BOOK – 200 Farmers of Scotland – NOW £20 when ordering direct
Every farmer has a story to tell This book covers the diverse range of Scottish farmers and crofters from those farming the rugged hills of the Highlands to the sandy loams of the Lowlands From owner occupiers, tenant farmers, share farmers, crofters, farm managers, starter farmers, to new entrants, farming from 10 acres to 31 000 acres – the people are as diverse as the landscapes and environment in which they work
Scotland covers 7 8 million hectares, of that 5 7 million or 73% is farmland, or 79% if common grazing is included
This book has photographs of 200 farmers and interviews with 109 from across the country from Orkney to Berwick and Durness to Stranraer within its 288 pages. It is available from the outlets listed opposite or direct from the author.
To order direct: drop an e-mail to Eilidh MacPherson at editor@farmingscotland com or private message on facebook – farmingscotland com for details
AY R S H I R E
AYR – Carrs Billington
DALMELLINGTON – Jet Petrol Station
DALMELLINGTON – Just to Say *
GALSTON – Gibbs of Galston
MAYBOLE – The Coo Shed
TARFF - Dundonald
A R G Y L L S H I R E
CAMPBELTOWN – Old Bookshelf
LOCHGILPHEAD – Harbro
LOCHGILPHEAD – Argyll Book Centre
OBAN – Carrs Billington
F I F E
CUPAR – Cairnie Farm Shop
LEVEN – Blacketyside Farm Shop
ST ANDREWS – J & G Innes Ltd
ST ANDREWS – Balgove Farm Shop
PERTHSHIRE
ABERFELDY – Watermill Bookshop
MILNATHORT – Carrs Billington
PERTH – Carrs Billington
PERTH – Harbro
BORDERS
DUNS – Harbro
EARLSTON – Harbro
HAWICK – Harbro
JEDBURGH – Carrs Billington, Mounthooley
LANGHOLM – Blue Moon
MELROSE – Masons of Melrose *
PEEBLES – Harbro
PEEBLES – Whities
SELKIRK – Carrs Billington
SELKIRK – The Forest Book Shop
ST BOSWELLS – Tarff Valley
STOW – Post Office
ABERDEENSHIRE
FORDOUN – Castleton Farm Shop & Cafe
HUNTLY – Harbro
HUNTLY – Orb Bookshop
INVERURIE – Harbro
MINTLAW – Harbro
TURRIFF – Harbro
HIGHLANDS / MORAY
CORPACH – Harbro
ELGIN – Harbro
GRANTOWN – The Book Mark *
KINGUSSIE – Caberfeidh Bookshop *
NAIRN – Strachans of Nairn
THURSO – Caithness Livestock Breeders *
ANGUS
BLAIRGOWRIE – East of Scotland Farmers
FORFAR – Harbro
KIRRIEMUIR – Peel Farm Shop
ISLANDS
ORKNEY – The Orcadian Bookshop
ORKNEY – Stromeness Books & Prints
SHETLAND – Harbro
ISLE OF BUTE – Print Point
ISLE OF SKYE – McIntyre’s Newsagents
ISLE OF SKYE – Harbro
ISLE OF LEWIS – Lewis Crofters
ISLE OF HARRIS – Harris Tweed, Tarbert
ISLE OF NORTH UIST – Taigh Cheasabhagh
ISLE OF BENBECULA – MacGillivray's *
ISLE OF MULL – Boots & Tackle
ISLE OF ISLAY – C&E Roy, The Celtic House
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
ANNAN – Carrs Billington
BEESWING – Loch Aurthur Farm Shop
CASTLE DOUGLAS – Tarff Valley
CASTLE KENNEDY – Tarff Valley
DUMFRIES – Tarff Valley
DUMFRIES – Kilnford Farm Shop
GLENLUCE – Tarff Valley
MOFFAT – The Moffat Book Shop *
MONIAIVE – Watsons Grocers
NEW GALLOWAY – Cat Strand
RINGFORD – Tarff Valley
ST JOHNS OF DALRY – Post Office & Shop *
THORNHILL – Harbro
WIGTOWN – The Book Shop *
LOTHIAN
BONESS – Inkspot & Silverleaf
DALKEITH – Harbro
HADDINGTON – Kelseys Bookshop
PENICUIK – Carrs Billington
SOUTH QUEENSFERRY – Craigie's Farm Shop & Cafe
LANARKSHIRE
BIGGAR – Atkinson Pryce Bookshop
LANARK – Lawrie & Symington Country Store
CARLUKE – The Oven, Overton Farm Shop
CENTRAL SCOTLAND
BALLOCH – Carrs Billington
BLAIRDRUMMOND – The Smiddy
GARTOCHARN – Post Office
LOCH LOMOND – Auchentullich Farm Shop
STIRLING – Harbro
STIRLING – Carrs Billington
IRELAND
CO ANTRIM, Cushendall – Glens Farm Supplies *
ARMOY, BALLYMONEY – Glens Farm Supplies
BALLYMENA – Glens Farm Supplies
MARTINSTOWN – Glens Farm Supplies
ENGLAND
CARLISLE – Bookends
HARKER – Laings of Harker
KESWICK – Bookcase
LONGTOWN – Tarff Valley
2 8
3 4 3 0
2 0
Eilidh MacPherson
Two of the farmers interviewed for this issue have diversified into tourism as an extra stream of income for the farm On the West, John Angus and Lynda McCusbic on the Isle of Skye have erected a Crofters Cabin and were expecting their first guests a couple of weeks after my visit. They have been fully booked ever since. Just a mile or so off the North 500 route in the Far North of Scotland, hosts for this years Highland Sheep, the Sutherlands of Sibmister Farm have built six luxury pods with hot tubs Named Braeside Retreats, Bespoke Luxury Pods, the Sutherlands were also just about ready for visitors Going by their website bookings are looking promising for a first season
Unfortunately I’ll not make it up to the Highland Sheep event this year as I had previously set dates for hosting an International delegation of Agricultural journalists on a tour of the highlands and Islands before the Highland Sheep date was announced
Teamed with lambing and trying to get this magazine to the printers while organising the above trip, life has been pretty hectic the past few months to say the least I am indebted to the sponsors who have come on board so far: RHASS, APB, M&S, Diageo, Cairngroms National Park, Stagecoach for providing a bus free of charge, Blackface Breeders, Dingwall & Highland Marts, Harris Distillery, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, NFU Mutual, QMS, JTCP, West Harris Trust, British Guild of Agricultural Journalists and George Campbell Haulage
On the farm we have enjoyed wonderful weather over lambing, making it an enjoyable experience and less stressful than some years We did have a busy spell as the majority lambed in the first turn
Show season is nearly upon us, with out local show – Carsphairn – the first Saturday in June, followed by Straiton, Ayrshire the week after Then it is the Highland Show Our area is manning the Blackface Sheep stand this year, so looking for a few more volunteers to help out Richard is judging the Blackfaces at Aberfeldy this year so look forward to visiting a new show for us
SRUC recruits 120 practices in BVD Campaign
Nearly £6 million in funding has been allocated to vets in England as part of a campaign to tackle a highly contagious cattle disease
The £5 7 million Stamp It Out initiative was launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) last summer in a bid to eradicate Bovine Vial Diarrhoea (BVD)
Within six months the project – which is being delivered by SAC Consulting, part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) – has recruited 120 veterinary practices across England to offer the programme to farmers on the ground
"To have allocated all of the money only six months into delivery is fantastic," said Neil Carter of SAC Consulting
"It shows that the industry has a real desire to control and eradicate the disease from our national herd "
BVD costs UK farmers an estimated £61 million a year in lost performance Under the Stamp It Out scheme, funded by the Rural Development
AProgramme for England (RDPE), farmers can access up to £530 of their vet's time to investigate the disease both on a one-to-one basis or through a series of cluster meetings with like-minded keepers
They can also access £61 80 for preliminary testing work, and up to £440 where there is evidence of persistently infected animals
Vets who have signed up to the scheme have made a commitment to engage 8000 farmers in active BVD control by 2020 – with 3000 signed up so far
A further 2000 farmers have asked to join the BVDFree England initiative, an industry-led scheme, which will take the momentum generated by Stamp It Out and continue with the ambition to eradicate BVD in England
"My advice for farmers is to speak to your vet to find out whether they have signed up already," said Neil. “Any vets contacting us to get involved from now on will be put on a waiting list, and we will wait and see if any vets already engaged
struggle to sign up their clients On current experience, though, vets have come back asking for more funding rather than less "
A Defra spokesperson said: "Nearly £6 million of funding has already been allocated as part of the Stamp It Out initiative, highlighting that our vets clearly understand the need to eradicate this damaging disease
"Bovine Viral Diarrhoea has a real impact on productivity, cattle health and welfare and can carry significant costs for farmers We are pleased that we have been able to provide this funding for farmers to get help in tackling BVD and reducing their costs and anti-microbial use "
Gow of BVDFree England, said: "The RDPE funding has been a great investment; as shown by the positive engagement of vets and farmers alike
This has increased registrations with BVDFree England by 176%
"BVDFree is continuing to work closely with SAC Consulting to continue this success and to help make BVD eradication a reality "
New Support Service for Organic Conversion
support service has been launched to provide free advice and technical guidance to organic farmers and those considering organic conversion
The Organic Advice, Support and Information Service (OASIS) has been developed collaboratively by independent farm consultancy Abacus Agriculture and OF&G (Organic Farmers and Growers), who certify over half the organic land in the UK
With 60 years ’ experience in the sector Abacus Agriculture and OF&G are aiming to help farmers decide whether organic conversion is right for their farm business, as well as providing existing organic farmers with the latest management and technical guidance
Ian Knight, director at Abacus Agriculture, says a key objective of OASIS is to encourage farmers to carefully consider organic as a viable and sustainable option for future prosperity “It’s
Tabout making the conversion process a success and reducing commercial risk
“Many producers and growers we speak to question whether organic is right for their business and want to know more about what it takes to successfully convert We’ve created OASIS to help answer some of these fundamental questions, allowing farmers to assess whether the changes required to become certified organic could suit their farm ”
‘OASIS’ new website offers accurate information about organic conversion, says Mr Knight “We have a simple self-assessment questionnaire to help farmers decide if it’s the right choice, along with a step-by-step guide to aid successful conversion Technical resources are also available for existing organic farmers, to keep up-to-date with the latest research ”
Alongside the website, OASIS has a helpline to a team of advisors that farmers can call “Qualified
Key Role of SRUC Highlighted
he importance of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) to the current and future needs of the country's economy has been highlighted at a parliamentary reception
John Swinney, Deputy First Minister for Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, was the keynote speaker at the Holyrood event hosted by Emma Harper MSP on behalf of SRUC
He said: "We want our young people, who are the future of our rural communities, to stay and flourish in those communities, equipped with the skills and confidence they need to access high quality educational and employment opportunities
"SRUC is a lead provider of learning and teaching in rural skills and qualifications and an important contributor to research in support of the rural economy Alongside other strategic partners and employers, they are ideally placed to be involved in actions to strengthen knowledge around rural skills gaps and to support scientific advances to meet the current and future needs of Scotland's rural economy "
SRUC is in the process of becoming a new rural enterprise university – a move that could lead to a £4 5 billion boost to the Scottish economy according to a report published by BiGGAR
Economics earlier this month
Professor Wayne Powell, Chief Executive and Principal of SRUC, said: "This would not just be another university, not just 'number 19' in a prestigious list, but a unique and valuable addition to the Scottish landscape with a clear contribution to make
"A rural university offers a global outlook for Scotland but is connected to the local rural landscape, helping translate and transfer knowledge into practice that benefits the domestic economy. It helps to stimulate productivity and economic growth through developing skills, harnessing innovation and encouraging enterprise "
The college's progressive research, teaching and industrial partnerships were brought to life at the event, which was attended by a range of educational and rural enterprise organisations
Guests were able to sample food and drinks products produced by businesses supported by SRUC, view interactive soil exhibits demonstrating the impact on agricultural yield and hear first-hand from students who have changed their career paths to study at the college
The event also highlighted partnerships between SRUC, the Moredun Research Institute and James Hutton Institute
consultants are on hand to provide additional advice and talk through any queries If organic production seems feasible, there’s then the option to purchase an advisory package, which includes a farm visit to consider feasibility and to develop an organic conversion plan ”
Steven Jacobs, business development manager at OF&G, says there’s huge opportunity for organic in the UK and globally
“The UK organic market has grown at around 5% year-on-year for the past eight years and as a regenerative food production system it provides a viable business option for many But conversion is a significant commitment. It can take around two or three years and the decision to switch must be backed up by sound economic sense
“We encourage anyone thinking about converting part or all of their farm to organic to visit the OASIS website or to call the helpline for advice,” concludes Mr Jacobs
Photos this Issue:
Page 5 – Donna MacKenzie - Editor
Page 7 – Supplied
Page 8 – Supplied
Page 10 – Supplied (top)
Page 11 - Supplied
Page 16/17 – Castleton
Page 18/19 – Chris McCullough
Page 20/22 – Cairnton
Page 22 – Left & bottom - Katie Reid
Page 29 – AHDB
Page 32/33 – Supplied
Page 34 – Hugh Stringleman
Page 36/37 – Petra Jacob
Page 38 – Supplied
BSAS 2019 Conference
Scientists from across the world will gather in Scotland's capital from 9-11 April to discuss the latest advancements in animal science at the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) 75th anniversary conference
Global experts from as far afield as Australia have been invited to discuss the pioneering technologies shaping the future of animal production Professor David Raubenheimer, a renowned nutritional ecologist from Sydney University with 25 years of experience in the sector, will present a headline lecture on the critical roles of specific appetites in animal and human nutrition
Held at Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), the three-day event, entitled 'Fit for the Future', will focus on the challenges and opportunities animal science - and those working in the sector - face in trying to feed a growing world population with fewer resources, as well as identifying ways to meet the world's challenges
Another keynote speaker is Dr Hannah van Zanten from the Netherland's Wageningen University's Animal Productions Systems group, who will share her topical insight into the role of farm animals in the circular food system and the pathways available for sustainable production and consumption of animal-sourced food
Maggie Mitchell, Chief Executive of the British Society of Animal Science, commented: "We are very much looking forward to welcoming delegates to Edinburgh for the 75th BSAS Annual Conference for a truly global celebration of the innovation and progress that has been made in animal science over the last 75 years
"A fantastic programme of seminars and international speakers has been organised across the three days, covering a range of sectors and species Seasoned animal scientists and students alike are encouraged to attend for what promises to be an educational and progressive course of
discussions surrounding the future of animal science "
Numerous celebrated scientists will give invaluable insights into a diverse range of topics Speakers from industry will also discuss subjects ranging from animal behaviour, the economics of animal welfare and the adoption of new technology in livestock production
As well as a comprehensive list of influential speakers, there will also be species-specific sessions including pig, sheep and equine, as well as workshops on aquaculture, companion and zoo animals, nutrition and young stock A full list of speakers and information about purchasing tickets can be found at https://bsas org uk/BSAS2019
Researchers from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) have been awarded £260 000 for two follow-up projects investigating sustainable land use in Colombia
Professor Andrew Barnes, Head of SRUC's Rural Economy, Environment and Society Department and economist Hernan Degiovanni have won funding to continue helping Colombian farmers move towards alternative land use
