Issue 57

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

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BRITISH BLONDE Tel: 024 7641 9058

Fax: 024 7641 9082

Why use a BLONDE Bull? ¢ Easy Calving ¢ Length and confirmation ¢ High Killing Out % ¢ Improved Grades ¢ Hardiness Forthcoming Sales Carlisle Fri October 23rd Fri March 5th We will be delighted to see you on our stand at AgriExpo on 31st October and Highland Winter Fair on 25th November

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CONTENTS

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

farmingscotland Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

T

Eilidh MacPherson

farmingscotland is written, edited and designed in Scotland. This publication reports industry wide over the whole of Scotland and N of England and is distributed free for farmers and crofters to abattoirs, livestock markets, farm supplies and SERID offices from the Borders to the Butt of Lewis, from Stranraer to the Shetland Isles and Clitheroe to Cumbria.

his month I've interviewed three beef farmers, two breeder / finishers and a finisher, one in Angus and the other two in West Lothian. Considering the weather, torrential downpours and not a lot of sunshine I'm delighted to have managed to escape the showers for the photos. Unfortunately by the time we toured round the Angus cattle at grass on Burnshot it was almost monsoon conditions and the cattle were in shelter under the trees.

For me the on farm interviews are the highlight of my job, meeting and talking to the farmers and having a great look round their properties.

Many farmers are looking at cutting costs and it is interesting to see how they go about it so differently, be it adapting machinery or just tweaking a feed system to save some time.

Hugh Stringleman reports from Texas, where he attended the International Union of Journalists AGM. He covers energy in this issue.

Bayden Wilson of Rissington Breedline has the opening double page

spread and explains the system and has a farmer focus.

I went to the on farm sale at Logie Durno, which was highlighted in the last issue. Willie Morrison, who helped out with the recording data at the sale has penned an interesting piece on recording.

Arable correspondent – Andrew Arbuckle – has covered the Potato event.

I attended the Fort Dodge/NSA Sheep Scab event and Cydectin Long Acting product launch on Tuesday this week. A panel of five industry leading lights took the floor on the topic of eradicating Sheep Scab in Scotland. Scottish NSA Chairman Jimmy Sinclair and his wife Christine and son Graeme, who farm Crookston, near Heriot, laid on a fantastic lamb based lunch for the 3-400 farmers and industry representatives, who had travelled from farm and wide on probably the best day of recent weeks. As this magazine is about to roll onto the press a full report will be included in the next issue.

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Sheep

10 15

Beef

15

Arable

16

Potatoes

18 19

Education

20

World Markets Energy

22

Feature Gregor MacKenzie

EDITOR: Eilidh MacPherson Glengowan, Scaur Water Thornhill, Dumfriesshire Tel: 01848 600286 Mobile: 0797 7897867 editor@farmingscotland.com www.farmingscotland.com PUBLISHER - Eilidh MacPherson Cover - Gundog Athelsatneford, E Lothian Text and photography by Eilidh MacPherson unless otherwise stated Page 4 - Bayden Wilson Page 6 - Willie Morrison Page 8 - top left & 2nd btm, Gwen Wallace Page 15 - bottom right, Glenside Page 16 - SCRI Page 17 - Biocell Page 18 - Rhidian Jones Page 20 - Hugh Stringleman Page 22 - Howard Keane

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

SHEEP

Growing our Sheep Business

avid Steven's sheep enterprise was constricted by the labour requirement of indoor lambing. With fertile traditional breeds scanning in the 220 - 230% range, and various housing related animal health losses he was not getting enough lambs out the farm gate. Especially considering the high fixed cost investment, labour and concentrate feed expense.

David decided that to have a viable sheep business he needed to grow the scale of his sheep flock to reduce fixed costs and labour per ewe, without a drop off in productivity.

He believes he needs to get to 1000 ewes capable of being run by half a labour unit. To do this he needed to source genetics with high maternal and survival qualities, suitable for outdoor lambing. He has changed to New Zealand type sheep; initially the Romney and for the past 2 years Rissington Breedline 'Highlander' maternal and 'Primera' terminal breeds.

Why the Rissington Breedline genetics? The Highlander (a Romney, Finn and NZ Texel composite) offered fertility and high quality milk on a moderate frame size and still suited to trouble free outdoor lambing. They also offered a good option to mate ewe lambs to lamb as a hogget. The Highlander breeding index selects for efficiency to maximize lamb output

per kg of feed (grass) eaten.

While building flock numbers the Highlander is mated to all ewes and only in lamb ewe hoggets are retained.

Ewes are culled heavily based on weaning performance. An average lambing date of 18 April achieved an average lamb growth rate of 275g/day over 107 days to wean at 33.5kg. The weaning draft killed out at 21kg at 50% yield, which was higher than expected.

Interestingly twin lambs on the improved grass (1-5yrs) grew @ 299g/day to 36kg. Twins off old pastures grew @ 252g/day to 31kg.

The 630 ewes ran on 90 acres at a stocking rate of 7 ewes/acre up to weaning. The extra production from the improved grasses recouped the regrassing cost in one year, based on lamb produced, plus giving earlier saleable lambs.

The ewe lambs were mated to terminal Primera rams for easy lambing and fast growth. The Primera is a composite of traditional British meat breeds. The ewe hoggets weaned 256 lambs (84%) from 305 mated (49 were barren). 100% based on hoggets wintered, which was the goal. The lambs grew @ 242g/day to wean at 29kgs @ 107 days. (Not too far behind the ewes) The sheep are complimentary to his other enterprises and with other

farmers, utilizing grazing options especially over winter. Improved grasses are down for 5 years prior to 4 years in crop, with benefits to the sustainability of yields in the cropping enterprise. David is now considering pasture renewal on the unimproved grasses unsuitable for cropping, favouring a minimal tillage option via a Kale crop.

David is also part of a Marks & Spencer supply group for Primera sired lamb processed by Scotbeef.

The supply contract is seen as a bonus, but the overriding farm policy decision is that the genetics deliver on farm. Once the initial goal of 1,000 ewes has been met there will be the opportunity to mate up to half the flock to the Primera and increase overall lamb output from the farm unit.

With improvement in pasture and genetic productivity the sheep enterprise will challenge other (beef & crop) options within his system. To warrant employing a full time shepherd David believes a sheep flock needs to be a minimum of 2,000 ewes to be financially viable. Future decisions to grow his flock will be determined based on sustainable profitability, but importantly he is building a flock model that is scaleable.

With 4 boys under six Harry, Seb, Jamie and Robbie labour should not be the limiting factor!

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The Highlander index is aimed to deliver maternal ewe efficiency, to maximise lamb output, with a large emphasis on survival. Feed input efficiency is estimated by ewe liveweight. Ewe longevity has a

bearing on replacement rate. In addition Nucleus breeding sires are selected based on parasite resistence genemarkers. The Primera index measures growth with the major emphasis on the retail value of meat

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issington Breedline utilises large nucleus flock size, accurate recording using DNA tools, limited human intervention, grass based systems and specific breeding indexes to manage genetic gain.

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by Bayden Wilson Rissington Breedline

FARM FACTS Farmers: David & Sarah Steven Farming: Redhouse of Barra Location: Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire Sheep:

Self replacing sheep flock 640 Romney & HighlanderX ewes 250 HighlanderX ewe hoggets

Cattle:

230 predominantly Limousin cows with all progeny finished 300 acres crop Barley, Wheat and Rape 20 acres of Strawberries and Raspberries

Crops:

from ram progeny. Rams are measured for birthweight to aid lamb survival. Nucleus rams are evaluated for meat quality and taste based on ongoing genemarker evaluation from taste panels in the UK

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Rissington Breedline UK

2009 on Farm open days 3 September

Scottish Borders

11am -1pm Focus on lambing outdoors, self replacing flock Property of Kevin Stewart, Gattonside 2pm - 5pm

10 September 2pm - 5pm

Hill farm options , Forage & Genetic update Drew Guthrie, Bowhill, Selkirk,

Aberdeenshire Self replacing flock, lambing outdoors, forage & Genetic update David Stephen, Old Meldrum

For further information or to register please contact: Richard Wilkie (Eng. & Wales) ph 07949802196 email richard.wilkie@rissington.com Bayden Wilson (Scotland & Ireland) ph 07903484881 email bayden@rissington.com Rissington Breedline Office, Bowhill ph 0175023739, website: www.rissington.com

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

SHEEP

www.topline-data.co.uk

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ne of the interesting features at this year's Logie Durno Farm Ram Sale was the graphical representation of performance recording results, using bar charts produced by the Topline Charter system.

