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 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.”
The final meeting of the Borders monitor farm will take place at the end of this month (29 January, 2020)
The Mitchell family from Whitriggs Farm in Denholm, have embraced their role as monitor farmers wholeheartedly and the upcoming meeting will highlight the significant changes they have made over the three-year project to their farm enterprises to improve profitability and efficiency.
Starting with tea and coffee at 10.30am, the meeting at Whitriggs Farm near Denholm, will also discuss the achievements and benefits of the programme to the Monitor Farm as well as the local community.
Robert and Lesley Mitchell farm in partnership with their son Stuart. They run a herd of 170 suckler cows at their 442-hectare farm as well as a breeding herd of 300 red deer. Stuart took on the responsibility of the day to day decision making at Whitriggs in 2018 and is keen to ensure that Whitriggs continues to develop.
At the start of the programme the full community group decided on the vision to “Maintain a profit in a challenging environment”. Throughout the three years they have made many changes towards this, including introducing a new enterprise, and diversifying their production system to organic.
Stuart Mitchell said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Monitor Farm Programme for the last three years. The input from specialists and support from the community group and facilitators has been vital in some of our decision making.
“The biggest developments we have implemented include moving to a six-week calving period, investigating our underperforming sheep flock, and the introduction of the new deer enterprise.
“Our business is now in a much better position for the future than when we started the Programme, and we are positive it will continue to move forward.”
As part of the programme the Mitchells have benchmarked both technical and financial data with their business group.
Stuart added: “I have enjoyed seeing the many benefits of sharing data over the past three years and I hope it continues beyond the monitor farm programme.”
At the final meeting, QMS Chair, Kate Rowell will talk about her time as a monitor farmer, her experience since finishing the programme and the positive effect it has had on her farming business.
Attendees will also have the chance to hear from Oliver McEntryre, Head of Agriculture at Barclays Bank, who will discuss setting a vision for the future. Dr Paul Thomas from Plantation Systems will speak on carbon sequestration and management.
Monitor Farm Facilitator, Fergus Younger from SAOS commented: “This final meeting is a fantastic opportunity to review the many changes the Mitchells have implemented over the last three years. It’s also a perfect time to look forward and focus on what they will achieve in the coming years.”
Whitriggs is one of nine monitor farms established in Scotland as part of a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government. The aim of the monitor farm programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
The meeting on Tuesday 29 January will be held at Whitriggs farm, near Denholm, TD9 8QR and will begin at 10.30am. Lunch will be provided at Cross Keys, Denholm. The meeting is expected to finish by 3pm. All are welcome and the event is free.
For further information and to book your place (and lunch) please contact facilitator Fergus Younger on 07771 966649 or email fergus.younger@saos.coop
Farmers and crofters in Shetland are being invited to attend the final monitor farm meeting at Bigton Hall on Saturday 8th February. They will learn first-hand how the 305 ha (750 acres) livestock enterprise has benefited from its involvement in the three-year Monitor Farm project.
At the upcoming meeting, monitor farmers Aimee and Kirsty Budge, will share key learnings, demonstrate the positive impact of the project on Bigton Farm and share what they plan to do in the future.
Attendees will also have a chance to hear about the changes the sisters have made to lamb finishing, forage crops and breeding their own replacements.
The final free-to-attend meeting will take place from 11am to 3.30pm and is open to everyone with an interest in farming, crofting and rural businesses. It will report on what has been achieved through the implementation of key initiatives including benchmarking and on-farm trials.
“During our three years as monitor farmers we’ve made significant improvements to our farm business and have benefited from expert speakers and a strong support network from local farmers and crofters,” said Kirsty.
“One of the biggest challenges we face on Shetland is arable production due to the rough ground. Through the Monitor Farm Project, we decided to grow 60 acres of spring barley. This has allowed us to keep feed costs down and supply some barley to local farmers. We now have the confidence to look at ways to increase crop yields for next year,” she added.
Funded by Scottish Government, the aim of the Monitor Farm Project is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
At the final meeting, QMS Chair, Kate Rowell will talk about her time as a monitor farmer, her experiences since completing the programme and the positive effect it has had on her farming business.
Fasciliatior, Graham Fraser from SAC Consulting, said: “The upcoming meeting will be a great opportunity to reflect on the impact of the project and share key learnings.
