Monitor Farms
QMS is the principal funder in the Monitor Farms Programme which now includes ten farms throughout Scotland. Based on the successful New Zealand self help model, the Monitor Farm concept is a proven way of helping farmers share information and test knowledge that can improve the profitability of their businesses.
Click on the links below or the maps for more details
Latest Reports
22 Aug 2008
Buchan Monitor Farm - Report from 2nd Meeting
To make a margin finishing forward stores every beast must put on lots of weight from day one. Meeting this objective means careful rationing. Gauging performance requires weighing and handling animals during this process. Some top tips on handling facilities and rationing can be found in this report.
14 Aug 2008
Breeding values debated for hill sheep sector
Mention EBV’s (Estimated Breeding Values) anywhere in a sentence in front of a group of Argyll farmers and you are guaranteed to spark of a bit of a debate!! The Community Group seem to accept that the technology works but very few actually use it
as a tool in helping make a decision in buying breeding stock. EBV’s should not be used in isolation but, in the facilitators opinion, they should be part of the decision making process.
1 Aug 2008
Focus on sheep performance
Click the title to read the outcomes from a recent meeting on the Bute Monitor Farm involving sheep specialist Lesley Stubbings.
31 Jul 2008
Learning lessons from diversification
Farmers selling direct to consumers get a real sense of what consumers want and what they value. The quality of the service and product must be high and consistent. In this case, the eating quality of beef has proved to be vital so you need to understand all the factors that influence eating quality. For “The Store” this has been marbling, length of the
animal, good fat cover and hanging, not necessarily big backsides.
22 Jul 2008
Borders Monitor Farm revisit objectives
To kick off the second year on the Borders Monitor Farm, the group decided to remind themselves of their original objectives to ensure they stay focussed for the next 12 months.
18 Jul 2008
Calving performance crucial in south-west
Blood sample dry cows 2 months prior to calving to determine if copper and cobalt levels are an issue. Supplementation can then be used to rectify the problem prior to calving.
25 Jun 2008
Lamb marketing strategy for Skye
Have you considered supplying Skye Lamb? Making a sales strategy now could pay in the back end of the year.......click the title to read more from the June meeting on the Skye Monitor Township.
25 Apr 2008
Good sward management yields results
Plough grass leys at least a month before sowing the following crop to
enable mineralisation of nitrogen to take place. This will give the following crop a better start.....click the title to read more on the report from the recent meeting on the Perthshire Monitor Farm.
14 Mar 2008
Grazing management in Ayrshire
Click the title to read an article carried in a recent Scottish Farmer edition which covers grazing management on the Ayrshire Monitor Farm.
26 Feb 2008
Final report from Banff & Buchan
Utilise the nitrogen supply in muck to its best advantage this year to limit the quantity of
fertiliser that you need to buy.....this, and many more useful ideas were discussed during the final meeting on the first Banff & Buchan Monitor Farm.
12 Feb 2008
Resources analysed on Highland Monitor Farm
Peter Cook led an interesting session which produced a SWOT analysis for the resources available to the Highland Monitor Farm.
24 Jan 2008
Breed a Cow, not a Calf!
This was the main conclusion from Robert Parker, former Wigtownshire Monitor Farmer, in his excellent report from his Nuffield Scholarhship. Click the title to download the report.....its a real page turner for anyone interested in beef cows!
25 Jun 2007
Monitor Farms News
Click here to read a publication covering the common themes, both physical and financial, coming out of the Monitor Farms Programme which is now into its fourth year. The publication also gives a unique insight into what it's like to be a Monitor Farmer.
4 Dec 2006
Borders Monitor Farm - last report
Click here to read the final report from the Borders Monitor Farm. A new farm is currently being sought for the Borders area.
14 Nov 2006
Perthshire Monitor Farm
Click here to read the sheep focussed report from the November meeting on the Perthshire Monitor Farm.
|
 |
Region
Ayrshire Borders Buchan Cairngorms Highlands Isle of Bute Isle of Skye North Argyll Perthshire Wigtownshire
Background MF Documents
|
