FUTURE AG POLICY UNFOLDS What’s in store for farming in the next year? How will we future proof our forests to cope with large wind events? The sheep industry is under pressure to reduce its use of antibiotics STAND UP TO STORMS USEANTIMICROBIALATLAMBING IN THIS ISSUE KEEPING YOU UPDATED AND PREPARED FOR CHALLENGES AHEAD Supporting sustainable growth SPRING EDITION 2022
The war is having a a huge impact on everyone in farming as prices surge and create real difficulties for farmers in Scotland - we are reminded of the original purpose of SAC, of improving productivity to build food security, while reducing our collective impact on the planet. Our work has never been more relevant as we aim to support you through this period. We have Sascha Grierson with her observations on agricultural policy and what it has in store for farming, Fiona Crowden talking antimicrobial usage over the lambing season and Peter Lindsay and George Gauley addressing rising fertiliser costs. Mark Reed and Rachael Ramsey delve into the balance between public and private funding when it comes to supporting farmers to meet net zero targets and Lorna MacPherson and Alison Clark discuss the different projects being undertaken to develop sustainable breeding and management systems for the dairy sector.
• Opportunity North East constructing Seedpod at our Craibstone campus, supporting sustainable food and drink production, start-up businesses and manufacturing.
ANDREW LACEY, VICE PRINCIPAL COMMERCIAL &
Welcome to our third issue of Perspectives. As with previous editions, we look at the broadest possible range of issues and topics from across the industry as well as sharing some of the latest developments within SAC Consulting and SRUC. HEAD OF SAC CONSULTING
• The Dairy Nexus Barony Campus, Dumfries focussing on emerging dairy industry technologies, emissions reduction, and nutrition development.
SRUC INVESTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH BENEFITS TO OUR FARMERS
andExpandinggrowing to meet your needs
EXPANDING AND GROWING TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
Perspectives Spring 2022
• The Rural Veterinary Innovation Centre RAVIC, Inverness.
• A new Veterinary School for Scotland, based at our Craibstone campus.
We also introduce a range of new recruits in SAC Consulting who bring experience and complementary skills to our teams across the country, allowing us to support you on an everincreasing range of challenges and opportunities that we now find in our industry. SAC Consulting is investing in these people and in developing the skills and capability of all our people through our Roots for Growth Academy. Our intention is to ensure that across the country, we maintain a cohort of advisors and consultants who can meet your needs.
Alongside our investment in our people, I would also like to introduce a range of projects being initiated by SRUC across Scotland.
This Spring signals the start of a transition towards a new agricultural policy in Scotland, where farmers will increasingly be expected to deliver on meeting government targets to reduce on-farm emissions and promote biodiversity. What was far less expected are the recent terrible events taking place in Ukraine. It is clear how fragile the food system is and our thoughts are with those people.
As we move down the country to Aberdeen, SRUC has initiated plans to establish Scotland’s first new Veterinary School in 150 years. Plans for the school are advancing well and will make use of our existing array of facilities at our Craibstone campus while investing in key additions that support initial student cohorts. The school meets a need, long identified by the industry, that there are not enough large animal vets and technicians to meet demand and that the industry itself is changing.
This
Project funding 07384Andrew.Lacey@sac.co.uk248397
Staying in Aberdeen, SRUC is working in partnership with Opportunity North East (ONE) to facilitate improvement to our Craibstone campus to support the construction of the Seedpod. Seedpod shall support sustainable food and drink production and manufacturing, providing spaces for new product development, new business creation and provide a focal point for food health, food technology and sustainable food production. Finally, I’d like to introduce The Dairy Nexus project being initiated at our Barony Campus near Dumfries. This project shall focus on emerging dairy industry technologies, emissions reduction, and nutrition development. The project and related activities provide a much-needed emphasis on the dairy industry and will be an inclusive project that combines industry and technology to support the dairy industry to meet the challenges it faces. This project represents a real coup for Scotland and SRUC. The funding is Westminster based ‘strength in places’ funding from UK Innovate. This funding is very difficult to obtain and is awarded to projects with the potential to drive economic growth and prosperity. To support the Dairy Nexus, SRUC is investing at the Barony Farm on campus to provide facilities, equipment and spaces that can support the full range of knowledge exchange and research activities required.
is our third issue of Perspectives, and we would be grateful for your feedback on topics you would like to see covered in future editions.
Starting in Inverness, planning permission has been awarded for a new Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre known as RAVIC. This has great support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and is based on their Inverness Campus, making it the ideal location for SRUC and SAC Consulting to expand its work with businesses and academia. Funding support has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund Scotland Programme 2014-2020 and this support has been vital to the project going ahead. RAVIC will support knowledge exchange, development of new and existing small to medium-sized businesses and will include areas for new start-ups, community space as well as laboratory spaces to support industry focussed research.
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2 In all of these projects, there are external funding arrangements and support from government agencies. This is compelling and demonstrates a commitment to research and innovation to drive the industry forward, sending a positive signal that food producers and farmers are valued. Investing in these projects will help generate new knowledge and practices to support industry to further progress.
in touch
directlyaordinatedThefuture-for-rural-scotland/https://www.gov.scot/news/ambitious-RuralPolicyUnitatSRUCandSACConsultingco-aresponsetothisconsultationwithinputfromwiderangeofresearchersandconsultantswhoworkwithfarmers,croftersandlandmanagers. As we move into the transition phase of a new agricultural policy for Scotland’s farmers, the range of consultations, reports, initiatives, and announcements can be hard to keep abreast. The long-term objectives may be clear, but what is in store for farming in the next year?
