Planning ahead will be the key theme at a monitor farm meeting at Mill of Inverarity farm, Forfar .
The Stodart family run a 200 hectare arable enterprise, as well as 200 suckler cows, 500 breeding ewes and 300 bought in store lambs. Discussion will include winter crops, under sowing barley with grass, pre tupping management and housing cattle.
Monitor Farmer Rory Stodart said he would share how systems are normally managed and was keen to hear how  other farmers in the area might do things differently.Â
The group will also look over the farm’s current trial of under sowing barley with grass which aims to produce good grass growth for sheep over winter, without reducing the yield of the spring barley. The family has experimented with five different grass varieties, all sown at different seed rates, and the group will consider which has been the most effective.
Vet Tim Geraghty will tackle key winter issues of cattle health and pneumonia, while SAC Consulting’s Karen Stewart will take on the topic of preparing cattle for housing focusing on nutrition, creep feeding and weaning.
The event on Thursday July 20 is free to attend but to assist with catering attendees should book a place by contacting stacey.hamilton@sac.co.uk