“Community group members will share the benefits of attending a monitor farm meeting and the changes they have made to their business. John Abernethy, a local farmer in Shetland will explain how the project has gave him the confidence to introduce rotational grazing, wean his lambs earlier and change the breed of sheep.”
The final meeting will take place on 8th February starting at Bigton Hall at 11am till 3.30pm. To attend the meeting, please book by contacting SAC on 01595693520 or email frbslerwick @sac.co.uk.
The Shetland monitor farm is one of nine monitor farms that have been established around Scotland in a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds.
For more information about the monitor farm programme visit www.monitorfarms.co.uk.
The many improvements a Sutherland couple has made on their farm during their time as monitor farmers will be highlighted at their final meeting next week (10 December, 2019).
Since opening the gates to Clynelish for the first monitor farm meeting back in February 2017, Sutherland Monitor Farmers, Jason and Victoria Ballantyne, have made improvements throughout the business, particularly in regard to rotational grazing and growing fodder crops.
During the past three years one focus has been collaboration. Clynelish now works closely with local farmers, sharing transport costs and a portable Vet Marker. This has led to cost savings for not just the Monitor Farm but the wider community.
Mrs Ballantyne said: The monitor farm programme has been a great experience and it’s given us the opportunity to meet other farmers and industry experts which has been extremely beneficial to our business.
“Likewise, we hope those who have attended meetings have learnt something from the different trials and experiments we’ve carried out. Knowing what doesn’t work is sometimes as important as knowing what does,” she added.
At the final meeting, QMS Chair, Kate Rowell will talk about her time as a monitor farmer, her experience since finishing the programme and the positive effect it has had on her farming business.
Three regular attendees of the Sutherland Monitor Farm will also speak about the positive impact the project has had on them personally and on their own business.
Willie Budge, Sutherland Monitor Farm Facilitator from SAC Consulting, said: “There has been tremendous support from the community group whose enthusiasm and skill have made a potent recipe for success at Clynelish.”
“I would encourage all with an interest in improving their farm business to attend the final meeting which will cover the highlights and lessons learned during the three-year project.”
The final meeting will take place on 10th December at Brora Golf Course Clubhouse at 10:30am till 3.00pm. To attend the meeting, please book by contacting SAC Thurso on 01847 892602 or email fbsthurso@sac.co.uk.
The Sutherland monitor farm is one of nine 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.
For more information about the monitor farm programme visit www.monitorfarms.co.uk.
Improved handling systems and electronic identification (EID) in cattle has helped Girtridge Farm in North Ayrshire to become safer and more efficient whilst helping to improve cattle performance.
With EID tagging in calves likely to be introduced in 2020, farmer John Howie has been taking part in an industry led pilot trial investigating how EID technology can enable him to keep accurate records and ensure traceability is maintained while cutting down on time spent visually reading tag numbers and recording data.
John Howie runs the 140-hectare Girtridge Farm, the North Ayrshire Monitor farm, in partnership with his mother and sister. They currently finish around 230 cattle all year round, some housed and others from grass.
At last week’s North Ayrshire Monitor Farm meeting, held on Wednesday 25 September, at Girtridge Farm, Dundonald, attendees heard about John’s work to utilise EID tags and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) readers to monitor cattle performance and make management changes based on the information to increase production and overall efficiency.
“We’ve gone from using pen and paper to record our data, to a new UHF reader fitted to the crush which is saving a lot of time. It has made data recording easier and a much more pleasurable experience,” said John. “Although we’ve only recently introduced the tags, the ability to have the readers fitted to the crush will improve overall productivity and will, over time, help us to better track weight gain and allows us to identify which cattle are performing for us.”
The Howies have also introduced an auto-drench gun to compliment the new EID technology which was demonstrated to attendees at the meeting. The auto-drench gun uses Wi-Fi and automatically adjusts the dosage according to the weight of the cattle.
“It’s important that all technology is integrated and the auto-drench gun will demonstrate possible savings to be made from reducing instances of over-drenching cattle, as well as decrease parasitic resistance caused by under-dosing,” said John.
