Practical Guides, Case Studies & Newsletters
Practical guides
Carbon Footprinting And Locking In Carbon:
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Improving resource use efficiency on arable farms(571.79 KB, PDF)
- Benefits from carbon footprinting on the beef farm
- Benefits from carbon footprinting on the dairy farm
- Cover crops (632.04 KB, PDF)
- SFAS Information Note: Cover Crops(5.77 MB, PDF)
- Farm woodlands and carbon (404.97 KB, PDF)
- Field drainage (464.4 KB, PDF)
- Farm Woodlands for Shelter(447.01 KB, PDF)
- Agroforestry for beef and sheep farmers
Developing Renewable Energy:
- Anaerobic digestion(451 KB, PDF)
- Micro-hydro(898 KB, PDF)
- Renewable heat incentive(3 MB, PDF)
- Small scale renewables(918 KB, PDF)
- Solar photovoltaics(467 KB, PDF)
- Wind energy(542 KB, PDF)
- Making the most of on-site energy generation (640.79 KB, PDF)
- Case Study: Improving Fuel Use; hydrogen technology (1 MB, PDF)
Energy and Fuel Use:
- Energy auditing(537.11 KB, PDF)
- Monitoring Energy Use(548.34 KB, PDF)
- Future Developments in Smart Energy Networks (310 KB, PDF)
- Electricity use in the dairy(507.5 KB, PDF)
- Spreadsheet - Electricity Meter Record(106.16 KB, XLSX)
- Optimising tractor fuel use(836.48 KB, PDF)
- Spreadsheet - Vehicle Fuel Record(105.2 KB, XLSX)
- Spreadsheet - Grain Drier Fuel Record(105.92 KB, XLSX)
- Tyre selection and management(1.1 MB, PDF)
- Case Study: Improving Fuel Use; hydrogen technology (1 MB, PDF)
Optimising Livestock Performance:
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - How do we reduce emissions from beef? (1.01 MB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - Improving fertility in the beef herd (783 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - Improving grass growth (1.13 MB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - Maximising growth rates (913 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - Beef bull selection (788 KB, PDF)
- Improving ventilation in the beef shed (516.48 KB, PDF)
- Benefits from carbon footprinting on the beef farm (469.57 KB, PDF)
- Comparing grazing methods (1.0 MB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - How do we reduce emissions from dairy? (1.04 MB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - Improving fertility in the dairy herd (1.08 MB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Emissions - Improving feed conversion efficiency and reducing waste in the dairy herd (1.1 MB, PDF)
- What can your dairy cows tell you? (847.06 KB, PDF)
- Livestock nutrition (377.74 KB, PDF)
- Silage Testing: Interpreting Results (301.98 KB, PDF)
- Improving dairy productivity - feed and water intakes (497.4 KB, PDF)
- Dairy heifer rearing (442.44 KB, PDF)
- Improving shed ventilation for the dairy herd (761.67 KB, PDF)
- Benefits from carbon footprinting on the dairy farm (421.37 KB, PDF)
- Alternative Forages for Ewes (621 KB, PDF)
- Improving ewe efficiency (1) (486.33 KB, PDF)
- Improving ewe efficiency (2) - Pre lambing (597.28 KB, PDF)
- Improving ewe efficiency (3) - Post lambing (495.88 KB, PDF)
- Lamb losses record sheet (615 KB, PDF)
- DUP supplementation of ewes (218.28 KB, PDF)
- Farm Woodlands for Shelter (447.01 KB, PDF)
- Agroforestry for beef and sheep farmers(1.25 MB, PDF)
Soils, Fertilisers and Manures:
- Soil Organic Matter(2 MB, PDF)
- Alleviating soil compaction(680.82 KB, PDF)
- Improving soil quality (699.59 KB, PDF)
- Soil management (599 KB, PDF)
- Assess your soil structure (1135 KB, PDF)
- Valuing Your Soils: Practical guidance for Scottish farmers (3.53 MB, PDF )
- Soil Sampling I - How to take a soil sample (4.37 KB, PDF)
- Soil Sampling II - Benefits to your business (5.95 KB, PDF)
- Nutrient Budgeting I - The benefits to your business (6.44 KB, PDF )
- Nutrient Budgeting II - Getting started (5.03 KB, PDF)
- Managing soil phosphorus (765 KB, PDF)
- Nitrogen fixation (660.82 KB, PDF)
- Optimising inorganic nitrogen (308 KB, PDF)
