Forres farm set to host Graze Up event
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Sheep and beef specialists from SAC Consulting are set to showcase examples of environment and productivity synergies with farmers across Scotland this year at four Graze Up debate events.
Poppy Frater and Lesley Wylie are leading a project to understand how farmers can combine efficient livestock production with biodiversity and climate change benefits.
Poppy said: “Often, environmental-based approaches to farming come with a negative impact on agricultural production – we either leave land for biodiversity or might compromise production per hectare with lighter stocking rates or slower growth rates for environmental reasons.
“However, food production is still an important public service.
"We are running this project to question whether we can have it all by using methods such as agroforestry, deferred grazing, and diverse pasture swards.”
One of the participating farms is Edinvale near Forres which is home to pedigree Highland Cattle – the Cullerne Fold.
Set up in the 1970s by Michael and Susan Gibson, the business model at this time was geared towards exports where demand was high.
Edinvale exported to some 13 countries in three continents and Beef Shorthorns were soon introduced to the growing business utilising the cattle not suitable for pedigree breeding and in the mid 80s Macbeth’s Butchers in Forres was bought to directly market the beef from the farm.
In 2015 Michael and Susan’s son Jock together with his wife Fiona, took over and since then the cattle enterprise has grown and the good foundations that Michael and Susan left with a focus on a more regenerative farming practice.
Whilst the farm maintains some Aberdeen Angus cattle, the emphasis is being placed on Highland and Shorthorn breeds.
Oakwood Mill in Selkirk, run by Giles and Stuart Henry, boasts fantastic wildflower and insect populations on deferred grazing land, yet the cows are outwintered cost-effectively and the majority of youngstock sold finished by 19 months off grass.
‘’The judicious grazing of our hill by cows in the winter has dramatically changed the biodiversity of the area,” said Giles.
“From an area that was previously over grazed in the summer and early winter, we now have a complete community of flora and fauna along with all the living creatures this brings of every size and description.
“The change has been dramatic and the benefit to our environment is immeasurable. It has also allowed us to maintain a herd of cows whose wintering costs are the envy of many.”
Events will be held on each farm to see these practises in action:
On August 22 the team will be visiting Edinvale Farm, Forres to hear from Jock Gibson in his bid to produce beef cost-effectively while maintaining biodiversity and improving soil health.
On August 31 they will see what is going on at Logan of Maxwelston in Ayrshire as farmer David Whiteford looks to improve work-life balance and reduce inputs.
On September 2, they visit Giles and Stuart Henry of Oakwood Mill as they showcase what they are doing to improve business efficiency while delivering environmentally.
The finale on October 6 sees them visit the SRUC Hill and Mountain Research Farm in the West Highlands to showcase agro-ecology in action for production and environment.
For more information and registration visit Eventbrite.
