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.