- Optimising organic nitrogen (421 KB, PDF)
- Applying Nutrients (3.29 KB, PDF )
- Greenhouse gas emissions (2.54 MB, PDF)
- Farmer’s guide to sourcing and using digestate and compost (2.07 MB, PDF )
- Establishing a grass clover sward (565.69 KB, PDF)
- Maximising performance of grass leys (493.41 KB, PDF)
- Cover crops (632.04 KB, PDF)
- SFAS Information Note: Cover Crops(5.77 MB, PDF)
- Healthy grassland soils pocketbook - AHDB (3.00 MB, PDF )
Adapting to a changing climate:
- Adapting new farm buildings to a changing climate(943 KB, PDF)
- Adapting traditional farm buildings to a changing climate(693 KB, PDF)
What have other farmers done
- Working Towards Net Zero Carbon at Millburn Farm (537 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Carbon at Cloffrickford Farm (1,023 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Carbon at High Garphar Farm (952 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Carbon at Auchmore Farm (1,101 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Carbon at Hundleshope Farm (653 KB, PDF)
- Working Towards Net Zero Carbon at Gaindykehead Farm(1.13 MB, PDF)
- East Fingask - Maximising Production from Forage (679KB, PDF)
- Balcaskie Estate - Making Use of Bale Grazing (1.20MB, PDF)
- Auchnieve and Mains of Thornton(333 KB, PDF)
- Balruddery - adapting to a changing climate (738KB, PDF)
- Craigengillan - New Woodlands(1 MB, PDF)
- Crichton Royal Dairy(677 KB, PDF)
- Ednie - beef and arable (488 KB, PDF)
- Glensaugh Research Station(613 KB, PDF)
- Kinstair Farm - New Woodlands(1 MB, PDF)
- Kirkton and Auchtertyre - adapting the hill sheep farm in a changing climate(556 KB, PDF)
- Langtonlees - moving from straw to slurry(1 MB, PDF)
- Phantassie and Garvald Mains - beef, sheep and arable (444 KB, PDF)
- West Mains of Kinblethmont - controlled traffic farming(871 KB, PDF)
- Mountfair Farming Ltd - taking care of soil life(1.12MB, PDF)
- Nether Aden - Improving Fuel Use; hydrogen technology(1 MB, PDF)
Newsletters:
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Summer 2021 (5.47 KB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Winter 2020-21 (3 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Summer 2020 (2.46 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Winter 2019-20 (3.51 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Summer 2019 (3.34 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Winter 2018-19 (4 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Summer 2018 ( 5.73 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2017 (4.84 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter June 2017 (4.03 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2016 (1.46 MB, PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter June 2016 (3.53 MB, PDF)
- Farming for a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2015 (4.43 MB, PDF)
- Farming for a Better Climate Newsletter June 2015 (4.19 MB, PDF)
- Farming for a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2014 (463.99 KB PDF)
- Farming for a Better Climate Newsletter June 2014 (878.97 KB PDF)
- Farming for a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2013 (961.77 KB PDF)
- Farming for a Better Climate Newsletter June 2013 (1.02 MB PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2012 (781.25 KB PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter April 2012 (991.61 KB PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Oct 2011 (793.47 KB PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter May 2011 (582 KB PDF)
- Farming For a Better Climate Newsletter Dec 2010 (595.68 KB PDF)
Climate Change Focus Farm Meeting Notes
Climate Change Focus Farms
Our Climate Change Focus Farms looked at various areas within their farm business to help improve farm efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint using Agrecalc. Read what each farm discussed during meetings in the notes below.
