With grass weeds an increasing problem on farms, the battle for control should be starting now. Visitors at the East Lothian Monitor Farm summer meeting heard how cultural methods should be the mainstays of control, with work beginning now to map the extent of the problem before harvest. 

Speaking to attendees at the event, Scottish Agronomy agronomist Stevie Gray said understanding what grass weeds were present on farm and mapping where they were should be done now.  “Brome is an increasing problem, and understanding which type of brome or grass weed you have may not seem like a priority. Use the next few weeks before harvest to get out and identify which brome or grass weed species are present on your farm as that will impact what you do next.” 

The East Lothian Monitor Farm, at Castleton near North Berwick has an increasing grass weed issue, with farmer Stuart McNicol facing high herbicide costs. Brome has built up on-farm for a variety of reasons, and this is now impacting on crop management decisions. 

Stevie said: “Brome is being favoured by the increase in non-inversion tillage as its seeds are no longer being buried; we often find farms several years into a non-inversion tillage system running into problems with grass weed control. 

“Sterile brome is the main problem at Castleton, but other farms could have multiple types of brome or blackgrass, and some have different bromes in different areas of their farms.” 

He recommends growers use an online Rothamsted Research publication called ‘Which brome is that?’ which is available on the Monitor Farm Scotland website [insert link once uploaded] to help identify what species is on-farm. “It’s a good place to start as brome species can often look similar.” 

Contract farming agreements could be one way of helping to navigate some of the complications introduced with the Government’s changes to Inheritance Tax.

Jack Frater, agricultural consultant at Edwin Thomson and who is featured in a 13-page Monitor Farm Scotland Q&A Guide to Contract Farming Agreements (CFAs), says they could be a useful option for farmers, and so there may be more opportunities for contractors.

The guide, aimed at helping farmers and contractors understand more about the opportunities and challenges involved with CFAs, was published following a Roxburghshire Monitor Farm panel evening featuring businesses who spoke about their experiences.

While CFAs are a very different approach from tenancies, they give both established contracting businesses and new entrants an opportunity to grow their enterprise, while still allowing farmers (the party with the land) to retain their land and business taxation status, and to be as involved in the business as they would like to be.

Jack, who chaired the meeting, says the subsequent change to IHT has focused people’s minds. “If anything, it has forced conversations that people have been putting off for a long time.

“CFAs are being talked about in this situation, especially if the next generation are not working within the business and are not necessarily looking to take the business on immediately. It means that the older generation can transfer the assets and take a step back but with the idea of keeping business going to ensure the relief remains, or is avoided by transferring over seven years.

“There are some issues that need to be factored in with this though, especially rules around the farmhouse. If the older generation are planning to hand the business over, they can’t then remain in the farmhouse as it can be seen as still benefitting from the asset. Therefore it is imperative that people speak to their accountant and advisor well in advance of making any decision to ensure they are not opening themselves up to further liability.”

The changes to IHT have had no impact on the structure of CFAs, but Jack adds that it has highlighted the importance of having the relevant documentation in place to protect the position of the landowner/farmer.

He is also optimistic about the growing availability of CFAs: “I do think there will be more opportunities for contractors going forward as more land is likely to become available in one form or another.”

Grace Reid, Monitor Farm Scotland programme manager adds: “Contract farming agreements have become an increasingly useful and important part of modern farming set ups. The Q&A Guide is a practical publication featuring people who have in-depth experience of setting up and operating CFAs. It’s helpful start for both farmers and contactors to get the ball rolling and is free to download.”

• The 13-page Q&A guide to Contract Farming Agreements is available to download on the Monitor Farm Scotland website: https://www.monitorfarms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Contract-farming-QA.pdf

Following the success of its debut season, Field Talk, the podcast from the Monitor Farm Scotland Programme, is back with a brand-new series celebrating ground-breaking on-farm innovation and the expert voices leading change in Scottish agriculture.

Hosted by food and farming vlogger Wallace Currie – aka Rural2Kitchen – the new series continues to shine a light on real Scottish farms and the people driving them forward. This season’s episodes will take a deep dive into projects tackling the big questions in productivity, profitability, and sustainability – with innovation front and centre.

Launching the series is “Virtual Fencing – Opportunity to return suckler cows to the hills”, an episode exploring how virtual fencing technology is being trialled on four Monitor Farms. Wallace is joined by Ann Elinor Aasen from Monil, the tech provider, and livestock systems expert Dr Tony Waterhouse. Together, they explore how the technology could help farmers make better use of grazing, reduce labour, and improve monitoring.

