SCOTLAND’S NINE new monitor farms are gearing up to open their gates to their local farming communities for their first open meetings, set to take place around the country in the coming weeks.

At each of these launch meetings, which are free to attend and open to all, the host farmers will give an overview of their businesses and share their aspirations for the next three years as they focus on improving their production efficiency and business margins.

During the first meetings, the facilitators for each farm will also highlight the key aims of the programme, which is being run jointly by Quality Meat Scotland and AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds, with funding from the Scottish Government and European Union’s Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund.

The overall objective of the Monitor Farm Scotland programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of farm businesses through practical demonstrations, the sharing of best practice and the group approach to addressing industry issues.

QMS head of industry development Douglas Bell, said he was delighted with the diversity of farm types that are involved in the new programme: “The nine monitor farms that have been selected represent a wide range of farm and business types and range from traditional family farms to larger integrated agribusinesses.

“The hosts themselves are a mix of farmers and farm managers, managing land held under a range of land tenure options. Some monitor farms are managed by younger farmers, some are in the process of succession and some are comparatively new entrants to farming.”

The dates of each of the nine launch meetings are as follows. Further information about each of the events will be available from the facilitators listed below and on-line at www.qmscotland.co.uk/events

- Nithsdale, Thursday January 26, on Andrew and Aileen Marchant's Clonhie Farm, Penpont, Thornhill. To book a place contact Judith Hutchison on 07718 919055 / Judith.agridigm@icloud.com

- Lochaber, Thursday January 26, on Chris Cameron's Strone Farm, Banavie, Fort William. Contact Niall Campbell or Morven MacArthur on 01631 563093 / FBSOban@sac.co.uk

- North Ayrshire, Wednesday February 1, on John Howie's Girtridge Farm, Dundonald, Ayrshire. Contact Raymond Crerar or Carol-Anne Warnock, on 01292 525252 / FBSAyr@sac.co.uk

- Shetland, Saturday Feb 4, on Kirsty and Aimee Budge's Bigton Farm, Bigton, Shetland. Contact Graham Fraser on 01595 693520 / frbslerwick@sac.co.uk

- Morayshire, Wednesday February 8, on Iain Green's Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Morayshire. Contact Samantha Stewart on 01343 548787 / samantha.stewart@sac.co.uk or Derek Hanton on 01463 233266 / derek.hanton@sac.co.uk

- Lothians, Thursday February 9, on Bill Gray and Peter Eccles' Prestonhall and Saughland Farms, Pathhead. Contact Colin MacPhail on 07747 046 461 / colin@macphailconsulting.co.uk.

- Sutherland, Thursday February 9, on Jason and Vic Ballantyne's Clynelish Farm, Brora, Sutherland. Contact Cat MacGregor on 01847 892602 / FBSThurso@sac.co.uk

- Borders, Wednesday February 22, on the Mitchell family's Whitriggs Farm, Denholm, Hawick. Contact Stephen Young on 07502 339613 / Stephen.young@saos.coop

- Angus, date to be announced in March, on the Stodart family's Mill of Inverarity Farm, Inverarity, Forfar. Contact David Ross on 01569762305 / David.Ross@sac.co.uk

For more information about the monitor farm programme visit www.qmscotland.co.uk or cereals.ahdb.org.uk.