Topline Charter is a reporting process providing performance data in a user-friendly format so that potential buyers can make informed decisions when selecting stock to suit their needs. The visual presentation of performance recording results, is generally easier to interpret and more helpful to the end-user than the traditional tabular format more generally used in the sheep industry.

This chart, derived from the figures underneath, offers an instant guide to the strengths and weaknesses of Ram 8155.

The charts enable potential buyers to assess and compare the merits of different animals quickly – an animal's strengths and weaknesses in key production traits can be assessed at a glance. The higher the rating the better the breeding potential. It is clear, for example, that this ram's

breeding animals and one of the main problems we have had over the years has been with the presentation and interpretation of results. It is not easy to select stock or make comparisons from rows and columns of densely packed figures. The Topline system was developed specifically to help breeders who record their flocks manage their results effectively. It allows breeders to look quickly through their performance results for the data that interests them and provides charts on demand for all the different categories of stock in a flock. The results can be sorted in different ways: by overall rating, by any trait, top 10%, top 20% etc., etc. and data pulled out and charts drawn, so that stock selection is simplified.

Incidentally, the detailed figures can also be made available, if desired, alongside the chart or in a separate table in the traditional way.”

Sheep judge at a recent Scottish Winter Fair, Robert Coghill of Stemster Mains, Caithness, says, “I have been involved with performance

Here the user is interested in Muscle Depth, and also wants to keep an eye on the overall show Muscle Depth, and the blue bars show Index.

overall index is well above average, as is his 8 week weight, Scan Weight and Muscle Depth, while his Fat Depth rating is below average.

The production of Sale Pen Cards is just one part of the Topline Charter system developed by Topline Data Ltd, a Highlands based company managed by Willie Morrison. Willie, who has been involved in performance recording for many years, maintains that while the level of precision of EBV figures given in the reports generally used in this country may be necessary in some instances the vast majority of breeders and buyers do not need such detail.

“The purpose of performance recording is to help identify the best

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recording for over 30 years and this is far and away the best method of presenting the results that I've seen – and it is so simple to use too, giving access to all the available information in a clear and uncomplicated way.

However, to really appreciate the power of the package you've got to see it in operation.”

Rod McKenzie of the Scottish Sheep Strategy commented: “I feel that these charts can be of benefit to both breeders who record and to commercial producers. I've used the system and it is a great help in working with the results while the pen cards provide an easy to understand overview of a sheep's breeding potential.”

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BOCM Growth

B

verall Index. The narrow pale coloured bars

OCM PAULS as part of it's continuing expansion in Scotland has increased it's presence by recruiting three new and experienced sales support executives and announcing its intention to open a new BOCM PAULS Agri Business Desk in Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

The three new recruits Lynn Gardner, Shona Brown and Yvonne Weir have worked at the farmer-facing end of the Scottish feed industry for a combined total of 26 years, and have a strong technical knowledge and affinity with the livestock industry.

The new team will function as a sales support team for both BOCM PAULS representatives and for the merchants, which BOCM PAULS works particularly closely with across the North of England and Scotland.

They will help sell compound feeds manufactured from the BOCM mill at Penrith; blends out of Turriff Farm Feeds and Kingans Farm Feeds at Brydekirk; and straights, distillery and brewery co-products from across the region. Also, in a significant departure from their previous role when they were engaged purely in a direct sales capacity, the team will also support merchant sales.

“We have a different work ethic in BOCM PAULS to many other companies, in that we work with our merchant partners rather than work in competition with them,” says Grant Spittal, BOCM PAULS's Scottish sales manager. “ Lynn, Shona and Yvonne are all experienced, respected and knowledgeable operators, well liked

by Scottish livestock farmers, and who contribute in a positive way to farm businesses. They will continue to do that, and will help generate additional sales opportunities for our merchants and ourselves.”

The move to recruit the new team is further evidence of BOCM PAULS's commitment to Scottish Agriculture, adds Mr Spittal. Three years ago the company had to revamp much of its sales team across Scotland, but since then BOCM PAULS has invested significantly in its people, product range and infrastructure, and sales volumes across the region have steadily grown and are now significantly above 2006 levels. The two new blend plants now collectively handle around 60,000 tonnes of feed a year, with expansion at Turriff being particularly rapid – going from zero tonnes in 2007 to 20,000t now. New products and an innovative feed “conditioning” technology introduced by the company this winter at both Turriff and Kingans will reduce the cost of energy and protein to the farmers in some compound and blend raw materials and will also contribute to the volume growth.

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nviroBed has been on the market for 8 years, and over this time we have strived to make our bedding the most comfortable and absorbent product on the market. At 95% dry matter this paper bedding is 5 times more absorbent than sawdust and 10 times more absorbent than straw. It is made from the short-fibre waste material produced in paper recycling; so there is a constant, non-weather dependable supply of EnviroBed throughout the year.

Ideal for use on mats and mattresses, EnviroBed is a dense product, which effectively stays on cubicles in open, airy sheds. It readily biodegrades and can be easily spread onto land, comprising of a weak alkaline pH.

This pH of 7-7.4 is unattractive to the growth of mastitis-causing bacteria -ultimately lowering cell counts.

“My farm was one of a hundred that took part in a study of dairy herd health carried out jointly by the Universities of Bristol and Warwick.

We came top in the control of environmental mastitis. Only two years ago all three of our farms had cell count problems. I put this dramatic improvement solely down to the introduction of EnviroBed,” states Richard Calver of Westcombe Hill Farm, Shepton Mallet.

This innovative concept in bedding leads to cleaner, healthier cows and other animals – your solution to bedding for the future!

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

SHEEP

Scottish National

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SHEEP

A

n outstanding performance was staged recently in Ayrshire – the annual Charity Speed Shear hosted by local shearing contractor Chris Reid. The capacity crowd were fully entertained with a novel relay following the main event.

Twelve teams competed in the pie eating, sheep shearing, pint downing, banana guzzling finale, with the ‘Hill Billies’ topping the bill board.

Earlier in the evening shearers had to shear a lamb against the clock, with the top four in each section qualifying for the final shear. Archie Paterson, claimed the Young Farmer title in 29.62 seconds, while Calum Shaw, Saline, Fife nailed the Intermediates in 30.30s. Local farmer and contractor Michael Logan,

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

pictured left discussing the finer points of shearing, took out the farmer class.

Sixteen shearers took to the stand in the Open, with a quarter making the final. English shearer, Joel Barton (above in the teams event) was 4th on 29.31, Kiwi Willie Hewittson came third on 28.67. Last years winner Wull Dickson, Duns was pushed into second this year (27.52s) by up and coming Grant Lundie, Dundee – 26.24s.

The Scottish Sheep Shearing Association held their meeting and competition in the afternoon. Mike Dagg, Melrose, pictured in the pie eating event was champion in the individual with his mate Wull Dickson second. Andrew Baille took third and then won the teams for Lanarkshire paired with Dye Clark, Lesmahagow.

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

BEEF

Bazadaise at Blackridge

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Fed up calving Charolais, Iain Orr, Standhill, Blackridge experimented with Bazadiase and nows runs 100 head topping St Boswells several times.

potting a Bazadaize at the Royal Highland Show twelve years ago was the turning point for Iain Orr, Standhill Farm, Blackridge, West Lothian.

