The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Monitor farm issues shared with other island producers
Scheme: Variety of potential topics identified at Shetland unit meeting
Farming editor: Gemma Mackenzie Tel: (01224) 343051 Farmers and crofters from across Shetland gathered at Bigton Farm for the first meeting of the region’s new monitor farm.
Bigton Farm, which is run by sisters Kirsty and Aimee Budge, is one of nine farms taking part in the new monitor farm programme being run by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.
Funded by a £1.25million grant from the Scottish Government, the scheme aims to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
During the first Shetland meeting, which was attended by more than 80 people, the Budge sisters gave an overview of the current farm business.
The sisters run 240 Shetland cross Cheviot ewes and 70 Salers cross Short- horn suckler cows on the farm, which stretches across 740 acres of mainly permanent pasture and intensive grassland.
Following a farm tour, which featured talks from the Budge sisters and their grandfather Jim, a number of areas of potential improvement FAX Editorial: (01224) 341806 were
These included looking at the performance and management of the ewe flock and whether grass on the farm could be better utilised.
The group also identified a variety of other potential highlighted. Advertising: (01224) 694025 topics to be addressed by the monitor farm programme that would benefit both farmers and crofters in Shetland.
Aimee said: “It was great for us to see farmers beginning to discuss issues they have on their farms, after we shared E-mail: pj.farming@ajl.co.uk or gemma.mackenzie@ajl.co.uk some of the problems we have identified on Bigton Farm.”
Former monitor farmer for the Forth region, Duncan McEwan, of Arnprior, also spoke at the meeting about the improvements he had made to his business as a result of being involved in the scheme.
He said although he felt a little daunted sharing all the details of his business “warts and all” he would do it all again in a heartbeat if he was given the opportunity. Mr McEwan said his key piece of advice was to “measure, measure and measure some more” – something which struck a chord with the Budge sisters.
Kirsty said: “We know that we need to improve how we record the business’s performance, especially in our sheep and arable enterprises.
“We weigh calves regularly throughout the winter and then split the calves and adapt their feed rations accordingly to reflect their daily liveweight gains. This example of good practice could easily be adapted and used to monitor the liveweight gains of our store lambs.”
Farmers and crofters wanting to find out more about the Shetland monitor farm are asked to contact project facilitator Graham Fraser, of SAC Consulting’s Lerwick office, on 01595 693520, or e-mail frbslerwick@sac.co.uk
“Areas of potential improvement were highlighted”