The South American country faces the dual challenge of climate change and overcoming a 50-year legacy of insurgency by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC ) – a rural guerrilla organisation
Funded by the RCUK-CIAT Newton Fund in Sustainable Tropical Agriculture, the projects build on a successful first year with a further two years of work examining post-conflict agricultural development within Colombia
The first project, led by the University of Reading, focuses on developing heat-tolerant bean varieties for future climate change scenarios and supporting participatory breeding strategies in collaboration with farmers and ex-combatants in post-conflict zones
The second project, led by the University of Bristol, is looking at strategies for scaling up silvopastural systems for Colombian beef farmers, which increase overall productivity and long-term income through the simultaneous production of tree crops, forage and livestock
Both projects involve collaboration with researchers at CIAT (the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture) in Colombia and SRUC
SRUC researchers are providing economic and behavioural modelling expertise, by conducting experiments to understand farmers' perceptions of risk and their preferences for different crop traits
Prof Barnes said: "Colombia is a rapidly developing country and these projects will provide long-term impact for policy and society in Latin America
"This also further emphasises the increasing international role that social and economic sciences within SRUC are playing within the research and policy landscape "
SRUC Success at Lantra Awards
Students from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) swept the board in four categories at Lantra Scotland's Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year awards
Eight trainees and apprentices, from SRUC's Oatridge and Barony campuses, walked away with both the winner and runner-up awards in the horticulture, trees and timber, land-based engineering and animal care categories, with a further five awards in other categories
The awards ceremony, which was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dunblane Hydro on Thursday 7 March, was hosted by Perthshire farmer and stand-up comedian Jim Smith – a former student at SRUC's Craibstone campus in Aberdeen Horticulture Learner of the Year winner Tyler Tovie, who did an SVQ at SRUC's Oatridge
Scampus while working at Jupiter Artland, said: "It's more than a dream come true It has given a boost to my passion for horticulture "
Lauren Attwood, who did a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing with Struthers and Scott and SRUC, won the new Animal Care Learner of the Year category, introduced for the first time this year
"It was lovely to see vet nursing being included this year," she said "It's the best job in the world "
Other winners included Kyle Baker, who has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber with the Falkland Stewardship Trust; Don Martin, who is working at HRN Tractors and doing an NC in Land-based Engineering; and Luke Taylor, who has been studying Environmental Conservation and Rural Skills while working with the West Lothian Council
Mega Deal for Graham’s
cotland’s biggest independent milk producer, Graham’s The Family Dairy, has entered into a new five-year partnership with ALDI
The investment, which extends the retailer ’ s existing long-term partnership with Graham’s, will see fresh Scottish milk continue to be supplied to all 85 stores across Scotland in a deal worth approximately £55 million The deal is part of ALDI’s wider commitment to supporting Scottish farmers and sourcing high quality local produce
Based in Bridge of Allan in Stirlingshire, Graham’s has been working with ALDI since 2010 supplying stores across Scotland and the UK with a range of products, including Skyr yoghurt, Cottage Cheese and Quark In Scotland, Graham’s also supplies ALDI with fresh Scottish milk, butter, natural yoghurt, and cultured creams Robert Graham, Managing Director at Grahams The Family Dairy, said: “Since 2010, we have enjoyed a close working relationship with ALDI and are delighted to have agreed a new five year deal to extend this partnership to the end of 2023.
“Long term thinking, being innovative and fast
to market is important to our family business, all qualities which ALDI share This is the largest contract we have agreed to date and is worth roughly £55 million over the five-year period It is also very positive news for our farming partners and around 700 colleagues across Scotland.
“We look forward to continuing to build and grow our already strong relationship with ALDI, both in Scotland and across the UK, to deliver exceptional quality Scottish dairy products to consumers ”
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director ALDI Scotland commented: “This new five-year deal with Graham’s the Family Dairy will allow ALDI to continue to stock milk sourced from local farms in all our Scottish stores This deal forms part of ALDI’s ongoing commitment to Scottish farmers and the Scottish dairy industry, which forms an integral part of our supply chain
“Scottish milk and dairy products are among the highest quality in the world, and we hope that by working closely with local farms it will help sustain and grow this vital industry ”
Ranger Service
Erica Taylor, a Modern Apprentice in Agriculture at JG Orr Ltd, picked up a CARAS (Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies) Award and Toni Lamont ¸ who has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Rural Skills with the North Ayrshire Ranger Service, won the Tam Tod Trophy – awarded in association with Countryside Learning Scotland to an outstanding young learner
Runner-up awards went to Calum Melrose (horticulture), Jack Burton (trees and timber) Lauryn Penman (equine), Louise Main (agriculture), Stuart Hynds (animal care) and William Muir (land-based engineering)
David Hopkins, Dean of SRUC's Central Faculty, said: "It was a great evening of celebration for SRUC students, who excelled with seven outright winners and six runners-up, covering agriculture, horticulture, vet nursing, engineering, forestry and equine studies
Anew report finds that concentrated land ownership is having significant impacts on communities across rural Scotland
Addressing Scotland’s Pattern of Land Ownership Award for Dr Laura Boyle
The Scottish Land Commission report, titled Investigation into the issues associated with Large Scale and Concentrated Land Ownership in Scotland It is published alongside a set of Recommendations to Scottish Government Ministers, who had asked the Commission to examine these issues
Representing the most substantial investigation conducted into the impacts of this issue, the report is based on robust evidence about rural land ownership that shows how the concentration of social, economic and decision-making power s ignificantly impacts communities across rural Scotland
The report follows a call for evidence by the Commission last year, for anyone with experience of living or working in parts of Scotland where most of the land is owned by a small number of people, to share their experiences
More than 407 people, from landowners and land managers to community representatives and individuals, submitted evidence The main findings in today's evidence report are that:
• Most of the disadvantages associated with Scotland's current pattern of land ownership relate to a concentration of social, economic and decision-making power, not simply the size of landholdings
• The advantages identified relate mainly to potential economies of scale
• In some parts of Scotland, concentrated ownership hampers economic development and causes serious and long-term harm to the communities affected
• The problems are not associated exclusively with any particular type of landowner – the Commission found a consistent pattern of evidence relating to land owned across the private, public, NGO and community sectors
• There are issues to address beyond ownership, specifically a lack of effective participation in land use change decisions
• The pattern of market and social power in concentrated land ownership, has parallels with monopoly power in other sectors of the economy
• There is – currently – little or no method of redress for communities or individuals, where there are adverse economic or social impacts
Speaking about the report, Hamish Trench, CEO of The Scottish Land Commission said, "Concern about the impacts of concentrated land ownership in Scotland has long been central to the land reform debate This evidence report allows us to move on from debating whether ownership is an issue, to understanding what the issues are and how they can be addressed
"The evidence we have collected shows clearly
that it is the concentration of power associated with land ownership, rather than necessarily the scale of landholding, that has a significant impact on the public interest, for example in relation to economic opportunities, housing and community development
"Good management can of course reduce the risks associated with the concentration of power and decision making, but the evidence shows that adverse impacts are causing significant detriment to the communities affected This points to the need for systemic change beyond simply a focus on good management " Recommendations
Informed directly by the evidence that has been gathered, the Commission is making initial recommendations to address the adverse effects identified and to stimulate a more productive, diverse and dynamic pattern of rural land ownership
Recommended statutory changes include:
• Public interest test for significant land transfer
• Requirement for a management plan
• Statutory Land Rights and Responsibilities Review
Other recommendations include:
• Promoting more diverse private ownership to help achieve land reform objectives
• Local engagement in land use change
The Commission recommends the introduction of a public interest test and approval mechanism at the point of significant land transfer, an obligation for larger land holdings to engage on and publish a management plan and a review mechanism to address adverse impacts on communities where normal responsible management approaches are not effective
Speaking about the recommendations, Hamish Trench said, "The reforms we propose are a first step to address the significant issues identified in the evidence and move towards a more diverse and dynamic pattern of land ownership
"Some of these reforms will require legislative change and in the short term we have identified the need for stronger leadership within the land ownership sectors to address the risk and impacts identified and implement a programme of land rights and responsibilities good practice
"These reforms seek to address the issues of concentrated land ownership using ways that are normal in other countries and economic sectors It is common in international practice to have some form of approval measures at point of land transaction and we are also used to regulating the concentration of market power and monopoly positions in other sectors of the economy "
The Commission is to engage widely with stakeholders and the public on the findings of the evidence, its implications and their recommendations, through a series of events and public meetings culminating in a land reform conference in October 2019
Dr Laura Boyle, Senior Research Officer at Teagasc, has been announced as the recipient of the 2019 British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) award for Innovative Development in Animal Welfare, which will be presented at the upcoming BSAS Annual Conference taking place in Edinburgh from 9-11 April
The award, introduced jointly by the BSAS and the RSPCA, is being presented to Dr Boyle in recognition of her long-standing research into the welfare of dairy cattle and pigs and her contribution to developing carcass lesions as indicators of pig welfare
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the award, first given in 1989 It brought animal welfare to the forefront at a time when it had yet to receive widespread acknowledgement in the scientific community Today, the award continues to challenge conventional thought, with the hugely topical issue of animal sentience lying at the centre of the work of the 2018 award recipient, Professor Bob Elwood
Dr Boyle has been a passionate researcher and advocate for livestock welfare for almost 25 years, focusing her efforts on the welfare of dairy cows and pigs in particular as well as on ethics in animal research She organised the successful 'Challenges in Scientific Research with Large Animals' session at the 2018 Dublin BSAS Annual Conference and is the principal organiser of a forthcoming international conference on animal welfare in Ireland in 2020
Speaking about her award, Dr Boyle said: "I am honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award I hope to use the recognition it affords me to progress both the science and the cause of animal welfare in Ireland and abroad. In an era of increasingly polarised views about animal production I'm particularly keen to use my background in agriculture and animal welfare to bridge the gap between farmers and society "
This year's BSAS Annual Conference will be an educational look at what the animal science industry can do to ensure it is "Fit for the Future "
A thought-provoking programme of sessions is planned for across the three-day event, covering a range of topics from equine care to aquaculture
An international line-up of speakers will also feature, showcasing a variety of industry experts speaking on the developments being made in the animal science sector today
Three industry organisations have joined forces to launch a brand new field-based arable event for Scotland
Arable Scotland, which is jointly organised by AHDB, the James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), will take place at Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie on 2 July
The event aims to bring together the key players in food production from farmers to distillers and exporters to demonstrate and discuss key industry issues such innovative and sustainable farming While all Scottish arable crops will feature, this year ’ s event will focus particularly on spring barley for its markets Future Arable Scotland events will major on other crops and alternative markets and will track new innovations over several years
On average over 250 000 hectares of Scotland’s arable land is devoted to the production of spring barley, much of which will be used as a base for malt whisky, while a significant chunk will be used
Growing Champions in the Next Generation of Pickers
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has created a new induction video to help growers develop skills in their fruit-picking workforce
To increase productivity and reduce accidents at work, important simple techniques and safety tips for soft fruit pickers are covered in the ‘Becoming a Champion’ video, which has been translated into seven languages – as well as English – to meet the needs of the diverse horticultural workforce
Available online for the first time, the video can be used by growers as part of an induction package and shared with staff as they begin working with crops
Experienced grower and productivity expert, Chris Rose, said: “Research has shown that a 20 per cent saving in labour costs becomes achievable by developing champion performers. One of the key building blocks in achieving that performance and increased level of productivity is to provide
as animal feed Growing spring barley for whisky isn’t always easy, but it does pay off, with farmers paid a premium for a high-quality crop
Although barley is a mainstay in Scottish arable rotations, it needs to be profitable and sustainable, something very much a focus of the event
Visitors to Arable Scotland will be taken on a whistle-stop tour of a core set of innovation focused field plots, as well as having the chance to visit a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibitors, field-based demonstrations and trials and tours of the Centre for Sustainable Cropping Platform
Professor Adrian Newton, senior cereal pathologist at the James Hutton Institute, said: “We wanted to create a really exciting new event, which will pull together the entire arable industry allowing them to learn from one another “Collaboration really will become even more vital in the future, for organisations like ourselves, but also for farmers, processors, researchers; the entire supply chain We need to ensure that we are growing the right varieties for the right markets, that we are protected from the most damaging diseases, and that we are producing high-quality, efficient, resilient crops while minimising our
Brand New Arable Event for Scotland
environmental impact
