PRESS RELEASE

Good Farming Practice

With kind permission of The Press & Journal

The top award has gone to the Rhind family of Woodside, Kinloss, Forres, with commendations going to the Grant family of Skillymarno, Strichen, and the Ingram family of Logie Durno Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie.

Certificates were presented to members of all three families by Marcus Humphrey, Deputy Provost of Aberdeenshire Council, who sponsor the awards, at a presentation ceremony at Woodside.

“Aberdeenshire Council is delighted to have supported the initiative for the past five years,” said Mr Humphrey. “The aim of the awards is to promote and encourage exemplary farm business management throughout North-east Scotland. All three families have demonstrated vision and ambition, backed by sound management and hard work.”

Mr Humphrey said Aberdeenshire Council recognised the key contribution which the farming industry makes to the prosperity of North-east Scotland.

“The area punches well above its weight in the national context, producing over 30% of Scotland’s cereals and 40% of oilseed rape and accounting for a third of the national beef herd and 60% of the pig herd,” he pointed out.

“Maintaining a robust, sustainable agricultural sector which delivers a stream of high quality produce to the value added sectors and underpins associated rural businesses, is a key strategic priority for Aberdeenshire Council.”

J Rhind and Co, Woodside, Kinloss, Forres

The overall winners, Hamish Rhind and his sons, Andrew and Gordon, farm 525 acres and produce a range of vegetables, potatoes, eggs, Aberdeen-Angus beef and hand-plucked turkeys at Christmas for sale in their farm shop and restaurant which is run jointly by Andrew’s wife, Moira, and Gordon’s wife, Carrol. The shop, started in a tin shed  more than 30 years ago by Mr Rhind’s late wife, Alma, brings more than 1000 customers every week into the heart of the farm.

Judge, Jim Arbuckle, farms director of Dunecht Estates, Skene, near Aberdeen, said the high standard of all the farms nominated for awards was “thoroughly inspiring”.

All had demonstrated excellence in different ways and in diverse circumstances. Profitability and enthusiasm for the future had been demonstrated by ongoing expansion and development of the businesses.

But the Rhind’s business had stood out because of the family’s relationship with the public through their well-established farm shop situated in the middle of the farm complex.

“The farm demonstrates the ultimate in marketing its produce, direct contact with consumers and reduced food miles,” said Mr Arbuckle. “It is an exceptionally well managed, multifaceted farming business, highly integrated and profitable, with all family members highly motivated and much involved in different aspects of the business.”

Enterprises on the farm include 320 acres cereals – mostly spring barley for malting – 150 acres seed potatoes, 130 Aberdeen-Angus cows with all progeny finished on the farm for beef, 800 free-range hens, 180 turkeys for the Christmas market and 17 acres of vegetables, including two polytunnels.

David and Alan Grant, Skillymarno, Strichen

Mr Arbuckle also commended David and Alan Grant, and David’s sons, Scott and Craig, who had transformed a traditional mixed arable farm with breeding cows and sheep into a mainly arable farm which had allowed the business to consolidate and improve profitability and provide the platform for expansion.

“This is a highly motivated family business with impressively managed crops and livestock enterprises looking to a very positive future in the industry,” said Mr Arbuckle.

Cropping on the farm comprises 340 acres winter barley and wheat, 220 acres spring barley for seed and 170 acres oilseed rape. A considerable amount of contracting is also undertaken.

Around 25,000 pigs a year are reared from 8kg to 30kg on contract to the Vion Food Group (formerly Grampian Country Food Group) and the latest enterprise started last year is a 12,000 bird laying unit producing free-range eggs for Farmlay at West Cockmuir, Strichen, with another 12,000 bird unit about to go into production.

W and C Ingram, Logie Durno Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie

The Ingram family, William and Carole, and their sons, Gregor and Bruce, and daughter, Amy, were also commended by the judge for breaking from tradition with their pedigree flocks of Charollais and Texel sheep.

Over the past four years, the family has pioneered an on-farm sale of high-index rams which are presented in natural condition – unforced and untrimmed and ready to work – and batched according to price.

“Pedigree breeders in the sheep world often appear to pay scant regard to the requirements of the commercial sheep breeder and the use of science as well as skill,” said Mr Arbuckle.

“The Ingrams are market leaders in the attention they pay to their commercial customers. They run a very impressive unit with top quality stock and their farm is an excellent example of best farming practice in the pedigree sheep world.”

The farm extends to 214 acres all grass, with a further 240 acres of rented grazing, supporting a flock of 700 Lleyn ewes on an easy-care system and pedigree flocks of 150 Charollais and 80 Texel ewes. A further 150 ewes carry pedigree embryos. Mr Ingram also operates an extensive sheep scanning business.

This year, the family won the overall sheep championship at the Royal Highland Show with one of their Charollais rams, Crogham Hannibal, to give the Charollais breed its first ever inter-breed championship at the show. The ram was also inter-breed champion at the Angus and New Deer shows and breed champion at Black Isle and Turriff.

STRONG TRADE INTEREST IN CROP TECH 2009

Trade stand bookings are pouring in for Scotland’s major arable event in 2009 which is to be held in Aberdeenshire on Thursday, June 18.

CROP TECH 2009 is the latest on-farm technical event organised by the Royal Northern Agricultural Society and is being held on the farm of one of Scotland’s most successful and innovative arable farmers, Ian Davidson, at Moss-side, Oldmeldrum.

The event is being organised in association with SAC, who are conducting extensive HGCA-supported variety and treatment trials on the farm, with Clydesdale Bank and Yara as main sponsors.

All the major players in plant breeding, agrochemicals, crop nutrition, precision farming, grain trading, machinery and farm advice will have a strong presence in the extensive trade stand area.

“Response from the trade to this major event for the arable sector in Scotland has been extremely encouraging,” said RNAS director, Bryan Chalmers, who is chairman of the organising committee.

“Arable farmers are facing challenging times and CROP TECH 2009 will provide the ideal opportunity for growers to catch up on all the latest technical developments in the industry and the marketing opportunities for this year’s crops.

“All companies with a serious interest in the arable sector in Scotland will want to be present to promote their products and services to a captive audience of professional growers.”

Cropping on the all-arable host farm comprises 320 acres winter barley, 100 acres wheat/barley blends and 70 acres oilseed rape, plus a small acreage of spring barley.

In addition, Mr Davidson conducts his own variety and treatment trials in 1.1 acre plots covering 20 acres which he has done every year for the past 15 years. This year’s plots include five barley variety trials, three barley blend trials and a wheat/barley blend trial.

The 10 acres of SAC trials will incorporate a huge range of varieties, blends and treatments covering wheat, barley, oats and pulses.

CROP TECH 2009 is the fourth arable event organised by the RNAS and the latest in a series of biennial on-farm technical events covering beef, grassland and arable, as well as food and the promotion of farming and food production to the general public, organised by the Society over the past 22 years.

Trade stand and sponsorship enquiries to Mrs Alison Argo, Secretary, Royal Northern Agricultural Society, Auchcairnie, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire. Tel: 01561 340221. E-mail: secretary@rnas.org.uk

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Further information available from Bryan Chalmers on 01888 563464 or 07801 296811

Issued by Agricultural Communications Ltd. Tel/Fax: 01330 811616. Mob: 07801 186303. E-mail: eddie.gillanders@btopenworld.com