Lochaber family-run monitor farm features in new report

The importance of the Lochaber farm involved with the Monitor Farm Scotland programme has been highlighted in a new report.

Improved community spirit, better business performance and an openness to change are just some of the benefits experienced by farming groups and businesses involved in the 2016–2019 Monitor Farm Scotland programme, according to the report launched by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Funded by Scottish Government, the aim of the Monitor Farm Project is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.

Strone Farm at Banavie is one of nine monitor farms established across Scotland with the others being in Nithsdale, Sutherland, the Borders, North Ayrshire, Shetland, Morayshire, the Lothians and Angus.

The Monitor Farm Report includes the

Impact changes and improvements each of the monitor farms have made over the three-year programme.

The report also showcases the results of a survey conducted with those who were part of the project. The survey highlighted that 93 per cent of those who attended

Chris Cameron, who runs Strone Farm with parents Malcolm and Eileen.

a monitor farm meeting felt this was a good use of their time. The results also show that 70 per cent of attendees say the monitor farm programme allowed them to form new networks and build relationships with their farming community.

With farming often an isolating and lonely profession, one of the most profound effects of the initiative has been in bringing farming communities together.

Meeting regularly and sharing ideas and offering feedback has helped forge new friendships, build confidence and encourage knowledge sharing.

Bruce McConachie, head of industry development with QMS said: ‘Every one of the nine monitor farms has embraced the support of the monitor farm network wholeheartedly.

‘The Monitor Farm Impact Report highlights the numerous improvements host farmers have made to their businesses, which, in turn, has made them more resilient and profitable.

‘The results also show that at the heart of the initiative is the support of the whole farming industry. Through regular farm meetings with industry experts and a passionate group of local farmers, knowledge and experiences have been shared.’

Strone Farm is run by Chris Cameron and his parents, Malcolm and Eileen, who have 370 North Country Cheviot x Lleyns and 150 North Country Cheviot ewes, plus 50 Limousin cows.

Malcolm said the Lochaber Monitor Farm Programme has also helped bring people together and encouraged connections in a remote region.

‘One of the biggest unspoken challenges farmers and crofters in this part of the world face is the isolation, we just don’t see our farming neighbours like we used to,’ he said.

‘The Monitor Farm Programme has given us the opportunity to come together as a group with shared vision and vested interest in the future of our local community and share thoughts and ideas about how we can improve things.’