“I liked the idea of easy calving as I was sick of pulling Charolais.

Touch wood I’ve not used the calving machine this year at all,” quipped Iain, who is almost finished the calving.

He tries to calve the bulk in May and June and is currently using three bought in Bazadaise sires (pronounced baz-a-day). Two are relatively local hailing from Willie Crawford, Hatton Mains, Kirkliston and the third was long haul from Rachel Loadman, Richmond.

Calves birth weights are considerably lighter than other Continental breeds, weighing from 35-42kgs, allowing for easy calving.

“The muscling develops after a couple of weeks,” said Iain, “ and they are ready to market by 15 months.”

Previously Iain sold the cattle through the ring at Stirling, but following a visit from auctioneer, Billy Stott, who sells at John Swan’s in the Borders and said he could sell the cattle well, Iain, who is also contract arable farming near Haddington decided to give it a go.

“I started taking a couple a week over a year ago and the butchers are now asking for them. Usually the same five names are usually on the lines. I drive down myself, as there are virtually no hauliers left in the area, apart from Stewarts of Boness.

“The butchers find that there is virtually no waste and a high killing out percentage as they are fine boned. At the end of the day it is meat yield that pays us and the butchers.”

Iain finds that Billy gives a great after care service and is delighted with the prices, having topped the

market on several occasions. “I didn’t realise until I bought my own weigh scales just how much weight a beast can lose in transit. They lose between 30-40kgs en route!”

It was a joint decision to purchase the first bull, but considering Iain currently spends a lot of time off farm and his father is trying to take a back seat, it was a wise move, “as with me being away at Haddington the last thing I need is a difficult calving.”

With only six breeders in Scotland and 51 across the UK, there has been a problem growing the breed “as people don’t like change.”

Iain and his wife, Rona, were recently invited by the Australian Bazadaise Society to the Beef Expo and the Eastern States earlier this year and were well impressed with the cattle out there. “Not what I expected, there are a lot of nice cattle out there, but they are selected for different attributes – so they can walk 50 miles a day and longetivity.

Four years ago Iain took on an arable contact near Haddington. “The farmer had got stuck in a bit of a rut and wanted fresh ideas. I managed, bought all the seed, fert and

chemicals, sold the crops and made the decisions, while he worked. He basically wanted less responsibility. I more than doubled his income in the second year as he had been doing things his father had been doing. I reduced seed rates, did all repairs, shopped about for deals.”

The contract ends on 28th November and Iain is returning to farm full time at Standhill.

FARM FACTS Farmer: Iain & his father John Orr Farming: Standhill, 450 acres owned rents 23 acres for silage runs arable contract Location: Blackridge, W Lothian Cattle:

100 cattle, mixture of breeds but using Bazadaise bulls on all

Sheep:

summered to control Ragwort

Crops:

150 acres wheat & barley all used on farm

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BiBBB

EQUIPMENT

The BiBBB Catcher Crate

* One man operation * Simple crush inside allows handling/calving etc in the field. * Caught animals can be walked to new location. * Calf Nest is available as an extra to carry a newborn calf. * Provides a safe environment in which to tag a newborn calf by excluding the possessive mother.

Bill Ritchie,Whauphill, Strichen, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, AB43 6NY Tel/Fax: 01771637 413 E-mail:bibbb@lycos.co.uk

Frank Nicol Farm & Garden Machinery Ltd Strathpeffer Rd, Dingwall, Ross-Shire IV15 9QF

01349 863854 www.franknicol.co.uk

THE BRITISH

BAZADAISE CATTLE SOCIETY BREEDING BETTER BEEF To find out more visit our website at www.bazadaise.org.uk Or contact The Secretary, British Bazadaise Cattle Society

6 Town Close, HOLT, Norfolk .NR25 6JN Tel:01263 713507 email: cmatthews@bazadaise.org.uk

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

BEEF

Shandford Charolais

C

onsistently hitting the supermarket specification for cattle carcasses on the hook is par for the course at Shandford.

Running 360 head of cattle, mainly Limousin cross Friesians, sourced from an Uncle’s farm in Ayrshire, the Mather family partnership favour the Charolais to sire their cow herd and use Shorthorn bulls over the heifers.

Charolais were first introduced to this Angus property in the early ‘70’s and in 1979 a heifer was purchased from the Adams of Newhouse. She has been the only French female bought in, forming the basis of the pure Charolais herd, which now numbers 20 cows.

“Over the years we have tried Limmys and Blondes but prefer Charolais. We find they have a better daily live weight gain and finish earlier”, explained Graeme Mather (senior), who farms in partnership with no less than six other members of the Mather clan. His mother, older brothers William and David, their sons Scott and Grant and his own son Graeme make up the Magnificent 7.

Calving is split in two, with the first 120 giving birth from March till the end of April. All male calves are left entire and are reared on a home grown bull beef system, usually hanging up at ABP, Perth at 360-380 kgs dwt at 13 months of age. Keeping them entire is certainly not to their detriment as they finish faster and proof positive that the meat is just as tasty, Graeme picked up a third placing and a food hamper at the ASDA Steak competition at the Royal Highland Show in June.

The heifers are grazed and finished traditionally around 18-20 months, weighing in at 310-320kgs dwt, over the scales at ABP. The rest of the commercial cattle calve outside from mid May till the end of June. Bull calves are castrated and sold as forward stores at 16 months at Forfar market. “A lot do end up at ABP through other finishers,” added Graeme.

Pedigree bulls are bred with many being used in house on the commercial cattle. Some are sold through the ring and some privately.

“We just buy a bull every couple of years for new blood. Balthayock Caspar was our last purchase in September last year. They calved well and we are pleased with his offspring. We look at linage, conformation and figures when buying and he has good figures for us.”

All the cattle are housed for the winter months, with the spring calvers

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heading inside a month before the summer calved cows. Silage, swedes, treated straw and minerals are mixed and fed out of a Hi-Spec TMR. The Mathers have devised their own recording system and presented figures showing the difference in live weight gain between the Charolais calves and the Shorthorns at Shandford. The continental calves were averaging 1.57kgs gain a day, while the slower maturing Shorthorns were weighing in at 1.08kgs daily.

Birth weights, slaughter weights and killing out percentages are all input and recorded.

Heifers are bought in from Forfar, numbering seventy this year as they are trying to make up numbers as all OCD cattle were put away to simplify things.

A clean grazing system is practiced – cattle one year, sheep the next. “It makes lambs a lot cleaner. We used to have a problem with Coccidiosis,” admitted Graeme, “but not now.”

A large mob of lambs had been speaned earlier in the day of my visit, pictured bottom right. Lambs are predominantly finished off grass but with the wet summer they have not been thriving as well as normal.

I must admit I was amazed that there were so many family members in the partnership and the workforce, but as they say many hands make light work. At Shandford they like to keep as much work in house as possible and tackle machinery repairs themselves. All silage work and harvesting is carried out by the family as is the sheep shearing. “The boys have made good use of BWMB shearing courses and did it all themselves,” commented Graeme as we passed a field of well shorn sheep, free from any ridges and tassels.

Half the 1000 head ewes are Texel crosses which are mated to Suffolks and the rest are North of England Mules sired by the Texel. The lambs are run through the weigh crate and from 40kgs plus they are drafted off and if well fleshed head for Forfar Market.

Small pedigree flocks of Texels and Suffolks enable the Mathers to pick out the best for themselves and sell a few locally. “Any tups we buy in melt when we take them home – it is the ruination of a lot of sheep. This farm is quite kind to sheep, others must have horrendous losses. I would like to see more tups turned out naturally and not pushed,” avered Graeme.

Bulk feed from Harbro, fed out by a snacker has reduced the time and effort spent feeding sheep.

