North and north-east farms join monitor scheme to help tackle and overcome industry challenges

Nine new Scottish monitor farms, including units in Deeside, Banff and Buchan, and Strathspey, are set to address the challenge of climate change, rising energy costs and net-zero objectives over the next four years.

Unveiled at AgriScot this week, the new farms are the latest to join the 20-year-old Monitor Farm Scotland Programme, which is managed by Quality Meat Scotland with support from AHDB and funding from the Scottish Government.

“Innovation and sustainability have never been more important for an industry facing the significant challenges of the ongoing war in Ukraine, against the backdrop of Covid, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis,” said Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon.

The north and north-east members of the new nine reflect a heavy livestock base, especially Duncan and Claire Morrison’s 220-suckler-cow enterprise at Meikle Maldron, Deeside, and Malcolm and Sammie Smith’s 140-suckler-cow and 120-store-cattle unit at Auchernack Farm in Strathspey.

The third north-east holding is Sauchentree Farm, New Aberdour, a mixed livestock/arable unit run by Bruce Irvine in partnership with his father and mother. Their 650 acres support a range of cereals, sheep and cattle.

Joining programme too good of an opportunity to miss

For Duncan and Claire Morrison, the chance to join the monitor programme was seen as being too good to miss.

“We’re hoping this will help us develop as a business, making us more resilient, more profitable, and generally getting better at everything we do,” said Duncan.

“It would also be good to be able to develop some new parts to our business, maybe adding a sheep enterprise.”

Since taking on Meikle Maldron in 2016, the couple have focused wholly on suckler production, based on a mix of 120 commercial and pedigree Aberdeen-Angus, which they own, and 100 stabilisers, which they lease.

With their first monitor farm open day set for December 7, Claire added that they were “open to suggestions”.

“Hopefully, people can help us improve on where we are at present,” she said.

“If that includes pinpointing any weaknesses we have, then all well and good.”

The scheduled open day for Sauchentree Farm is December 6, while Auchernack Farm will be open on December 5.

The remaining six units are located in South Ayrshire, Stirlingshire, Roxburghshire, Dumfries, East Lothian, and Argyll.