Scottish Agronomy, the farmer-owned co-operative for independent agronomy advice and crop trials in Scotland, has appointed Easter Ross farmer, Donald Ross, as its new Chair.
Farming the 350ha mixed unit based at Rhynie Farm, Donald brings a wealth of experience in practical faming as well as a progressive approach to trial and experimentation to improve crop management and farming practices. He predominantly grows wheat for animal feed and distilling, barley for malting, oilseed rape, beans for cattle protein and spinach for seed production sold worldwide, alongside 100 suckler cows and 250 breeding ewes.
Donald has been a member of Scottish Agronomy since 1997, part of the Easter Ross group which exchanges advice and learnings between the coop’s agronomists and other arable farmers in the region.
Rhynie also hosts the most northerly site for Scottish Agronomy trials with almost 1000 plots of Spring Barley, providing valuable local knowledge and data to growers in the Highlands
Donald has always taken a collaborative and cooperative attitude to business and building knowledge. He is former chair of grain coop, Highland Grain, and, as well as winner of the AgriScot Arable Farmer of the Year, he has scored highly over the years in the well-regarded YEN (Yield Enhancement Network) competition.
“I have always been a strong believer in evidence-based agronomy and how we, as farmers can help ourselves if we have the knowledge. I am looking forward to chairing the board, a broad and brilliant mix of progressive farmers and bright minds that bring so much to the table to continue to support our members in the good times, and the tough.”
With farming navigating the multiple challenges of rising input costs, a changing regulatory environment and increasing pressure to demonstrate environmental credentials alongside financial viability, Donald says access to independent trial data and advice has never been so important:
“Scottish Agronomy’s strength lies in the fact that our trials are conducted in Scottish conditions, on Scottish soils, for Scottish farmers. We’re not translating results from elsewhere and hoping they apply here. That independence and local relevance is what sets us apart, and it’s what makes the co-operative’s work so genuinely useful to members making decisions on the ground when costs are high and markets are changing.”
Donald succeeds Guy Lee, Borders farmer and publisher of AgriMart, as Chair. Adam Christie, Managing Director of Scottish Agronomy, added:
“We thank Guy wholeheartedly for the huge commitment and valuable guidance he has given us over the years. As Chair, he has brought a different perspective and experience to the coop to ensure it remains at the forefront of the arable sector in Scotland. We are pleased he will remain on the board and we all look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Scottish Agronomy has recently marked 40 years since it was first set up as a co-operative by a progressive group of farmers from the length and breadth of Scotland seeking independent, practical agronomic advice.
Since the 48 farmers planted the first trials in 1985, it has grown to over 30,000 trials plots across a range of sites and soil types throughout Scotland, evaluating varieties, inputs and management practices under real-world conditions; and almost 250 farming members.
This has built 40 years’ worth of valuable evidence and data, right up to the current season, which Scottish Agronomy’s team of agronomists will analyse and then work directly with members to translate the information into on-farm decisions, explains Adam.
“Having this historical evidence is very useful for looking at how to approach current challenges. Our main aim is to combine this huge bank of data with our agronomists’ knowledge and experience to give members the information they need to make important choices to improve yields, manage costs and farm sustainably.”