The event will host a number of ‘Arable Conversations’ focusing on new entrants, sustainable agriculture, future crop production and grain markets These sessions will see industry experts introducing the issues involved before inviting the audience to participate in an open discussion
Claire Hodge, senior knowledge exchange manager, AHDB, said: “With the Arable Conversations we were keen to avoid simply informing people about a subject we felt was important Instead we want to encourage them to share their experiences so we can jointly guide industry forward That’s what these sessions are all about However, we know not everyone is comfortable speaking out at these types of open sessions so they will also be able to text questions or comments which can then be shared with the group ”
This year ’ s demonstration plots are focused on four key areas or ‘ zones ’ in the field – innovative breeding, quality crops for defined markets, innovative crop management and sustainable farming systems As well as featuring on regular tours throughout the day, visitors will also be able to speak directly to the companies and researchers who have set up the demos
Professor Fiona Burnett, plant pathologist at SRUC, said: “This year ’ s event will feature an incredible range of crops and management techniques including intercropping, crop protection, innovative varieties, technological solutions and novel crops We hope that they showcase to growers potential new avenues they could explore which will help make them more productive, profitable and sustainable in future ”
The event is also supported by the Farm Advisory Service, SEFARI, the Scottish Society for Crop Research, H L Hutchinsons and the Scottish Farmer It is part of AHDB’s Arable Connections series which is supporting a number of events across the UK this summer, for more information please visit ahdb org uk/arableconnections2019
To register to attend Arable Scotland on 2 July please use the booking link –www as-2019 eventbrite co uk
workers with access to a simple induction programme
“The Champion Pickers video demonstrates exactly what best practice means when harvesting valuable crops including strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, empowering workers to collectively deliver superb results We need to care for our labour and our workforce in the same way as we do our crops; starting colleagues off in the business with a solid induction gives them the nutrients to support long-term commercial growth ”
Access to affordable and quality labour is currently a serious challenge for UK horticulture, so developing and retaining staff is essential
AHDB Horticulture Knowledge Exchange Manager, Scott Raffle, added: “Starting out in a new job can be daunting for fruit pickers, who may not only be new to the business, but also a new resident in the country Once growers have attracted staff, it is important to inspire them to
stay and do their best while they work
“When workers first enter the business they generally want to do well to impress their boss and set the building blocks for a potential pay rise or a promotion in the future When they have that motivation, the Becoming a Champion video provides clarity on what delivering fruit-picking best practice means in real terms Additionally, so that language isn’t a barrier to learning those key skills – we ’ ve translated the new video into different languages including Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian and Russian – before the growing season gets in full swing ”
The Becoming a Champion Fruit Picker video, which is an update to earlier iterations only available as a DVD is now available free online here: ahdb org uk/knowledge-library/ champion-picker
For more information on health and safety in the horticultural workplace, a video is also available online: https://youtu be/NyGUgeL6rPo
New Buyer Bonus at Premier Hereford Sale
Asale steeped in tradition, the Hereford Cattle Society’s premier spring show and sale will this year see a slight change to usual proceedings, with £1500 bull buyer bonus up for grabs
Held at Hereford Market on Monday 15 April 2019, the Society are putting forward £1000 to be split equally between the buyer and vendor of the top price bull, and £500 for the second highest price bull to be shared under the same arrangement
Last year ’ s spring sale at Hereford was a record breaker with a record bull average set at £4321.15, topping at 8200gns for Romany 1 Poseidon BL P5 from JRB Wilson and sons, Kelso
This year ’ s sale is set to be no different with 62 bulls entered, with many coming from award winning herds and some of the most well regarded breeders from across the UK There will also be 62 pedigree females on offer
The show, which is always a spectacle, will commence at 9am and will be followed by the sale at 12:30pm
Hereford Cattle Society breed secretary, David Deakin, said: “The Hereford is most certainly a breed with a rising popularity, largely due to its management benefits, including its docility and easy-calving, but also its superior meat qualities which are widely regarded and as such, supported
Protecting Animal Health
Anew £1 6M centre for animal disease surveillance and research means faster, more reliable and more efficient diagnoses of livestock animal diseases for the whole of Scotland. Based near Edinburgh, the new Scotland’s Rural College Veterinary and Analytical Laboratory expects to analyse more than a million samples a year
Diagnosing disease faster has the potential to improve response times to potential outbreaks to safeguard both animal and human health and protect the food chain
Opened by Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, the new Laboratory brings together new technology, robotics and human expertise to create a centre for excellence in animal disease surveillance and testing Thanks to investment in new equipment and faster processes, more tests can be carried out Longer tests, which involve culturing bacteria, can now be done in under two days rather than six The SRUC Veterinary and Analytical Laboratory
is based at the Moredun Research Institute at the Pentlands Science Park in Midlothian The laboratory brings together SRUC’s diagnostic and analytical teams from the Lothians – as well as Perthshire and the Borders – into a single centre for the first time It creates a closer working relationship between SRUC and the Moredun Research Institute It is at the centre of a strategic partnership between SRUC and Moredun to advance livestock health, welfare production, disease surveillance and resilience through joint research
The Scottish Government has supported the creation of the new lab through a low-cost loan from the Scottish Funding Council’s Financial Transactions Programme
Ms Gougeon said: “The new SRUC central laboratory will enhance veterinary surveillance in Scotland and will create a centre of excellence at the Moredun Institute, further strengthening Scotland’s capacity and expertise in animal health The laboratory will help to protect and develop
by a number of national retailers via branded beef schemes
“I look forward to welcoming visitors to Hereford Market for our spring show and sale and wish the best of luck to both vendors and buyers alike ”
our valuable livestock sector and the contribution it makes to the rural economy, I look forward to seeing how this work progresses in the future ”
Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “Animal health is a cornerstone of a thriving rural economy and the new SRUC Veterinary and Analytical Laboratory offers a step-change in disease surveillance for the whole of the country Working with the excellent team at the Moredun Institute, this centre of excellence offers us new opportunities for research and collaboration Partnerships like ours are the future of rural technology research for Scotland ” Martin Fairbairn, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “The new centre and the partnership between SRUC and the Moredun Research Institute is very good news for the rural sector in Scotland The Scottish Funding Council’s support for the new laboratory underlines our commitment to cutting edge research and innovation as an essential part of Scotland’s future prosperity ”
University of Birmingham experts have worked with one of the world's biggest railway rolling stock companies to develop the first-ever shipping container using materials that store and release cold energy
Using phase change material (PCM), Birmingham scientists and their counterparts at CRRC Shijiazhuang, in China, have developed a 'refrigerated' truck-to-train container that is easier and more efficient to operate than conventional equipment
Once 'charged', PCM inside the container which can be transferred from train to truck and vice versa, can keep the inside temperature between 5-12 ˚C for up to 120 hours The technology has recently completed commercial trials carrying real goods for 35 000 kilometres of road and 1000 kms of rail transport across different climate zones
Professor Yulong Ding, Director of Birmingham Energy Storage Centre, who led the research at Birmingham, commented: "Energy storage is an area of world-leading expertise at the University of
Birmingham and cold chain technologies research is one of the most important topics at our Centre for Energy Storage.
"We have developed a productive collaboration with CRRC Shijiazhuang and this innovative technology marks the beginning of developing an efficient and economic rail & road freight cold chain
"We are proud to contribute to the development of safe and clean low carbon energy technologies in China and beyond, which will ultimately help us to reduce the energy burden on our planet and tackle climate change "
Cooling is essential to modern society, which already causes twice the global greenhouse emissions of shipping and aviation combined with the cold chain being a significant cause of pollution Increasing demand for cooling will result in spiralling energy usage with a potentially disastrous environmental impact, if left unchecked
"Without ambitious intervention, research
shows that energy demand from cooling could increase five-fold by 2050, putting an increased pressure on global energy resources," said Professor Ding "How the world meets its demand for cooling could have a major impact on climate change and air pollution "
Several cold chain logistics companies in China have expressed strong interest in the container, which provides a more stable temperature, compared with the mechanical units and hence a higher quality of goods at the destination It does not need a power supply during its journey making transfer between road and rail easier The container's location and temperature can also be monitored in real time using mobile communication technologies.
Founded in 1905, the CRRC Shijiazhuang Co Ltd is China's largest railway truck maintenance company and rail vehicle air-conditioning equipment manufacturer It is also striving to become a major manufacturer of new energy vehicles in China
NZ TEAM FOR FRANCE NEW ENTRANT SCH EME
Hot favourites Rowland Smith and Joel Henare successfully defended the two major titles at the 59th Golden Shears international shearing and woolhandling championships in Masterton.
Smith, 32, won the Open shearing title for a 6th time, equalling the tally of early-years Golden Shears household name Brian Snow Quinn, who won five times from 1965 to 1972, while Henare, 27, won a record 7th Open woolhandling title, all of them in a row
Smith won top spot to shear in the team at the World Championships in France in July, but Henare missed his chance to defend his World title when he was eliminated in the semi-final of a selection series The first two placegetters Pagan Karauria, of Alexandra and Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape, won places in the team
The 2017 World teams champions, Nathan Stratford, of Invercargill and individual champion John Kirkpatrick, of Pakipaki in Hawke's Bay, were second and third in the shearing final but got a second chance at New Zealand championships in Te Kuiti where the second machine shearing representative will be decided
Bladeshearers Tony Dobbs, of Fairlie, and Allan Oldfield, of Geraldine, will also compete at the championships
In other events, Australian team Daniel McIntyre, Jason Wingfield and Callum O'Brien beat Kiwis Smith, John Kirkpatrick and Nathan Stratford in a transtasman test, while Masterton shearer Paerata Abraham claimed a place in next season ' s transtasman team after winning the PGG Wrightson Wool National Circuit final
TAhe British Wool scheme launched last year, designed to support producers who have recently entered the industry has been launched once again ahead of the 2019 season
The scheme sees eligible producers receive 100% of their clip value as an upfront payment for their first two years, along with a priority wool in-take and grading service through British Wool’s comprehensive nationwide depot network Producers will then transition on to the standard payment scheme over the next three years by way of adjusted balancing payments so that, over the life of the 5 year scheme, new entrants receive the same cash as they would have done had they been on the standard payment scheme throughout that period
Eligible new entrants will receive their wool payments as follows:
· Year 1 – the advance payment will be set to 100% of the prior year ’ s clip value
Year 2 – the advance payment will be set to 100% of the prior year ’ s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year
· Year 3 – the advance payment will be set to 75% of the prior year ’ s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year
Year 4 – the advance payment will be set to 50% of the prior year ’ s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year.
Year 5 onwards – the advance payment will be set to 25% of the prior year ’ s clip value plus / minus any balance from the previous year
Year 6 onwards – payments will be in line with all other British Wool registered producers.
A producer that has already seen benefits from the British Wool scheme is Stuart Neish, Farm Manager for the Cowhill Trust Estate, near Thornhill in Dumfriesshire, who invested in sheep for the first time in 2018 As Farm Manager, Stuart runs a flock of 680 Suffolk Crosses and Mule Ewes: “When I saw the scheme, I felt it was ideal both for me and the farm as it was aimed specifically at
group of four past Peebleshire Junior Agricultural Club members have been working hard over the past year to compile a 164-page book commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Club
Jennifer Kennedy along with Claire Dickson, Sheena Edgar and Jennifer Jeffery have gathered photographs and stories from 1945 to the present day “We have between 65-70 stories and photographs dating back to 1945 Catherine Laird’s auntie left a photo album, naming everyone in the photos from 1945,” commented Jennifer Kennedy, who met her husband Angus of Mitchellhill Farm through the Young Farmers Association
“Angus was Chairman, Sheena Edgar was secretary and I was treasurer at the time
“We have printed five hundred copies and are selling them at the 75th Anniversary Ball on the 25th of May, Peebles Show and other events ”
The book also lists all the Chairmen, secretaries and treasurers over the years They cost £10 and £2 for postage If you would like to buy a book or attend the Ball please get in touch of any of these ladies mentioned above or any present day Peebles Young Farmer
The photo right shows the front cover to the right and the back to the left, before it hit the printer
new entrants I contacted British Wool, described our new sheep enterprise and quickly realised this was something we should take advantage of. Financial support is always very important when you are just starting out and what attracted me was knowing that we would get the return on our wool immediately ”
“Our first shearing here at the Cowhill Trust Estate was early in the season, during June The sheep clipped well and the wool was sent to the British Wool depot in Galashiels ”
Stuart is encouraged by British Wool’s commitment to supporting the industry and his advice to other new entrants is to ‘ grasp the opportunity’ as there are no costs to it
Joe Farren, CEO said “Investing in the future of the industry is an essential part of our strategy, and we want to play a key role in encouraging young farmers into the industry The response last year demonstrated the demand from such a scheme with in excess of 500 producers benefitting which represented over 100,000 kg of wool delivered. I urge anyone that’s new to the industry to make contact so you can also benefit from this important scheme ”
“Through this initiative we hope to appeal to young farmers’ to market their wool through us, and thus safeguard the long term future of British Wool for the benefit of all our members Eligible producers will be paid exactly the same prices as all other British Wool producers This is purely an early years ’ cash flow support scheme.”
