High feed prices made Deeside Monitor Farmers Duncan and Claire Morrison question their bull beef finishing system, and led to trialling finishing them at grass last summer; the final results have now been released.

“We got the idea from our breeding bulls, which we bring to sale off grass,” says Duncan, who farms with Claire at Meikle Maldron near Banchory. “They do really well, and the few which don’t make breeding spec have finished at a good weight and before the 16-month deadline,” he says.

Read the full press report with figures and next steps here.

The North East is a hotspot for young, entrepreneurial farmers, typified by Duncan and Claire Morrison, the Deeside Monitor Farmers. Recognising this, the next Deeside Monitor Farm meeting is a forward-looking evening featuring a panel of farmers who are chasing and creating a positive future.

Open to everyone, whatever their age, ‘On the Couch with Michael Blanche’, host of The Pasture Pod, will be held on Thursday 20 March from 5.45-8pm at Inverurie Town Hall. Food provided.

Read more about the case study with a focus on colostrum quality and failure of transfer of passive immunity. This was a joint project with The Stewartry Veterinary Centre and The University of Glasgow. Funded by Monitor Farm Scotland and Livestock Health Scotland.

At the half-way point of the current four-year programme, Monitor Farm Scotland has drawn together progress, statistics and feedback in a comprehensive midpoint review. It includes updates from all nine Monitor Farms across Scotland and their plans for the next two years.

So far, the nine Scottish Monitor Farms have connected over 1,000 farmers and covered more than 60 topics. The programme has developed collaborative partnerships with 58 organisations, ranging from farmers and agribusinesses to research institutions and vets, demonstrating the power of knowledge exchange to enhance skills and communication across the supply chain. 

In the first two years, 48 meetings which are open to all have been held, each attracting an average of 54 attendees; an average of 48% of attendees were under 45 and 27% female. The initiative has held a total of 136 meetings including regular management group meetings for each of the Monitor Farms. 

Recent surveys have provided additional proof of the programme’s popularity and positive influence: 

• 99% of farmers plan to attend future meetings 

• 87% report improved technical knowledge 

• 78% say it will improve business decision-making 

• 90% of management group members say it has strengthened local collaboration and communication 

Beth Alexander, Monitor Farm Scotland programme manager says: “Since launching at AgriScot in November 2022, we have seen thousands of people in farming and agribusiness in person at our events, viewing our online updates and reading our press reports and technical articles.  

“It has been fantastic to be part of the in-depth discussions at the nine Monitor Farms and see how each of the businesses is adapting and changing as a result. Our meetings allow for constructive discussions and provide a platform for Monitor Farmers to share real-world insights, supported by data, while influencing policy and public perceptions of farming. 

“It offers a supportive, business-focused network that helps shift perspectives and drives change. Few initiatives provide such a unique platform for genuine collaboration, sharing challenges and opportunities for growth in the farming sector.” 

The Monitor Farm programme’s remaining two years will focus on ensuring farming businesses are sustainable, not just technically but financially. 

Beth adds: “While farming is a way of life, it must also function as a business. Many Monitor Farms have gained significantfinancial insights through the ‘Farmer-Led, Farmer-Driven’ approach, boosting confidence for farmers and their management groups to identify and address business challenges. 

“Technology will also play a role, with trials exploring virtual fencing, cow collars, and high-tech boluses to monitor suckler cow health. Additionally, the programme is expanding its digital reach with more videos and a new podcast, ensuring farmers across Scotland have access to tools and insights for business and technical sustainability.” 

SAC Consulting Ruminant Nutritionist, Lorna Shaw spent the day with the South Ayrshire Management Group taking them through the practical steps to calculating the nutritional value of fodder beet and how to allocate and feed accordingly. Watch this video guide to find out more!

Bruce Irvine, Sauchentree, by Fraserburgh, the Banff & Buchan Monitor Farmer, highlighted the importance of hands-on condition scoring of his cows, keeping his ration planning simple and choosing his replacement heifers through a combination of visual preference, vet assessment and genomic traits.

The attached report summarises key messages from Simon Turner, SAC, on Body Condition Scoring, Lauren Porteous, Zoetis, on Genomics and David McClelland, Norvite, on Nutrition Planning.

Monitor Farm Scotland works with many agricultural suppliers and advisers over a range of areas, with grassland and forage often at the heart of discussions. Watson Seeds has had a long-standing involvement with past Monitor Farms and this continues with three of the current farms, Strathspey; Argyll and Dumfries. Euan Campbell, Watson Seed’s specialist explains the aims of new forage and grass mixes on the three farms.

with Elaine McKilligan, McKilligan Financial

DRIVING YOUR BUSINESS, STEERING YOUR DECISIONS

The Deeside Monitor Farm Management Group wants to look more into the foundations of a successful, expanding Scottish livestock business.

They’ve identified 4 main areas to investigate more:

•Accounts
•Banking and Financial Advice
•Legal
•Succession

ACCOUNTING

The first of the series of discussions was led by Elaine McKilligan, Chartered Accountant and business owner of McKilligan Financial Ltd. Read the report below.

ON TOUR, SHOWING ON:

February 12th 2025, at UA, Stirling – Book HERE

February 26th 2025, at the Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells – Book HERE

SUCCESSION
It can be easy to avoid potentially difficult discussions on family farm succession, to
be unaware of legal rights surrounding farming and family and not understand the
complexities of finance and tax planning.
Watching others wrestle with the issues based on real experiences across the country can be the first step in your own family journey…..

Read the report of the Monitor Farm Scotland Production, Starring:
Johnstone Carmichael, Virgin Money and Shepherd & Wedderburn