Book now for fact-packed Stirlingshire Monitor Farm summer meeting

Making a success of re-seeds, lamb weaning and virtual fencing will all be up for discussion at the upcoming Stirlingshire Monitor Farm summer meeting. Booking is now open for the meeting, on Friday 11 July, from 3-7pm at Lands of Drumhead, near Balfron Station.

As Monitor Farmers, the Duncan family have been planning how to boost grazing output. They have begun improving soil pH and started a reseeding programme but are keen to go faster. Sheep farmer and grazing specialist Graham Lofthouse, along with some of the farm’s Management Group, will be discussing how to do it without compromising the existing farming operation and breaking the bank in one go. In addition, he will cover managing grass growth after this year’s droughty weather where it grows so quickly it goes straight to heading.

Graham and seed specialist Andrew Best from Watson Seeds will also be talking about preparing for reseeding, including picking the right grass mixture for your needs. They will discuss how long a ley should last, knowing when to reseed and how to reap the benefits in the long run.

Prompted by requests at the Monitor Farm’s February meeting, farmer and consultant Emily Grant will discuss lamb weaning decisions, including common challenges and solutions. Emily will cover the primary considerations of when to wean lambs, pasture quality and quantity, target weights and ewe management post-lambing, including BCS, as well as lamb health and nutritional requirements post-weaning.

She will also discuss the value of blood sampling lambs for mineral deficiency (such as cobalt) and taking forage samples to assess the mineral content; what are the performance and cost benefits of doing this?

The Duncan family will also give a short update on the new virtual fencing project they are involved in and how it has been working out for their herd so far.

Christine Cuthbertson, Monitor Farm regional advisor says: “We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Stirlingshire summer meeting, which will end with a BBQ. It will be a great opportunity to see how the farm’s grazing improvement plan is going, as well as taking away key advice for weaning and hearing how the virtual fencing project is going.”

Booking is essential for catering purposes. No dogs or children under 16 permitted, and car parking is limited, so car share if possible. For biosecurity please ensure vehicles, clothing and footwear are clean before attending. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy/waterproof footwear.

• ‘Making a success of re-seeds, lamb weaning and virtual fencing’ is on Friday 11 July, from 3-7pm at Lands of Drumhead, Balfron Station, G63 0NH. Booking: https://Stirlingshiresummer.eventbrite.co.uk