The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Host of Monitor Farm events
Farmers and crofters are encouraged to attend a host of Monitor Farm Programme events which will showcase farm business improvements and forward planning.
The free-to-attend meets will take place on each of the nine Monitor Farms and will be followed by local food and refreshments.
Visitors will hear a combination of both farmers and expert speakers discuss a range of farm business and environmental improvement subjects, alongside practical demonstrations.
First off is the Smith family’s Strathspey Monitor Farm at Auchernack near Grantown-on-Spey on Monday June 3 at 5pm.
The subject is “proofing your business” which will see the hosts explain how they are planning for the future of the business with the next generation of farmers in their family in mind.
Topics discussed will include digestate use, while Abbie McGillivray from ScotEID Livestock Traceability will be covering herd performance management software.
NatureScot will be present to discuss natural habitat enhancement, and the Smith family will share their new heifer selection policy.
RSABI will be running a fundraising competition to guess the combined prices of new, second hand and vintage tractors, as well as a toy tractor, which will be on display by Netherton Tractors.
The Banff and Buchan meeting will take place on Friday June 7 at Bruce Irving’s Sauchentree unit at New Aberdour, Fraserburgh.
John Gilliland OBE will be exploring the opportunities for mixed enterprise farms in Scotland to tackle the Net Zero Challenge.
Visitors will meet at Aberdour Parish Hall at 2pm before heading to the farm to hear from various speakers about woodland options, carbon capture, sheep management and soil analysis.
Duncan and Claire Morrison, of the Deeside Monitor Farm at Meikle Maldron, Torphins, will host a forage and finishing meeting on Tuesday July 16.
It is asked that visitors pre-book their place, wear appropriate clean clothing and footwear, car share where possible and use a clean vehicle for biosecurity reasons. No dogs are allowed.
To book a place visit monitorfarms.co.uk/farms