Field Margins

Jim Baird

Analysing farm business figures on a regular basis takes up a lot of Jim's time Ref:RH230124266 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Field margins: Jim Baird discusses how group benchmarking works

John Harvey shares top calving tips

John Harvey shares top calving tips

John Harvey, Drum Farm, shares his calving top tips

New field margins columnist John Anderson, Thurso

New field margins columnist John Anderson, Thurso

Benefits and drawbacks of farming in Caithness according to John Anderson

Commodity prices

Commodity prices

Field Margins: Commodities dip back again as impending flush dominates the mood

Jim Baird from Nether Affleck farm. Ref:RH230124252 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Jim Baird from Nether Affleck farm. Ref:RH230124252 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Jim Baird reflects on his breeding period and achieving targets

Discover drier fields with direct drill at Incheoch farm Ref:RH301019091 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Discover drier fields with direct drill at Incheoch farm Ref:RH301019091 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Field Margins: Direct drill for a drier break – initially at Incheoch

First year of growing fodder beet has resulted in soggy shaws and reduced palatability

First year of growing fodder beet has resulted in soggy shaws and reduced palatability

Joys of soggy shaws, extra triplets and a two-legged wee one for Rachel Young

Jim Baird from Nether Affleck farm Ref:RH230124251 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Jim Baird from Nether Affleck farm Ref:RH230124251 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Field Margins: Jim Baird discusses block calving at Nether Affleck

Neil and Debbie McGowan, Incheoch

Neil and Debbie McGowan, Incheoch

Field Margins: Neil McGowan has 90% calves weaned per cow exposed

Field Margins: Five and a half inches of rain in September for the McGowans

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722036 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722036 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Charles Marwood

Vet Charles Marwood discusses all things Avermectins

Rachel Young has had a busy month speaning lambs, shearing a single sheep and roguing

Rachel Young has had a busy month speaning lambs, shearing a single sheep and roguing

Joys of roguing and weaning for Field Margins' Rachel Young

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722032 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722032 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Charles Marwood

Veterinary medicines – supply problems, excuses and frustrations

John Harvey has seen increased milk yields over the past month

John Harvey has seen increased milk yields over the past month

Field Margins: John Harvey has seen increased milk yields over the past month

Neil and Debbie - gearing up for a busy week at Ingliston

Neil and Debbie - gearing up for a busy week at Ingliston

Neil McGowan packs for the Highland Show – cornflakes, towels and liquid refreshments

John Harvey from Drum Farm Ref:RH130323113 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

John Harvey from Drum Farm Ref:RH130323113 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

TB testing hits man and beast hard – even with a clear test

Debbie has had the assistance of young farmer, Finlay Miller to help out with the recording of lambs this year

Debbie has had the assistance of young farmer, Finlay Miller to help out with the recording of lambs this year

Joys of May lambing at Incheoch before the ultimate 'crash'

Rachel has had the assistance of two students and her two-year-old daughter, Ellie assisting at lambing

Rachel has had the assistance of two students and her two-year-old daughter, Ellie assisting at lambing

Field Margins: Spring has finally sprung on the Black Isle

BBQs boosting meat sales this summer after lack of cheap imports

Neil McGowan: Busy spring at Incheoch has begun

Spring has sprung for field margin, Rachel Young, as things are busy on the farm

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722035 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722035 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Do you know how much abortion in cattle and sheep costs on farm?

John Harvey has been at Dairy-Tech, North of England and Scotland herds competition evening and hosted a knowledge exchange meeting at the Drum over the past month

John Harvey has been at Dairy-Tech, North of England and Scotland herds competition evening and hosted a knowledge exchange meeting at the Drum over the past month

Genomics improves herd efficiency to cope with 17% milk price drop at the Drum

Neil McGowan is back to work at home for a while following three bull sales and several meetings

Neil McGowan is back to work at home for a while following three bull sales and several meetings

Neil McGowan – home to work at Incheoch after three Bull Sales

Field Margins: Spring work is fast approaching for Rachel Young

Dr Charles Marwood

Dr Charles Marwood

Eye diseases in cattle and sheep – the frustrations, cost and welfare issues

Neil and Debbie McGowan

Neil and Debbie McGowan

A month in Neil McGowan's shoes as the busy spell is just around the corner

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722026 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722026 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

DR CHARLES MARWOOD

How best to treat lameness in sheep and cattle: Vet Charles Marwood tells all

John Harvey of Drum Farm looks ahead to 2023 Ref:RH2704201005 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