The Mathers have a good working relationship with John Dodds, Glenogil Estate. For the past five years they have shepherded 2600 Blackface wethers on 9000 acres on a contract basis. “Our dogs have improved dramatically since we took on this contract and his grouse have increased – 1000 brace were last year.”

The younger generation of farmers on this mixed property, which rises

from 350 feet on the arable ground to 550 feet at the house and 1000 feet on the rough grazing, “see things differently and try to make things easier.” Graeme (jun) engineered a ramp out of recycled materials so he could check the stock on the quad without having to open the gate. A second calf-catching machine has just been purchased so calves can singlehandedly be tagged and dehorned.

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FARM FACTS Farmer: Mather & Sons Mrs Mather in partnership with her sons William, David and Graeme and their sons; Scott, Grant and Graeme Interview: Graeme Mather (sen) Farming: Shandford, 1600acres owned 800 acres tenanted from John Dodds, Glenogil Est 2000 acres hill rented 9000 acres hill on contract from Glenogil Estates Location: Fern, Brechin, Angus Cows:

360 breeding cows, mainly Limousin cross all covered

by Charolais bulls heifers to Shorthorn bull 20 pure Charolais cows

Sheep:

1000 ewes, Texel x & Mules 20 pure Texels 15 pure Suffolks 2600 Blackies on contract

Crops:

550 acres cereals 40 acres roots 40 acres sublet for potatoes

Labour: 3 Mather brothers, their 3 sons, a tractor man and

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farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

BEEF

Braes o’ Burnshot

T

he Braes of Burnshot are synonymous with quality finished Aberdeen Angus cattle.

My first visit to Burnshot was in 1984, while procuring cattle for a marketing group. The late Bobby Braes showed me round the cattle courts – the buildings were full to the gunnels with black cattle at varying stages of finish.

This time I met up with his son Robin and his uncle William, at the newly renovated Burnshot farmhouse before heading round the property.

Only about fifty bullocks, almost ready for the hook, were housed this time. The rest were at grass.

Black Angus are in vogue at the moment as, “we have never seen such a large premium. It is normally 1012p more per kilo than for other breeds but last month the premium nearly doubled,” informed a wide-eyed William.

The duo purchase Angus bullocks, over 12 months old, from markets across Central Scotland. “They have to be resident here for at least 90 days for the Scotbeef deal – the Select Farm Scheme,” said Robin.

“We buy in from trusted sources, some of the farms we have dealt with for generations. If the cattle are right and finish well we will go back and attempt to buy more, but they are getting harder and harder to find,” said William, who had just returned from St Boswells market empty handed.

FARM FACTS Farmers: R & R Braes Robin Braes & his uncle William Farming: Burnshot 500acres owned Location: Blackness, Linltihgow, West Lothian Cattle:

Buys in & finishes 1400 90% are AA bullocks

Sheep:

Finishes 700+ Blackface lambs

Crops:

250 acres cereals rents 54 acre for sprouts

Labour: Robin & William employ 2 men Robin’s son Darren (15) helps out

The protocol at Burnshot with purchased stock is to check the ear tag and passport first, before they go into sheds or out to grass. Everything is then logged onto the computer and the passports are stored in boxes according to which field or pen each beast has been allocated.

“We then check the Angus sire name and number, which is sometimes on the rear of the passport as we have to know for Scotbeef. We then find out the dam breed so we know if the individual is 50%, 75% or pure Angus as it makes a difference to how much premium you get,” said Robin who uses the first horseman’s cottage to store his passports and prize winning paraphernalia.

“If the cattle are there we will buy every week, but don’t purchase below 410kgs as it takes too long to finish them,” said William, who went on to say: “The bulk of the finished cattle (95%) go to Scotbeef, but we have private butchers that like certain weights of cattle. Sometimes we have to be very choosy when selecting out of the courts. We have been dealing with one butcher shop since 1928!”

Any Continental cattle that are finished head to private butchers and the live markets.

“We occasionally get the odd bad grade, but on the whole we are quite satisfied with performance,” said Robin as we wandered round the yard.

“The biggest problem is with the EEC spec and what they take off the carcase.”

Quite a few of the butchers, come down to Burnshot as they like to see what the cattle look like on the hoof.

“That is the benefit of dealing direct with the butchers as it makes them comfortable to know what they are getting.”

Unfortunately it was teaming it down, typical Scottish summer weather as we drove round the cattle at grass. They were huddled, sheltering under trees so I didn’t quite get the idyllic photo of them grazing with the backdrop of Blackness Castle, where Mel Gibson (my movie hero) and other actors have starred in block buster movies, in the background.

The Braes aim to fatten as many cattle off grass as possible from the fields nearby. Cattle grazing further away are housed for a month to six weeks. Robin has a wee feeding regime, whereby he feeds the cattle in each field some cake in a trough within a pen. This method enables him to swing the gate shut whenever they need handled, saving time and energy chasing cattle round fields.

The fifty currently in house are on a zero grazing system for the next few weeks until the pit silage is ready for consumption. Brock potatoes, bruised barley and high protein nuts are added to the silage for an ad lib feed.

Not one for spending huge

57 MAG 27/8/09 2:40 pm Page 15

Glenside Advertorial

Solving Slurry Problems

F amounts of money on a feed mixer, Robin adapted a moving floor muck spreader with housing at the back so the flails mix the feed before it heads down a chute into the feed pass.

With older buildings the vintage tractors and unique feed mixers work a treat at a fifth of the cost or a TMR machine! “The only difference is that my version cannot weigh the feed, but it is ad-lib anyway so doesn’t really matter,” said Robin.

“I do all my own haulage and collect 25t of potatoes a week in the lorry. We used to feed them whole but had a few beasts choke on them so now pulverise them. We use 75% of the barley and sell the rest for malting.”

At Burnshot are usually in good health, “as we buy from trusted sources,” stressed William. They have found that if there are any cases of pneumonia they are always in one shed – the one with an asbestos roof.

To keep ringworm away the Braes hang male holly (no berries) in the cattle courts. “An old guy told us this years ago and we thought it would be an old wives tale. But the wee bit of ringworm that was present cleared up and we haven’t been bothered by it since!” shared William.

The handling facilities were built in the 80’s and work well. An Ozzie Superscooper device is attached to the front of the crush. It is ideal for lifting cows heads for tagging.

For the past fifty years or so the Braes have been buying and finishing Blackface lambs. Last year they bought 500 from Stirling, UA and 200 North Country Cheviots from St Boswells. William reckons that it is hard to get good Blackie lambs these days. He buys top draw lambs as, “some come off the high hard hills and it is quite a change for them and we need them to survive. He bids for the same lambs every year and was very sketchy with information! They buy from September and start selling at the end of January.

The lambs are put on under sown grass and receive some barley in rougher weather. “The residue of the Brussels sprouts is excellent feed for them. We had none inside last year – it was an exceptional year for lambs. We have found you need good dogs for handling Blackie lambs,” said William.

Apart from letting out the land for Brussels sprouts, the only other worker to come on farm is the contract hedge trimmer, so the boys at Burnshot have their work cut out for themselves with horn and corn.

armers battling with ever-tighter rules on slurry storage and disposal should consider ways of making their existing storage stretch as far as possible, and improve the efficiency with which they apply slurry to farmland.

Using products like Glenside's Slurri-morr to treat stored slurry and the company's OxyGenerator Super 6 applicator when spreading it on land can help them do that, says Ian Robertson, Managing Director of the Stirling-based The Glenside Group: “Many farmers are already struggling to handle all the slurry they produce, and the introduction of defined spreading periods and increasing influence of NVZs will place greater pressure on their storage facilities.

“But the capacity of any slurry store can be cut further by a build up of thick sludge at the bottom, while at the same time a hard crust may form on the surface.

“Both the sludge and the crust make it more difficult to ensure the slurry spreads evenly on the field, which can reduce the effectiveness with which the nutrients the slurry contains are used by the crops grown on the land where it is spread.

