When it comes to making silage Aberdeenshire contractor Stuart Ramage of Mains of Druminnor, has the experience that paid off last year when the farm won a major forage award.
As the winner of the best baled silage and overall forage in the North of Scotland Norgrass competition, the farm also competes in the Scottish final against the winners from the East of Scotland and South-west Scotland Grassland Society events.
Stuart Ramage and his wife Joscelyn live at Mains of Druminnor, Rhynie near Huntly, with their young family, three-year-old son Finlay and six-month-old daughter Skye. The farm was bought by Stuart’s parents, Jim and Margaret Ramage in 1997. Both originate from farms in Ayrshire but lived and worked in Dunbar for a number of years before heading north.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
The business began with their small flock of sheep brought up from East Lothian and contract rearing pigs from Grampian Country Pork.
The farm is now home to a breeding herd of 80 cows, mainly Simmental and Limousin crosses, bulled to a Limousin, with the heifers being synchronised and AI’d to easy calving Limousin sires and an Aberdeen Angus to catch any repeats.
Jim started agricultural contracting shortly after their arrival in Aberdeenshire and it now forms the biggest part of the family business with most jobs undertaken, including silage operations.
“Contracting provides that extra income needed to run the farm and keeps me busy all year round. It’s good because it ultimately gives me a chance to see how other businesses are run and I learn so much that helps with our own cattle and farming practices,” Stuart said.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
With such a large percentage of the contracting workload based on forage making for other farmers, Stuart has to get a head start at his own silage, if possible! Last year, for example, their winning sample was cut on May 29 and baled on June 2, which is extremely early for the area.
“Our silage is analysed every year by SAC and ground is tested, especially before any reseeding takes place by local company, George Duncan Agri Solutions to plan what inputs are needed to get it off to a good start.
“I like to get on the ground early where possible with fertiliser. Last year’s winning crop as given a dressing of nitrogen on February 27 and was topped up on April 15 with a 20-13-18 compound fertiliser. The earliest silage we cut definitely benefited from the good weather last year”
The winning sample yielded 501g/kg of dry matter with an ME of 12.3 MJ/kg and D value at 77%. Crude protein also sat at an impressive 155g/kg.
The grass – grown from a seed mixture bought from RM Welch and Son – was in its second year.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Stuart makes bale and pit silage, with the bales harvested generally from the younger grass fields kept for the youngstock while the pit silage is fed to suckler cows. Bales are netted and wrapped with six layers using a McHale Fusion 3.
“We bale using the Fusion baler wrapper which works for us as it is one less tractor and person operating a standalone wrapper. There is also less chance of soil contamination and spiking which ensures the bales are of a consistent quality,” Stuart said.
The family does all their own silage work with the exception of chopping for the pit, which is done by a local contractor with a trailed chopper. Ideally pit silage is completed late June/early July depending on weather, workload and availability of the chopper.
Grass cut for bale silage is left for approximately three days to wilt while pit silage is left for 24 hours.
“I like high dry matter bale silage but you do have to watch because the longer you leave it, the more nutrients you lose from it.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Making pit silage is dependant on what else I have to do.
It can be cut in the morning and pitted by late afternoon.” he added.
Most of the silage is used onsite between the two farms owned by the Ramages – Mains of Druminnor and Scurdargue on the other side of the village. Any surplus silage is sold. Cattle are wintered on a mix of silage and barley, with the odd bale going out in the summer if grass growth is not keeping up with demand.
Calving kicks off in November inside and runs through until January – the quietest time in Stuart’s contracting calendar.
Cattle are outside by April and May. “We are lucky we haven’t had many calving problems. We use Seafield Vets, Keith who are very good but we have only had three cows needing C-sections in our time here. Most of the time we can manage any issues ourselves, or with the help of a good neighbour!”
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Youngstock are sold as stores at 14-16 months old with the last sale, early February achieving average prices of 332p per kg for 390kg animals. Most are sold through Thainstone with a handful going through Huntly, with buyers at most marts tending to be regulars.
“Our stores are not pushed hard, so they are making prices and it is good to see them selling to repeat buyers,” says Joscelyn.
Limousin bulls have always worked well for the family and are bought privately and through marts at Thainstone and Stirling.
The Ramages don’t show livestock, with their interest in entering the silage competition originating from Joscelyn’s time on the committee for Norgrass.
“You need to be a member to enter and because I was part of the committee we took the opportunity to submit an entry.
We first entered three years ago and won best new entrant. Our second year we didn’t win anything but now in our third year that’s us won bale and overall best silage so we can’t complain. It helps that Stuart really cares about what he does and making the best quality silage,” Joscelyn remarks.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Stuart adds: “Silage is one of the cheapest feeds available so it goes without saying that everyone should look to make the best quality possible and get it analysed.”
Looking ahead, Stuart is relatively optimistic about the future.
“Contracting work is steady and store cattle prices are good. We just have to concentrate on improving our cattle and the quality of silage produced. The kids are still wee so who knows what is ahead, but Finlay just loves all the tractors so fingers crossed his interest continues.
Farm Facts
Farm size and topography: 360 acres across Mains of Drumminor and Scurdargue with another 100 acres rented, Drumminor rises 640ft above sea level and Scurdargue runs 740-900ft.
Livestock: 80 commercial beef cows including Limousin and Simmental.
Who’s all involved: Stuart and Joscelyn with 3-year-old son Finlay and 6-month-old daughter Skye. Alongside Stuart’s parents Jim and Margaret.
Arable crops: Winter barley, winter wheat, and spring barley.
Silage: Last year yielded 1100 bales and 37 acres of pit silage.
On The Spot
Best investment? GPS equipment and Calving gates both make life much easier, safer, and things quicker!
Advice for good silage? Watch the weather, hope for the best in that regard, and don’t be too scared to try something different.
What would you be doing if you didn’t farm? Engineering or welding.
Something you can’t live without? A good cup of tea, My welder and Wife - in this exact order.
Where do you see yourselves in ten years? Hopefully fit and healthy still enjoying farming and our family. A more educated general public on the process of food production would be nice to see too!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here