The Scottish Farmer's longest serving columnist, Jim Brown, passed away this week at the age of 83, after enduring a short, but debilitating illness.

The dairy farmer turned beef farmer was an entertaining and enduring commentator on all topics relating to agriculture and this newspaper will sorely miss his input and sage advice. Jim farmed at Gaindykehead, near Airdrie, building up a considerable dairy business, before switching to beef and he became a well-known face around many markets in Scotland buying cattle for his top end finishing business.

His funeral will be held at New Monkland Church, at 12.30pm, on Friday, August 4 – thereafter to Stirlingshire Crematorium, Bannockburn for a further service at 3.00pm.

A full obituary will appear in The Scottish Farmer at a later date.