Grace Reid, Monitor Farm Programme Manager, said:
“This series is all about showcasing practical innovation in action – ideas being tested by farmers for farmers. From virtual fencing to genetic testing and everything in between, it’s a chance to share real results, spark new thinking, and support change on the ground.

“We’re excited to bring listeners into conversations around topics such as grazing management, the Deeside Forage Project, identifying profitability markers in cattle, and the role of nutrition planning in tackling issues like pneumonia.

“We’ll also be exploring what maximum sustainable output really looks like on a modern Scottish farm. These are real, relevant issues that farmers are working through – and we’reproud to help share their stories.”

The Monitor Farm Scotland Programme, launched in November 2022 and running until 2026, is managed by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) with support from AHDB and funding from the Scottish Government’s Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund. It is the first of its kind to span four years, giving time and space to properly test and evaluate new approaches.

Listeners can catch up on Field Talk Series 1 – where each episode follows one of Scotland’s nine Monitor Farms – and subscribe for new episodes wherever they get their podcasts, including Spotify. Whether you’re at home, in the lambing shed, or out on the quad, Field Talk is the place to hear directly from farmers and the experts working alongside them.

For more information and updates, visit monitorfarmscotland.co.uk and follow Monitor Farm Scotland on social media.

Tackling potentially difficult discussions on family farm succession, being aware of legal rights surrounding farming and family and understand the complexities of related finance and tax planning is not straightforward, especially after the Budget. Now Monitor Farm Scotland has made its innovative succession play available online, so anyone can see how these sensitive topics might be tackled by a farming family and their professional advisers.

Based on real experience and practical scenarios, Monitor Farm Scotland, with Johnston Carmichael, Virgin Money and Shepherd and Wedderburn, staged three live performances earlier this year at Inverurie, Stirling and St Boswells, bringing issues to the fore, including coping with recent Inheritance Tax changes. Now the play is available to watch online on-demand via the Monitor Farm YouTube channel.

‘Succession, Finance, Legal Rights and Tax Planning: A Play’ takes the format of a round-the-table discussion with a banker, solicitor and accountant with a farming family in the middle. Watch online to see how the discussions go, the key topics and how the advice from different professionals impacts on the farming family at the centre of discussion.

Professionals in the 35-minute film, introduced by Monitor Farm Scotland, include Petra Grunenberg, solicitor and rural team partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn and a rural law accredited specialist; Graham Leith, chartered accountant with Johnston Carmichael; plus Rona Jordan, agricultural business manager with Virgin Money.

Jenn Stewart, partner and head of rural at Johnston Carmichael said: “The film gives the opportunity to see the issues that arise when considering a succession plan, acted out in a family setting.”

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Petra Grunenberg added: “The aim was to allow real time questions and answers in a less formal setting. This will hopefully make it easier to relate to the subjects being discussed, which are often sensitive issues to deal with.”

Rona Jordan from Virgin Money said: “Role playing brought the issues to life more vividly and made the process more real, rather than technical and abstract. It gives an idea of some of the day-to-day conversations we have with our faming clients and the various scenarios to be considered.”

Attendees at a packed performance at Thainstone said the event was very useful. Belinda Muir from Maud, Aberdeenshire, said: “Having a succession discussion acted by professionals who knew their subject well made it sound and feel real. It was easy to understand the main points at a difficult time for farming. Succession will be something we will discuss around our kitchen table.”

Comments from other attendees included: “Get the ball rolling regardless of the situation you are in – have the conversations and make a plan. Tax is unavoidable.” Another said their takeaway was: “Have family meetings. It is important to talk and make plans for the future.”

The meetings also saw Johnston Carmichael’s private client tax team give a topical update, summarising key areas relevant to succession. This session, presented by Nicola Sargeant, is also now available to watch online, covering everything from IHT to partnerships to pensions.

Beth Alexander, Monitor Farm Scotland manager, added: “A play is a different approach to this issue, and watching it should give people encouragement to discuss money, legal and accountancy topics.

“Succession is such a critical issue, especially now, and one which people can find difficult. We hope making this practical approach to it available online will be useful for everyone.”

Watch the succession play here: https://youtu.be/ynH2YLvMOcM?si=x3alwiSJIa5Xpos8

Watch the taxation update here: https://youtu.be/DVlLZ25yWOw?si=mj4GYtDC4uuCdE8c

On Friday 28 February 2025, 36 members of the Stirlingshire farming community came along to Blairfad Farm, Balfron Station for the Monitor Farm Winter meeting.