“Farmers using our Slurri-morr innoculant report that the slurry remains far more consistent. They can achieve far more effective clearance of the slurry lagoon, which effectively increases its capacity, and the slurry removed spreads far more easily, so spreading takes less time and power and creates less smell.

“In addition the retention of nutrients – especially important elements like phosphate, potash, magnesium, copper and zinc – is improved, which raises the slurry's nutritive value.

“In a series of ten trials comparing treated and un-treated slurry, the treated slurry had extra nutrients worth over £200 for every 75,000 gallons, with most notable increases

in important nutrients like phosphate, potash, magnesium, copper and zinc.

It is shortages and imbalances between nutrients like these that often reduce the productive efficiency of livestock and crops”, says Ian. Slurri-morr is a freeze-dried slurry innoculant that contains a range of beneficial bacteria that help break down the organic matter in the slurry and “fix” more of the ammonia and potash content. This effectively raises its value as manure and reduces losses to the atmosphere when spreading on the field.

Small doses of the innoculant are mixed with the slurry throughout the lagoon filling and storage period, and prevent separation and nutrient loss, which ensures the product is more easily spread and retains its nutritive value when spread.

Applying treated slurry via the OxyGenerator Super 6 will further improve the efficiency with which it is utilised.

Glenside's OxyGenerators use robust boron steel blades to penetrate up to 15cms into the soil and shatter shallow compaction caused by machinery and livestock treading, and restore the natural cycle of water and air through the soil, which helps ensure it maintains its full productive capacity.

OxyGenerators can be fully ballasted to help maintain penetration in all conditions, with the blades themselves being able to be offset at either three or five degree angles, so they open up a sizeable slit that ensures efficient ingress of slurry or subsequent rainfall, which optimises nutrient retention and minimises run-off.

The new OxyGenerator Super 6 includes umbilical fittings that enable slurry to be spread behind the machine, where the slits ensure much of it is quickly absorbed by the soil so its nutritive value is maximised and losses from volatilisation are reduced.

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57 MAG 27/8/09 2:40 pm Page 16

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

ARABLE

by Andrew Arbuckle

Potatoes in Practice

S

cottish potato growers may have the consolation that they have not had to irrigate their crops this season with rainfalls in July and August being the highest experienced for the past fifty years.

However, the downside to saving labour and fuel costs on adding water to this season’s crop has been the reduction in the value of the crop.

Prices for crops being lifted and sold off the field are currently 10% to 20% less than a year ago, and trading, based on April 2010 futures, are now 30% to 40% less than twelve months previously. That is why, while there was a record number of growers and merchants at this year’s Potatoes in Practice event held outside Dundee, there was not a record number of wide grins and happy faces. All of the talk was of containing costs and reducing expenditure although it was obvious from the various seminars held at the event, additional costs would be incurred in abiding by the latest pieces of legislation funnelling through from Brussels.

In the opening address, Fiona Fell, an independent member of the Potato Council and the chair of its Knowledge Transfer committee, emphasised the need for cost

effectiveness in carrying out research work. “The UK Government (DEFRA) has cut funding for basic research and we must be smarter in bringing together centres and deliver results which will help growers.”

She added that growers should value the work that was being carried out by scientists as this was critical to ensuring this country continued to have a competitive industry.

However, those growers listening to the potential consequences of the implementation of the EU Pesticides Directive and the Water Framework Directive, both of which will gradually reduce the number of pesticides that can be used, might have wondered how they would remain competitive.

Rob Clayton, of the Potato Council, revealed research which showed that crop yields could drop by 15% in the next decade with the removal of several major pesticides that are currently used to control diseases such as blight, and pests such as eelworm. The research work identifying the consequence of removing certain key chemicals was carried out to help prioritise future research by the industry.

Blight has afflicted the potato

industry for the past two hundred years and, far from being won, the battle against this fungal disease is becoming more difficult. “We are now seeing an early blight strain that is attacking crops two weeks earlier than usual and late blight is endemic. The result of this is that we need to add an extra preventative spray at the beginning of our programme and another one at the end.”

The problem is that one of the main blight control chemicals, Mancozeb, is due to be taken out of commercial availability by 2014 as a result of the European Pesticide legislation and there is no immediate replacement.

Increasing the control on blight could cost the industry an estimated £56 million annually, he said.

Although not affecting the Scottish seed crop, which has to be planted on eelworm free ground, a large percentage of the good potato growing areas in the United Kingdom suffer from eelworm infestation, where one of the main control methods is fumigation of the soil. Unfortunately, the main active ingredient in this control will be removed from the approved list of chemicals as a

Tractor & Farm Insurance

consequence of its being found in samples of water taken from nearby streams. Again a cost tag of more than £50 million was put against the loss of this particular chemical.

Another pesticide which faces being withdrawn because of long term concerns over built up in watercourses is the main weapon against slug control. Metaldyhydes are not only used in the potato crop to prevent tubers being attacked by slugs but the same chemical is used in oilseed rape and other brassica crops.

However, it may well have to be withdrawn because of concerns surrounding its long term use.

Even the control of weeds in future potato crops will be limited with the withdrawal of several of the main weapons. Almost all the current chemicals with residual, or long lasting, controls will be gone within the five years and this will entail growers in the future being far more precise in their war against weeds.

Mr Clayton summed the report up by saying that the way potatoes are grown in this country will have to change. A bigger percentage of the growing costs would require to be put towards improving husbandry rather than just relying on the sprayer.

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57 MAG 27/8/09 2:40 pm Page 17

Biocell Advertorial

Y Partners4 Farmers For country minded folk www.partners4farmers.com 1000’s of profiles online!

Share your passion – today!

Love is in the Air

L

ast week I was lucky enough to run into Mary Rowels and Nigel Merriam of 4xtrahands.com.

Having heard rumours about a new addition to their business I took the opportunity to have a quick word with Mary about just exactly what Partners4farmers.com was.

“Partners4Farmes.com was borne out of our experiences in the office at 4Xtrahands.com” according to Mary.

“It became impossible to draw Nigel off the phone when he had driven into town to do accounts!”

Nigel agrees, “Mary soon noticed that when she was taking calls for the recruitment side of 4Xtrahands.com, the customers often dragged out the conversations for as long as possible.”

“Yes, it soon became apparent that for some of the guys out there, I was the only other person they had spoken to all week outside the farm, and shock horror, a woman!”

A shame but true, our smaller communities offer little in the way of talent once you get to a certain point in life and this was very much in Mary and Nigel’s thoughts at the creation of Partners4Farmers.com.

“By the time you’re middle aged, you’re fully acquainted with most of the locals and your wild Young Farmer days are well behind you, you’re really stuck for choice.”

Nigel adds: “When you finally have

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time to sit down and have a minute to yourself you realise that your friends have gone to the pub to escape the wife and bairns, not find one!”

According to Mary, the response from those who have been onto the website already has been fantastic, with quite a few weddings and numerous babies! “We really do cater for all tastes on the website, with both men and women successfully finding The One online.”

It seems that the internet really is bringing The World together or our local communities at least. “I was in the office last week, speaking to a customer named Lizzie who admitted that had it not been for Partners4Farmers.com she would never have met her husband and would not have a very successful contractor business to their name.”

As has been reported by the national press, the recession and credit crunch have meant that ‘In is the new Out’ on a Friday and Saturday night. This has led to an increase in use of online dating services like the one offered by Partners4Farmers.com.

According to Mary “when we saw the statistics we spoke about changes to the website and both agreed about where we both liked to socialise and meet people, and how we could incorporate that into the dating agency.”

Now with a fully revitalised website Partners4Farmers.com offers chat rooms where, like the pub, you can sit and talk to like minded folk or more importantly not. After a quick play the facilities such as chat are easy to use as are putting your photos online and searching for the kind of people you like. In terms of a product, necessity really has been the mother of invention in this case and the tried and tested hands of 4Xtrahands.com have come up with a good product.

east has been included in sheep diets for some years now, but Biocell agri limited have taken it a step further with extensive trials involving both ewes and lambs, and finishing lambs. Trials have been conducted on commercial farms, with the emphasis on profitability, but the trials have demonstrated significant health benefits too.

