Yorkshire farmer Chris Clark is to address the Cairngorms Farmers Forum on the complex issue of making a profit from farming the uplands.

Mr Clark, of Nethergill Farm, has sought to apply micro-economic theory to farm accounts in a way that farmers can relate to. That approach has shown that on the upland and marginal livestock farms, reducing output – and stock numbers – to a level where stock are grazed only on the farm’s naturally available grass increases profit through significant savings of variable costs.

In turn this can generate environmental benefits by reducing some of the environmental pressure on the land, particularly where over-grazing is an issue. Mr Clark challenges the approach often taken by upland farmers that greater profitability automatically follows from increased production.

He maintains that the results of applying the ‘Nethergill approach’ to the farm accounts of 46 farms in upland and marginal areas have shown that expanding flock and herd sizes in the uplands to overcome disadvantages of latitude, elevation and precipitation is economically damaging as well as damaging for the environment.

Given the reduced pressure on the environment that would be brought about by reducing stocking levels, this also provides farmers with opportunities to benefit from increased income associated with the delivery of environmental outcomes – including public payments for delivering environmental and climate benefits that are valued by society.

Mr Clark, who is also a member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, will speak at the Cairngorms Farmers Forum meeting on December 11, in the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey, at 7:30pm. For more information call Bruce McConachie on 07590 258 613