The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
What’s the beef? Industry topics up for discussion at Fans Farm
BORDERS: Scotland’s Beef Event 2017 takes place near Earlston on June 8
Opportunities for the beef industry, protection of the Scotch beef premium brand, integration of the supply chain and innovation will be among the topics up for debate in the seminar session at Scotland’s Beef Event 2017 on Fans Farm at Earlston in the Borders on June 8.
More than 100 trade stands have been confirmed and all the major beef breed societies will be mounting displays of stock at the event which is being organised by the Scottish Beef Association.
Host farmers Douglas and Kelda Stewart run a mixed arable and beef business extending to 2,000 acres with a suckler herd of 400 Aberdeen-Angus cows with all progeny finished on the farm.
Features of the event will include a farm tour, practical demonstrations, including a focus on grassland management, cow fertility and innovation, stockjudging competition and the seminar which will be chaired by local beef farmer and former NFU Scotland vice-president Rob Livesey.
Speakers include Anna Playfair-Hannay, who is agricultural technologist for red meat, dairy and game with M&S; Nuffield Scholar Robert Fleming, a beef farmer at Castle Sinniness, Glenluce, whose scholarship last year took him to Brazil, Paraguay, Canada, USA and Ireland to study beef genetics; East Lothian farmer John Hamilton, who runs 350 suckler cows at Aikengall and Thurston Mains, near Dunbar; and Adam Woods, beef and suckler editor of the Irish Farmers Journal.
Sion Williams, farm manager at Bowhill Estate, Selkirk, chairman of the local organising committee said the beef event had captured the imagination of the beef industry and was expected to attract a large attendance of beef farmers and industry professionals from throughout Scotland and the north of England.
“The high calibre of the members of the panel is sure to spark off an interesting debate which will be of vital interest to all beef producers as we move from the era of CAP support to a new post-Brexit domestic agricultural policy which is expected to cut direct payments to farmers,” said Mr Williams.
“Achieving a high standard of physical and financial performance in beef herds will be critical to ensure long-term sustainability. Scotland’s Beef Event will help point the way.”