The work started with the Farmer Led groups (FLGs) whose reports were published in 2021. Last August the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB) was formed to work within government to scrutinise and support their policy reform using recommendations from the FLGs, and to set up a National Test Programme. This programme has £51 million of investment money committed over the next three years with ‘Track 1’ starting this spring. These recommendations are often shortened to refer to the three-legged stool: farming for climate, nature and sustainably produced food. There is also, however, the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to reach Net Zero by 2045, with interim targets of a 31% reduction in emissions over the next 10 years, and the thorny issue of designing a new system and approach which is just, rewarding those who are at different points along the transformation journey and being careful not to penalise those who are further down the road.
Perspectives Spring 2022
Businesses dislike uncertainty, but when you scrutinise the government policy picture and the work that has gone into it, much of it in consultation with farmers from different sectors, definite trends emerge.
SASCHA GRIERSON, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, SURVEY
SCOTTISH FARM BUSINESS
Farming in Scotland feels like it’s transforming fast. Climate change is undeniably impacting on our daily lives, input costs are spiralling, and we are in the midst of a labour crisis which has been accelerated by both Brexit and the pandemic. Throw into the mix a shake-up in government policy as we head into the transition phase to a new agricultural policy for Scottish farming in 2025. You could be forgiven for wondering what next?
Ag
Wherepolicy:are we? What’s next?
The Scottish Government has also held an industry wide consultation. The results of both the National Test Programme and this consultation will directly inform a paper published in 2022 setting out proposals for a future Agriculture bill 1
Capital funding must only support interventions that deliver emission reductions on farm or that contribute to improvements on any one of the above themes. Capital interventions that can support GHG reduction may also have a productivity benefit, and this is to be accounted for.
RECENT GOVERNMENT
The 21 questions asked in the consultation demonstrated government thinking about specific points of potential policy intervention. In summary the five themes were: These themes are all intertwined, and our response reflected this, driven by the principles inherent in that three-legged stool. One intervention does not happen in isolation. The role of research is to drive innovation, knowledge exchange for dissemination and ongoing support for farmers, as different businesses enter the transition at different points, ensuring a fair and just transition for the industry.
Track 1 of the National Test programme which is to be rolled out this spring reflects these themes.
07557Sascha.Grierson@sac.co.uk661316 Get in touch 4 1 Baseline data collection on farm 2 Capital funding 3 Biodiversity protection 4 Productivity gains 5 Role of Knowledge Exchange, and Research and Development • Funding for three new rounds of AECS schemes 2022-2024 • Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS) opens April 2022 • Pig sector animal health intervention • Funding for Carbon audits, soil sampling including soil carbon analysis, and a Suckler Beef livestock performance programme
Our nationwide network of advisors and specialists can help you navigate this transition not just in responding to grant awards, but also in the form of practical advice on the ground that make these innovations work on farm.
The role of technology and data gathering is perhaps a new one for many farmers to embrace through the establishment of baseline measurements of key metrics on farm from which improvement or maintenance of standards can be assessed.
This demonstrates an industry commitment to public money for public goods, a key move away from the basic payment system.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SAC Consulting will keep you updated as and when these announcements turn into programmes of work which may be of interest to individual businesses to apply.
Striving for healthy soils
DONALD DUNBAR, SENIOR AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT AND SOUTH EAST REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Perspectives Spring 2022
Healthy soils of good nutrient status are the foundation of a productive crop and rely on up-to-date soil analysis and good nutrient management. Many farmers and growers are actively investing in soil analysis on-farm, but may not be doing so frequently enough, or fully acting on the results. There may be good reasons for this behaviour, for example budget constraints, which could result in farmers prioritising the application of lime in the worst fields or cutting back application rates, meaning the optimum status is not reached. However, there are also incidences where farmers have allowed the frequency of soil analysis to slip, or where testing has been carried out ‘fire brigade style’ after the crop is found to be failing or showing signs of deficiency.
• Rotational breaks • Reduction in structural compaction • Chopping straw • Using muck and slurry and other organic wastes EXAMPLES OF GOOD SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES
At the annual NFUS conference held in February this year, Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon announced that there will be funding available for farmers and growers to support soil testing and analysis. This included the imminent introduction of an allowance of around £30 per hectare of Region 1 land for each farming business. It was a welcome announcement by the Scottish Government as it will incentivise those land managers who are not already investing in nutrient management to prioritise good soil practices. Organic matter (loss on ignition) is also to be included as part of the soil test. It is a welcome proposition to not only measure the chemical status of our soils but to have an awareness of their biological and carbon state. It is also good to have a benchmark by which we can see the impact our farming systems are having over an extended period - be that good or bad.
New funding by the Scottish Government is now available to land managers looking to improve the nutrient status of their soils and carry out-up-to date soil testing and analysis.
