An upbeat SRUC open day in the Black Isle saw an expert panel set out some of the reasons to be cheerful when it comes to beef farming.

The technical day, kindly hosted by Andrew and Mary-Jo Grant at Upper Raddery Farm, near Fortrose, had a number of sessions in the morning looking at innovative ways to drive efficiency on farm before the afternoon debate took centre stage.

Setting the positive tone was Nuffield Scholar and livestock farmer, Vic Ballantyne, who said: “Across the world protein is in demand and it is only going one way. There are 7bn people on the planet that need fed. It is an exciting time and if farmers can be the best at what we do, the future looks positive.”

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SRUC's senior agricultural economist and policy advisor, Steven Thomson, added that whilst the Scottish Government was yet to give full details of future payments: “We have the opportunity in the next few years to get a a set of policies which deliver for the industry and offer stability. This would allow farmers to tell and sell their narrative into global markets.”

Taking a practical approach Scotland’s Beef Farmer of the Year, Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, told the audience that: “The current price is good and that is where it needs to be, to reward our hard earned efforts.

"The demand for beef appears to be there and if prices can remain it would help. From our work selling beef direct to customers, we know there is a great story to tell, and people are buying into it.”

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NFU Scotland’s livestock chair, Hugh Fraser, from the panel said: “EID in cattle offers a big step forward. The years of dither and delay to rolling it out has been a huge frustration. We are now told there are legislative issues which I don’t get. But it is a great opportunity which we must take advantage of.”

The panel was also asked how the beef sector could play its part in climate change and biodiversity goals. Mr Thomson explained it was naive to talk about agriculture going to net zero and that some of the most efficient beef producers could perhaps increase their emissions, as they are making best use of their resources.

Mrs Ballantyne said that her farm had undertaken carbon audits for the last 10 years and that if any more cuts to carbon emissions were to be made in her situation, then cattle numbers would have to be reduced. She believed that farmers had a much bigger part to play in supporting biodiversity which if implemented sympathetically would not penalise production.

Meanwhile, Mr Brown stated that currently the beef herd is improving in efficiency as the high cull price is making it much easier for farmers to remove any unproductive cows.

The final question from the audience was on advice for new, or young farmers.

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Mrs Ballantyne said this was a great industry to work in and younger people were in the ideal position to take advantage of technology coming down the line. She didn’t want the next generation to be discouraged and was keen to dispel the myth than farmers had to work 24 hours a day to be successful.

Whilst there are busy periods on farms where long hours and hard days must be worked, Mrs Ballantyne admitted: “I don’t get up until 9am in the middle of the dark days of winter. It is about working smarter, not just working harder.”

Mr Brown accepted that there were huge challenges to getting into the beef sector but offered hope to new entrants. “If you are determined enough to make it then you will. The country needs to eat and we are in the industry producing that food.”