Peter Scott, Farm Manager at Oatridge College, provided a very interesting session for Association members on managing grassland. The session was held at Blackfaulds Farm, courtesy of Kenneth Christie, followed by lunch at Longcarse Farm Cottage.
Peter is a very experienced farm manager and extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of agriculture. He was able to give us an overview of the requirements of grass, which is a very important crop for those of us with grazing animals, as well as showing us how to do a soil test, to recognise healthy and compacted soil and how to recognize various grass varieties. He was also able to explain how to renovate grassland and to improve existing sward. Although his own farms are not organic, he was appreciated that our favoured approach would be low chemical input, so he focused on these aspects.
Those present enjoyed the discussion and learned new techniques that they can take back to their own holdings and apply in situ.
Thanks to Peter and all those who attended and contributed, and to Kenneth for letting us view his fabulous crop of buttercups!
