Opportunities for the beef industry, protection of the Scotch Beef premium brand, integration of the supply chain and innovation will be among the topics up for debate in the seminar session at Scotland’s Beef Event 2017 on the farm of Fans at Earlston on June 8.
Scotland’s biennial national beef event is being organised by the Scottish Beef Association. More than 100 trade stands have been confirmed and all the major beef breed societies will be mounting displays of stock.
Host farmers, Douglas and Kelda Stewart, run a mixed arable and beef business extending to 2,000 acres with a suckler herd of 400 Aberdeen-Angus cows with all progeny finished on the farm. Features of the event will include a farm tour, a host of practical demonstrations, including a focus on grassland management, cow fertility and innovation, stockjudging competition and the seminar which will be chaired by local beef farmer and former NFU Scotland vice-president, Rob Livesey.
Sion Williams, farm manager at Bowhill Estate, Selkirk, chair of the local organising committee said the beef event had captured the imagination of the beef industry and was expected to attract a large attendance of beef farmers and industry professionals from throughout Scotland and the north of England.
“The high calibre of the members of the panel is sure to spark off an interesting debate which will be of vital interest to all beef producers as we move from the era of Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) support to a new post-Brexit domestic agricultural policy which is expected to cut direct payments to farmers,” said Mr Williams.
“Achieving a high standard of physical and financial performance in beef herds will be critical to ensure long-term sustainability. Scotland’s Beef Event will help point the way.”
