Organic Ideas to Benefit Conventional Farms – Orkney

Farms across Scotland are facing growing pressure from rising input costs, market volatility, changing support schemes and increasingly unpredictable weather. As a result, many farmers are looking for practical ways to improve business efficiency, strengthen resilience and maintain profitability without compromising productivity.

This event will focus on practical approaches to improve the overall animal health and production of livestock and show ways to increase the biodiversity on farm in a manner which will benefit both the business and the environment.

Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all system, the meeting will explore techniques and management approaches drawn from regenerative and organic farming that can be adapted and applied across a wide range of farming systems — conventional, regenerative or organic.

The emphasis will be on sharing ideas, on-farm experiences and open discussion around what works in practice.

Speakers will include: Chris Barclay from the Stabiliser Society, SOPA and Patrick Lawrie, a biodiversity specialist. The meeting will look at the following:

• reducing input costs
• supporting and improving livestock performance
• building businesses that are better equipped to cope with future challenges

The event aims to encourage open conversation, knowledge exchange and practical take-home ideas that farmers can apply to any farming system to improve resilience, efficiency and long-term profitability.

Booking is essential for catering purposes.

Please note that this event will involve walking on uneven ground for the majority of the event.

Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

Venue Swanbister Farm, Orphir, Orkney, by kind permission of Cliff Bichan and family.