John Elliot Farm View: Farmers asked to sacrifice profit, manage land for public good
A total of seven million new trees, including oak, hazel, dogwood, and holly, are scheduled for planting.
John Elliot Farm View - How much longer are British livestock farmers going to be the fall guys?
How long until British farmers stop bearing unfair trade burdens?
John Elliott Farm View - Trying to retain a semblance of youth without sweat or immersion
The Farm Safety Foundation's study reveals that 92% of farmers under 40 view poor mental health as the primary future challenge for the industry. While mental health discussions are prevalent in farming publications, those over 58 may prioritise physical wellbeing equally or more.
John Elliot The education process continues. For then, for now, forever
The foundation of my agricultural education began in childhood, standing by a gate in the sheep folds.
John Elliot Farm View: Looking back at important figures gone by
In reminiscing about these two remarkable shepherds, Jimmy Stobo and Davie Jappy, whose lifespans overlapped almost perfectly with mine, I discovered interesting facets of their lives.
John Elliot Farm View: Balancing Grass-Clover: Tips for Fertiliser, Stocking, and Nitrogen
He writes about, how to balance grass and clover using fertiliser and stocking rates. Plenty of stock in the spring, plenty of clovers later on; too much nitrogen, and naething but gress.
John Elliot remembers being told to feed Blackfaces on heather and hay
A Borders farmer from yesteryear was asked to address The Teviotdale Farmers Club on the subject of “Blackface Sheep”. He was a temperate man so only reluctantly agreed to a glass of sherry with the meal before his speech. As nerves took a hold, he had another and another after that. His talk began, “Blackface sheep should be fed on heather and hay, heather and hay, heather and hay. If you want them really good give them plenty heather and hay, heather and hay, heather and hay.” Thereupo
John Elliot Farmer's View: Trying to keep things 'real' when breeding stock
Last month, on the 30th anniversary of my becoming a low ground farmer, I wrote about the changeover and gave a brief history of our tenure at Roxburgh Mains since 1993.
John Elliot Farmer's View: Times have changed ... but have they really?
Most people have significant milestones in their lives – one of the most significant in mine took place 30 years ago this week when we moved from the hill farm of Rawburn, to Roxburgh Mains, near Kelso.
John Elliot Farmer's View: Time to tell the truth to keep the data right!
It is time breeders recognised that glossing over difficult calvings when they provide calving data to their society, might help sell a bull, but at the same time it affects every aspect of the beef and dairy industry adversely'
