Farm History
The farm is run by Charley and Andrea Walker who have an organic beef and sheep enterprise that are entirely self-sufficient in feed, they are also Farmers Weekly Awards 2019 Grasslands Farmers of the year.
Having taken inspiration from the Kiwis following a stint working in New Zealand, they have brought the “simplistic” mentality of red meat production back to Scotland, creating a winning formula on their 254ha tenancy in the Scottish Borders.
The switch from set-stocking five years ago has seen production almost double to 405kg DM/ha and profits lift exponentially.
More recently, they plucked up the courage to give holistic grazing a go and are hoping it will act as an “armour for soil”, building organic matter and, in turn, sequestering tonnes of carbon.
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Rotational grazing
Great grassland management is at the heart of the system, operating a rotational grazing system and outwinter stock on deferred grass in the winter.
Silage fields are reseeded every six years following oat and pea silage, with shorter-term leys reseeded with ryegrasses containing red and white clover. Meanwhile, herbal leys are used on the grazing platform.
Good fertility is the linchpin of their low-input system, with Welsh Black across Angus cows calving in just six weeks from April. Easycare ewes are bred pure and lamb for three weeks from mid-April.
Eliminating the requirement for housing has helped to create a low-cost system with requiring less labour that works in harmony with the environment.
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Farm facts
• 254ha tenanted farm
• 640 wool-shedding ewes
• Sells beef to Dovecote Park
• Switched to organic in 2006
• 40ha in environmental stewardship
• 110 Welsh Black across Angus cows
• Prime sheep marketed through the Scotch Country Lamp co-op
Scottish Borders
By car:
• Get on M1 •
• Continue on M1, take A1(M) to A1 in Birtley •
• Follow A1 to your destination •
Nearest train station:
• Dunbar – 16 miles •
• Berwick upon Tweed – 22.5 miles •
Nearest Airport
• Edinburgh Airport – 53 miles •