The approach mirrors the ongoing work of the Moredun Research Institute. Gillian Mitchell and Fiona Kenyon from the Institute attended last week’s meeting and explained how this technology can be utilised in Targeted Selective Treatment to save time and money by only treating animals losing weight.
Girtridge Farm is one of nine monitor farms established in Scotland as part of a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government. The aim of the monitor farm programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
Increased profitability and reduced reliance on direct support payments, alongside increasing environmental sustainability are just a few of the key messages that are being highlighted in a new video as part of the Monitor Farm Scotland Programme.
The video, focusing on Saughland Farm, Pathhead, highlights the journey the farm’s management team, led by owner Richard Callander and farm manager Peter Eccles, have been on over the last three years as part of the programme.
Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMP), undertaken by Lothians Monitor Farm facilitator Colin MacPhail at Saughland and with joint Monitor Farm host Bill Gray at Prestonhall, have been integral to the success of the project.
The ILMPs allowed Saughland and Prestonhall Farms to set out their visions for the future and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current farming enterprises. This helped the management team develop collaborative solutions and trial new ideas about how the businesses could become more sustainable and profitable. Environmental audits, carbon audits and specialist advice plans have also provided constructive reports to support decision making.
Saughland and Prestonhall farms make up one of nine monitor farms established in Scotland as part of a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government through the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The aim of the monitor farm programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
Following the ILMP process, and the trial of new ways of working, supported by the Monitor Farm community group, the farm business at Saughland has seen huge benefits over the course of the three-year project. These benefits include increasing cattle and sheep numbers, whilst at the same time increasing new areas of habitat for biodiversity, including 4,000 metres of hedgerows – all contributing to making the farm more sustainable and efficient.
The video is one of a series that are available showcasing the improvements seen on the nine monitor farms since the start of the project.
The Monitor Farm project worked to help the farms be less reliant on farm subsidies and more self-sufficient, something Saughland Farm is nearing ever closer to thanks to its work through the project.
Today, Wednesday 11 September, the video was launched at Prestonhall Farm, when Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing MSP announced £1,000 funding for specialist support and advice on farm resilience planning through the Farm Advisory Service, delivered as part of the ILMP process.
Saughland Farm is a total of 320 hectares, 70 hectares of which is arable. Peter Eccles joined Saughland Farm as farm manager four years ago and since then has more than doubled the sheep numbers and has moved the flock from inside to outside lambing. The farm has suckler cows, mainly Angus, Hereford, and Limousin crosses, which complement the sheep enterprise and are integral to the grazing system.
The farm works closely with neighbouring arable farm Prestonhalls, run by Bill Gray. They have been working together to improve collaboration, sharing and land and resources to improve both the arable and livestock enterprises.
Commenting on the Monitor Farm project and the benefits the farm has reaped from being part of it, Peter said: “The project has not only allowed us to try new things, it has also allowed us to experiment with the livestock enterprises and collaborate further with Bill at Prestonhall.
“Our biggest challenge as part of the project was to move away from reliance of farm subsidies in order to support the farm financially. We have managed to increase our ewe numbers from 950 breeding ewes to 2,000 breeding ewes, and doubled our cow numbers from 40 to 80, with a vision to increase this further in the future.
“This has been done by reducing our arable acreage and through our use of paddock grazing, which we have developed over the last few years. We have created three to four hectare blocks that we can subdivide with temporary fencing down to two hectare blocks.
“This allows us to run groups of 300 ewes with twin lambs in these blocks for two days and then follow them with maybe 40 cows with calves for a couple of days.
“Over the last three years we’ve been able to increase our output from a little under 400 kilograms per hectare to over 700 kilograms of sales per hectare.
“Working with the management group and the facilitators as part of a monitor farm programme has been hugely enjoyable and beneficial. I think the people have made it. It’s been great fun having the confidence to try some new techniques.”
Sarah Millar, QMS Head of Industry Development commented: “As we near the end of the current Monitor Farm Scotland programme we are starting to see the impacts that small changes to farming systems can make to farm profitability.”
“The teams at Saughland and Prestonhall, supported by a fantastic facilitator in Colin MacPhail and by the wider community group, have relished in the challenge that was set to them at the start and have achieved increased business output aswell as increasing environmental sustainability- win wins that focus on business practice that is good for nature as well as bank balances.”
