Fife farm selected as Scottish strategic cereal farm

Balbirnie Home Farms in Fife will be in the spotlight over the next six years after being named Scotland’s first strategic cereal farm.

The farm, a mixed unit at Freuchie, was a finalist in the Scottish arable farm of the year awards last year.

Farms manager David Aglen has been appointed host farmer, and a steering group including five local farmers, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Land and Estates, NFU Scotland, Scottish Agronomy, Leaf, the James Hutton Institute and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) will work with the farms and levy body AHDB to drive forward the project.

Chris Leslie, AHDB knowledge exchange manager for arable in Scotland, said he would work alongside Mr Aglen to improve the arable productivity of the farm through the formal testing and demonstration of innovative practices on a field or farm scale.

Farm owner Johnnie Balfour added: “Our goal is to improve both our economic and environmental resilience.

“Drawing on the expertise offered by the steering group will prove invaluable in realising our ambitions.”