Caithness and Sutherland Monitor Farm Secures Private Backing
11 June 2009
Scotland's successful Monitor Farm programme is taking an important step forward in self-sufficiency, thanks to a novel approach from NFUS in Caithness, with support from QMS.
The Scottish Monitor Farm Programme offers farmers the opportunity to share best practice and learn from each other over a three year period, through regular visits to one farm typical of an area.
A new Monitor Farm has been requested by farmers in Caithness and Sutherland following the success of the previous Highland Monitor Farm in Fearn, Ross-shire, which finished in spring 2009.
Tom Sayles, the NFUS representative, has secured financial backing from a number of local companies to help establish a new Caithness and Sutherland Monitor Farm.
Tom said, "Every one of the local businesses which has pledged to support the Monitor Farm initiative is enthusiastic about the residual benefits to the area and the exceptional opportunities offered to the selected farm.
"We recognise that there will now be a slight delay awaiting the outcome of our application for Government funding . If successful, we hope that we will be able to begin meetings this autumn and that they will be well supported by farming colleagues here in the far North."
More than £4000 per year has already been pledged towards the overall £20-25,000 annual cost of the Monitor Farm. Tom hopes that much of the remaining money can be gleaned from the Scottish Government's new Skills Development Scheme.
There are now 13 Scottish Monitor Farms, examining beef, sheep, dairy arable and now pig production, visited by more than five hundred farmers annually. They deliver a return to the industry of £6.50 for every £1 spent.
QMS Chairman Donald Biggar said: "The Monitor Farm programme continues to prove its worth to Scottish producers and the wider red meat industry and a natural next step is for these groups to take over the responsibility of securing future financial backing.
"The time and funding invested in firmly establishing the network across a broad range of production systems in Scotland is paying off and I am delighted the project has been able to progress to the important stage where new farms are now able to attract their own financial backing.
For further information, please contact Tom Sayles, NFUS, Caithness :Tel: (01847) 895005