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing MSP, said: “As we look to tackle the global climate emergency, the need to balance environmental sustainability with being a sustainable and profitable business has never been greater. That is why, we continue to support the key role of our Monitor Farm Programme in supporting innovation, collaboration and sharing best practice to enhance the viability and efficiency of Scottish agriculture.”
The full video can be viewed here: https://www.monitorfarms.co.uk/hub/lothians-monitor-farm
Fodder beet offers many potential benefits to livestock producers in Scotland, the largest of which is the yield potential, which is larger than any other forage crop grown in the UK.
The high yield potential gives the crop the ability to be the cheapest forage per kg of dry matter, while the excellent nutrition gives it the ability to be the cheapest forage per mega joule of energy. Achieving the yield in a cost-effective manner is key to maximising the potential of the crop.
Monitor Farm Scotland is a joint initiative managed by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government. The aim of the monitor farm programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.#
Autumn pasture planning and management will be the focus of the next Sutherland Monitor Farm meeting to be held on Tuesday 27 August.
Independent consultant and self-confessed ‘grass geek’ Michael Blanche will be the key speaker at the event and will address what farmers should consider when managing their autumn pasture.
“At this time of year there is real potential for farmers to profit from strategies to maximise the potential from autumn grass; these include extending the grazing into the autumn, ensuring quality pasture for tupping and for growing calves, and setting up grass covers for Spring so they can be used to feed stock in early season.
“Clynelish have effectively created a tool for managing their grass by subdividing 60 hectares into two to three-hectare paddocks which will provide more management control going into autumn. At the meeting we will look at the best way to utilise this ‘tool’ and how this method will grow and utilise more grass with less waste,” said Mr Blanche.
Nina Clancy, Chief Executive of RSABI, will also be at the event to explain the how RSABI supports farmers and crofters, particularly with their well-being.
“Isolation and long-term stress are big problems in rural areas and it’s about learning to recognise when you, your neighbour, or family member, needs a helping hand. One in four of us will face a mental health issue in our lives.
“I’ll be holding a break-out session for those in attendance about how they can identify the tell-tale signs of someone who may be struggling and needs help and support,” said Ms Clancy.
The meeting will start at 11:00am at Clynelish Farm in Brora with host farmers Jason and Victoria Ballantyne to give attendees demonstrations of the technology that is being used in innovative trials as part of the Monitor Farm Scotland programme.
“Earlier this year we applied to the Monitor Farm Innovation Fund for some innovative trials that will help improve the productivity and profitability of our business. These trials involve utilising technology including a Vetmarker and a drone that we are using to trial new approaches to reduce the labour requirement on farm and make our production more efficient.
“We were really keen to test how a drone can be used in a farming context particularly during early lambing. Although the livestock are still adjusting to the use of a drone, we’ve found it a useful tool to see if any sheep are stuck on their back or need extra attention. While we are still finding out how to fully utilise the technology, initial results look promising.
“The Vetmarker trials, in particular, have shown its potential to reduce the time we spend on sheep maintenance. It is only used for a short time each year, but was invaluable over those weeks and identified significant savings, and we’re pleased other members of the community group have also been able benefit from this equipment,” said Victoria Ballantyne.
Finally, the Ballantynes will also update the meeting on their lamb growth rates, lamb sale results and the weaning strategies they introduced this year before kicking off a discussion on farmers’ “Top Weaning Tips”.
Clynelish Farm is one of nine monitor farms established in Scotland as part of a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government. The aim of the monitor farm programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
The meeting at Clynelish farm on Tuesday 27 August is free to attend and open to all. It will begin at 11am, with coffee and registration from 10.30am. Lunch is included.
For catering purposes, anyone interested in attending the meeting should confirm their attendance with the facilitators Willie Budge or Cat MacGregor by phoning SAC Thurso on 01847 892602 or emailing fbsthurso@sac.co.uk.
The next Nithsdale Monitor Farm meeting on Wednesday 21 August will be a learning journey to Selkirk to visit Oakwood Mill farm and Bowhill Estate with both farms to highlight how collaboration has benefitted their businesses.
The first stop will be to see Giles Henry, of Oakwood Mill farm, where Mr Henry currently runs 72 spring-calving Luing cows, 50 yearling calves and 60 two-year-old steers, 17 of which Giles finishes for another farmer over 110-hectares.
