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Business Improvement

Arable Monitor Farms

HGCA, in partnership with the Scottish Government’s Skills Development programme, is funding two Arable Monitor Farms in Scotland from 2011-14.

Monitor Farms are normal commercial farms, which are representative of enterprises and conditions in their local area, where the farmer is prepared to allow other farmers access to the farm - and to the decision-making process. The other farmer members can then assess changes made on the monitor farm and are encouraged to adopt the successful ideas themselves.

Andrew and George Booth of Foveran, Aberdeenshire, and Alistair Hodge of Whitsome East Newton, Duns, were chosen by HGCA with support from NFUS and the surrounding community as host farmers for the three-year project, which launched in February 2011. 

Each farm will be backed by a community group to act as a forum to discuss practical ways of boosting on-farm performance and profit, supported by a group facilitator offering expert advice and guidance. These will be Jim Booth of SAOS, Peter Cook in Aberdeenshire and Donald Dunbar of SAC in the Borders. 

The groups will use HGCA’s new and improved Cropbench cost management tool to explore members’ production costs, improve decision-making and ensure effective marketing. 

Evaluation of the Monitor Farm 2007-2010 project, also supported by HGCA, showed 94% of members found the information gathered at Monitor Farm meetings to be good or excellent, with the same percentage praising the social opportunities afforded through the groups. 

Monitor Farm details

Andrew and George Booth of Savock Farm, Aberdeenshire, grow 800 acres of combinable crops and 100hd beef cattle on two farms and operate a successful farm shop, The Store. All crops are grown for the open market except for a small tonnage saved for stock feed and seed. Challenges include contending with heavy, unforgiving land and exploring grain drying options after their drier went up in flames during harvest. They have started to invest in Precision Farming and have 30% of the farm GPS soil mapped. They wish to improve marketing and cost analysis and explore ways of future-proofing their business.

Aberdeenshire meeting reports 

Read Andrew’s blog

Follow him on twitter

Alistair Hodge of A&J Hodge, Borders, farms 154 hectares of combinable crops alongside running five cottage lets and finishing cattle throughout the year under management agreement. He currently grows winter wheat and barley for feed, as well as oats and milling wheat. Alistair has only been arable farming since 2001 and hopes being a host farm will allow him to draw on the experience of others and improve his business. 

Borders meeting reports 

Further information

Find details of forthcoming Monitor Farm meetings by visiting www.hgca.com/events 

For further information on Arable Monitor Farms contact amie.burke@hgca.ahdb.org.uk or 024 7647 8743.