AgriScot 2022 Roundup

This week witnessed the return of AgriScot after the cancellations due to Covid. Held at the Ingliston Showground, Edinburgh, AgriScot has become a key business event within the agricultural calendar with approx 10,000 people from throughout the UK attending. Now the largest indoor Agricultural Event in Scotland, all sectors of the industry were represented and there seemed to be a tremendous buzz and atmosphere within the exhibition halls.

Graindex was in attendance with Victoria and Sarah busy all day engaging with arable farmers and merchants whilst their SellMyLivestock colleagues Dan and Jason had a great day dealing with Online Livestock enquiries. Market volatility was a common theme of conversation, but it was great to meet some of our Graindex users and very heartening to hear the positive comments on the Graindex platform. Whilst the signing up of new users on the day led to a very successful event.

Agriscot also runs “Farms of the Year Awards” which were announced on the day. Taking home the title of Scottish Arable Farm of the Year, was Colin McGregor, of McGregor Farms, Berwickshire** .**

Colin took on the daily running of the family business in 1989 at the age of 21 when the farmed area was 300ha and specialised in pre-packed potato production. Over the past 23 years his business has been approached to contract farm nearby neighbouring land and there are now 15 agreements covering a managed area of 3,445ha.

The arable operation predominantly grows winter wheat and oilseed rape, but winter barley, spring barley, spring oats, spring beans, potatoes and vining peas are also grown. Every farm has an individual rotation to suit its soil type, infrastructure, and location, with Colin and his team focusing on building fertility and soil health to maximise yield and reduce risk.

The business is a LEAF Farm and all farms they are involved with are participants of environmental schemes. Precision Farming Technology is used extensively and there is regular soil sampling including organic matter testing and organic manures are utilised where possible.

Runners up were Neil White of Greenknowe Farm, Berwickshire, and Stuart McNicol, Castleton Farm, North Berwick

Andrew Connon Andrew.Connon@graindex.com