SOIL VERSUS FORESTRY CARBON CREDITS
Incorporating crop residues, utilising available mucks and organic wastes promote good soil biodiversity, contain essential plant nutrients, and add varying degrees of fresh organic matter to the soil. However, I would be concerned if farmers believed raising the level of organic matter in their soils is something that can be changed in the same way as the phosphate or potash status of their soil, or that a market for soil carbon is just around corner. Soil organic matter should be considered in three different pools. Fresh forms of organic matter are the short-term active fraction which is broken down over one to two years. A portion of what remains becomes medium term intermediate organic matter, of which over many years an even smaller fraction becomes the longterm inert humic fraction. The latter is tied to the soil and is more commonly referred to as sequestered carbon.
The carbon market that exists for forestry is tangible, you can see the woodland grow and the sequestered carbon in the trunks and branches. Accumulating carbon in the soil is a lot less tangible, far more complex and takes time. It can be quickly reversed by changes in practice, therefore discussions around markets for soil carbon credits must be approached with caution.
6 07836Donald.Dunbar@sac.co.uk328109 Get in touch
ALISTAIR TRAIL, PRINCIPAL FOOD & ENTERPRISE CONSULTANT
• Plant based – Consumer health and wellness, animal welfare and the rise of vegan/flexitarian/reducitarian are some of the main reasons for the rise of the plant-based category. In 2020 alone, almost 500,000 Brits gave up meat and 33.5% of meat eaters say they are trying to reduce their meat consumption.
2/3 customers are willing to pay more for sustainable products that benefit the planet.
• Life well-lived – This includes consumers living life slower and being more self-indulgent with guilt free consumption. Taking time for self-care, as well as rising interest in food provenance and wild food have also exploded since the pandemic. We have seen the higher in-home consumption of food, including indulgent and reward foods. This has sparked a rise in home baking, delivery meal boxes and treat foods that would normally be eaten out of the home.
Perspectives Spring 2022 Make the most of foodemergingtrends
Consumer food habits have undergone transformational change over the past two years, paving the way for new product developments to capitalise on new and emerging trends.
The events of 2020 sparked a fundamental reset in human behaviour, paving the way for one of the biggest changes in consumer food habits for a generation. With the impact of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, new governmental policy and the growing awareness by consumers of the environmental impact of the food and drink supply chain, several new food trends are coming to the forefront for the industry. There are five key trends that have become particularly prominent over the last 18 months.
• Our planet – Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact their food choices are having on the environment. They are seeking out local products with reduced food miles, businesses which commit to ethical practices, products with sustainable packaging and businesses that support efforts to reduce climate change.
• Functional wellness - Consumers are starting to choose food products not only for the nutrition or enjoyment they provide, but also for the additional functions they can offer to help us live healthier lives. From night-time snacks designed to get you ready for bed, to adding superfood ingredients to existing recipes for an extra immunity boost. Functional foods are popping up across food categories, promising a greater sense of wellness and control to the consumer.
• Convenience and e-commerce – Click and collect, online delivery and food delivery apps have grown in popularity. According to 2021 research, 53% of U.S. shoppers reported that they will likely continue to use online grocery pickup or delivery, a trend that was previously accelerated by Covid-19 concerns and is now motivated by consumers’ desire for convenience. In the UK, e-commerce share of food and beverage market is expected to increase 10 times by 2025. Keeping ahead of new consumer trends is always difficult when businesses are busy with day-to-day operations. Creative New Product Development (NPD) is a fantastic way for businesses to position themselves to meet this growing demand.
Some of the innovative projects we have been involved in include the development of non-dairy cheese, Aquafaba, healthy chocolate, seaweed food products and vegan Kuku which is an egg free Persian frittata. The products developed have also capitalised on new market trends such as: fermented foods (including Kefirs, Kombuchas); personalised nutrition; snackification; fortification and functional ingredients; healthy fat; plant based & free from foods.
Many of the projects we carry out are funded by the Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher system which is administered by Interface. This funding can be used to develop innovative new food products and businesses can apply for up to £5K to collaborate with academic partners like SRUC/SAC Consulting to deliver the work. 8 07825Alistair.Trail@sac.co.uk725880
SAC Consulting offers a New Product Development and reformulation service to food and drink businesses in Scotland, to help create innovative food products. In the UK, e-commerce share of food and beverage market is expected to increase 10 times by 2025. In 2020 alone, almost 500,000 Brits gave up meat. 2/3 customers are willing to pay more for sustainable products that benefit the planet.
Get in touch
SAC Consulting collaborate with the SRUC hospitality chefs at our Elmwood campus in Cupar, Fife and offer a New Product Development and reformulation service to food and drink businesses in Scotland. We collaborate with businesses to help develop innovative food products for the Scottish market.
Crichton Royal Farm extends to 300ha and supports a herd of 430 cows plus 170 replacement heifers. The herd was milked three times per day prior to the Covid pandemic and thereafter moved to twice daily, allowing for great flexibility with labour should staff be required to isolate - cows are milked at 12 hourly intervals, 6am and 6pm.