John Harvey of Drum Farm looks ahead to 2023 Ref:RH2704201005 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Electricity costs soar from £24k to £85k for Field Margins' John Harvey, Drum dairy

Hill farming - the culture that supplies people with work ethic and determination

Rachel Young Ref:RH240418018

Rachel Young Ref:RH240418018

Wishing farmers well for the New Year

charles Marwood

charles Marwood

DR CHARLES MARWOOD

Cattle pneumonia – the biggest economic and welfare cost in the livestock industry

A busy time of year for Rachel Young

Dr Charles Marwood

Dr Charles Marwood

Dr Charles Marwood

Minerals and trace elements are an essential part of our livestock's balanced die

John Harvey from Drum Farm, has invested in Joz Moov 2.0 robotic silage pusher so has more time to spend attending to the cows Ref:RH270420998 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

John Harvey from Drum Farm, has invested in Joz Moov 2.0 robotic silage pusher so has more time to spend attending to the cows Ref:RH270420998 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Field Margins: Winter has arrived at Drum Farm

Debbie McGowan pictured overlooking Balephuil Bay from Ben Hynish on Tiree – a good walk with a great view – and you can even stop for a wee G&T at the Tiree Distillery just down the hill after the Highland cow!

Debbie McGowan pictured overlooking Balephuil Bay from Ben Hynish on Tiree – a good walk with a great view – and you can even stop for a wee G&T at the Tiree Distillery just down the hill after the Highland cow!

The McGowan's busy tup sale month

Tim and Lousie Cooke

Tim and Lousie Cooke

Tim & Louise Cooke

Easycares and Exlanas at Nether Laggan for Tim and Louise Cooke, Kirkcudbrightshire

Rachel Young, Ballincherry Ref:RH240418021

Rachel Young, Ballincherry Ref:RH240418021

Field Margins' Rachel Young sows winter wheat without fertiliser at Ballincherry

Ref:RH110722084 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Ref:RH110722084 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Dr Charles Marwood

Test for disease before blanket treatment in livestock – Dr Charles Marwood, Clyde Vet Group

John Harvey from Drum Farm, making sure this newly born calf has his fill Ref:RH2704201002 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

John Harvey from Drum Farm, making sure this newly born calf has his fill Ref:RH2704201002 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Milk solids increase switching from second to third cut silage on John Harvey's Drum Farm

Neil in the ring at the family's Working Genes sale

Neil in the ring at the family's Working Genes sale

Cull cows average £1350 – same price as 2t of fertiliser

Rachel Young and her daughter Ellie have had a busy time at Ballincherry with the harvest

Rachel Young and her daughter Ellie have had a busy time at Ballincherry with the harvest

Dry, hot weather at Ballincherry causes new challenges at harvest time

Dr Charles Marwood

Dr Charles Marwood

Dr Charles Marwood

How to reduce heat stress and iceb3rg disease in sheep

Lambing isn't an easy time of year

All of the 2021 lamb crop has been sold to average £116.50

All of the 2021 lamb crop has been sold to average £116.50

Rachel Young shares her concern of increased costs

Jim Logan, gearing up for lambing after a successful scan at Pirntaton Ref:RH16032152 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Jim Logan, gearing up for lambing after a successful scan at Pirntaton Ref:RH16032152 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Weaning calves later reduces costs for Jim Logan

Rachel Young Ref:RH240418018

Rachel Young Ref:RH240418018

Fertiliser bought at 'eye-watering' expense!

John Harvey from Drum Farm Ref:RH2704201005 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

John Harvey from Drum Farm Ref:RH2704201005 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Input costs soar for all

A busy few months at Ballicherry

John Harvey's third cut silage appears better than his first cut

John Harvey's third cut silage appears better than his first cut

Higher quality winter feed at Drum

Lambs are looking well this year and it is hoped many will be able to be killed straight off their mothers Ref:RH16032129 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Lambs are looking well this year and it is hoped many will be able to be killed straight off their mothers Ref:RH16032129 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Profitable business is about margins as opposed to output

Graeme Mather Ref:RH28817736

Graeme Mather Ref:RH28817736

Bumper silage crops for winter feed

Seven live calves from three cows

Rachel and her father Brian Matheson who has just celebrated his 60th birthday

Rachel and her father Brian Matheson who has just celebrated his 60th birthday

Spring barley crops look variable on Black Isle

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