it "
Built his own machinery
As he searched in vain for devices that made his job easier, he started to built them himself. "Horseradish is an absolute niche crop, there is no market for special machines," he says He plants the culture with a four-row planter with self-running wheels, which a blacksmith produced for him according to his plans The device lays the (about 30 cm long) root shoots, called “Fechser” in German, obliquely into the soil For one hectare (2 4 acres) 20 000 plants are needed At the end, furrows, like when planting potatoes, the seedlings are covered with soil and form a dam
If he placed the horseradish sticks vertically, many roots would remain unreachably deep in the ground. Horseradish proliferates from every small root part and becomes an annoying weed later on in wheat, which comes as a secondary crop "In conventional cultivation, these plants are treated with glyphosate," says
Brehm. In organic farming, however, the prevention is more complex.
The farmer has built a horseradish harvester with a friend from a potato harvester They are already working very carefully, he said Nevertheless, during the harvest, an employee still walks behind the harvester and collects root parts that have come up from the ground into a basket The remaining weeds he gets under control by using ploughing, including a chisel plough and a milling rotor
Since the horseradish harvest beginsat the end of October, it often happens under difficult conditions Often it is too wet and the ground is not passable “Then every day is precious," says Brehm "Horseradish should be harvested after a frost," he says. "If the plant is still in juice when harvested, the root has a bitter taste – and customers don't like that."
Karl Brehm is particularly proud of his self-developed technology, which he uses to keep control of the most
important horseradish pest, the flea beetle (Phyllotretta spp ) He drives over his plants with a front attachment that contains two wooden panels with glue film This procedure creates a shade and the flea beetles jump up and get stuck on the sticky film
1000 hours per hectare
Despite technology, much work still has to be done by hand "It takes around 1000 working hours to plant, care for and harvest one hectare of horseradish," Brehm estimates In spring there is planting In summer head roots that form at the main roots need to be removed Without his Polish workers, to whom he maintains a good relationship, he would have to stop farming, the farmer admits openly.
Also sorting and the cleaning of the harvested horseradish sticks is done by hand His staff removes leftover leaves, separates rods and seedlings for the next season The “Fechsers,”the root shoots are put directly into damp sand in the farm yard, where they stay till the next
planting season The edible horseradish roots weigh between 300 and 1000g and are packed into plastic bags and stacked on pallets to be collected by a truck to bring to the wholesaler
Brehm also supplies the nearby company Schamel in Baiersdorf, it is one of the world's largest processors of horseradish The enterprise prefers domestic horseradish, because it is sold under the brand “Bayerischer Meerrettich,” Bavarian horseradish It is an EU-protected geographical indication.
Karl Brehm does not stand still. He now tries his hand on cultivating wasabi – a Japanese radish grown in water. Wasabi is an important ingredient for sushi and in high demand Especially after the disaster of a nuclear power plant in Fukoshima as Wasabi grown in Japan is radioactively contaminated Brehm has customers in Japan buying his horseradish and asking him, if he could grow Wasabi There are only a few growers around the world Karl Brehm says, “they treasure their know-how ”
That is exactly what motivates him: “I love a challenge ”
"W ith olives there is nothing to fear "
Late autumn is the time when olives are ready to harvest, it is the busiest time for farmers in the State of Palestine.
by Petra Jacob
Abed Assous spreads plastic tarpaulins under his olive trees
He and his helpers reach into silver-leaved trees, shake branches or beat them with rods. Olives crackle like thick hailstones onto the ground It takes about half an hour to harvest an olive tree Afterwards the oil fruits are cleaned by hand from leaves and twigs and filled into hessian sacks.
In the Nablus Mountains in the Northern West Bank of Palestine, late autumn is the busiest time – the olives are ready to be picked Olive farming is the backbone of Palestinian agriculture. Olive trees grow almost everywhere. Three quarters of all Palestinian trees are olive trees and according to the United Nations (UN) olive groves account for up to 50 percent of agricultural land. Palestine's most important agricultural product is olive oil and it accounts for 14 percent of all farm income
Much of the West Bank's landscape is rocky and rugged This puts limits to what can be used for agriculture. Over the centuries a way round it was by terracing the barren mountain hills
Each terrace is held together by a stone wall and has a few olive trees standing
It was all done by hand Even today the steep terrain makes it impossible to use machinery This way of cultivating also acts as protection from erosion. It prevents valuable soil from being lost with the next rainfall Terracing holds back rainwater, which instead of running off, seeps through from one terrace to the next and waters more ground area.
"Water here is precious," says Abed Assous The summers are long and hot, between June and September it does not rain at all It only rains in the winter months, sometimes up to 900 mm.
“Olives are undemanding trees and easy to care for,” says farmer Abed.
Due to its long roots, olive trees get to moisture and nutrients deep in the soil On rocky ground, the tree roots spread on the surface.
In this difficult terrain old harvesting techniques have not changed over the years When the sacks are filled with olives, they are transported by donkey, or carried by hand to a nearby dirt road, where they are picked up by car or tractor.