The inclusion of Biocell pure live yeast is demonstrated to improve rumen function, energy supply, and fibre digestion. In ewes, this has led to an improvement in milk quality, resulting in more even growth in twin lambs, and a reduction in twin-lamb disease and prolapses. This is a consequence of the mode of action of the live yeast in enhancing the activity of the rumen bacteria, but in addition, the resulting healthier gut environment leads to an improvement in the absorption of essential nutrients. Trace elements are, therefore, better utilised.

Trial 1 – Lamb creep containing the live yeast was shown to improve feed conversion and reduce the time to reach target slaughter weight, saving feed costs by an average £5 per lamb. For trial purpose, 96 lambs were split into two groups. The control group was fed a creep containing no live yeast. The second group was fed the live yeast at a rate to match the demands of rapidly growing lambs. The objective was to demonstrate whether the response achieved in beef cattle could be reproduced in lambs. Live yeast is known to improve feed conversion efficiency and killing out percentage, resulting in improvements in grading.

The randomly selected lambs were split into two groups, with a 3.5kgs average starting weight. All lambs had creep feed ad lib from ten days old, and were monitored each day. Ram lambs fed the live yeast reached 40kgs seventeen days earlier than the control group, taking only 106 days compared with 123 days for the control. Ewe lambs performed similarly, with a reduction of sixteen days in the time taken to reach 40kgs – 126 days against 142 for the control.

These results mean a feed cost saving of 23.5p per lamb/day was achieved, with additional savings in labour and other costs. The increase in growth rates produced a saving of £3.45 per lamb. In addition, extra feed was saved in reaching the 40kgs target as a result of the improved feed conversion. Ram lambs ate 12kgs less, and ewe lambs 11kgs less, with an average additional saving of £1.80 per lamb. Including Biocell live yeast in lamb creep costs on 2-3p per lamb/day, and is easily mixed on farm.

Trial 2 – Finishing lambs at grass. The objective of the trial was to examine the benefits of Biocell in finishing lambs at grass, and for the purpose of the trial the yeast was pelleted for trough feeding. The trial area (27.6 acres) was divided into three equal grazing areas. Lambs were weaned on 3rd August, and the matched groups, each of 110 lambs were picked from 500 lambs. A 15.5% protein pellet was fed at 0.5kg per head/day.

Group 1 - Pellets (no Biocell); Group 2 - Pellets + Biocell; Group 3 Control. All groups had free access to minerals and salt licks Observations: The Biocell group consumed less mineral, and cleaned up their feed.

This group also grazed harder than the non-treated and control groups. In addition, the lambs fed Biocell had significantly less scald (foot-rot).

Results of the 31 day trial period: Total Gain DLWG 15.5% Pellets + Biocell group 11.95kgs 0.385 Pellets only 10.80kgs 0.348 Control 7.98kgs 0.257

Lambs supplemented with Biocell gained an additional 10.6% over those receiving pellets only, and improved by nearly 4kgs, or 49.7%, over those on grass alone. Of 200 lambs finished by the end of September, only 20% were drawn from the control group on grass alone. Trials continue, to measure the additional gain and potential health benefits of introducing the yeast pre-weaning.

For further information please contact Alec Ross on 07718 905625 / 01776 810228 Biocell Agri Limited. Peter Gillard (Director) 07971 023637 / 01885 410336 Email: biocellagri@btinternet.com or visit the website: www.biocellagri.com

01848 600286

now 17

57 MAG 27/8/09 2:40 pm Page 18

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

EDUCATION

Grassland Development

SAC

have commenced a project, sponsored by QMS to help beef and sheep farmers make better use of grass and forage.

Two “Grassland Development Farms” have been established. These farms will provide the focus for the project and will host 3-4 meetings a year. A group of interested farmers will discuss issues relating to grass and forage management on the host farm but also in relation to what they do on their own farms. Specialists from SAC will also visit each farm regularly during the grazing season to monitor what is happening in terms of stocking rates, grazing programme etc.

The farms The two farms are in different areas of Scotland so the project is accessible to a wider range of participants. One farm is in Fife, near Cupar and the other is in Upper Nithsdale, near Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire.

Hilltarvit Mains is a 1400 acre mixed farm just South of Cupar, farmed by the Whiteford family.

Around 1000 acres of arable crops are grown in addition to the 400 acres of grass. Stocking is made up of 100 autumn calving Simmental X Angus cows producing finished cattle at 20 months and 50 spring calving cows producing store cattle. A sheep flock of 500 Mules are put to Suffolk and Texel rams, lambing in March with replacements bought in as gimmers. A clean grazing system has been in operation for 20 years.

Doug and Lorna Greenshields farm, South Mains, a 1600 acre upland farm in Nithsdale. There are 600 acres of rough grazing with the remainder being permanent pasture.

Stocking comprises of 600 Blackfaced ewes along with a flock of 700 home bred Mules, which are all put to Terminal Sire rams. There are also 190 Stabiliser suckler cows, calving in spring producing breeding heifers and store cattle.

First meetings The first meeting at South Mains was held on 2nd July. The project was introduced by Peter Beattie from QMS and Rhidian Jones, SAC Beef and Sheep specialist who is co-ordinating the project and facilitating the South Mains group.

Doug Greenshields gave an outline of the farm and the enterprises. The group then moved out to see sheep grazing where Dr John Vipond led the discussion. Finally the group spent one and a half hours discussing the rotational grazing system that Doug has implemented this year for the first time for store cattle. This is beneficial in terms of grass utilisation, maintaining grass quality for longer in the season and optimising cattle growth rates.

On 7th July the second meeting was held at Hilltarvit, facilitated by Dr John Vipond, SAC Senior Sheep specialist. He introduced the project before John Whiteford outlined the farm and the enterprises. The first stop was with the autumn calving cows and calves. The main topic of discussion here was the benefits and methods of reseeding as the field was deemed past its best. The group then spent some time looking at sheep grazing fields. John explained that by keeping pastures under control in spring it maintains good grass quality.

If the sward “gets away” from the stock there will be dead material in the base which is poorer quality.

Finally the group retired back to the steading where the discussion focussed on winter feeding policy.

The following themes have been identified for the project and will receive attention in future meetings.

Theme 1 Identifying the need for reseeding Soils aspects * Soils: classification, compactions and drainage problems. * Options for aeration * How to soil sample * Use of information, pH guide. * P & K indices, use of fertilisers, recommendations for grassland & silage Grasses aspects * Sward composition * Weed and grass identification * Estimating Dry Matter yields Establishment methods * Plough, cultivate, reseed. * Slot seeding, Aitchison drill * Oversowing When, Where, How Costs and returns exercise * Value of reseeding and nitrogen sensitivity * Value of getting clover establishment * Alternatives to a full reseed

Feeding aspects * Return on feeding different classes of stock * Wintering costs per cow and ewe. * Outwintering options * Deferred grazing. * Forage analysis

* * *

Grass varieties and mixes * For permanent/rotational/fertility building * Additions to grass clover mixes, plantain, chicory * When and where to use red and white clover Management of reseeds * Cut v graze in year 1 * Options if no sheep available * Fertiliser maintenance

* * * * * * * * * * *

Theme 2 Planning a grazing programme Planning a clean grazing rotation How to set initial stocking rates (at turnout).

Supply and demand curves, Requirements for conservation Monitoring the feed wedge: Sward heights Using a plate meter Rules of thumb for getting sward height back on track Rotational Grazing in summer Nitrogen usage and stocking rate – when to apply and how much.

