Organics
Established to Exceptional: Refining an Organic System
Anderson Brothers is a farming partnership run by brothers Matthew and Philip Anderson alongside their respective wives Becky and Mary. The business has developed a profitable and resilient organic system designed around the realities of upland farming. By focusing on soil health, forage utilisation, genetic suitability and simplified management, the business has reduced reliance on…
From Conventional to Organic: A Farmer’s Reflections
The Stewart family farms 700 acres across three fully organic units, Marshill, South Draffan and Southfield. Converting to organic in 2020, the business runs 390 Holstein Friesians. Cows are ai’d to sexed semen to produce home bred replacements with the remainder being served with Aberdeen Angus or Wagyu sires. All land is down to grass…
Key Learnings And Takeaways From The Natural Capital Podcast In 2025/26
The Natural Capital podcast series explores the role of natural capital in Scottish agriculture and rural economy. Natural capital refers to the soils, water, air, plants, wildlife and ecosystems that support agriculture and provide essential benefits to people and nature (Find out more here). These assets generate ecosystem services like food production, flood protection and carbon…
Organic Arable Silage – What You Need To Know
At Kirwaugh Farm near Wigtown in the Machars peninsula, Andrew Robinson has been running his dairy farm organically for over 17 years. As part of his crop rotation and weed control, grass reseeds are established with an undersown arable mix. This helps with weed management, in particular dock which are common in the local area….
Stock Talk – Gordon Whiteford: Lower Mill of Tynet Farm
Welcome to Stock Talk. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Gordon Whiteford who farms at Lower Mill of Tynet in Banffshire. In 2012, Gordon and June Whiteford began Lower Mill of Tynet Farm. They built an egg business, then a micro-dairy in 2020, selling milk and now ice cream directly from their 24-hour farm…
Organics in Scotland – Lower Mill of Tynet Case Study
Organics in Scotland Lower Mill of Tynet is an innovative farm, blending traditional farming practices with direct-to-customer strategies, marketing produce from the farm gate. Gordon grew up on a farm in Ayrshire, but is a first-generation farmer in his own right. In 2005, he started with a 3000-bird organic layer unit on a rented field,…
Spreading Organic Fertiliser – Get Funded Specialist Advice to Remain Compliant
Organic fertilisers such as slurry, manure and anaerobic digestate can be highly beneficial when applied to land at the appropriate time and in the correct amounts. From 1 January 2023, new rules related to spreading slurry and liquid anaerobic digestate were introduced, ensuring farmers and contractors use more controlled methods of application to minimise run-off…
Managing Grassland Under Organic Systems
Managing land using organic principles requires a greater emphasis on working in harmony with natural processes. This guide discusses the 5 key areas of soil management, crop choice and rotation, crop and soil nutrient management, weed control and grassland management. The principles of organic farming place food quality, human health, environment, animal welfare and socio-economic…
Lesley Mitchell: Building a thriving family business, the importance of work life balance and converting to organic
Mary-Jane Lawrie visits Whitriggs Farm in the Scottish Borders to speak to Lesley Mitchell. They chat about the family farm and how it has evolved over the years, their openness to challenges and change, and how that has allowed Lesley and her family to build a business that supports the family whilst also allowing a…
Using Organic Matter to Alleviate Water Scarcity
As water scarcity becomes a more frequently occurring concern across the UK, it is important to explore methods to better manage the water you do have. In England, water scarcity is a larger issue than in Scotland, but by acting now based on findings south of the border you can ensure your business is more…