Ardoch of Gallery
- Ardoch of Gallery Arable Case Study(538.89 KB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery: Maximising farm efficiency - March 2018 (927 KB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery Integrated control of grass weeds - November 2017 (1.24 MB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery Learning Journey - June 2017 (981 KB PDF)
- Adroch of Gallery Maximising farm efficiency; nutrient use - February 2017 (226 KB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery Whats new in renewables - Dec 2016 (257 KB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery WOSR and drones - May 2016(2.17 MB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery Oilseed rape and cover crops - March 2016(3.19 MB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery: Profiting from improved efficiency; soils & nutrients - February 2016 (665.54 KB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery: Production strategies for low commodity prices - November 2015 (911.4 KB PDF)
- Ardoch of Gallery: Improving Farm Profitability - June 2015 (2.04 MB PDF)
Auchmore
- Improving carbon efficiencies at Auchmore Farm - key focus farm findings (4 MB PDF)
- Auchmore Case Study (917 KB PDF)
- HiFEN: Group visit to Mid Coul Farms AD Plant - July 2016 (475.24 KB PDF)
- Auchmore: Optimising animal performance - lameness and nutrition - Nov 2016 (1.6 MB PDF)
- HiFEN Introductory Meeting at Auchmore - September 2014 (630.98 KB PDF)
Castlemains
- Improving carbon efficiencies at Castlemains - key focus farm findings (3.62 MB PDF)
- Castlemains Arable Case Study (513.75 KB PDF)
- Castlemains: Lessons Learnt and Adaptations - July 2018 (1.16 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: Integrated Control of Grass Weeds - November 2017 (708.38 KB PDF)
- Castlemains: Controlled Traffic Farming & GPS Sampling - Oct 2017 (4.65 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: Improving Efficiency at Harvest - July 2017 (2.57 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: Tyre Selection - Feb 2017 (4.08 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: Nutrient Budgeting - Jan 2017 (1.73 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: Cover Cropping & No Till in Practice - November 2016 (4.51 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: The Value of Soil Organic Matter - June 2016 (1.32 MB PDF)
- Castlemains & Rumbletonrig joint meeting - Getting Back to Plant Basics on Major Plant Nutrients - February 2016(759.92 KB PDF)
- Castlemains: AgRe Calc & Progress Update - November 2015 (1.4 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: The Answer Is In The Soil - June 2015 (2.11 MB PDF)
- Castlemains: Practical Ideas to Improve Farm Profits - February 2015 (970.89 KB PDF)
- Castlemains Farm Introductory Meeting - Feb 2015 (1.03 MB PDF)
Clynelish
- Improving carbon efficiencies at Clynelish - key focus farm findings (740 KB PDF)
- 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)
Corrimony
- Improving carbon efficiencies at Corrimony - key focus farm findings (915 KB PDF)
- Corrimony Upland Beef and Sheep Case Study (629.44 KB PDF)
- HiFEN: Group visit to Mid Coul Farms AD Plant - July 2016 (475.24 KB PDF)
Hillend
- Improving carbon efficiencies at Hillend - key farm focus findings (3.57 MB, PDF)
- Hillend Dairy Case Study (695.28 KB, PDF)
- Hillend: Precision technologies in dairy farming - Feb 2018 (1.17 MB, PDF)
- Hillend: Northern Ireland Learning Journey - March 2017 (1.41 MB, PDF)
- Hillend: Milk markets & farm soils - March 2016 (1 MB, PDF)
- Hillend: Are Thin Cows Lame, or Are Lame Cows Thin? - Feb 2016 (1.12 MB, PDF)
- Hillend: Blood testing in the herd - Jan 2016 (832.02 KB, PDF)
- Hillend: Improving efficiency - cow diets and performance - Dec 2015 (453.36 KB, PDF)
- Hillend: Managing Fertility and Getting Cows in Calf - Oct 2015 (1.04 MB, PDF)
- Hillend: ‘A Learning Journey’ to Hillhead of Covington - Oct 2015 (443.26 KB, PDF)
- Hillend: Getting More from Grass - March 2015 (1.2 MB, PDF)
- Hillend: Improving Profitability - Feb 2015 (1.11 MB, PDF)
Nether Aden
- Improving carbon efficiencies at Nether Aden - key focus farm findings (3.81 MB PDF)
- Nether Aden Mixed Case Study (870.65 KB, PDF)
- Nether Aden: Improving Fuel Use; hydrogen technology - case study (1 MB, PDF)
- 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)
Rumbletonrig