In order to be eligible for the scheme a producer must not have previously been registered with British Wool and have kept sheep for fewer than 5 years Full details of the scheme and an application form is available from www.britishwool org uk
Kiwi-born Shearer Shatters World Merino Record in Australia
New Zealand-born shearer Lou Brown has put in the quickest-ever day of Merino shearing to smash a World record, which has withstood at least four other attempts since it was set 16 years ago
The 31-year-old Brown, based in Bunbury, south of Perth, but raised in Napier till he crossed the Tasman at the age of 13, shore 497 Merino ewes in eight hours in a woolshed near Kojonup in West Australia on Saturday
He averaged just under 58 seconds a sheep No record attempt has previously averaged under a minute on Merino ewes or wethers His tally was 31 more than the previous record of 466 set by fellow Kiwi Cartwright Terry in a two-stand record with brother Michael James Terry in 2003, also in West Australia
It was also just 33 shy of New Zealand shearer Stacey Te Huia's nine-hour record of 530 set in New South Wales four years ago and was regarded as one of the greatest tally shears in Australian woolshed history
Brown was always well ahead of the target, with successive two-hour runs of 120, 126, 126 and 125, which compared with runs of 114, 119, 118 and 115 shorn by Cartwright Terry, who along with his brother was prominent in the running of Saturday's challenge.
Another stalwart in the staging of the record was Dwayne Black, who holds the eight-hour Merino lamb shearing record of 570 and the nine-hour record of 664, both set in 2004
The standard of shearing was monitored by an international panel of four judges appointed by the World Sheep Shearing Records Society, headed by Northern Hawke's Bay farmer Bart Hadfield, who will also judge at the World shearing and wool handling championships in France in July
It was with surprise that Elle, as we know her, asked me to write a bit about NZ Farming
Though I have never been to Scotland, like so many of farmers in NZ, we have ties from the early days of people looking for the big opportunity in another land Many of our ancestors came from Scotland due to the farming connection and were quoted as the best shepherds in early days.
I have farmed all my life and am a third generation Manager (that's my spiel) because we have never owned any land and now it would be a small miracle to do so!
I have farmed sheep, cattle and deer and managed or stock managed six properties – many of them being hill country in the bottom half of the South Island in spectacular scenery particularly around Lake Wanaka and Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, which are world-renowned.
I am married to Sharon and we have a daughter Kerri (19) who is in her second year of nursing
I am currently in between jobs having just finished at a Station in the Matukituki Valley Wanaka. It is a spectacular valley with very steep faces basically straight down to valley floor with sheep grazing to 7000 ft in summer It is on the edge of The Southern Alps and a World Heritage Park in Mt Aspiring (2nd highest in NZ, 10033ft) National Park
It is a high rainfall area with around 800mm1000mm at the bottom end of the Station up to 1600-1800mm at other end – only 15km apart The Station covers 6200ha all in one parcel of land. Summers can be dry and hot with some lambs being sold store in dry years otherwise finished to 18 5kg/carcass weight They are Perendale ewes with some Texel being introduced
The 8000 ewes scan around 175% mixed age, 165% two tooth’s and hoggs 45kg and above 108% for 21 days, mating about 1000
The 650 Hereford Angus cross cows including R2s calve around 88-92% Everything calves outside pretty much unattended.
We have had a fantastic year as far as growth just about all over NZ; with the traditional dry areas less 500mm annually having the best years they can ever remember The wetter areas received too much rain late spring early summer, which caused problems getting early silage made
Johnny Templeton Matukituki Valley, Wanaka
South Island New Zealand
and establishing winter feed crops, on which we are very dependent in NZ systems
This caused some people to have lighter lambs, calves and adult stock all summer and late autumn due to poor quality and excessive feed grown over summer Just unreal!
On the up side this coincided with probably the best prices and demand we have seen. Some of this is driven by the ever present procurement wars we see over stock from meat processors, (oops they have a modern name now but can’t remember it!) in NZ with an over supply of capacity and a falling of stock numbers, due to several factors. Dairying, horticulture, viticulture and urban sprawl are now incredible around major cities and even larger towns
It appears we are starting to see the demand for food world wide that they talked about fifteen years ago, but the word here is now we are not going to feed the world we are going to feed those who can afford a good product
Also the drought in Australia, which doesn't impact our meat exports but does have a effect on fine wool production Merino and Half Bred (made up of Merino X) all coming in micron wise from Ultra Fine of 12 5micron - 22 5micron is where the good money ends. This wool going to the Outdoors apparel wears, Icebreaker and Smartwool etc
These companies are supplying five-year contracts with very good returns around $22/kg greasy for 22micron These ewes shear 4 5kg a head and upwards, so it is good money. Producing around 1 4 lambs at $130/hd farming in NZ, is in a very strong position Stronger wool, which is the majority of wool produced in NZ has never been poorer – around $3/kg greasy Unbelievable that a natural product of high quality is worth next to nothing in a world demanding more natural products to wear!
There is a real shortage of staff in all sectors particularly land based and how Kiwis were renown to be the best workers in the world and now we don't know how to work, most of our seasonal tractor drivers and such like come from Ireland, Wales or Scotland
I am now over my allocated space so will have to save the rest for next time. Hope there is some of interest in here!
Netwo rk of Scottis h Pilot Far ms
Anno u nce d fo r Gra ssland Impro vem ent
Nine beef and sheep farms in Scotland have been selected as pilot farms in GrassCheckGB – a new initiative to help all farmers across Great Britain improve grassland productivity and pasture utilisation
In total, 27 pilot beef and sheep farms - nine each in England, Scotland and Wales -have been selected, along with a further 23 UK dairy farms The farms represent a good range of geographical areas, soil and climate types and farm systems
Pilot farmers will be required to measure grass each week throughout the growing season, with regular grass samples taken for quality analysis
The farmers have received an electronic plate meter and training on how to measure grass yield on their farms. They will also have an automatic weather station installed on their farm to record key metrological data such as temperature, rainfall and sunshine hours
The GrassCheckGB project will then collate the growth and quality of pasture on each of the pilot farms, make predictions of future growth and report this to the industry on a weekly basis
The project sees the three GB levy bodies: Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Hybu Cig Cymru Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) partnering with the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL) and researchers at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Rothamsted Research The project is also supported by industry sponsors Germinal,
Pro g ram m e
Waitrose & Partners, Sciantec Analytical and Handley Enterprises Ltd
The nine GrassCheckGB pilot farmers in Scotland are: Robert Fleming of Castle Sinniness in Glenluce; John Ritchie of Montalt Farm near Perth; Ian Dickson of Scalpsie Farm on the Isle of Bute; Giles Henry of Oakwood Mill in Selkirk; Alisdair and Emma Davidson of Poldean farm near Moffat; Dane Davidson of Brogan Farms near Ellon; J Scott and Partners of Fearn Farm in Tain; Michael Shannon of Thankerton Camp Farm near Biggar; and David Girvan of Corrimony Farm in Glenurquhart
Alasdair Davidson from Poldean Farm in Moffat commented: "I am really looking forward to participating in the GrassCheckGB project. It will be a great opportunity to move my grazing management to the next level and collect data that will not only help my business but also shared with other farmers."
His enthusiasm for the project was mirrored by fellow pilot GrassCheckGB farmer Giles Henry from Oakwood Mill Farm in Selkirk who commented: “I am excited at being involved in this pilot and look forward to the benefits that our industry can gain from it ’’
Each of the pilot farms involved in the project will receive detailed information on their grassland productivity and utilisation, nutrient efficiency and performance of livestock from grass on their farm. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their grassland performance with grazing management
specialists and network with other pilot farmers involved in the project
Dane Davidson from Brogan Farms near Ellon is also looking forward to the project beginning He said: “As a business, we are excited to be involved in a project that we hope will improve our ability to manage the farms pasture ”
Dr Heather McCalman, Quality Meat Scotland Knowledge Transfer Specialist, said: “We araredelighted with the number and quality of applications received from farmers in Scotland keen to volunteer as pilot farms in this project
“Recent studies highlight that improving grassland management efficiency is a key driver to increase profitability on beef and sheep farms across the UK. This programme is a fantastic opportunity for farmers throughout Great Britain to check on their own grass growth and compare their figures against the pilot farms ”
The project is being part-funded from the £2 million fund of AHDB red meat levies ring-fenced for collaborative projects which is managed by the three GB meat levy bodies – AHDB, HCC and QMS The ring-fenced fund is an interim arrangement while a long-term solution is sought on the issue of levies being collected at point of slaughter in England, for animals which have been reared in Scotland or Wales
CIEL is supporting the purchase of equipment on farms through funds from Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency
The GrassCheckNI programme has been running successfully in Northern Ireland since 1999 and most recently the data has been used to offer evidence to the NI government on the magnitude of the impact of the drought and inform discussions on how much support the industry needs
For more information about the project visit www.CIELivestock.co.uk/grasscheckgb.
The nine GrassCheckGB pilot farmers in Scotland are (from top left): Robert Fleming of Castle Sinniness in Glenluce: John Ritchie of Montalt Farm, Perth; Ian Dickson of Scalspie Farm Isle of Bute; Alisdair and Emma Davidson of Poldean Farm, Moffat; Dane Davidson of Brogan Farms, Ellon; J Scott and Partners of Fearn, Tain; David Girvan of Corrimony Farm, Glenurquhart, Giles Henry of Oakwood Mill, Selkirk and Michael Shannon of Thankerton Camp Farm, Biggar.
Jamie Leslie has improved both grass and livestock performance on his Shetland farm since adopting better grazing management
Jamie farms in partnership with his dad, John, at Scholland, Virkie – the most southerly part of Shetland, exposed to strong west and south-west winds and salt spray They own and rent 230 hectares and contract farm a further 120 hectares nearby
He describes his land as the opposite to most of Shetland, which is peat and heather Although there is some peaty soil, the majority of his land is light and sandy, merging with the sand dunes along the coast
He said: “The biggest problem we have is salt spray from the sea, which burns the grass and can really affect production ”
The farms are stocked with 75 commercial Aberdeen-Angus suckler cows put to the Angus bull, producing female replacements and finished steers for the local butcher
He added: “The butcher likes a 300 to 320kg carcase; last year we averaged 318kg at 19 1 months old for Angus steers and a few heifers ”
The cattle are fed a store ration during their first winter, to keep costs down, but last year when they were turned out to good quality grass, their liveweight gain was 1 83kg/day from the end of April to mid-June
Jamie said: “I have seen real benefits in finishing the cattle on a paddock-grazing system I hosted the Shetland Monitor Farm meeting here in August, where people saw that, in one block, stocking density has increased by 50% and growth rates by 40% from 0 97kg/day to 1 35kg/day, simply by putting some hot wires up ”
The sheep flock comprises 850 Shetland cross Cheviot and Texel cross ewes and 200 followers, most of which are put to the tup as ewe lambs Jamie explained: “Up until this year we bought in ewe lambs, put them to the Texel and kept the
progeny, which then went to Suffolk rams However, I bought Highlander rams from Innovis to put over the Shetland/Cheviot ewes and the plan is to keep replacements from them and eventually have the Highlander as my base ewe to avoid buying anything in ”
It was a big decision to move away from Shetland genetics, but the hope is the Highlander will produce a ewe of about the right size, which will scan at the required 170% plus and boost the percentage of lambs reared and sold per ewe, which is the real driver behind the change in genetics
As chairman of the management group for the Shetland Monitor Farm, Jamie is keen to put into practice as much technology and as many management tips as he can He has been paddock grazing for a couple of years and regularly weighs and records his lambs and calves to monitor performance
Grass quality has increased under rotational grazing Permanent grass samples taken in September showed rotational paddocks with an ME of 11 3 and crude protein of 20 8, compared to the set-stocked area, which had an ME of 10 4 and crude protein of 15 1
Jamie said: “The performance of the 2017 lamb crop was compromised in paddocks by making them tidy up too much grass, so in 2018 we used a leader–follower system, with ewes and twins leading and suckler cows and calves following Lamb performance has been good, with that mob of twins averaging 39kg on 25th of August That entire block of PGRS of paddocks will wean approx 500kg live weight per hectare this year ”
“I pick up ideas from Monitor Farm visits from people such as John Scott, Trevor Cook and Michael Blanche; however, I am a member of various online chat groups involving farmers from as far away as Wales in the UK and even New Zealand. It is a bit weird talking to people on the
Paddock Grazing Success on Shetland
other side of the world, but it is fascinating seeing what other farmers do to improve ” Jamie grows about 12 hectares of spring barley and cuts six hectares of undersown spring oats for whole-crop silage In 2018, for the first time, he sowed three hectares of fodder beet
He said: “I think it will be a good crop to grow here, as it likes salt and sand and so far it is looking good Beet is very expensive to grow, so it needs to yield well I am aiming for 20 tonnes of dry matter per hectare and if we can utilise 80%, it will cost us less than 6p/kg of dry matter.”
