Nether Aden, Aberdeenshire (Beef & Arable)
David and Nicola Barron run Nether Aden farm, a mixed unit in Aberdeenshire. The farm covers 208 hectares where David rears and finishes 110 suckler cows.
Crops at Nether Aden include spring and winter barley, whole crop, winter wheat, winter oilseed rape plus grazing and silage ground. David has also made use of shelterbelts.
Nether Aden participated in the initiative from 2014 - 2018. Find out more about the topics we investigated from the meeting notes below.
How can you benefit from work at Nether Aden?
David was keen to make a difference in terms of reducing emissions and improving his farm business. From testing out the use of hydrogen on his telehandler to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, to the use of composts and cover crops, and expanding his livestock business, David has put a number of efficiency measures in place which should see his carbon footprint fall in the longer term.
More Information
- Improving Carbon Efficiencies at Nether Aden - key focus farm findings
- Nether Aden Mixed Case Study (870.65 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Improving fuel use; hydrogen technology case study
- Hydrogen fuelled tractor enthusiasm grows on Aberdeenshire farm (April 2020)
- Nether Aden: Hydrogen & improving fuel efficiency - Jan 2018 (775 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Farm walk - arable & livestock update - July 2017 (593.79 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Cattle Housing & Health - Dec 2016 (682.27 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Maximising grass and forage efficiency - Nov 2016 (614.17 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Feeding cattle for better returns - Oct 2015 (691.49 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Improving Farm Profitability; Soils, Grass and Crops - June 2015 (711.67 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Grassland Production & Utilisation - March 2015 (767.74 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Fertility and Nutrition in the Suckler Herd - Nov 2014 (631.58 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Profiting from Improved Efficiency - Oct 2014 (309.21 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/