The next Nithsdale Monitor farm meeting on Thursday 19 July will focus on how technology can be used to increase efficiency on livestock farms.

Andrew and Aileen Marchant, who farm at Clonhie Farm, Penpont near Lockerbie, run 900 breeding ewes, a small herd of 20 Luing cattle and have recently invested in 100 deer hinds on their 300-hectare upland tenanted farm.

Like many other farm businesses across Scotland, the Marchants rely almost entirely on family labour, so are keen to see how technology can help save time and money.

The meeting next week will include a demonstration of the system at Clonhie which not only allows the Marchants to weigh their lambs regularly and monitor their growth rates using Shearwell Data software but has an automatic dosing gun element which is linked to the weigh crate. This ensures that every lamb is dosed with the correct amount of anthelmintic based on its weight – which saves money on drenches and reduces the potential development of anthelmintic resistance.

The meeting will also see David Owen of Owen Farm Services, part of the 5Agri Group, looking at the use of drones on livestock farms, focussing on what is currently available in terms of assessing fields from above for poor yielding areas or soil compaction. He will also highlight potential future uses for drones.

Rhidian Jones of RJ Livestock Systems will also be looking at grassland management technology, grass measuring devices and electric fencing. In addition, he will lead a discussion on the options farmers have for managing the current drought and ensuring there are sufficient feed supplies for the coming winter

The benefits of social media will be highlighted by Aileen Marchant, who works as a teacher at Wallacehall Academy at Thornhill when not working with husband Andrew on the farm. She is keen to encourage farmers to connect with the public about what they do, either through social media, or by holding open days or hosting school visits. At the meeting she will give a short presentation about how farmers, and the Scottish livestock industry as a whole, can benefit from talking the time to engage with the general public about farming. 

Clonhie farm is now approaching the half way point of the three-year monitor farm programme, and to celebrate, Andrew and Aileen have kindly invited those who attend the meeting on 19 July to a Scotch Lamb spit roast after the meeting ends. It will also give the attendees an opportunity to taste some delicious Clonhie Scotch Lamb!

The meeting at Clonhie Farm on Thursday 19 July will begin at 4pm with a lamb roast being served at 5.30pm. To book your place please contact facilitator Judith Hutchison on 07718 919055 or email judith.agridigm@icloud.com.