The Duncan family gave an update on the farming enterprise at both Lands of Drumhead and Blairfad.

The Duncans’ are keen to improve their grazing output and have been working with Graeme Lofthouse and the Monitor Farm management group to address this. While they have started to improve the farm’s pH levels and begun a reseeding programme, they are keen to go faster. 

Meeting attendees discussed the approach with Graeme and the Duncan’s as they plan how to do it without compromising the existing farming operation and breaking the bank in one go. The discussion will include working out the cost-benefit of improving grass, and setting and achieving production targets.

The value in understanding a farm’s figures was discussed with Emily from Forrit Consultancy, whose session on planning for profit will included looking at the Duncans’ options for selling their store calves. She will also spoke about finding the opportunities within every enterprise on the farm, Key Performance Indicators and setting targets.

After lunch, Emily and Graeme held a mini Body Condition Scoring (BCS) workshop on the farm’s new Cheviot ewes. Latest Monitor Farm-funded research shows that a BCS check pre-lambing, ensuring ewes are in the appropriate condition, means lambs receive optimum nutrition for robust growth and development. 

Crop nutrition plans and profitability came under scrutiny at the February meeting of the Banff and Buchan Monitor Farm, where Scottish Agronomy’s Zach Reilly and Donald Paterson led a crop walk across the farm and discussed its arable performance. 

Farmers attending the meeting at Sauchentree, New Aberdour, heard how the crop rotation had changed when Monitor Farmer Bruce Irvine had moved from being organic to conventional farming; last year the farm grew winter wheat for the first time, and he has introduced winter field beans this year. 

Read the report here.

With unpredictable weather patterns, livestock outwintering systems have undergone stress tests and challenges the last number of years. Sowing has been delayed by many farmers following slow, wet and cold springs, and mild wet winters have left producers looking for an alternative plan for forage crops.

Four members from the Deeside Monitor Farm management group have been sharing their experiences of growing forage crops and outwintering systems. Facilitated by Kirsten Williams, SAC Consulting senior sheep and beef consultant, they are sharing their experiences of how they plan for winter, build resilience into their systems and manage their crops in a challenging climate.

The project is looking at managing and utilising various wintering systems for livestock. It includes monitoring throughout crop growing, yield calculations, crop analysis, and feed allocation calculations. Stock performance will be monitored and full costings of each individual crop and wintering system will be made.

The four farms involved with videos introducing them are:

-Duncan and Claire Morrison, Meikle Maldron, Torphins – Monitor Farmers, who will be building on their outwintering experience through managing deferred and bale grazing as well as kale over winter for their cattle.

-Robert Marshall, Kincraigie Farms, Lumphanan – growing hybrid rape and a hybrid rape and yellow swede mix which will be grazed overwinter by his spring-calving cows and in-calf heifers, with baled silage sited in one field pre grazing.

-Jonny Stewart, Mains of Balfour, Rashenlochy Farm, Drumoak – growing fodder beet and swedes for outwintering sucker cows behind an electric fence, with an arable stubble backrun and hay.

Alex Stephen, Inch of Arnhall, Edzell – a dairy and sheep farmer, Alex is growing fodder beet for ewes to reduce concentrate use pre-lambing, a forage brassica mix for grazing lambs, and stubble turnips for grazing in November onwards with dairy cross stirks.

SAC Consulting’s Kirsten Williams said: “With the unpredictable climate, and different types and classes of soil in Scotland, not every producer can manage outwintering systems. The four farms we are following have various outwintering systems on different soil types, altitude, and classes of stock, with the main driver to use the land asset and reduce the cost of wintering, while maintaining high welfare and nutrition of the animals.

Kirsten added: “There is huge potential for outwintering systems for livestock in the North East. They offer numerous benefits in that they can reduce the cost of winter feeding and the requirement for housing and straw use, while enhancing the production per hectare from the farm and allowing for nutrient cycling from the animal to the soil. The unpredictable weather patterns do give the systems a challenge, meaning having a contingency plan and careful planning of the site.” Peter Beattie, Monitor Farm regional adviser said: “These farmers have experience of outwintering and forage crops already, but this project will bring more detail and discussion to the topic. It will look at all of the pros and cons, and provide farmers across the North East with a good idea of what might be possible, practical and cost effective on their farms

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.