Farmers Focus: Fortunate to be farming with my parents
Annabel Hamilton © Angus Findlay I am very fortunate to farm with my parents on the east Berwickshire coast in the Scottish Borders.
Dad has been at Bee Edge Farm since 1980 and has grown the business from 107ha to 1,100ha.
I moved back to the farm in June 2020 after spending four years in farm management in Lincolnshire and two years in Northumberland.
The business operates more than 10 farms which all vary in size and all have different arrangements in place.
The majority of our agreements are contract farming, which all have their own unique differences.
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About the author
Bee Edge is a mixed farm, where we fatten more than 300 Limousin/Limousin-cross cattle a year. They are destined for the local live market and purchased by local butchers.
Winter crops make up 65% of our cropping, with the other 35% spring. Golden Promise malting barley is grown for Simpsons Malt, and Conway winter and spring oats are grown for Quaker.
All the wheat is sold for feed, some winter barley is used for the cattle and some is sold for malting. We grow both high erucic acid and double-zero oilseed rape.
All the straw is tied up in muck-for-straw deals, as well as for our own use. We also have land rented out for vining peas, carrots, potatoes and leeks.
We employ one full-time person and have a couple of self-employed staff who help throughout the year.
Harvest time sees another four people join the team – it’s safe to say we couldn’t do it without them all.
We are into our fourth year as an Agrii iFarm, as well as being part of the Yield Enhancement Network. This is not just a competition, but a chance to delve into the depths of a particular crop and how we can improve.
I enjoy getting off the farm from time to time to attend board meetings for the Borders Machinery Ring and AgriScot. I am also part of our local agriculture discussion society and a local biodiversity and profitability group.