- Rumbletonrig Lowland Beef and Sheep Case Study (1.06 MB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Gaining improvements; good animal health & fertiliser management - Dec 2018 (1 MB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Visit to Thankerton Camp Farm - Oct 2018 (1 MB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Gaining production improvements through genetics and animal health - May 2018 (750 KB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Carbon audits, energy use and the livestock bedding trial - November 2017 (394 KB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Building resilience into grassland - June 2017 (565.36 KB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Greenhouse gases and efficiency - January 2017 (436 KB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Grass utilisation and carbon audits - December 2016 (583 KB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Animal Health & Grassland Utilisation - July 2016 (1.06 MB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig & Castlemains joint meeting - Getting Back to Plant Basics on Major Plant Nutrients - February 2016 (759.92 KB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Improved nutrition efficiency - November 2015 (1.49 MB, PDF)
- Rumbletonrig: Profiting from Improved Efficiency - August 2015 (1.19 MB, PDF)
Woodhead Farm
- Woodhead Dairy Case Study (929.15 KB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Improving farm efficiency; findings from Woodhead Farm (3.87 MB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Energy efficiency on a shoestring budget - Oct 2016 (1.21 MB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Managing the dairy herd - March 2016 (1.07 MB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Improving fertiliser usage - Feb 2016 (368.45 KB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Making big decisions - Jan 2016 (743.75 KB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Managing fertility and getting cows in calf - Sept 2015 (825.7 KB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Getting calves off to a good start - March 2015 (224 KB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Profiting from Pasture - March 2015 (1.07 MB, PDF)
- Woodhead: Profiting from Improved Efficiency - Sept 2014 (657.23 KB, PDF)
Glenkilrie Farm
- Glenkilrie Beef and Sheep - Efficiency Findings (709.89 KB, PDF)
- GreenCow visit - Feb 2012 (331.39 KB, PDF)
- Case Study - Glenkilrie (570 KB, PDF)
- Maximising output from sheep (264.67 KB, PDF)
- Best Use of Nutrients - Sep 2011 (153.96 KB, PDF)
- Energy Use & Renewable Opportunities - Feb 2011 (239.84 KB, PDF)
- Glenkilrie Information Day - Oct 2010 (251.27 KB, PDF)
- Maximising Cattle Performance (486.06 KB, PDF)
- Glenkilrie visit to Soil Aeration day (399.14 KB, PDF)
- Minimising Losses at Lambing (449.73 KB, PDF)
Stewart Tower Farm
- Stewart Tower Dairy Wind Turbine Case Study (642.75 KB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 1 (244.63 KB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 2 (274.67 KB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 3 (318.52 KB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 4 (306.68 KB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 5 (1.1 MB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 6 (1.28 MB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 7 (1.33 MB, PDF)
- Stewart Tower: Factsheet 8 (1.53 MB, PDF)
Torr Farm
- Torr Dairy - Efficiency Findings (741.06 KB, PDF)
- Case Study - Torr Farm (816 KB, PDF)
- Opportunities for Renewables; Woodfuel Boilers - March 2012 (550.57 KB, PDF)
- Micro Hydro - Dec 2011 (421.01 KB, PDF)
- Livestock Productivity - Nov 2011 (359.58 KB, PDF)
- Soil Structure & Farm Productivity - Sep 2011 (367.67 KB, PDF)
- Optimising Livestock Productivity - March 2011 (418.13 KB, PDF)
- Reducing Energy Use - Feb 2011 (206.01 KB, PDF)
- Soil & Nutrient Management - Oct 2010 (219.85 KB, PDF)
- Torr Information Day - Sep 2010 (164.68 KB, PDF)
- Improving Field Drainage (214.7 KB, PDF)
- Improving Sheep Productivity (225.33 KB, PDF)
- Soil, Muck and Money (349.19 KB, PDF)
Upper Nisbet
- Upper Nisbet Mixed Case Study (734.71 KB, PDF)
- Improving Profitability - Dec 2011 (263.9 KB, PDF)
- Upper Nisbet Information Day - Oct 2011 (315.87 KB, PDF)
- Opportunities For Renewables - Woodchip (489.74 KB, PDF)
- Improving Efficiencies In The Beef Herd (212.25 KB, PDF)
- Improving Arable Productivity (372.05 KB, PDF)
- Improving Soil Profitability (512.96 KB, PDF)
- Improving Arable Margins (2.4 MB, PDF)