Mr Henry will explain to attendees the benefits he has found from running a low-cost system that breeds, grows and finishes cattle outside on forage alone, using organically managed clover rich swards in a rotational grazing system.
“Since beginning rotational grazing in 2010, we’ve increased grass production by 30 per cent and increased the kg of beef produced per hectare by 25 per cent.
“This is the first year we’ve calved in fields, rather than on the hill. That involved us stocking paddocks with 18 to 20 cows straight into rotation, being moved on every third day.
“The main advantage from breeding, growing and finishing cattle outside has been the huge financial benefits from not having to house stock and buy in concentrate feed which has allowed us to invest the money saved on upgrading fencing and water troughs,” said Mr Henry.
The second stop on journey will be to Bowhill Estate, a 6,555 hectare mixed hill/upland farming enterprise where farm manager Sion Williams, and his team run the 530 herd premium Aberdeen Angus / Shorthorn X cows and 8100 hill/upland flock – a mixture of Blackface, South Country Cheviot, Aberfield X, Aberdales X, Pure Abermax and Primera.
Mr Williams will give attendees a tour of Bowhill Estate including the livestock housing and water system and explain their use of anaerobic digestate as an alternative to bagged fertiliser.
“We introduced anaerobic digestion to Bowhill in 2016 as a way to reduce costs. We put biodegradable materials such as poultry manure, cattle slurry and crops in a controlled environment where in the absence of oxygen, microbes break down the materials and produce digestate which is used a fertiliser and biogas which is used to generate renewable heat and energy,” said Mr Williams.
Mr Williams will also talk about sheep genetics and his involvement with the RamCompare project has helped him to make breeding decisions for his sheep flocks.
The meeting in Selkirk on Wednesday 21 August will begin at 10:30am at Oakwood Mill farm, with an aim to finish by 4:30pm at Bowhill Estate.
The Nithsdale monitor farm is one of nine 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.
To book your place please contact facilitator Judith Hutchison on 07718 919055 or email judith.agridigm@icloud.com.
The next Shetland monitor farm meeting on Saturday 17 August will focus on fighting fluke in livestock.
The meeting will start at Bigton Farm at 11:00am where key speaker Dr Philip Skuce from Moredun Research Institute will address the meeting on sustainable fluke control in Shetland.
Dr Skuce has a PhD in Parasitology and is a Principal Scientist at Moredun with research interests in the diagnosis and control of parasitic diseases in livestock, specifically roundworm and fluke infections and the detection and management of anthelmintic resistance. Dr Skuce sits on the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) working group and is the Knowledge Exchange Sector Lead for livestock within the Scottish Environment Food and Agriculture Research Institute.
‘’I am really looking forward to my first trip to Shetland and hearing farmers’ experiences with fluke first-hand. Fluke risk is a function of local geology, climatic conditions and farm management practices, some of which will be common to most sheep farms in Scotland, others will be unique to Shetland. I’m keen to explore local conditions and discuss best practice advice around sustainable fluke control,” said Dr Skuce.
Monitor farmers Kirsty and Aimee Budge, who farm at Bigton, are looking forward to welcoming the speakers and group back to the farm.
“We are really grateful that Dr Philip Skuce is travelling to Shetland to speak to the meeting about fluke as it’s something we have identified as a problem at Bigton, causing reduced performance in both our sheep and cattle enterprises” said Kirsty Budge.
“We, like lots of other farmers on Shetland, are keen to learn how best to control parasitic diseases in livestock. We’ve got three fantastic speakers for the meeting with Derek Hanton from SAC Consulting updating the meeting about the farm audit as well as calving and lambing figures, and Jim Tait from Shetland Vets will be presenting to the group on keds and lice.”
At the meeting on 17 August, Kirsty and Aimee Budge will also update the group on developments at Bigton including the barley trial plots and the grazing season.
The Shetland Monitor Farm is one of nine 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 meeting on Saturday 17 August, which is free to attend, and will begin at 11:00am with an aim to finish with a BBQ by 3:00pm.
To book your attendance (and lunch) please contact Graham Fraser, SAC Consulting Lerwick on 01595 693520 or email frbslerwick@sac.co.uk