LORNA MACPHERSON, SENIOR DAIRY CONSULTANT ALISON CLARK, SENIOR AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT & AREA MANAGER Concentrate MeritControlMeritHighForaget/cow/lactationConcentrateMeritControlMeritHighForaget/cow/lactationFedInclusionGeneticPerformanceGeneticPerformanceFedInclusionGeneticPerformanceGeneticPerformance 8,500l9,200l9,700l10,900l 4.21% 60%40%4.5t3.21%4.12%3.56%4.63%3.21%3.83%3.48%FatProt.FatProt.FatProt.FatProt.1.5t High Energy Table 1: Langhill Herd Diet Details and Herd Performance Standard Energy
famous Langhill herd; one of the longest running breeding projects in Holstein Friesian cows, but is also an important hub for dairy research in Scotland.
The Langhill herd was established in 1970 when it was housed at the Dick Vet School in Edinburgh. The cows are bred on two distinct genetic lines; High Genetic Merit and Control Genetic Merit, selected from production of milk solids. Cows from both genetic groups are managed identically on two distinct feeding systems, the focus of which changes every five years. Currently, we have cows on high energy and standard energy rations, as shown in Table 1. The aim of any research carried out at the farm is to develop and implement sustainable breeding and management systems for dairy cows, with a strong focus on health and welfare, carbon footprint, soil health and biodiversity.
Perspectives Spring 2022 Leading the way SRUC’sdairyinresearchCrichtonRoyalFarmisnotonlyhometothe
Crichton Royal Farm is home to the AgriEpi Calf Research & Innovation centre, one of three dairy focused research facilities across the UK which provide world class dairy research and development facilities. Here, our researchers use the latest in precision technology, such as animal mounted sensors, automated weigh cells and feed stations, to pioneer research into early calf health and development.
dairy-research-innovation-centre/https://www.sruc.ac.uk/research/facilities-capabilities/
The work carried out by SRUC researchers and the impact on the UK dairy industry will increase with the development of the Dairy Nexus project which will be based at SRUC’s second dairy farm, Barony, on the outskirts of Dumfries.
Increasing the amount of plant protein grown and utilised in Europe is the focus of the Legumes Translated project.
The WELL-CALF project being undertaken at present aims to use precision technology to develop a cloud-based decision-making platform for dairy and beef farms, helping farmers make more informed decisions on factors such as nutrition and health management.
Work carried out by Dr Holly Ferguson on improving fertility in a 225-cow herd, yielding 8000l, showed that emissions can be reduced by up to 8% when calving intervals and mortality rates are reduced, and milk yield increased by adopting heat detection and health monitoring technology.
This ambitious project will lead the way in innovations which will improve the sustainability of the dairy sector, not only at farm level, but across the dairy supply chain.
Work at Crichton has focused on incorporating beans into the rations to reduce the requirement for soya and rapemeal in the dairy cow ration, as well as demonstrating to farmers about the growth and use of various legumes.
Crichton Royal Farm has always been a willing host to visitors from across the UK and further afield, relishing the opportunity to highlight its work to the wider farming community. Due to Covid, the farm has been closed to visitors for almost two years but will reopen its doors on Thursday 28th April 2022 in a joint event with AHDB. Anyone with an interest in the UK dairy industry is encouraged to come along and hear more about the work being carried out on-farm.
GrASTech is a European wide project focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from grazed livestock and the role that precision technologies have in supporting this.
Later in the year, there will be an opportunity to visit Barony campus to hear more about the Dairy Nexus project and the work being undertaken to reduce carbon emissions in dairy farming. Look out for updates on both these events in SAC Consulting communications, social media, and the farming press. 10 07919Alison.Clark@sac.co.uk07760Lorna.Macpherson@sac.co.uk990901175431
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upforestsStrengtheningtostandtostorms
So, what can be done to try to make forests more stable?
Unfortunately, there isn’t an exact answer to this, as there are too many variables to consider in relation to soils, tree rooting depth, topography, moisture levels and many more. We also need to consider, is the forest being created for shelter, future income for timber or biodiversity? Whilst there is no reason why it can’t be designed with multiple objectives in mind, we can do this better if we understand a site’s capability and make the most of the variables.
Is it a standing block or is it in the design phase for woodland creation or restocking? If it is an established conifer block, it may not respond to silvicultural management. Introducing a thinning regime may destabilise the forest. This is due to the trees being planted at a high density, meaning they rely on each other for stability. If it is a young forest, it may be at a stage where silvicultural management can be introduced to thin out weaker trees, suppressed and dead trees. The idea behind this is to slowly open the forest, which in turn will expose the trees to wind, forcing the trees to make themselves more stable. One benefit of beginning early management of a forest, is the possibility of managing that forest in a continuous cover manner. This is a management alternative to clear felling, where a more diverse forest is sought structurally and in terms of species composition. This can be seen as a way to reduce the risks posed by future climate changes and other threats.
Perspectives Spring 2022
Since November 2021, forest owners have experienced three serious storm which have caused devastating windblow to forests. From these storm events, it is estimated that over 6000ha of forests have been affected by windblow. How will we future proof our forests to cope with large wind events that could become more frequent?
How
KEIR SMITH, FORESTRY CONSULTANT
When thinking about establishing a forest, understanding the soil type is an important first step. This is to identify soil type, fertility and soil depth, amongst other things. Once this is understood, then the appropriate ground preparation can be chosen and matched to the most suitable tree species for the site. Different tree species have different requirements, rooting depths and growth rates. An area may require different ground preparation techniques in order to fit with the soil types or desired outcome. With an increasing number of storms hitting the UK, we are seeing more frequent windblow events across the country. do we mitigate this?
