ANM Group is to unveil the details of six focus farms taking part in its knowledge transfer programme next month.
The north-east farmers’ co-operative will provide an update on the initiative – Farm Profit Programme: Making Livestock Pay – at a meeting on Thursday February 16.
The three-year scheme, which has received a £678,000 grant from the Scottish Government, sets out to improve the technical performance and profitability of livestock farmers in the region through dissemination of best practice.
Six focus farms have been established from Caithness to Angus and two advisers, including former Quality Meat Scotland knowledge transfer specialist Robert Gilchrist, have been appointed to oversee the scheme.
The advisers are currently working with Kirsten Williams from SAC Consulting to carry out an independent business review of each farm.
Findings from the reviews will form the basis of the strategic plans that each focus farm will follow over the next three years.
ANM Group executive director, John Gregor, said: “We are pleased with the progress made so far and excited about the potential to support members and customers across the north and north-east of Scotland. As Scotland’s largest farmer owned co-operative we are proud to continue to play a major role in supporting the agricultural industry and ensuring it is fit for the future.”
He said eight focus groups were also being established with a view of bringing together between 10 and 15 “likeminded farmers” to discuss their farming systems and share views on industry challenges and provide a platform to ask questions and share advice.
The Caithness group had its inaugural meeting last month and the Grantown-on-Spey and Angus groups will meet in January. Other groups are set to meet in February.
Next month’s meeting takes place in Ring 2 at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, at 7pm.
