You are in > Home > News & Events > News > Attention to Detail Improves Farming Climate – Two NE Events Highlight Benefits Efficient Farming Brings to Income and Carbon Footprint

Attention to Detail Improves Farming Climate – Two NE Events Highlight Benefits Efficient Farming Brings to Income and Carbon Footprint

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N135
Published: 08 Nov 2011

Farming for a Better Climate (opens in new window)

Two SAC events for NE farmers will highlight the simple things they can do to cut their costs and improve their industry’s image. While cereal and livestock prices are on the up so too are the prices of key inputs like fertilisers, feed, fuel and pesticides. By focussing on improved efficiency SAC specialists will identify ways of cutting out waste that help the balance sheet and reduce farming’s carbon footprint.

At Upper Sauchen, on Tuesday 22nd and Cairnborrow a week later, on 29th November, a team of SAC specialists will set up shop and consider a range of practical farm efficiency options. For example regular maintenance of machinery and even the correct tyre pressures can reduce running costs. A good soil structure helps maximise yields, so minimising soil compaction is important, even in difficult years like this one.  Other speakers will address issues like bull fertility and calving management in the beef herd, renewable energy options and the proper management of slurry and dung which are no longer considered a waste but an important on- farm resource.

As well as free lunch and advice those attending will be able to see two excellent farming operations. Joe Dow and his sons Gordon and Brian run Upper Sauchen at Sauchen as one of three units. They run a finishing cattle enterprise and sell in-calf heifers through the Thainstone ring. A new multi purpose shed on the farm, built in 2009 with funding from the Scottish Rural Development Programme, houses the cattle, and can be used  to store feed and potatoes from their other enterprise.

At Cairnborrow by Huntly George and Margo Wordie run their upland unit with 200 suckler cows and 500 breeding sheep. The lambs from the  Scottish mules And  greyfaces are finished on the farm. In addition they grow 100 acres of spring barley. 
 
Both SAC events are organised as part of the Scottish Government’s “Farming for a Better Climate” initiative. It seeks to identify practical ways of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Through four Climate Change Focus Farms and open events like these planned for the NE they encourage farmer to explore new ways of working that bring real returns to their  businesses while helping  the sector move towards meeting the tough emission reduction targets set by Scottish Government.

Both events will begin with lunch at midday and finish by 3.00pm. While they are free it would help the organiser’s catering arrangements if those planning to attend could contact SAC at Thainstone on 01467 625385.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Farm & Rural Business Services - Thainstone
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Thainstone Agricultural Centre, Inverurie,
Aberdeenshire
AB51 5WU
TelWork 01467 625385
Fax 01467 620607

Add to Address Book | Help

News Release Issued By

Ms Jane Smernicki
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4331

Add to Address Book | Help