Firstly, it depends on what stage the forest is currently at.
12 Forest Research has an excellent range of decision support tools available; two commonly used tools are Ecological Site Classification (ESC) and ForestGALES. These are computer-based support tools that aid forest managers in selecting tree species that are ecologically suited to sites, instead of trying to enhance the site to suit and aid in estimating the probability of wind damage. Further information on these support tools can be found at Inresources/fthr/https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-additiontoForestResearch,ScottishForestry has also published several guidance documents around ground preparation and preparing woodland creation applications that aid in decision-making. These can be found at AlthoughthemimportanttimeUnfortunately,forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/woodland-creationhttps://windbloweventswillnaturallyoccurfromtotime.Toaidinmitigatingagainstthem,itistoplanandactivelymanageforeststomakemoreresilientforfutureclimaticchallenges.earlymanagementofforestsmaybeviewedas unprofitable, the financial implications of clearing a large amount of windblow further down the line could be higher. To aid in early thinning operations, you may need to look at alternative markets as a way of attracting income. Currently, there is no available support through government grants to allow for pre-commercial thinning out with specific areas such as designated sites (SSSI, SAC etc) and Woodland In and Around Towns (WIAT) areas. But with climate change predictions and the certainly of more high wind events, is this an area Scottish Forestry needs to address? Could payments be made available to encourage pre-commercial silvicultural operations and could woodland creation grants have incentives within them to encourage better ground preparation or higher payments for more intensive silvicultural techniques?
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SAC Consulting has an experienced forestry and woodlands team who can help you understand the variables of a site and aid in planning to mitigate against future windblow events. Selecting the correct ground preparation for the site should be seen as an investment in the future success of a forest, by providing a well-aerated, weed-free planting position and disrupting barriers to tree root penetration. 07880Keir.Smith@sac.co.uk784813 in
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Perspectives Spring 2022
useantimicrobialMinimisingatlambing
In the lambing shed, antibiotics are not a substitute for lax hygiene; so, when lambing ewes wear gloves or have clean hands – there is no need to routinely give antibiotics following an assisted lambing. If you are reaching for an antibiotic bottle to treat a sick ewe, always ensure you are using the 4 Ds – the correct Drug for a known Disease, used at the right Dose for the correct Duration of time. You should have a clear treatment plan for lambing in place through consultation with your vet. SRUC Veterinary Services works with farmers and vets to identify bacterial pathogens and produce antibiotic sensitivity profiles, useful on farm for targeted treatment but this also forms part of the national monitoring programme for patterns of antimicrobial resistance.
The main use of antibiotics in lambs is in the prevention of watery mouth, a bacterial infection of neonatal lambs caused by ingestion of E. coli. The only drug licenced for the prevention of watery mouth, Spectam, has been withdrawn from market after sales halved in recent years. There is solace to be taken from this – many farmers have managed to control watery mouth without depending on antibiotics using good quality colostrum given in sufficient quantity to lambs which are housed in a hygienic environment.
AHDB has created the Medicine Hub (available at ahdb. org.uk/medicine-hub) designed as an online medicine book, which will indirectly collect data from across the UK to produce industry figures and encourage benchmarking for antibiotic use in different systems.
The sheep industry is under pressure to reduce its use of antibiotics. There is currently no accurate data on antibiotic use in sheep in the UK, which should be an uncomfortable statement for vets and farmers alike.
If you are one of the estimated 10% of farmers using oxytetracycline routinely during pregnancy to prevent Enzootic abortion (EAE), then vaccination provides a more effective, cost effective and socially responsible alternative. SRUC Veterinary Services can screen blood samples from ewes or test samples from aborted ewes to screen for evidence of the presence of EAE on your farm.
In the lambing shed, antibiotics are not a substitute for lax hygiene. Good management of ewes and lambs will ensure the responsible use of antimicrobials.
Antibiotic use on sheep farms increases significantly around lambing time, especially in indoor flocks. This means that on most farms, there are opportunities to consider and perhaps reduce the antibiotics used over the season.
FIONA CROWDEN, SAC CONSULTING VETERINARY INVESTIGATION OFFICER
Quality colostrum in ewes, depends on good genetics, but also needs ewes to arrive at lambing in ideal body condition with their energy and protein needs in late pregnancy having been met. SRUC Veterinary Services provide cost effective laboratory testing to evaluate the late pregnancy ration by analysis of blood samples taken 3-4 weeks prior to lambing for beta hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) and urea, giving farmers time to alter the ration if required prior to lambing. Lambs need to ingest sufficient colostrum to provide a defence against bacteria in the environment. A blood sample from a few lambs at the start of lambing, using a ZST test, can provide reassurance that your lambs are getting the colostrum they need.