Abed Assous looks older than late thirties with his scarf wrapped around his head, deep forehead wrinkles and serious eyes Life as a Palestinian farmer is not easy. Abed looks after around 3000 olive trees. In addition to his own trees, some are owned by people who live abroad "Some belong to families from the village, they do not dare to go to their fields," he says. Their olive groves border on Israeli settlements with a population hostile to the Palestinians The legitimacy of these settlements is still internationally discussed Israeli settlers repeatedly try to destroy their olive groves or impede the harvest.
"They throw rocks, set dogs on us, cut trees, or steal the crop But I'm not afraid, I love this country, I was born here, and I want to die here, " says Abed
20 000 kg of olives for 4 t of oil
In good years, Abed Assous produces 4 t of olive oil, the yield of 20 000 kg of olives For the olive trees he looks after for other people he receives half of the harvest as payment During the harvest, he hires day labourers. The rest of the year, he works alone. He cuts out trees, repairs stone walls and hunts wild boars so they do not ravage his olive groves As a "natural weed control," he says, he lets his sheep at regular intervals onto the land. If Abed Assous needs a tractor, a machine, or a tool, he and 30 other olive farmers are members of a cooperative and hires it He presses and sells his oil via the cooperative Abed is a large-scale farmer by Palestinian standard, he says, nevertheless "it's just enough to live on, " so he says, since he also has to look after his mother and
siblings
Olive cultivation is a typical sideline for the West Bank Almost every family has at least a few olive trees. Behind the village of Asira there are steep, terraced olive groves. A hammock is stretched between two trees in one: a mother is rocking her baby to sleep In another a teacher family is picking olives on their day off.
"Normally we work after school for a few hours," says Asia Saleh, she is an English teacher "We have 200 trees, the harvest can last for weeks," adds her mother Najwa, she teaches Maths The trees of the Saleh family are 150 years old. “The terraces are two thousand years old,” they say
In another field three men Khalid Kadoos normally works in construction For olive harvest he has taken time off He has a dream. One day he wants to take over the 1200 trees from his father Jamal and uncle Ahmed and be able to live from it
High production costs
High production costs and lack of sales opportunities are the major obstacles to Palestinian olive cultivation. One organization that does a good job is Canaan Fair Trade, based in Jenin in the northern West Bank They work with 51 cooperatives and have more than 1700 members. Among them are five cooperatives that grow olives according to European organic standard The olives are harvested by hand, transported in special containers, so that they remain intact and are pressed immediately after harvest. The oil is the highest quality grade and sold as "extra virgin " Canaan takes care of pressing,
packing, marketing and exporting to fair trade companies all over the world, including the UK
Six hundred tonnes of "extra virgin" olive oil are sold annually to North America and Europe, also to Australia, Japan and Korea For good Palestinian olive oil, a premium price is paid abroad
Fair prices are paid along the entire value chain in order to "to enable sustainable improvements in living standards," says Canaan. It is also important to disseminate the know-how of sustainable farming methods and to assist farmers in the conversion to organic farming, according to Canaan.
Nasser Abufarha (54), founder of Canaan Fair Trade and cultural anthropologist, says: "Fair Trade is more than just paying a fair price We advise, invest in community projects and finance university scholarships for
children from disadvantaged families "
They also part of the olive oil money to the "Trees for Life" program to plant more olive trees. Since 1967, Israeli military and settlers in the West Bank have uprooted and burned hundreds of thousands of olive trees "The destruction hits farmers not only economically, but also emotionally, because the olive groves are handed down from generation to generation."
Trees also help young farmers and to offer new opportunities to smallholder families "Agriculture is the basis of all culture," says Nasser. "The olive tree has always been considered a symbol of peace Therefore they are part of an independent Palestine The politically precarious situation makes it difficult for Palestinian products to reach the international market. All export is via Israel, where the nearest port for shipment is located "We give farmers access to the world market," says Nasser
One example of succesful cooperation is Mustafa Jarar (58) His life has improved since he joined Canaan, he says. His farm is located in immediate vicinity of Canaan's modern Italian imported olive oil press on the outskirts of Burqin, four kilometers West of Jenin The family farm is surrounded by olive groves. Mustafa cultivates 500 olive trees and produces about 1200 liters of oil every year He has one son studying dentistry in the U S and the other will continue with the farm “As long as we have olive trees, we have nothing to fear”, Mustafa quotes a Palestinian proverb.
As a sideline the family accommodates foreign guests Through
the office of Canaan, visitors interested in Palestinian farm life, can book a so-called “homestay ” It is a special experience for the adventurous. Palestinians are known for their hospitality. An overnight stay is like being part of a family In autumn, the
guests can also help with the olive harvest It is hard work, though the warmth of the people and the beautiful landscape will make up for it. Tea is cooked over open fire and food is served under the olive trees And friends and neighbours will greet friendly: “Hello” and “Welcome to Palestine.”
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