Weed control.

by Rhidian Jones SAC 18

Theme 3 Conservation and feeding of forage Conservation aspects * Planning forage requirement for cattle and sheep. * Producing a year round grazing plan for grass, forage crops, aftermaths, silage, bought in feed * Setting up pastures for conservation * Rolling, dung contamination, age of sward, target date and D value assessment * Accurate costing of dry matter costs in £/kg for first cut, second cut and aftermath grazing * Grass versus silage costs. * Forage crops - costs of dry matter.

*

Theme 4 Clover versus nitrogen Red clover in arable rotations How much N does White Clover contribute Oversowing clover, what type of White Clover?

Use of urea nitrogen on oversown clover areas

The project has got off to a great start with two interesting and well attended meetings in excellent weather. The next meeting at South Mains is on Thursday 10th September and another meeting will be held in the autumn at Hilltarvit once the arable work is complete. If you are interested in attending these meetings and improving your knowledge of grassland management and utilisation please contact Rhidian Jones at SAC Dumfries on 01387 261 172, mobile 0791 969 1841.

Alternatively by email Rhidian.Jones@sac.co.uk

57 MAG 27/8/09 2:41 pm Page 19

EDUCATION

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

New Nuffield Award

“T

he Trustees of the MacRobert Trust are delighted to announce The MacRobert Trust Farming Scholarship Award to run for three years from 2010. This award recognises The Trust's long-standing commitment to agriculture and the desire of the Trustees to ensure that excellence and innovation continue to be hallmarks of Scottish farming,” said the Trust Administrator.

Farming has been a core interest of the Douneside Estate since the early 1900s. The world famous pedigree herds of Friesan (founded 1917) and Aberdeen Angus (founded in 1932) and the Highland Fold established the Douneside Estate and later the MacRobert Farms (Douneside) Ltd, formed by William Heughan, as a centre of farming excellence Donations by The Trust to farming have been long-standing and widespread. A gift of £85,000 towards the construction of the MacRobert Centre at the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society's permanent showground, opened in

June 1965 was perhaps the most famous and gave William Heughan particular pleasure. Other donations are to numerous to mention, suffice to say that The MacRobert Trust remains committed to farming and to the support of agriculture generally.

The establishment of The MacRobert Trust Farming Scholarship Award by Trustees in March 2009 with a donation of £30,000 over three years from 2010 is but the latest manifestation of this commitment.

Administration of the Scholarship, including selection of the candidates, will be conducted by the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Scottish candidates wishing to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship. If you have a vision or topic you would like to investigate on a global basis check out the Nuffield website and apply – www.nuffieldscholar.org Applications close on the 15 November, so get your thinking caps on and take what could be an opportunity of a lifetime!

www.hi-health.co.uk SCOTLAND'S LEADING HEALTH SCHEME RUN BY FARMERS FOR FARMERS FOR THE MOST PRACTICAL APPROACH TO IMPROVING HERD PERFORMANCE PRIVATE & AUCTION SALES ARRANGED SALE PREVIEWS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP £25 to £105 Contact us today to find out what we can do for you Tel 01856 878293 Email: hihealth.admin@btconnect.com

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57 MAG 27/8/09 2:41 pm Page 20

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

WORLD MARKETS

World Markets Hugh Stringleman

D

ust bowl to renewable energy production in one lifetime – that's the latest story from the Texas panhandle on the High Plains of the United States. A wind farming boom in West Texas is turning the settler's curse, almost constant wind, into an asset requiring almost no effort on behalf of the land owner.

For the loss of 2-3% land to production like cropping or livestock grazing, farmers near Amarillo are earning US$5000-plus per turbine per year. Charlie Brown told me the eight turbines on 130ha that his family owned would add at least 20% annually to arable income. The 1.25KW Suzlon turbines were erected

by John Deere, the giant farm machinery multinational now an emerging player in wind energy.

John Deere put the $2 million-each machines on Brown's land with a contract covering short term disruption, for road construction, underground lines and tower erection, and long term earnings based on actual generation performance.

In one of the windiest places on earth, Brown and John Deere expect 300-plus days a year with wind run from 12 to 15 mph, which is the optimum for those turbines.

The Brown family is free to continue no-till cropping under the wind farm – indeed the towers have been placed so that the centre-pivot irrigators still draw their watery circles without impact.

The lucrative nature of this wind power boom for land owners is illustrated by Brown's neighbour, who is landlord to 53 turbines of 1.5 MW each, at a total cost over US$100 million, all erected in the phenomenal time of eight months during 2008.

At that time, late in 2008, the promoters Babcock & Brown, an Australian-based merchant bank now in voluntary administration, claimed

20

their Majestic 79.5 MW wind farm was only a forerunner to 1000 MW of installed capacity it planned in the panhandle. Texas now produces 9000 MW of America's 25,000 MW generated from wind, and is the leading wind power state.

But as the phrase “voluntary administration” might indicate, not everything is coming up roses in the wind farms of West Texas. Firstly, there is the environmental impact of the turbines themselves. Not everyone loves a turbine on their horizon, or perhaps next door.

Texan judges have already ruled that visual impact is insufficient reason to decline an application to build, so opponents are turning to supposed noise and radiation effects on health.

But few laws impinge on a Texan's right to do what he likes with his land. Outside of the city limits and any zoning restrictions, pretty much anything goes.

Bob Josserand, the 80-year-old Mayor of Hereford, which calls itself the “Beef Capital of the World”, has seen five economic waves wash over Deaf Smith County, West Texas, in the time he has been a resident. Old enough to have experienced the Dust Bowl Depression of the 1903s, Bob was born and raised in Kansas and moved to West Texas in 1971, at the height of the beef feedlot construction boom. He remains the owner of a 50,000-head lot in the county, which has the greatest concentration of feed lots in the world. With 40 miles of Hereford there are one million head of cattle at any one time, and 2.5 million head finished to slaughter annually.

When he moved into the district in 1971 sugar beet was the largest crop, but the sugar refinery soon closed.

Following that, because of the abundant grain, the feed-lotting industry relocated to West Texas from

California, Arizona and Montana, Bob said. “Then five years ago Deaf Smith County wasn't even on the map of Texas dairying, now we are number two or three in the state,” he said.

Bob said that the rapid development of dairy farming had “ruined the labour cost on feed yards.” Yet right now dairy farmers with no debt and only feed cost and labour to pay, were losing US$3/ 100lbs of milk (about 4.5p/litre).

Recently he and several other wealthy residents subscribed for $10,000 shares in the White Energy ethanol plant, the first ethanol producer in Texas, which generates huge tonnages of distillers grains for cattle feed.

The feedstock for White Energy is 80% maize and 20% grain sorghum, both of which grow in abundance under irrigation in the Texas panhandle. But White Energy in Hereford didn't come on line until 2008, by which time maize prices had soared and ethanol prices fallen. In March it filed for Chapter 11

bankruptcy protection, has closed one of its plants and continues to operate two others, including Hereford. But the shareholders' capital has gone.

Another $250 million ethanol plant, being built by Panda Ethanol to utilise heat from composting cow manure from the surrounding feed-lots, was never completed before going broke.

Fortunately the Texas panhandle is one of the continuously windy regions in the world, which has brought large numbers of wind turbines in the past two years.

Yet one of the largest promoters, the Australian-based Babcock & Brown, has already exited, leaving its wind farms to a Californian lawyer and farmer turned wind energy developer, Glen Hodges.

Bob Josserand described Deaf Smith's 17,000 inhabitants as proudly blue collar workers who could turn their hands to anything which came along. And if the recent history of West Texas is a guide, something new will come along shortly.

57 MAG 27/8/09 2:41 pm Page 21

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57 MAG 27/8/09 2:41 pm Page 22

farmingscotland.com Issue fifty-seven • September 2009

FEATURE

Ex-Scottish rugby player – Gregor MacKenzie – now farms on the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand, writes Howard Keane of NZ Rural Press, Straight Furrow.

IN the middle of the intensive dairying area of the Amuri Plains in North Canterbury Gregor Mackenzie is farming differently to most.

