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The HGCA Arable Monitor Farm project offers an opportunity for the arable farming community to get involved by contributing to decision-making, comparing costs and best practice and implementing ideas explored as part of the programme.
- Contribute – become part of the Monitor Farm community. For details of forthcoming meetings go to www.hgca.com/events
- Compare – take a look at the meeting reports to find out what’s happening on farm and see how it compares to your business
- Support – keep up to date with the latest challenges and successes by reading the Monitor Farm blog or follow HGCA on facebook or twitter
About HGCA Arable Monitor Farms
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.
Each farm is 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.
Current Monitor Farmers (2011 - 14)
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. 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.
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.
Further information
Find out more about HGCA investment in business improvement activity here.
For further information on Arable Monitor Farms contact amie.burke@hgca.ahdb.org.uk or call 024 7647 8743
Latest News
Blog - April drilling disrupted by snow but Aberdeenshire crops still look as good as anywhere
We started planting spring cereals on a fine day in April and by the following day it was a white, despite the early challenges we progressed well even getting in a field on a neighbour’s farm we contract for that had been in potatoes last year.
Blog - Crops have developed slowly this spring and I’m already expecting a late harvest
USDA publish first forecasts of world supply and demand estimates for the new crop season
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Events
Cropping Systems Platform Open Day
27 Jun 2013
SGS, Alkerton Oaks Business Park, Stratford Road, Banbury OX15 6EP
25 Sep 2013
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, Greater London SW1P 3EE
AHDB Crop Research Conference (Student rate)
25 Sep 2013
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, Greater London SW1P 3EE
Reserve place