The most important thing when it comes to the end of lambing, once the sleep debt has been repaid, is to take time to reflect and plan improvements alongside your vet, consultant or nutritionist for the year to come. “A blood sample from a few lambs at the start of lambing, using a ZST test, can provide reassurance that your lambs are getting the colostrum they need.” Ds01224Fiona.Crowden@sruc.ac.uk711168 Get
The correct Drug for a known Disease, used at the right Dose for the correct Duration of time. The 4 Ds
in touch
If you are reaching for an antibiotic bottle to treat a sick ewe, always ensure you are using the 4
14
A break-even ratio (BER), can be used to calculate the economic adjustment - the amount of grain needed to pay for 1kg of nitrogen. The nitrogen recommendation rates shown in SAC Technical Note (TN 731) and NVZ guidance notes In Scotland are based on a BER of 3:1 for winter cereals and 2.5:1 for spring cereals and oilseed rape.
PETER LINDSAY, PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT, PERTHSHIRE GEORGE GAULEY, AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT, SAC CONSULTING, ST BOSWELLS Perspectives Spring 2022 BER = Pence/Kg of N Pence/Kg Grain Standrd winter wheat response curve Kg/N/ha t/ha 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 12.0010.008.006.004.002.00
However, over the past year, nitrogen prices have risen dramatically resulting in much higher BERs and therefore the standard nitrogen recommendations should be reduced as shown in the table. As fertiliser costs continue to soar, there has been a lot of debate about how much bagged nitrogen farmers and growers should apply to crops in the year ahead.
costsrisingManagingfertiliseron-farm
The graph above shows that for a 10t/ha winter wheat crop, the optimum nitrogen requirement is approximately 200Kg/ha.
Depending on a range of factors such as previous crop, soil type and rainfall, the nitrogen requirement to achieve this yield can vary from 100Kg N/ha – 250Kg N/ha. Before applying this as bagged nitrogen, farmers and growers will also need to account for nitrogen applied from manures and take in to account any NVZ restrictions.
With rising input costs impacting on many farming businesses, farmers and growers are encouraged to pay careful attention to how much nitrogen they need to apply to their soils as fertiliser costs continue to rise.
HOW MUCH NITROGEN IS REQUIRED?
-AmmoniumExample nitrate (34.5%N) = £570/t (165p/KgN) -Grain (winter wheat) = £220/t (22p/Kg) -BER = 7.5:1 (7.5 Kg grain required to pay for 1 Kg N. Based on the example above, the farmer should consider reducing their bagged nitrogen recommendation by 44Kg nitrogen/ha for a crop of winter wheat. Once the BER exceeds 7.5, no further reductions should be made as the response curve becomes steeper, meaning that reduction in yield increases with each Kg reduction in nitrogen applied. The range of BER this year is extremely wide depending on when fertiliser was purchased. Those who bought fertiliser cheaper in the summer could arguably apply more nitrogen to their crops this year, however with fertiliser prices looking more likely to be sustained into 2023, more growers are considering carrying greater amounts of cheaper sourced product over into 2023. Your local SAC Consulting consultant can help you calculate your BER and allow you to optimise your return on investment, even when fertiliser prices are at unprecedently high levels. 2.5 - 3.5 >3.5 - 4.5 >4.5 - 5.5 >5.5 - 6.5 >6.5>7.57.5 55443322011 4032241608 16 Actual BER Reduce by kg/ha N W cereals & OSR S cereals & OSR 07760George.Gauley@sac.co.uk07786Peter.Lindsay@sac.co.uk126691990821 Get in touch
Professor Reed explained. “The research shows that if designed well, privately funded schemes can be more attractive to farmers than publicly funded agrienvironment schemes, because they are more flexible.”
The Resilient Dairy Landscapes project explored the trade-offs between farmers’ livelihoods, the natural environment, and a stable supply of reasonably priced dairy products. It evaluated the operation of Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs), which match private investors affected by landscape challenges, with land managers.
The £1.5m project undertaken by SRUC and funded by the Global Food Security programme, explored LENs in Cumbria and East Anglia, as well as initiating the first networks in South West Scotland and supporting their expansion into Europe. Farmers in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, were found to have planted hedgerows four times faster under the privately funded Nestle-First Milk scheme, than through public agri-environment schemes. According to the project’s researchers, this suggested that private sector investment may also be needed to reach the UK’s ambitious net-zero targets. Farmers interviewed said they preferred private investment via LENs, which offer a simplified evaluation process, to publicly funded agri-environment alternatives.
Are privately funded agri-environmental schemes needed, alongside publicly funded schemes, to help farming play its part in the race to net zero? SRUC LEAD, AGRECALC, CONSULTING
RACHAEL RAMSEY, SCIENTIFIC AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
SAC
Perspectives Spring 2022 Private netbolstersfundingfarming’szerojourney
“LENs are now a proven method for enabling companies to invest in the natural capital they depend upon,”
MARK REED, PROFESSOR OF RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP,
Lead researcher at SRUC, Mark Reed, said the findings were important because they demonstrated the important role hedgerow planting can play in meeting net zero targets. He said the research also showed how carbon finance could speed this process up and make hedgerow planting more attractive to farmers.
The project, carried out in partnership with the universities of Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool, and Nestle UK, among others, also sought to understand if the implementation of on-farm interventions under the Cumbrian scheme affected the prevalence, and incidence of vector borne diseases in grazing cattle. The study found there was no impact from planting more hedgerows on vector-borne diseases such as summer mastitis.
Research by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is demonstrating how private investment in ecosystem services could have an important role to play in reducing on-farm emissions.
