Great turnout for Nithsdale Monitor Farm meeting

Around 100 people took part in the first meeting of the new Nithsdale Monitor Farm.

The Monitor Farms initiative aims to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses. It is being run jointly by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds. Nine new Monitor Farms are hosting open meetings, with events kicking off on 26 January and running until 6 March 2017.

The event at the new Nithsdale Monitor Farm was hosted by beef and sheep farmers Andrew and Aileen Marchant of Clonhie, Penpont, near Thornhill. The Marchants will be regularly opening their gates during the three years of the Monitor Farms programme.

Andrew Marchant sees huge potential benefit from getting involved in the project, both for his business and for the other farmers who get involved and share the benefits.

He said:

"One area we’re sure we could do better is our grazing management. We reckon with careful management our grass could increase our cow numbers to about 35 and, by introducing rotational grazing, we could significantly increase our flock size."

Among the speakers at the first meeting was independent sheep specialist Dr John Vipond who said the new Monitor Farm project, funded by the Scottish Government, had started at a crucial time for farmers.

Dr Vipond said:

"The clock is ticking. I reckon you have about two to three years to really look closely at your efficiency, bring your costs down and get your house in order.

"The six most expensive words in farming are ‘we’ve always done it that way’. This project will give you a great chance to see the results of introducing changes which will give you the confidence to do the same."

Former Forth monitor farmer Duncan McEwen gave an inspirational insight into how his Arnprior business had benefitted from being involved in the project.

He said:

"For us it was a fantastic opportunity which really gives you the confidence to make changes based on hard facts and figures. Our whole farm review revealed our fixed costs were killing us and there was significant scope for us to increase our output per hectare to help spread these costs.

"Our business was simply too complex and it made me face up to being an ‘iron addict’ and tackle my obsession with machinery and also our soil compaction problems. We are now in a much stronger position to move forward and cope with reduced farm support."

If you would like to be involved in the Nithsdale monitor farm project you can find out more from facilitator Judith Hutchison on 07718 919055 or email judith.agridigm@icloud.com.

More about the Monitor Farm programme

The 2016 monitor farm programme has established monitor farms in:

• Nithsdale
• Scottish Borders
• North Ayrshire
• Lothians
• Angus
• Lochaber
• Morayshire
• Sutherland
• Shetland

For more information about the monitor farm programme visit the QMS website or the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds website. 

Monitor Farm events coming up

Shetland Monitor Farm Meeting - Saturday 4 February. Courtesy of Kirsty and Aimee Budge, Bigton Farm, Bigton, Shetland. For more information and to book your place contact Graham Fraser on 01595 693520 / frbslerwick@sac.co.uk

Morayshire Monitor Farm Meeting - Wednesday 8 February. Courtesy of Iain Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Morayshire. For more information and to book your place contact Samantha Stewart on 01343 548787 / samantha.stewart@sac.co.uk or Derek Hanton on 01463 233266 / derek.hanton@sac.co.uk

Lothians Monitor Farm Meeting - Thursday 9 February. Courtesy of Bill Gray and Peter Eccles, Prestonhall and Saughland Farms, Pathhead. For further information and to book your place contact Colin MacPhail on 07747 046 461 / colin@macphailconsulting.co.uk.

Sutherland Monitor Farm Meeting - Thursday 9 February. Courtesy of Jason and Vic Ballantyne, Clynelish Farm, Brora, Sutherland. For further information and to book your place contact Cat MacGregor on 01847 892602 / FBSThurso@sac.co.uk

Borders Monitor Farm Meeting - Wednesday 22 February. Courtesy of the Mitchell family, Whitriggs Farm, Denholm, Hawick. For further information and to book your place contact Stephen Young on 07502 339613 / Stephen.young@saos.coop

Angus Monitor Farm Meeting – Monday 6 March. Courtesy of the Stodart family, Mill of Inverarity Farm, Inverarity, Forfar. For further information and to book your place contact David Ross on 01569762305 / David.Ross@sac.co.uk