The plan is to graze 300 to 400 ewes on it from early to mid-pregnancy, which will in turn free up deferred grazing on the links for mature cows
This, he reckons, will allow him to keep cows out until at least the beginning of February, saving money on feeding and also being healthier for the cattle, which start calving on 1st March
He is also trying a new wintering system for his in-calf heifers, which this year will be strip-grazed on a field of Italian Ryegrass, where he has already set out round bales of undersown wrapped straw, which he said analyses similar to good hay
There will still be a proportion of ewes on the deferred grazing and fed from a snacker as usual and Jamie is interested to see how their condition scores compare at scanning to the ewes on fodder beet
Another experiment that Jamie carried out in 2018, thanks to advice from Trevor Cook, was weaning half the lambs early The lambs weaned in July and paddock grazed on first- and second year grass did particularly well They improved the grass by promoting tillering and the ewes are looking better too, so this is something Jamie will roll out for the whole flock next year
He concluded: “By weaning early and grazing well, we have doubled the number of lambs ready to sell in August ”
New Enterprises for McCusbic –
Claigan and The Crofters Cabin
Skye crofter and contract shepherd John Angus McCusbic, has broadened his portfolio by taking on the tenancy of a 1000 acre property and has broken into the tourism sector with a tastefully designed and decorated Crofter ’ s Cabin.
With son Peter, avidly following in his footsteps, John Angus signed up, last April, for a five year lease of Claigan Farm, from Jackie MacFarlane, which lies just past Dunvegan Castle, seat of the Clan MacLeod since 1237
“The farm was pretty run down, the roof was off the steading and there were no fences We have done 3000m of fencing since taking it over I acquired second hand Rylock free, which was a big saving,” informed John Angus
With only 37 sheep running on Claigan when he took on the tenancy, John Angus, who has grown up with a passion for Scottish Blackfaces, has stocked the property with 250 North Country Cheviot ewes He aims to build the sheep numbers up to 400 pure Cheviots and has changed tack as he feels there is a higher return from a Cheviot lamb “I’ve been buying in the Satran Sheep Stock Club’s, five year old, cast ewes privately for a number of years I get the pick of them and they are relatively cheap, but there is an element of some that won’t eat concentrates
“I’ve always had some Cheviots and wintered them away on the Black Isle, mating them with a Beltex tup ”
Historically Claigan Farm ran 500 Cheviots, 15 dairy cows and 100 hens, selling the milk and eggs to Dunvegan village, so the Cheviots have gone full circle, but I don’t think the new tenant will be milking cows any time soon!
“I summered my herd of twenty five Heinz varieties cattle – with a splash of Saler and Aberdeen Angus, covered by a Limousin bull – at Claigan, returning them home to Totarder, sixteen miles away, for the winter I have the use of the fields at the Castle for silage but no grazing ”
Back on the home front John Angus has a 45-acre croft, number 5 Totarder, which carries 60 Scottish Blackface ewes “The pure Blackies are more of a hobby to be fair, as I like showing locally and try to sell a tup lamb or two at Dalmally
Success has been very patchy, but sales of £1200, £1000 and £600, over the years, always keep me trying The fun and banter between the Blackie breeders is second to none ”
Each croft has a share in the common grazing or Sheep Stock Club and at Totarder there are six shares, with only three active shareholders – John Angus, his father Donald and Lalley Beaton Totarder Sheep Stock Club, compromises 400 Blackface ewes run on 3500 acres
Common grazings in the Highlands can operate in two ways – as a Sheep Stock Club, where the stock is run as one flock and shareholders receive a dividend at the end of the year or individuals can have independent stock marks and sell their lambs on their own accord Totarder, which rises to 800 feet, is run as the former and members are allowed to graze cattle on the hill in the summer months
John Angus feels that the biggest drawbacks of farming on Skye are the weather, “months of relentless wind and rain,” distance from markets, “two and a half hours from anywhere” and the re-introduction of Sea Eagles “The latter without doubt the worst thing to have happened to us in the last 100 years! At the moment nothing can be done and the outlook for hill flocks on Skye is bleak ”
Testament to the Sea Eagle being a scourge on the Islands’ sheep flocks is that there were 850 sheep roaming the moors of Todarder when I interviewed John Angus in 2002 and with fewer and fewer lambs surviving every year, there are now only 400 head There is a nesting pair of Sea Eagles at Claigan, so only time will tell if lamb numbers there will also be halved
Several local crofters have admitted witnessing healthy, live lambs and even hoggs, in the winter, being tackled by Sea Eagles The majority of local landholders feel that the Sea Eagle is more of an ovine predator than its Golden counterpart Our forebears killed out the white tailed eagle, on Skye, in 1916 for this very reason They were reintroduced to the Isle of Rhum in 1975
When he’s not busy on the home front or Totarder, John Angus can be seen scaling the hills and glens on Glendale Estate, Scorr Farm, Gesto,
FARM FACTS
Farmer: John Angus McCusbic
Farm: Totarder, Totarder Sheep Stock Club and Claigan
Greshornish and Ullinish SSC, gathering in sheep and working at the fanks He used to gather for sixteen different farms, townships and Sheep Stock Clubs but has scaled it back when he took over Claigan
“There is plenty of work at times, although there are quiet times too Less people are available now, the influx of incomers into townships with no knowledge or inclination to gather sheep means
more work for me I'm thankful for the quad bike, although a couple of gathers are still on foot
Although the Sea Eagle may affect the bottom line of the McCusbics’ sheep enterprises, they are attracting visitors to their latest venture – The Crofters Cabin – with the lure of spotting a Sea Eagle! “This is a perfect place to enjoy the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery. Apart from sheep and cows, it is more than likely that you will spot the Sea Eagles flying overhead and landing in the crags opposite the cabin Herons, Oyster Catchers and Otters are often seen at the head of the loch,” says their blurb on both Airbnb and Booking com websites
John Angus and his wife Lynda, who works at the local medical centre in Dunvegan, invested in a log cabin on the croft to tap into the surge in tourism on Skye They were just doing the finishing touches during our visit at the beginning of March, in preparation for their first guests on the 15th March They have been fully booked ever since, with most guests staying two or three nights
“It has been amazing, we have had visitors from as far as Australia, Canada, America and all across Europe,” commented John Angus, who reckons
that they will have a return on their investment within two years
Bookings from the worldwide websites Airbnb (3% commission) and Booking com (15%) are coming in steadily and at £100 per night, it is a wonderful extra income for these Island crofters
The open planned studio style cabin with kitchenette, seating area and king size bed with en-suite shower room is ticking all the boxes for couples from across the continent, with a score of 9 7 out of a possible 10 on Booking com and a 100% five star rating on Airbnb It will be a boon for tourists to meet some real locals
This hardy hill shepherd aims to: “always produce top lambs and calves ” He’d also like to see his youngest son Peter takes on the croft/farm at some point in the future as he's very keen Peter has been working full time for Glendale Estate for the past year
“I’d like to sell a few good Blackie tup lambs, although that's going to be difficult given the price of the top sires and I'm too far away to share one!” concluded John Angus who enjoys life and the craic on Skye.
Highland Sheep Ready for Action
Sibmister Farm, overlooking the Pentland Firth, in the far North of Scotland and lying four miles east of Thurso, is the venue for the 2019 Highland Sheep on June 12th
The one-day event to promote the Highland sheep industry will be hosted by the Sutherland family Kenneth and Elspeth Sutherland along with their sons Stephen and Kenneth and their respective partners: fiancée, Alix Brown and wife Fiona
Stocking on the two farms, which extends to 1700 acres (all owned) all grass, comprises 1600 ewes, predominantly Texel x Cheviot Mules, which are crossed with Suffolk and Texel rams, and pedigree flocks of 70 Suffolk and 60 Texel ewes.
“We breed all our own Cheviot replacements and have done so for the past 3 years, after a 20 year break The breeds suit our situation – we have tried more breeds than we ’ ve not tried,” laughed Stephen Texels and Suffolks were both introduced around 1989
Lambing had just started when I interviewed the Sutherlands The ewes had been housed just after scanning, which was successful, with the cross ewes at 185% and Cheviots, Suffolks and Texels all around the 170% mark
Housing the ewes at lambing has been practised for the past few years as the raven attacks were so severe “It got to the point that we couldn’t let anything lamb or calve outside –it was soul destroying,” shared Stephen, who is the NFU Highland livestock committee representative
Ewes start lambing at the end of February followed by hoggs in April with all lambs sold deadweight to Woodhead Bros, Turriff, for Morrisons Lambs are sold off their mothers from June onwards as close to 21kgs dw as possible
Lambs from the farm are regularly prominent prize winners in the commercial sheep classes at
the Royal Highland, Caithness, Black Isle and Turriff shows Major successes include winning Smithfield in 1978 with a Charolais cross steer – Busby, the Royal Highland Show with commercial sheep and the Interbreed Championship at Caithness with a pair of lambs, out of a ewe with triplets!
The spring calving suckler herd comprises 400 Simmental x Longhorn are crossed with Charolais and Simmental bulls
Calves are sold store at 10-12 months of age through Aberdeen and Northern Marts at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae
Contractors are brought in for sheep shearing and for the mighty job of 400 acres of silage making
With the prospect of Brexit and the possible removal of subsidies the Sutherland family decided to invest in erecting six luxury holiday pods with hot tubs “We aimed to build them slightly bigger and using local tradesmen, we made them ourselves,” divulged Fiona, Kenneth Junior ’ s wife, who is a vet, but has taken time out to rear their two children
Marketed under Braeside Retreats and also using the usual booking websites, the first arrivals were due at the end of March “We are hoping to tap into the North Coast 500, being only three miles off the route. It has been great for the local economy We are offering a two night minimum stay, in our pods, which sleep up to four people on a Kingsize bed and sofa bed We have a dual target market of offering couples and families an affordable holiday,” commented Fiona
The upmarket glamping, which has a picnic area, play park and fire pit, received a 50% grant from Leader “We hope to have a return on our investment in in six to seven years, ” added Stephen
“We were honoured to be asked to host Highland Sheep and look forward to welcoming visitors to Sibmister,” said Stephen
This will be the fourth biennial Highland Sheep event since the series started in 2013 when Dingwall Auction Mart was the venue, followed by Fearn Farm, Tain (John Scott) in 2015 and Kinnaird Farm, Contin (JP Clark Ltd) in 2017.
FARM FACTS
Farmers: Kenneth & Elspeth Sutherland and sons Stephen & Kenneth Jnr
Farm: Sibmister Farm
Location: Caithness
Area: 1700 acres owned
Sheep: 300 Cheviots
70 pure Suffolks
60 pure Texels
970 cross ewes Cheviot Mule and Tex x Cheviot mules
200 Suffolk cross ewes
Cattle: 400 cows - Aberdeen Angus
Simmental and X Longhorn put to Simmental, Charolais & Longhorn bulls
Nairnshire husband and wife team, Stuart and Muriel Ross from The Arr at Lethen, aim to produce quality, hardy and healthy breeding stock for both the commercial market and for using as home-bred replacements in their flocks.