This year will see exciting developments for SAC Consulting’s world-leading carbon footprint and resource efficiency tool, Agrecalc; developed together with SRUC researchers. As well as migrating to a new cloud-based platform, with complete data integration capability and enhanced user functionality, recent updates have included a soil carbon sequestration module built on IPCC methodology and a woodland and hedgerow model which reflects the latest climate-specific IPCC Tier I sequestration equations for different forest types. The Agrecalc scientific development team of Rachael Ramsey and Kaia Waxenberg are now actively working to expand upon this framework, to further refine the soil carbon module and incorporate a greater diversity of “trees on farm,” to include agroforestry systems into Agrecalc’s biomass sequestration model. The challenges and pressures facing the agricultural industry may be unprecedented, but Agrecalc is here to support agricultural sustainability using the best independent scientific validated research data and metrics available, to meet the changing needs of its ever-expanding user base in Scotland and beyond! 0738Rachael.Ramsey@sac.co.uk07538Mark.Reed@sruc.ac.uk0823435950447
The SRUC team are now working with the Sustainable Soils Alliance, FWAG South West, University of Leeds, the Royal Agricultural University and others to develop a UK Farm Soil Carbon Code to enable farmers who switch to regenerative farming methods to benefit from carbon markets. The goal is to generate new revenue streams for farmers that could make regenerative practices such as no-till or biochar application more financially attractive, whilst providing investors with assurances that the climate mitigation benefits are long-term and wouldn’t have happened without their investment.
Promoting sustainable agricultural practices, whilst reducing agricultural GHG emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration is a fundamental component on the transitional pathway to net zero for agriculture and the wider food chain industry. There is no doubt that carbon auditing of on-farm enterprises, combined with soil carbon testing, will be an integral component of this process, especially considering new Scottish Government plans.
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Get in touch
The past few decades have made increasingly clear, that we are all interconnected through the earth’s natural systems: the sum of humanity’s actions (namely, our greenhouse gas emissions) will drive us further into or out of the climate and nature crises. The planetary scale of these paramount issues can be daunting and confusing. This is what makes climate change such a wicked problem, that it needs to be addressed by everyone, simultaneously, at global scale (all 510 million square kilometres of Earth). Other environmental issues can be understood at smaller scales. When setting out to improve or maintain the water quality of a river, catchment scale makes sense because everything upstream and all land uses within the catchment boundary must be considered when assessing the changes to be made. This also means, that if we improve the health of each burn draining into the river (its sub-catchments), we will have achieved the goal of cleaning up the larger river. Those working to improve and maintain the quality of our lochs and rivers have the advantage of these clear boundaries within which to focus their efforts. Catchments can be drawn clearly as lines on a map and further broken down into sensible sub-units. What about the other facets of the environment we must improve? At which scales are they best understood? At SAC Consulting, many of our projects involve land use and land use change, including agriculture, forestry, peatland restoration, tourism, and how they come together in an interconnected web. Like sub-catchments, it is essential to be able to break down our land areas such that we can make targeted changes. How big a circle should be drawn to encompass a local food system? A habitat for a protected species? A regional economy?
Perspectives Spring 2022
BRADY STEVENS, RURAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS CONSULTANT
Everybody has a role to play in shaping the future of our planet – no matter how small our part may seem, we must embrace this shared sense of responsibility.
Scaling up from landscapes
While it is usually impossible to draw a line on a map which cleanly bounds all the systems involved, the landscape scale is a promising model with which to understand the benefits and challenges inherent in land use change. Intermediate scales such as landscapes are being embraced by partnerships and other groups and consider areas that can range from tens to thousands of square kilometres. These framings strive to meet socioenvironmental challenges on the scale that they operate. From a biodiversity perspective, wild flora and fauna need sufficient space to live and thrive without being detrimentally impacted by humans. Every tree planted and hectare of peat restored counts in terms of carbon sequestration, but linking up projects in space (e.g., in forestry corridors) connects habitats and impacts landscape Communitiescharacter.thrivewhen they have access to a robust diversity of local enterprises and land uses in which to work, live, and play. Finally, while we each physically inhabit only a small piece of the land, we all share and have a stake in the landscapes we can view outside our windows.
The character and meaning of that landscape is something that needs to be decided by everyone who thinks of it as home. The scale of the landscape provides a perspective which allows us to join up these diverse outcomes, choose changes which have multiple benefits, and understand the connections to larger and smaller scales. Similar to sub-catchments, if we can get each landscape unit running efficiently, we will have achieved our goals for the (more unwieldy) national and global Ourscales.places and ways of life are nested within these concentric circles. Changes in rural environments cut across scales as detriments or improvements to these different systems, perhaps: the area’s biodiversity, the region’s freshwater system, the nation’s identity, the earth’s carbon budget. For those of us with influence over what happens on any amount of land or water, we are expected to make decisions that promote the wellbeing of others. Just as it is easy to be blind to our unseen impacts, we stand to gain from understanding the full extent of the improvements we create. After breaking these challenges down to their component parts, we need to scale back up, amalgamate sub-systems, and have an eye to our place in the global picture and memory. Understanding how these successes have been won is key to our surviving and thriving throughout the upheaval to come.
Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities rights-responsibilities-statement/https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-land-Statement 07880Brady.Stevens@sac.co.uk243098 Get in touch
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Aleksandra Stevanovic, Marketing Manager, Agrecalc Agrecalc Scientific Translation, NiallEdinburghDepledge, Agrecalc Product Lead, Edinburgh Customer Development Manager, Edinburgh, Agrecalc Hannah Gillies Rachael Ramsey
Skills I am from a crofting family in the north end of Skye. I have practical experience working with beef cattle and sheep. Fun fact I have a keen interest in interior design and most of my spare time is taken up by various DIY projects.
Fun fact I enjoy spending time with family, playing links golf and watching movies, even though the latter are all PG or on Disney+ these days! Skills Customer-centred design, relationship building, customer success, strategy and cross-platform planning, project management. Fun fact I’m originally from Connecticut, USA & have lived in various cities in the UK & Ireland for the last 22 years.
Skills Carbon footprinting, plant ecology, R programming, data analysis. Fun fact Kaia is currently working on her yoga teaching certification! Skills Building great products, cross functional working, customer/partner relationship building, customer presentations.
Fun fact I collect banana stickers. Yes, that is a real hobby – you can look it up. I just like the art for art’s sake.
Meet the new starts
Skills Agroecology, GHG emissions, Soil nutrient cycling, Research, Project management. Fun fact I enjoy hill walking, archery, and running (slowly!).
Agricultural Technician, Portree Scientific and Research Lead, Agrecalc
Skills Search Engine Optimisation, Writing & Editing, Digital Marketing, Linguistics & Semiotics, Organisation.
Aleksandra Stevanovic Kaia Waxenberg Niall Depledge Jessica Armstrong
At the end of last year, we had cause to celebrate. SAC awards the RC Stewart Prize each year to coincide with the SRUC student graduation. This annual Prize, judged by an independent panel, recognises and rewards an individual’s excellence and commitment to the advancement of our industry. We made a double award this year; the winners were Kirsten Williams and Robin Mair. Manager of the Livestock Team, Kirsten’s industry, and technical knowledge, allied to her communication skills and a down-toearth approach, has led to the success of SAC Consulting, SRUC and farmers – new and established – across the country.
Meanwhile, with more than 30 years’ experience as a consultant, Stirlingshire area manager Robin successfully balances his family life, alongside his responsibility to more than 300 clients and the Forth Valley, his team and his work in the community as secretary of the local Rotary club.
DumfriesAgriculturalConsultantTechnician, Forestry Consultant, Bush Estate Senior Agricultural Consultant, Bush Estate and Central Scotland Keir
AileenSmithMarshall
The strong list of nominees made it a very difficult choice for the judging panel. We have two excellent recipients this year and we would like to thank everyone who took the time to make a nomination.
RC Stewart Prize award
Skills FGS applications, Forest Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment, Timber Harvesting. Fun fact I once worked as a wildland firefighter for the USDA Forest Service in the Pacific North West. Skills SGRPID support schemes, mapping, agricultural background, experienced administrator, local knowledge. Fun fact I like hill walking and photography.
Sergei Kositzki Douglas Ogilvie
Forestry
Skills Woodland Management; Resilience & Tree Health; Continuous Cover Forestry; Forest Inventory; GIS: Project Management; Research. Fun fact I’ve worked in Colorado, building trails in remote areas of the Rocky Mountains. Skills Farm management, setting up and administering both arable & livestock, Contract Farming Agreements and grant applications. Fun fact Twice playing golf I’ve managed to tee off and put the ball 30 metres behind me.
We are excited about the skills, knowledge, and general awesomeness these new recruits bring to our expanding team.
Ayr 01292 ayr@sac.co.uk525252 Balivanich 01870 602 balivanich@sac.co.uk336 Campbeltown 01586 552 campbeltown@sac.co.uk502 Cupar 01334 cupar@sac.co.uk654055 Dumfries 01387 261 dumfries@sac.co.uk172 Edinburgh 0131 603 edinburgh@sac.co.uk7520 Elgin 01343 548 elgin@sac.co.uk787 Forfar 01307 464 forfar@sac.co.uk033 Inverness 01463 233 inverness@sac.co.uk266 Kendal 01539 kendal@sac.co.uk769059 Kirkwall 01856 872 kirkwall@sac.co.uk698 Lanark 01555 662 lanark@sac.co.uk562 Lerwick 01595 693 lerwick@sac.co.uk520 Oban 01631 563 oban@sac.co.uk093 Perth 01738 636 perth@sac.co.uk611 Portree 01478 612 portree@sac.co.uk993 St Boswells 01835 823 stboswells@sac.co.uk322 Stirling 01786 450 stirling@sac.co.uk964 Stonehaven 01569 762 stonehaven@sac.co.uk305 Stornoway 01851 703 stornoway@sac.co.uk103 Stranraer 01776 702 stranraer@sac.co.uk649 Thainstone 01467 625 inverurie@sac.co.uk385 Thurso 01847 892 thurso@sac.co.uk602 Turriff 01888 563 turriff@sac.co.uk333 SAC Consulting Offices SAC Consulting, Peter Wilson Building, The King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG www.sac.co.uk @SACConSol @ConsultingSAC linkedin.com/company/sacconsol Perspectives is printed on a FCS accredited paper made from responsibly sourced virgin fibre wood pulp.