On the 316ha farm, which is now just about fully irrigated, he says he is yet to realise the full potential of his cattle fattening and cropping operation.

Gregor comes from a family farm on the fertile coastal plain north of Inverness in Scotland, where his brother is still on the home farm. Due to its high latitude it has a much shorter growing season than New Zealand. They grew mainly cereals and it is a good area for seed potatoes.

He first came to New Zealand in 1977 for a one-year diploma at Lincoln and really liked it. ìI remember thinking I would have loved to have been brought up here.î He could have stayed longer at Lincoln, but his passion was rugby and he was keen to get back to Scotland to further a playing career which eventually took him to the top level as a Scottish international.

Further trips to New Zealand followed, including the 1987 Rugby World Cup as a spectator, and again in 1991. He came for a more serious look with the intention emigrating in

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1993 and again in 1994, and he and wife Liz finally arrived in November 1995.

They unsuccessfully searched for a farm in the foothills of MidCanterbury, looking for a property for cattle and cropping and some dairy supply. However they eventually settled on the current farm near Culverden. ìThis was easily the best farm we saw.

We had the option of some water, and it had very good soils.î It has good mix of lighter and heavier soils, and when they came 70ha was borderdyked and 50ha was spray irrigated. However, the whole middle part of the farm with the best soils was not irrigated.

With consent to take water out of two of the streams that run across the property that middle part of the farm is now irrigated by centre pivot. ìI think all the capital works are done now, and even though the debt is mounting because of the development, when we get into full production we should be OK.î These days over 100ha of crop is grown on the farm. This year he is growing biscuit wheat on contract and feed wheat for the free market, as

well as barley and peas.

A lot of the spring barley will be for silage and it will be undersown with short rotation ryegrass and red and white clover which will last as pasture for about four years. ìItís worked well with us because it saves extra work after we take the crop off, and itís up and running straight away.î Last season free market cereals, which have sold well in the past, were difficult to sell, and so a lot was made into silage. This put pressure on cash flow.

However, Gregor says he has about 700 rising two-year-old cattle to sell in the next few months which should bring some relief.

After these cattle are gone he will be looking for more 15-month-old cattle to fatten through the winter. No calves were bought this year because they were too expensive.

He intentionally does not have any breeding stock on the farm.

While most of the cattle are sold through Canterbury Meat packers, a contract with Silver Fern Farms for 160 steers is particularly pleasing he says, and it will pay him to feed them well.

If he takes them to 370kg cw they will fetch $4.52 a kg. ìThe SFF contract was a breath of fresh air when it came out in March or April. Weíve had to use a lot of high value silage and swedes, but we are going to get recompense for it.î An average of $4 a kg over the whole cattle operation would be good result. ìIf we can do over $4.20 I will be very happy.î He says the animals are in a good forward condition this year.

Replacing stock is the critical part of the operation. ìIf you pay too much you just donít have the margin capability at the end.î Many of the cattle are only on the farm for six or seven months, but irrigation has meant that there always a bank of feed available. Summer turnips is another feed option being used.

Being in the middle of a dairying area has meant that selling cereal silage and feed grain has been a good option in the past. However with dairy farmers restricting spending the past couple of years have not been so good.

They have grazed dairy cows each winter, although far less now than in the past.

Has he been tempted to turn it into a dairy farm? ìWeíve looked into it. Itís still a potential dairy farm, itís got the range of soils you would want. ìBut itís too good a farm for dairying.

It would spoil it. Weíre not making as much money as them, but we cherish the lifestyle.î Liz works part time at Waikari Hospital about 15 to 20 minutes drive away, while daughter Kirsty, 15, is at Girls High School in Christchurch and son Ruaridh 13, is at Boys High.

Another daughter Mairi, 10, is still at home.

Gregor is chairman of the Pahau Enhancement Group, which has made big strides in minimising nutrient run off into Pahau and Hurunui rivers from the intensive farming of the Amuri Basin.

The four streams running through the farm are now fenced off and awaiting riparian planting. Importantly they are running clear and fish stocks are good. ìItís a very nice farm now and weíve got water. All the water is on the surface from the Amuri Irrigation Company, so weíre very fortunate,î Gregor says.

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lurryBugs is a combination of specific bacilli, which flourish in the harsh environment of slurry lagoons. The specific strains of bacteria in this inoculant metabolise ammonia into organic forms of nitrogen, which are then fixed and more available for plant uptake.

Typically, Nitrogen is lost during storage and spreading, but this combined system effectively retains Nitrogen.

By adding the Micro-nutrient pack SlurryBooster alongside SlurryBugs, the bacteriological growth and their enzyme production can be increased by up to 8 times; enabling more urea to be converted into ammonia, and then organic Nitrogen. Testing has shown that after 30 days nitrogen levels can raise from the usual 1214mg/litre to 42+ mg/litre; and with

fertilizer prices at their current level, returns can be as high as 11:1.

Improvements in nitrogen levels have been proven in recent trials undertaken at Myerscough College – the results can be seen at: www.envirosystems.co.uk In most cases the manual application of SlurryBugs for tanks and channels suits farms with up to 150 cows; and the automatic dispenser is ideal for farms with over 150 cows (the system is fitted onto the lagoon and fully maintained by EnviroSystems). SlurryBugs enzymes degrade the undigested fibre that causes crusting; achieving more liquefied slurry with less odour. Tests have shown that SlurryBugs and Booster can save £25,000 per annum in ammonium nitrate fertiliser costs.

CALEDONIAN MARTS (STIRLING )LTD, Millhall Auction Mart, Millhall, STIRLING FK7 7LS Website: WWW.CALEDONIAN-MARTS.COM

September Sales AT MILLHALL AUCTION MART, MILLHALL, STIRLING Tel: 01786 450922 oTuesday 1st Sale of Prime Lambs, Cast Ewes and Rams oThursday 3rd Sale of Prime Cattle and OTM Stock oFriday 4th “The PREMIER” Show and Sale of Single Suckled Calves oSaturday 5th Show and Sale of Suckled Calves oMonday 7th Sale of Store Cattle and Sale of Store Sheep oTuesday 8th Sale of Prime Lambs, Cast Ewes and Rams oThursday 9th Sale of Prime Cattle and OTM Stock oMonday 14th Sale of Store Sheep, Mule Cont EweLambs oTuesday 15th Sale of Prime Lambs, Cast Ewes and Rams oWednesday 16th Show and Sale of all classes of Breeding Rams, Breeding Ewes and Gimmers oThursday 17th Sale of Prime Cattle and OTM Stock oMonday 21st Sale of Store Cattle & Sale of Store Sheep oTuesday 22nd Sale of Prime Lambs ,Cast Ewes and Rams oThursday 24th Sale of Prime Cattle and OTM Stock oFriday 25th Annual Sale of BF Ewes and Gimmers, BF and Swaledale Rams oMonday 28th Sale of Store Sheep oTuesday 29th Sale of Prime Lambs, Cast Ewes and Rams

September Sales at OBAN LIVSTOCK CENTRE, UPPER SOROBA, OBAN Tel: 01631 570631 oTuesday 1st Special sale of Blackface Ewe Lambs and all classes of Store Sheep oTuesday 8th Sale of all classes of Store and Feeding Sheep oFriday 11th Show and Sale of Suckled Calves, Store and Breeding Cattle oTuesday 15thSpecial Sale of all classes of Store and Feeding Sheep oTuesday 22ndGreat Annual sale of Warranted Ewes, Gimmers and Store Lambs oTuesday 29th Sale of all classes of Store and Feeding Sheep For Further Details of any of the sales contact: Store Cattle Store Sheep Prime Cattle Prime Sheep OTM Stock Cast Sheep

JOHN KYLE 07713 342512 Alastair Logan 07713 342514 JIM DUNN 07713 3452511 Alastair Brown 07713 342513 SANDY MOORE 07717 435245 Helen Rickard 07717 435246

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