Rationalise and refocus

Jo Mackenzie writes about life on the Black Isle, on one of the few remaining dairy farms in the north of Scotland

Home school is out and the summer holidays are here, although they feel quite different to every other school holiday any of us has ever known.

Like many, we cancelled our summer break – a week by the sea in south Devon – but feel safer not going and can do it another time.

True, the Scottish weather may be less reliable and cooler than in the south but rugged mountains, green-gold tapestries of field and forest as well as sparkling lochs, rivers and firths abound here in the glorious north.

The girls are getting tired of me telling them how lucky we are living here, surrounded by abundant green space and big skies, but I never take it for granted – this or the health of myself and my family.

More and more farm businesses have diversified into tourism, like Nick’s parents with their selfcatering and events venue, housed in a converted 19thCentury steading complete with octagonal horse engine room – currently home to the Strathnairn community food hub – and the stunning cottages at Highland Farm above Dingwall with its eco-cafe.

Then there are farms, such as our own, whose main business and diversified arm depend indirectly on tourism; we supply ice cream, yoghurt and milk to Highland restaurants, shops and tourist attractions as does our main milk buyer with his cheese.

With the full reopening of the Scottish tourism sector earlier this week then, Nick and I find ourselves conflicted. We fully appreciate how important tourism is to our region, to farming, and for local jobs, but fear a second spike and subsequent lockdown as a result of an influx of visitors.

It is the contentious economy versus public health issue that the politicians continue to grapple with; I don’t envy them. All I feel we can do as a business and as a family is adapt, work, trade and live as safely and ethically as we can.

Reducing single use plastic in our household and businesses has been on my radar more than ever this month with Plastic Free July (see plasticfreejuly.org).

Like choosing local shops and seasonal produce over one-stop supermarket convenience, it takes effort to eradicate single use plastic from our lives. Our natural yoghurt is sold in lidded 500g plastic pots, but they are reusable and can be filled with portions of bolognese, stews, stocks and soups for the freezer.

On the farm we continue to research the best way forward for our direct sales and how to get our whole, non-homogenised milk to more people.

And what we’ve learned from our loyal farm clientele is that the success of the milk vending lies not only in the product itself but in the refillable glass bottles.

We are considering the possibility of extending our range, too, adding value to the raw milk produced by our 120-strong herd to give a better selection of dairy products to our customers, both retail and wholesale.

With the Rootfield girls happily out grazing the lush green fields, the spring barley growing well and trade to the honesty shed steady, it feels like the right time to rationalise and refocus our business as so many independent food, farming and creative businesses around us – and across the country – have been forced to do.

It was heartening to read, therefore, the results of recent research by Legal & General, which found 60% of people intend to buy more locally as the UK economy recovers and 82% agreed the coronavirus crisis highlighted the

“It takes effort to eradicate single use plastic”

importance of having locally produced foods and goods.

A further 58% said they would be willing to pay more for produce made in Britain.

Let’s hope consumers put their money where their mouth is for the sake of the economy and, importantly, British farming and rural businesses.

Stay safe and stay kind everyone.

■ Rootfield Farm is on the Black Isle, 10 miles north of Inverness, where Jo lives with husband Nick, a fourthgeneration dairy farmer, their daughters Daisy and Mollie, and 120 cows

Photograph by Sandy McCook UPBEAT: Jo Mackenzie was heartened by research which found 60% of people intend to buy more locally as the UK economy recovers.