Over the years, the duo has relied heavily upon the crossing of the productive Blackface ewe and Bluefaced Leicester tup to produce top-end Highland Mule ewe lambs, which are sold annually at Dingwall Mart The couple’s pedigree Suffolk and Bluefaced Leicester flocks also play a major role in the enterprise, producing robust shearling tups, which are often sold to commercial flocks on the Northern Isles and in the West coast
Farming across 543 acres, Stuart is just the second generation to farm at The Arr since his late father Jock came to the unit more than 50 years ago. It’s farmed in a secure tenancy on Lethen Estate and was traditionally only a beef and arable unit, but with Stuart having shown a keen eye for sheep some 40 years ago, it wasn’t long before the first pedigree Suffolk sheep flock was established with his father
“After breeding with Suffolks for a few years, we introduced a commercial flock of Scotch Mules and crossed them with home-bred Suffolk tups,” began Stuart, who also runs a 120-cow suckler herd
of Aberdeen-Angus crosses, including 15 pedigree females under The Arr prefix, which dates back to 1960
“In 2002, we expanded and moved into Blackfaces to cross with the Bluefaced Leciester so that we could breed our own home-bred Mule replacements and sell a consignment of Mule ewe lambs Y ou can’t beat the Blackie ewes for being good, milky mothers, which are easily managed For the size of most Blackface ewes, they still produce progeny which grow into big, strong lambs,” he added
At present, the entire sheep enterprise at The Arr numbers 650 ewes to include 400 Blackies, 130 Mules, 60 Suffolks and 60 Bluefaced Leicesters
Pedigree ewes lamb inside in March and are fed barley, oats, dark grains and a protein nut six weeks prior to lambing The remainder lamb outdoors from April 7 onwards and are introduced to ewe rolls six weeks prior to lambing and receive energy buckets throughout the winter
Soon after the Suffolk flock was established, Stuart started breeding Bluefaced Leicester sheep with foundation females bought from Iain Ogg’s Carroch flock at Kirriemuir, while Muriel’s own flock was founded in 1993 with Hobsland females
“The advantage of breeding our own Bluefaced Leicesters is that we can use home-bred tups on the
by Katrina Macarthur
Blackface flock so it makes our Mule ewe lambs very consistent,” said Muriel, who also works as a higher agricultural officer for the Department of Agriculture “We find that the lambs are very similar and have the same skin type, which makes them all the more attractive when it comes to selling them in batches through the ring ”
It’s certainly proving a winning formula for the couple as their annual consignment of around 180 to 200 Mule ewe lambs, which are sold at the Highland Mule Breeders Association’ sale at Dingwall Mart every September, regularly produce some of the top prices Last year, their third prize pen sold for £138 per head and a pleasing average of £89
Mule ewe lambs sold at the sale are independently accredited through Highlands and Islands Sheep Health Association (HISHA) to be free of Enzootic Abortion (EAE), plunge dipped within 14 days of the sale against scab and double vaccinated against clostridial disease
The best of the shearling tups from the pedigree flocks are sold between two sales at Dingwall and more recently Fort William, with Bluefaced Leicesters having sold to a top of £1200
“Our shearlings are hardy, commercial tups, which are born in March and outwintered on kale,” said Muriel “We find there is a good
market for shearlings at Dingwall, whereas other areas may be more suited to selling ram lambs ”
Wether lambs and ewe lambs, which aren’t suitable for breeding are finished and sold direct to McIntosh Donald Lambs are finished on kale, stubble turnips and a grain-based mix of feed with the first draw away by the beginning of August
In more recent years, a top draw of Mule and Suffolk lambs is sold through the store ring to catch the early lamb trade in August Last year, a pen of Suffolks peaked at £65 per head
Admittedly, Stuart and Muriel work a strict culling policy within all flocks but they pointed out that it is paying dividends
Stuart said: “We cull quite hard in the pedigree and commercial flocks but you can see the benefits further down the line on the quality of feet, teeth, skins and milk We’ve found now that we have reduced those problems and that’s through careful selection of home-bred replacements and culling out any problematic ewes ”
Backing up those statements, Muriel added: “The quality of all flocks has been improved greatly having culled that bit harder All our flocks are closed and have been for some time but we do buy in Bluefaced Leicester and Suffolk stock tups for improving quality and introducing new bloodlines ”
Stock tups are sourced at Kelso Ram Sales and the duo tend to buy Suffolks from flocks in the Scottish Borders Recent Bluefaced Leicester tups to make a mark on the flock include sires from Mendick, Street and Watersky and it is character, skin and size which they buy on.
Attending Kelso Ram Sales is undoubtedly a highlight in Stuart and Muriel’s calendar year but as is the north summer show circuit, which they support each year
Over the years, Bluefaced Leicesters from The Arr have won championships at the majority of local shows to include Nairn, Black Isle, Turriff and Grantown
In the meantime, calving is well underway at The Arr, with three sets of twins already on the ground
Competitively priced feeds without compromising quality
D u m f r ie s & Ga l l o w ay
B l a c kf a c e
Sp r i n g S h o w N ew to n Stew a r t
Elizabeth Johnston Chamberwells & Little Kilmundie Glen Ogilvy, Forfar
Elizabeth Johnston of Chamberwells & Little Kilmundie, Glen Ogilvy, Forfar was thrown in at the deep end from an early age. Her father passed away when she was only 17, so she with her siblings –John (21) and her twin sister took on the running of the two farms
Chamberwells is unusual for a hill farm in that it has almost as much in by ground (170 acres) as it has hill (215 acres), but it works well in conjunction with the arable acres at Little Kilmundie
The farms are run as one – Elizabeth tends to the 420 North type Blackface ewes at Chamberwells, while John runs the 230 ploughable acres and the 40 cows followers (120) two miles down the glen, but decisions are made together
Elizabeth’s father took on the tenancy of Little Kilmundie in the 1930’s from Lord Strathmore, followed by Chamberwells in 1948.
As others have changed to the south type Blackies or Cheviots, Elizabeth has stuck to type “They have earned me a living, are good to work with and are more productive I like to keep the size right and relatively clean wool wise.
“In my lifetime another 11 places had Blackface sheep stock in this glen and now I am the only one with regular stock ”
Elizabeth, who chaired the Development Board on the Blackface Council for a period feels that the Society should be promoting the eating quality of the Blackface, like the native cattle societies do “They should also have several marketing avenues for the finished product,” she added.
She feels that the public don’t realise that farmers and their families subsidise the food industry –“who else works seven days a week – and not short days either for no extra pay? Food and Drink is Scotland’s biggest export – many are making a living down the line and depend on our efforts It needs to be shared fairly ”
As many farmers across Scotland bemoan the wet summer of 2017, Elizabeth finds a drought can be far worse than a deluge of rain, farming in this part of the country “We had a drought in the summer of 1976 and the following spring I only had 45 pairs of twins This ground needs rain to grow grass well, but wet summers seem much more common these days.”
Being a woman in the farming world has certainly not held her back, “ some travellers have passed me in the yard to talk to John!” laughed the very capable sheep farmer, who has sold to a top of £13 000 and judged the breed locally and from Donegal to Devon and the Bath & West to Orkney
New Benchmarking Lead for AHDB in Scotland
Andy Findlay has been welcomed as the newest member of AHDB’s team in Scotland
Andy will take on the role of Knowledge Exchange Manager specialising in benchmarking, which means he will be supporting farmers across Scotland to gain a more in depth understanding of their costs using AHDB system Farmbench
Currently AHDB run a number of Business Improvement Groups across Scotland and Andy will work with the Scottish team to support the existing groups, as well as developing new groups He will also work through Farmbench with the Business Groups attached to the Monitor Farm Scotland programme, managed jointly by AHDB and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)
Prior to joining AHDB Andy worked at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) for over six years as an Agricultural Mechanisation Lecturer, having previously spent over 20 years as a Lantra instructor, alongside contract farming
Andy is looking forward to once again focusing on the business side of farming in his role at AHDB
New recruit to focus on cereals at AHDB
AHDB has recently welcomed a new recruit, Chris Leslie, who will work with cereal growers across Scotland to improve their technical and business practices
Chris has been appointed as a Knowledge Exchange Manager for the arable sector He will be part of a small arable team devoted to Scotland, which is led by Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager Claire Hodge Chris’s focus will largely be on cereals and oilseeds, while Claire will continue to concentrate more on the potato sector
Claire explains: “Chris and I will be working together very much as a team, but as my expertise has long been in potatoes, it’s great that Chris is so knowledgeable about the cereals sector He will be able to work closely with those farmers, providing advice and support on issues including pest and disease control, business improvement and benchmarking and crop and soil management ”
Chris grew up on an arable farm in Perthshire, where he also worked later in life as an assistant farm manager He studied agriculture at what was
New Director at QMS
then the Scottish Agricultural College in Edinburgh and most recently spent the last nine years as farms manager in East Lothian growing cereals and pulses
When Chris was still farming full-time he was a member of one of AHDB’s Arable Business Groups, and he sees that regular interaction with farmers as vital
“The work AHDB does directly with farmers is great,” Chris said “Getting farmers together, sharing that wealth of experience and using it to challenge them and getting them to think differently and try new things makes a genuine difference to farming businesses
“My aim now I’m working for AHDB is to strengthen that work, making sure that everything we offer farmers is practical and relevant; information they can use to improve their productivity and profitability ”
Farmers can contact Chris directly to find out how they can work with him by emailing chris leslie@ahdb org uk
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has welcomed the announcement by Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, of Professor Charles Milne as a new QMS board member
Prof Milne will take up the role on 1 April 2019, joining three recently-announced board members including Gordon Wallace, who also joins on 1 April and Andy McGowan and Ann Irvine, who took up their posts in October 2018
After studying at the Royal Veterinary College, London, Professor Milne worked for two years in mixed practice in the East of Scotland He then moved to the State Veterinary Service in Perth where he gained extensive experience in disease management including BSE, Foot and Mouth, Avian Influenza and Bluetongue
In 2003, Professor Milne was appointed Chief Veterinary Officer, Scotland where he was responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on animal health, veterinary public health and animal
He says: “It’ll be really good to be working directly with farmers helping them make a genuine difference to their businesses Using benchmarking and peer support AHDB is well placed to help farmers prepare for the change, which is inevitably on the way ”
AHDB Scotland Director Paul Flanagan says: “Tools like Farmbench which help identify where strengths and weaknesses lie within farm businesses are critical to the long term sustainability of the agriculture industry
“Over the coming months we’ll be supporting farmers and growers to better understand their costs and get their businesses on the best footing for the future and Andy will have a leading role to play in that work
“He has a keen understanding of the farming sector and is very well placed to work with Scottish farmers and I’m delighted to welcome him to the team ”
Anyone interested in learning more about Farmbench should contact Andy directly by emailing Andy Findlay@ahdb org uk
welfare issues In 2009, he was appointed as Director, Food Standards Agency Scotland where he remained until 1 July 2014 when he was appointed Chief Veterinary Officer Victoria in Australia
Kate Rowell, Chair of QMS, welcomed the appointments and extended sincere thanks to John Scott and Ronnie Eunson, who are both stepping down from their QMS board roles
“A great many talented and knowledgeable people applied for our board positions and I welcome the announcement of the appointment of Professor Charles Milne,” said Mrs Rowell
“We look forward to welcoming Charles and Gordon to the board this spring and I am confident they will bring with them valuable fresh ideas as well as experience ” Professor Milne’s appointment is for four years from 1 April 2019 until 31 March 2023 Members of the QMS Board receive a fee of £180 00 per day for a time commitment of 20 days per year
Andrew McShane elected AIC Chairman
Aberdeenshire seed grower Jim Cargill has been appointed as one of three new members of the AHDB Potatoes Board
He begins his three year term this week, alongside two other newcomers – Somerset-based grower Chris Wilson and Alison Levett, who has also joined as an independent board member Jim is the second Scotland-based grower on the board; organic seed producer Andrew Skea joined in 2017, and Alistair Redpath steps down this year
The AHDB Potatoes Board has 11 members, including Chair Sophie Churchill As well as setting the strategy for Potatoes it also approves annual budgets and activity plans
A second generation farmer, Jim is based at Coldstream Farm, where he produces seed potatoes, cereals and daffodil bulbs As well as growing potato varieties Cara, Atlantic and Burren for export, he also supplies the domestic market with Gemson and Markies
Jim markets his seed through Grampian Growers, where he has also been a longstanding member of the board
New President for BSAS
Professor Eileen Wall, Head of Research at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), has been appointed as President of the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) following the Society's annual conference held in Edinburgh Professor Wall, originally from Ireland, has been a member of BSAS since 1999 Her new Presidential role will focus on providing leadership and direction to the board of Trustees, as well as overseeing the 2020 BSAS Conference to be held in Nottingham Entitled 'The Challenge of Change', the conference will look at the interdisciplinary challenges of food and nutrition production and security and will once again be in collaboration with the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA)
Speaking about her appointment, Professor Wall said: "I am thrilled to be taking over as President and excited to begin driving forward the ambitions of the Society The 2019 Conference was such a success and I'm already looking forward to next year's event "
Emily Burton, president of the WPSA UK branch, said: "We are delighted to be returning to the 2020 Conference for another series of insightful discussions to help advance the poultry sector Our cohesive, collaborative approach with the BSAS is helping us to apply the science of poultry care in a practical and innovative manner"
The 2020 BSAS Conference will take place at the De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, from March 30th – April 1st
SJim is looking forward to working with the AHDB Potatoes Board to shape the organisation’s strategy, particularly in relation to seed and export activities
He says: “I am here to find out how it all works, initially as an observer, but then as an active participant, who will try and make a difference
“I’ve always been involved in industry bodies, and I believe you need to understand how they work before you suggest changes However as a seed producer and exporter I would like to see more of a focus on areas such as new markets ”
AHDB Board Chair Sophie Churchill says: “I’m delighted to welcome our three new members to AHDB Potatoes sector board They will bring a wealth of experience at a crucial time in British agriculture and I’m looking forward to working with each of them in the coming years ”
The board members departing this year include: Herefordshire grower Bill Quan; Alistair Redpath, Chief Executive of Cygnet Potato Breeders Ltd, and Cornwall-based grower Reuben Collins
Dairy Appointment at SRUC
cotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has appointed its first Professor of Dairy Nutrition as part of the expansion of its South & West faculty
Dr John Newbold will join SRUC in August in a key role contributing to the development of dairy teaching, research and consultancy.
A proposed £35 million investment in the Barony campus, near Dumfries, will include state-of-the-art facilities for dairy research
Over the past 30 years, Dr Newbold has worked in a range of research and development and technical positions in the animal feed industry in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands and USA During this time, he has collaborated with leading dairy research groups in universities around the world
He is currently head of the technical team at
dairy nutrition company Volac
He said: “I'm really looking forward to building my understanding of dairy farming in Scotland and engaging with the treasure-trove of expertise at SRUC “I really hope that my experience will contribute to the collective effort of taking the industry forward.”
