Clynelish near Brora in Sutherland is run by Jason and Victoria Ballantyne in partnership with Jason’s father Murdoch.

The tenanted farm covers 121 hectares of grass and hill supporting 75 suckler cows and around 500 ewes. A further 80 acres of rough grazing is rented locally. A Sheep Stock club of 235 Ewes provides extra size and viability to the business.

Jason and Victoria volunteered to participate in the initiative from 2014 - 2018 and joined with two other farms in the local area, Corrimony and Auchmore, to form the HiFEN Group - Highland Farming Efficiency Network.

Together the three farms held a number of on-farm events and meetings looking at the respective changes they had put in place or were considering.

Jason and Victoria have focused on making changes around their livestock enterprises, from reducing the number of bull breeds on the farm in order to simplify the breeding process and improve consistency in the calves, to improving grazing management and grass quality.

Through reviewing fuel use they were able to cut the fuel bill resulting in both cash and carbon savings.

• Improving Carbon Efficiencies at Clynelish - key focus farm findings
• Clynelish Case Study (953.85 KB PDF)
  
• HiFEN: Group visit to Mid Coul Farms AD Plant - July 2016 (475.24 KB PDF)
• Clynelish: Flock Life - February 2015 (917.84 KB PDF)

There is more information on our Downloads page, ranging from what other farmers have done, to practical guides and ideas you can adapt and consider to benefit your own farm business and reduce the farm carbon footprint.

How do you compare?  You can complete your own carbon audit via Agrecalc, or if you would prefer a bit of help, a free carbon audit is available via Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) at www.fas.scot/carbon-audits/