The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Crowds flock to revived
Scotland’s sheep industry flocked to the fields of Over Finlarg near Dundee yesterday to celebrate their sector in record-breaking Scotsheep crowds.
Thousands of commercial farmers and pedigree breeders, 40 sheep breed societies and 180 trade stands featuring machinery and livestock health firms, industry associations, auctioneers and rural advisers turned out at the National Sheep Association’s (NSA) event which had been postponed due to Covid regulations on three previous occasions.
Buoyant sheep prices, an opportunity to socialise on a successful farm and the first Scotsheep since 2019 meant the mood was upbeat, but the celebratory atmosphere belied the concerns and uncertainty voiced in countless conversations around the farmyard about the future direction of Scottish agriculture.
Former United Auctions executive chairman David Leggatt, who opened the event, said that as chair of the rural charity, RSABI, he regularly heard first-hand accounts from farmers who were worried, particularly about the continuation of government support.
“The main responsibilities of government include food security, food supply and food safety,” he told the packed audience seated in a pristine cattle court.
“While recognising climate change, the importance of achieving net-zero and improving biodiversity, we cannot ignore farmers’ role as providers of food for the nation.
“With the brilliant scientific base and progressive industry we have in Scotland, I believe that with balance and co-operation we can achieve the desired goals. I hope that government and industry develop post-2024 policy with significant support given to production and infrastructure as it’s essential to maintain the critical mass of both Scottish lamb and Scottish beef.”
Carbon is the industry’s hot topic, and the event’s headline sponsor, Virgin Money, used the opportunity to launch a £200 million “green loans” fund to help farmers move to net-zero by investing in changes which reduce on-farm emissions.
The bank says loans are available if a farmer completes a carbon audit and is borrowing over £50,000 for renewable energy, energy efficiency initiatives or activities that reduce greenhouse gases – although each application will be subject to affordability.
The bank’s move follows a carbon audit of Over Finlarg, the 740-acre Scotsheep host farm owned by Robert and Hazel
McNee, which is home to 1,100 commercial breeding sheep, 100 pure Texels and pedigree Bluefaced Leicesters and 180 pedigree suckler cows.
The audit concluded that the farm is “very efficient” but suggested that avoiding ploughing wherever possible, planting hedgerows and investing in solar panels to power a water pump to reduce energy use, would help the McNee family meet their net-zero targets.
Eyes often glaze over at the mention of carbon, but Simon Haley, the director of Carbon Metrics, which conducted the Over Finlarg audit, insisted that education can clarify how the looming changes can also provide opportunities for farmers to improve efficiency.
He said: “Improving your carbon footprint is simply about business efficiency, so the aspects you would look at on your farm such as feed, fuel, fertiliser and energy input – most of those actions are going to be good for your carbon footprint. That’s what we’re trying to get across.”
He acknowledged that carbon tools are not standardised, and advised farmers to use Agrecalc, Cool Farm Tool or the Farm Carbon Toolkit. He said a full carbon audit by a consultant costs around £1,800 and the Scottish Government is making a one-off contribution of £500.
Virgin Money’s head of agriculture Brian Richardson added: “Everyone accepts there needs to be standardisation, but it shouldn’t stop any farmers starting on the journey and starting to understand what’s involved.”