Professor Wayne Powell, Chief Executive and Principal of SRUC, said: “I am delighted to welcome John to our team as SRUC moves towards its vision of becoming a rural enterprise university This is a key role, which will contribute to and grow, key areas of scientific research to enhance our activities in dairy teaching, research and consultancy during this period of exceptional change within the rural economy in Scotland and beyond ”
International Data Strengthens Limousin EBVs
All producers of pedigree and commercial Limousin-bred cattle are set to benefit from a major development by the British Limousin Cattle Society, in association with SRUC Egenes, that sees the incorporation of international data within its latest genetic evaluation for the first time in the UK
The new information comes from a huge data set of over 2 3 million animals with performance records and 2 6 million animals with full pedigrees Eleven countries contribute to it – Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland as well as the United Kingdom – sharing their records for 200 day (weaning) weight, since this is commonly measured across each country Additionally, calving ease and birth weight records are shared by the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ireland and the UK
The work is the culmination of several years input by an across-country group of geneticists called Interbeef Supported in its early stages with funding from the British Limousin Cattle Society, Interbeef produces ‘across-country’ EBVs (Estimated Breeding Values) for Limousin, which are now integrated with the Society’s own UK EBVs The work is a significant and exciting development for Limousin EBVs in the UK, boosting their accuracy and robustness to new levels, bringing benefit to pedigree breeders, commercial producers and all involved in the supply chain
The benefits manifest themselves in the value the data brings to the Limousin EBVs that are produced:
• The addition of the international data has increased the number of animals with performance records in the UK evaluation by around 14% An increase in volume of records widens the pool of recorded animals from, which selection decisions can be made, accelerating the rate of genetic progress that breeders and commercial producers can make
• With the increase in volume of records comes improvement in the accuracy of the resulting EBVs The EBVs directly influenced by the new data are: Birthweight, 200 Day Growth, 200 Day Milk Weight, Calving Ease and Maternal Calving Ease For animals directly impacted by the new data, the average increase in their accuracy is 18% across them all, but with some individuals increasing by as much as 88% for specific traits This will result in even more robust EBVs to the benefit of all producers, pedigree and commercial • The international evaluation provides direct comparisons between animals in more than one country, which is valuable for breeders contemplating exportation and/or importation of animals Greater knowledge on performance will result in better breeding decisions and faster rates of genetic gain.
Iain Kerr, Chief Executive of the British Limousin Cattle Society said; “The incorporation of this level of international data into an evaluation is a welcome first for UK beef breeds and represents a significant opportunity to make increased margins from Limousin genetics It comes close on the heels of incorporating new abattoir data last year that brought over 273 000 new commercial records to the Limousin evaluation – representing more than 10 000 Limousin sires – as well as the introduction of the now-familiar genomic breeding values (GEBVs) in 2016 and 2017 All these areas of work have concentrated on trapping large volumes of independent industry data to produce breeding values that are reliable, market-focused and will support all buyers of Limousin genetics well ”
The expertise behind the development has lain within the genetics team at Egenes Speaking of the work, Professor Mike Coffey, leader of the Animal Breeding Team at Egenes and SRUC says “Interbeef is the beef equivalent of Interbull, which is widely regarded as the innovation that has led to the international movement of dairy bull semen
Having an Interbeef evaluation will allow UK beef producers to have access to international bull semen on a scale relevant to the UK This means foreign bulls that are known to be better can be imported to increase the genetic merit and profitability of UK beef production whilst UK bulls that rank well internationally can be exported creating market opportunities ”
“The Limousin Society and its members are working to an ongoing agenda of technical improvement to ensure that the breed continues to offer ‘market-ready’ genetics and a means of identifying them now and in the future This is an important move in protecting the businesses of all Limousin producers, since markets can change very quickly,”concluded Iain Kerr
Open Farm Sunday
Amidst the uncertainty of new trade deals, the future of agricultural policy and polarising conversations about farming on social media, LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is calling on farmers to join together on LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) – farming’s annual open day - to build public support and loyalty for British produce
The annual event sees hundreds of farmers across the UK open their farm gates to show visitors what they do and why farming matters This year the date is Sunday 9th June
“Research shows that Open Farm Sunday is having a lasting positive impact,” said Annabel Shackleton, LEAF Open Farm Sunday Manager “87% of visitors said it had changed the way they think about farming and 78% said they were now more proactively looking to buy British food It is clear that inviting the public onto farm is a hugely powerful way to get more consumers to Back British farming ”
Since LEAF Open Farm Sunday started in 2006, the public appetite to see behind the scenes of working farms has increased rapidly Last year nearly 300 000 people visited an event
Mrs Shackleton continued: “We are keen for more people to understand what the farming industry achieves and the full range of public goods farmers deliver, beyond food production With a question mark over how public money is spent it is even more important that farmers take responsibility and engage directly with their customers ”
Farmer Robert Wilson of Cowbog Farm near Kelso took part in LEAF Open Farm Sunday for the first time in 2018 The 182ha mixed enterprise
is divided between arable ground, predominantly spring barley for malting through Alexander Inglis and the Romany Herd of 240 high health polled Hereford Cattle The family has also launched “Fluffy Moos” – a LEADER-funded diversification project focusing around the pedigree herd By incorporating fun on-farm countryside experiences for group activities like hen parties and team-bonding days, Robert and Lucy Wilson are helping to raise the profile of farming
Before taking part, the family were concerned they did not have enough to show or how many people to expect as Robert explains: “Before last year we had some reservations; we weren’t sure we had enough to offer as we aren’t heavily mechanised so didn’t have a lot of ‘kit’ to show and the cattle were outside so the sheds are normally empty in the summer In actual fact we realised on the day this was the last thing we should have worried about – we should have remembered it’s not other farmers looking around!
“I think our biggest worries on the day were no-one would come and then too many people would come and if they did, they’d come with a predetermined view of agriculture so no-one would find it interesting!
“We actually found what we considered day-to-day mundane tasks on the farm, others found fascinating We’ve all got a great story to tell from the technical aspects of precision farming to the hefting of ewes on a hillside. The myths and rhetoric that is spread on social media by many can easily be explained when you ’ re in a field with a conservation headland, parked up beside an area of wild bird cover buzzing with bees and insects,
by Rebecca Dawes
or when you drive into a field of cows and calves happily munching grass
“We tried to keep the day simple and structured focusing on tractor-and-trailer rides We took advantage of the free ticketing system offered through LEAF, which meant people knew what time to arrive for their allotted trailer ride We decided to ask friends to help out so Alan Laidlaw from the RHASS and ‘Farmer Ron’ (Ron Wilson MBE) entertained the visitors during the tour and we knew we had enough offerings around the yard to keep visitors entertained if we were running a few minutes late (they have both been known to talk - a lot!) This worked well and took a lot of pressure off us ”
Of the 362 farms, which hosted an LOFS event last year, 26% did so for the first time – the highest number to date These farms encompassed all types of farm enterprise – arable, livestock and dairy through to horticulture
“Opening your farm gates on Open Farm Sunday and engaging with the public on any scale, builds loyalty and influences positive buying habits and wider industry support,” explained Mrs Shackleton “A small farm walk for 20 people can make a big difference The opportunity for visitors to speak directly with a farmer is valuable for both parties The visitors discover more about farming and the farmer finds out more about what the consumer thinks and wants The feedback from farmers is overwhelmingly positive and I would urge more farmers to host an event on 9th June.”
For information and to register an event go to farmsunday org
Endless Skies and Huge H erds
The fertile steppes of Kazakhstan and the economic rise of the country are good conditions for successful farming. Nurzhan Ashirov seized the opportunity and built a large agricultural company.
At a glance: Kazakhstan
Area: 2 724 900 km²
Population: 18 04 million
Capital: Astana
Official languages: Russian, Kazakh
The Presidential Republic of Kazakhstan was founded in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union President Nursultan Nazarbayev has been in power since the founding of the state The freedom of opinion and media is considerably limited Opposition parties can only act to a limited extent. The ninth largest country in the world benefits from its extensive oil and gas reserves. 80.4% of the land is used for agriculture. Mostly for grain production and sheep rearing
You will get the best impression of the vastness of Kazakhstan – in terms of land area it is after all the ninth largest country on earth – during a train journey. From the capital city of Astana in the North to Shymkent in the South it is a 25-hour train ride The route to the third largest city in the country runs through an endless steppe. The horizon: a straight line between heaven and earth A land perfect for nomads and large animal herds
One hour from Shymkent, on the way to the main road to neighboring Uzbekistan, we see the herds: thousands of sheep, goats and cattle. The herds bring the traffic to a halt Proud men, on horseback, drive the animals together Their leather whips hiss through the air Young boys follow them on little donkeys
"In Kazakhstan cattle herds are often made up of animals belonging to different owners, " explains Nurdaulet Medeuov, a young office worker who volunteered as a guide and translator This is also how it is done in his hometown Kazygurt Kazygurt, the administrative center of the same district, has 40 000 residents, but it is still very rural Many households still have one or two dairy cows and a few goats or sheep for their own use At night the animals stand in simple shelters In the morning after milking, they are driven to a collection point From there a commissioned shepherd brings them to the public grazing areas
In addition to these small farmers, there are also farmers like Nurzhan Ashirov The 55-year-old is the Kazakh model for a successful farmer, says Nurdaulet Ashirov has 8000 sheep, 1600 cattle and 500 horses Those sheep on the street earlier,
the farmer explains, were only a part of his flock Some of his staff drove the sheep to higher pastures. Because from June onwards, the temperature rises in some lower areas to 50 ° C, therefore in the summer it is more bearable for the animals at higher altitude In addition, on higher grounds, grazing will be better, explains Ashirov His farm is located a few kilometers east of Kazygurt, on the outskirts of Sharbulak The spot has only 4000 inhabitants Here Nurzhan Ashirov grew up and spent most of his life Only for a few years he left to study mechanical engineering in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, which is about 70 km away. After that, Ashirov worked for a while in transportation Subsequently, he was foreman in the kolkhoz "Lenin" ( a collective farm) in Sharbulak, and was responsible for the cattle f eeding till the kolkhoz was closed.
"I always wanted to get rich," says Nurzhan Ashirov and laughs But this only became possible after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of Kazakhstan in 1991. "When the kolkhoz discontinued, every employee who wanted to become a farmer, was given a few hectares land," Ashirov looks back
"I started with ten sheep and basic equipment That was a hard time. But I worked my way up slowly To start with I had two jobs, I farmed and in my spare time, I sold cars With the profit, I gradually bought more land and livestock ”
In 1996, Ashirov founded the agricultural company "Sapa." In 2002, the keen farmer merged the various branches of his farm into Sapa 2002 Ltd , he is still chairman today The company nowcultivates 5000 ha of land, of which around 1000 ha are leased He grows cereals, legumes and
oilseeds such as sunflowers, cotton and thistles Every year, 2000 t of vegetable oil leave the farm, it is mostly sold in Kazakhstan. A small part is exported to neighboring Kyrgyzstan Sheep, cattle and horses are sold from the farm and mostly used in meat processing During a tour of the property, Nurzhan Ashirov proudly shows his oil presses and filling machines Disused crude oil barrels are used to store vegetable oil The access to the office is full of fragile-looking combine harvesters and agricultural machinery Over the years Ashirov has bought all his machines and equipment 2nd hand He feels a bit uncomfortable about the untidy yard, he says, “but the repairs of the old machines are in full swing right now, the oil seed harvest is coming up soon ”
"The work ethic here is not the best,” comments Nurzhan Ashirov with a smile, when he passes by a group of men, who sit in the shade of a tree and smoke Currently, the company employs 70 people full-time During the high season, there are an extra 120 workers. The majority come from the surrounding area, but some also come from the neighbouring countries of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Shepherds earn between 90 000 and 150 000 tenge a month at Sapa-2002, which converts into about 187 to 312 GBP The salary is calculated according to the size of a herd, for example, a shepherd gets about 0 26 € per month per sheep he has to look after The earnings of a farm laborer on the other hand are between 60 000 and 120 000 tenge, which is around 125 to 250 GBP a month Many of the employees also have their own livestock at home ‘Sapa-2002’ provides them with cheaper food as an additional bonus.
In the early years, Nurzhan Ashirov put all his
by Petra Jacob
savings into agriculture Today, however, he invests in the education of his five sons, who are between 18 and 28 years old A good education for his children is the most important thing for him, he says. All sons study or have already studied. Ussipali, the youngest, is about to leave secondary school Nurali, the oldest, is a doctor and has a family Serali, the fourth son, is still studying business administration and the sons Bekali and Yerali have graduated from agricultural university. Currently, the two agriculturalists work under the wing of the father at Sapa-2002 They will take over the company "when they are ready," says Nurzhan. Bekali is active in the vegetable oil sector, while Yerali entered the livestock unit. Yerali is also deputy director of the sheep farming The business admin student Serali shall one day look over the business side of the company
"For a farmer, it is very important to know how he can market his products, how to find customers and how to access the export markets The economy is growing and developing, also the agriculture sector "My sons need to be educated to be part of the future markets. Each of them can contribute his part to the company "
"Agriculture has a future in Kazakhstan," says farmer Nurzhan Ashirov At the moment the conditions for entering agriculture are excellent However, it is not easy to find young people willing to work in this field Because many of them, especially those with higher education, prefer to move to the cities for a job Kazakhstan is booming like no other country in the former Soviet Union, thanks to oil and gas reserves. Also the agriculture sector benefits from the flourishing economy, as it allows the state to grant subsidies The conditions for young farmers are very good, explains Nurzhan
In addition to cheap loans, there is the project "diplommen auylga," which roughly translated as "bring the diploma to the countryside." The program lures young people with free living space and a tax rebate
Back in the office of Sapa-2002, Nurzhan Ashirov sits behind an imposing conference table Mrs. Marzhan, 53, son Yerali, the rancher, and Bekali, the vegetable oil specialist, sit to the side They seem shy This is one of the essential trademarks of the Kazakhs, explains guide Nurdaulet. Another feature is the great respect that children have for their parents. This is also the case with the Ashirov family: The sons answer questions, only when the father asks them to do so They enjoy working with agriculture, they say Yerali adds: "Before I decided to farm, I weighed up the pros and cons Kazakhstan modernizes and in the cities traffic increases, with side effects like noise, stress and air pollution I find life in the countryside healthier And we as farmers produce our daily food, I am proud of that. These are more than enough reasons to continue the business our father has built It is an obligation for us boys ” He wants to give his best, says Yerali They have big plans One pointer is the multi-storey building being currently built – it is the future office building of their business
The Ashirov family apologizes with great regret, for not – due to other commitments – being able to host us visitors to the farm Therefore the family tour guide and translator Nurdaulet takes over the task Even though Nurdaulet’s six siblings are visiting at the same time Plus the monthly meeting of the village women takes place in his family home T he Kazakhs take hospitality very seriously.
