Scots arable farmers will be invited to speak their mind during a research-led event taking place at Balruddery Farm, near Dundee, on Tuesday when industry leaders will tackle a range of issues including a debate on how sustainable farming really is.
The event, called Arable Scotland, is hosted by the James Hutton Institute in partnership with Scotland’s Rural College and AHDB and will include an interactive space for open and frank discussions under the heading of ‘Arable Conversations’.
The aim is to allow farming delegates and industry specialists to exchange views and opinions on a “say what you want to say” basis, with the promise that people will listen carefully to the questions posed and try to provide an answer.
Planned discussion topics include assessing future arable market trends, examining the opportunities and barriers facing new entrants to arable production, looking at SEPA’s crop production sector plan and probing the sustainability of farming in general.
Each session will be chaired by a prominent sector leader, supported by research, farming and commercial specialists.
The sustainable farming session, for example, will be run by Caroline Drummond, chief executive of LINK (Linking Environment and Farming), with additional input from Ali Karley, James Hutton Institute; James Hopkinson, Arable Ventures, and David Aglen of Balbirnie Home Farms.
Delegates will also be given the opportunity to study a range of demonstration plots focusing on the four key areas of innovative breeding, quality crops for defined markets, innovative crop management and sustainable farming systems.