The large guestroom at Nurdaulet’s family home is packed with visitors They are sitting cross-legged in front of a low, long table full of food Nurdaulet’s mother and sisters keep on carrying food to the table till shortly before midnight – especially meat dishes – Kazakhs love them, the greasier the better, preferably mutton or horse meat There are also a lot of dairy products A specialty is "Kurt," a kind of dried yoghurt, balls made of cow ' s milk. And Kumys – the national drink of the Kazakhs It is made of fermented mare ' s milk and is drunk throughout the night and used to raise the glasses to toast to each other and especially the guests.
Highland Mule Breeders
Thank Goodness for Graham's!
Graham's The Family Dairy is introducing its new Goodness Ice Cream range A deliciously indulgent high protein ice cream, lower in sugar, as well as a good source of fibre – all from only 310 calories per tub!
Made with award-winning Scottish milk and cream from over 100 farming partners, Graham's latest ice-cream range has over 20g of protein in each tub and only a quarter of the calories than other ice creams – with absolutely no compromise on taste
Graham's Goodness Ice Cream will be rolling out across UK Lidl stores in two wonderful mouth-watering flavours; White Chocolate with Raspberry Ripple and Salted Caramel The range has a variety of other delicious flavours including, Espresso Caramel, Mint Choc Chip and Chocolate Dulce de Leche
Maintain a balanced and healthy daily lifestyle with this rich and tremendously tasty treat Every spoonful of Graham's Dairy Goodness ice cream will now be a guilt free pleasure
Robert Graham, Managing Director of Graham's the Family Dairy, said: "Our Goodness range of ice cream is a perfect compliment to all our latest high protein dairy products due to their natural, fresh ingredients created by a Scottish family business By choosing our Goodness Ice Cream, you are choosing a tasty, healthier ice cream that is bursting with flavour and nutritional benefits
Innovation and product development are something we pride ourselves on, so we will continue to create delicious and nutritional dairy products for our customers from all over Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK We hope that our customers will be as excited about our new Goodness Ice Creams as we are ”
Based in the heart of Scotland, Graham's The Family Dairy are this year celebrating their 80th birthday They continue to produce award winning ranges including Gold, Organic, milk, butter, ice cream, cheese, yoghurt, cream, cottage cheese, soured cream, quark, Protein 22, Skyr, Protein 40 and now Goodness ice cream
Two farmers in Dumfries and Galloway have joined forces to show how produce grown and reared in the South West of Scotland can be used in a variety of exciting recipes
Sheena Horner, partner at Galloway Chillies and Gregor Christie, a third generation local pig farmer, came together to demonstrate how chillies and Specially Selected Pork make the perfect pairing when cooking flavoursome, exotic dishes from around the world
Gregor Christie, who farms 200 sows in partnership with his brother in nearby Wigtownshire, said that because Specially Selected Pork is so versatile, it is the perfect meat for combining with more vibrant flavours such as chilli
"I think we are all a bit guilty of getting stuck in a rut when it comes to meals and always picking up the same ingredients week after week when we are shopping," said Gregor
"Pork is not only versatile and healthy but incredibly budget-friendly and it works with a
huge amount of flavours
"Scottish pig farmers work really hard to produce a quality product which tastes great When in their butchers or supermarket, I would encourage shoppers to look for the Specially Selected Pork logo, which guarantees that the pork they are buying comes from selected Scottish farms where animal welfare and high production methods are a priority "
While chillies are an ingredient you wouldn't traditionally associate with Scottish farming, Galloway Chillies have found that thanks to the extra hours of daylight during the summers in Scotland, the climate is perfect for growing this vibrant spice
Sheena Horner, Partner at Galloway Chillies said: "Flavoursome, spicy and sometimes hot chillies are highly sensitive to frost, which is why when you think of chillies, Scotland isn't the first place you'd think of growing them
"What people don't know, is that while chillies need to be kept warm, something else they need,
Farmers Team Up To Add Spice to Dumfries & Galloway
which Scotland has plenty of, is daylight During the summer months, Scotland has long daylight hours, which the chillies love, allowing us to grow so many vibrant and delicious varieties
"Here on the farm, we use large propagators that sit at 28˚C to germinate the chillies and keep them warm until they are ready to be moved into the tunnels. Thanks to having a heated tunnel and the extra hours of daylight in the summer, we can grow a full range of beautifully bright and colourful chillies "
Coming together to enjoy a dish of Sichuan Style Pork Noodles, Sheena and Gregor teamed up as part of QMS' recently launched 'Go Places with Pork' campaign, a six week long promotional push on Specially Selected Pork, showing consumers how pork can be used to create a wide variety of exotic recipes from around the world
To discover a range of exciting recipes using Specially Selected Pork, consumers are encouraged to visit www.scotchkitchen.com or Scotch Kitchen on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Proud Sardinians
The island of Sardinia was once the poor house of Italy. That has all changed now. Giovanni Busia is one of the success stories: once a pastoral shepherd, now a successful farmer and cheese maker.
From the provincial town of Oristano on the central west coast of Sardinia, another 20 km inland, shortly after the village of Siamanna, a small road turns into a landscape of rolling wheat fields and lush meadows Here Giovanni Busia (48) and his wife Michelina Mulas (43) manage their farm Agriturismo Fattoria su Grabiolu
As isolated as the farm might be they certainly don’t work in old-fashioned ways. Eleven years ago, the couple started Sardinia's first sheep farm open to the public with petting animals
"It was an instant success, " explains Giovanni Today they offer theme days with the motto: “be a shepherd for a day.” It lures not only children, but increasingly adult groups to the farm
"Sheep and shepherds are part of our cultural heritage of Sardinia There are three million sheep on the island, twice as many as inhabitants But the majority of Sardinians have less and less to do with agriculture and therefore lose touch with their roots," regrets Giovanni
About 25 years ago Giovanni Busia converted Fattoria su Grabiolu with 300 sheep of a native breed to an all-year-round enterprise. A daring experiment, because for hundreds of years, the area here was almost exclusively used by pastoralists as temporary grazing land Giovanni's ancestors were among those shepherds. Every autumn the men of the Busia family migrated with their flocks of sheep from their hometown Fonni, on the northern edge of the Gennargentu Mountains, about 100 km away from Siamanna When the weather turned rough and cold, the mountain pastures of Fonni at 1000m, the highest point in Sardinia lacked grass For the first three years after school also Giovanni
underwent this journey with his father and grandfather The women and children of the family stayed in their hometown, while the men were away for months.
The men were travelling for up to two weeks with their flocks of sheep They moved through mountains and valleys and had to cross the 1243m high Tascusi Pass – all on foot Reaching their destination of Oristano, at a level of 200m above sea, they stayed for several months The area had mild winters and there was plenty of grazing for their sheep The shepherds returned home to Fonni in the spring Today, the sheep graze on the same pastures around Fattoria su Grabiolu all year round "This is only possible through additional feeding," admits Giovanni Giovanni now has 1000 sheep In the evening, they come to the barn where they are fed with hay and wheat, which is produced on part of the 130 ha of land belonging to the farm It is supplemented with peas, corn and minerals, all bought in Giovanni employs contract workers for the field work
Only modern agriculture has made it possible to live on Fattoria su Grabiolu all year round, admit Giovanni and Michelina Just eleven years ago, the then 300 sheep, were still milked by hand Today a modern milking parlor is in place. "It has made work a lot easier and we were able to increase the flock,” Giovanni looks back Today, two employees from Romania take care of the sheep and milk the flock twice a day
Over the years, a modern cheese dairy was built and now 1000l of milk are processed on site every day On average, around 160 000l of milk per year, in good years even up to 200 000l
Giovanni und Michelina turn almost all of the available sheep milk into cheese They produce cream cheese, such as ricotta or hard cheese such as pecorino. Back in the cold store Giovanni proudly shows off a handsome ‘fiore sardo ’
"The gray cheese rind develops by rubbing the outside of the cheese with olive oil," he explains “The rind also protects the cheese from drying out, so it can be stored for several years. The fiore sardo carries the EU-quality-label PDO, which stands for ‘protected designation of origin ’ It means this cheese is only produced in Sardinia Fattoria su Grabiolu produces this cheese using an ancient recipe dating back to the Bronze Age.
Fattoria su Grabiolu’s cheese is a success story At first it was sold from the farm, later on via a cooperative At some point, Giovanni and Michelina started to work with the Starwood hotels. They house the rich and beautiful on the famous Costa Smeralda, in the northeast of the island After more and more visitors came with lactose intolerance to the farm, the Busia family experimented with the production of lactose-free Pecorino. They were the first in Europe to bring it to market Next came the production of a cheese, which did not use calves rennet for coagulating the milk, but truffle-like mushrooms
Over the years, cheese production according to Jewish and Islamic rules followed and allowed the labels ‘kosher’ and ‘halal ’ This in turn opened up new markets, for example in Dubai
"Meanwhile, our Pecorino is also used as an ingredient in the famous green sauce Pesto
Genovese And every Friday a van loaded with ricotta leaves the farm for Sicily, where the cream cheese is processed into the Sicilian delicacy cassata, a layer cake ”
The cheeses are also sold in Italy and are to be found in Sardinia’s most widespread supermarket chain Conad "We could sell twice as much cheese as we produce," says Giovanni. But for him and his wife, it is very important to only use milk from their own sheep
Giovanni and Michelina are also concerned about sustainability Solar energy powers the machines. "Our farm concept is innovative, but traditional," says Michelina proudly The old houses, where their ancestors lived, are integrated into the farm There is an impressive traditional shepherd's hut The circular building is typical of Sardinia and is called pinnetta. The walls are blocks of stones, the roof is made of brushwood
Today the hut serves as a classroom Here Giovanni shows schoolchildren the production of ricotta cheese. The boys and girls have come to learn about sheep farming. Later, they will milk a sheep by hand Giovanni will tell the children that every sheep has an electronic ear tag for identification, that it is a EU-regulation and that he thinks that's good.
"But a lot of the other rules and regulations coming from the EU are oftentimes bothersome”, he admits to the adults "Nevertheless the Sardinians like to be part of the European Union We were once poor and have really benefited from it,” he admits “First of all, we feel as Sardinians, on second place we feel European and only on third place we feel Italian,” he chuckles
"We have had to work hard for many years to be where we are now, " emphasizes Michelina "It was a slow process, we had to be firm believers and endure uncertainties " Today they are proud owners of a beautiful farm, which also includes a catering area for visitor groups, where Michelina and two staff dish up wonderful food: farm cheese, smoked prosciutto (ham), pasta
and carta da musica, the typical paper-thin Sardinian bread There is fruit and juice for the children and Cannonau, Sardinia’s red wine for the adults Surrounded by old equipment shepherds have used in the old days, it is like eating in a museum
The hard years have paid off for Giovanni and Michelina: Son Michele (21) wants to take over the farm At the moment he is studying cheese processing, viticulture and oenology in Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia Mother Michelina would have funded him a degree course in the US Her son refused. His argument: Over 40% of all graduates don’t find work in Sardinia and he does not want to be one of them Instead, he sees a future for himself at his parents' farm When he takes over, the parents will return to their hometown Fonni
Today it is only paintings on the walls all over Fonni, the so-called Murales, that recall the once hard lives of the shepherd There is no more transhumance – the annual migration of sheep by foot, as it was still common till the 1970s. Now trucks transport the sheep to distant pastures. Giovanni does not regret the bygone times at all “I knew from an early age, that I didn’t want to look at the backsides of sheep for the rest of my life,” he adds with dry Sardinian humor.
by Petra Jacob
Today he can afford to go on holiday: he was in Norway, California and southern Germany They have realized their lifelong dream, emphasize Giovanni and Michelina They sell cheese under their own name instead of seeing the milk disappear in an anonymous vat of a dairy They also find working with people very satisfying "Money can slip through your fingers," summarizes Giovanni, "but what we get back from people, has a lasting value "
SARDINA FACTS:
Main income: tourism, agriculture and mining Of the total area of Sardinia, 60% serve as pasture and 20% as arable land About one third of the sheep and goats in Italy are grazing on Sardinia The indigenous sheep breed "Razza sarda" is considered one of the oldest in Europe and is of great importance for the local cheese production.
