Andrew & Seonag Barbour
Mains of Fincastle Farm, Pitlochry
Andrew and Seonag Barbour, and their family farm Mains of Fincastle, Pitlochry. A 540 hectare (1,334-acre), organic hill farm, sitting at over 1000 feet above sea-level rising to 1300 feet. Its home to a herd of 50 suckler cows, made up of a small fold of Highlanders crossed with Whitebred Shorthorn to produce the basis for the suckler herd. These cows are crossed with a Limousin producing 18-month-old store cattle. Along with 400 TexelX producing finished lambs from mainly rough grazing.
The sheep are run on the in-bye through the summer and rough grazing are used by sheep in late summer/autumn and again after tupping through to lambing. The cows are on the rough grazing through the summer months.
Why trees?
Carbon, shelter, shade, browse early bite of grass, increase in productivity of stock, saving on feed costs, better financial returns, productive timber, working capital and long term investment.
Upcoming Event
Integrating Trees Network Event Thursday 14th October 7pm – 8pm
The Barbour family will introduce us to their family farm Mains of Fincastle. A 540 Ha beef and sheep hill farm in Perthshire. They will discuss why plant trees, objectives, the process and challenges. How they have successfully integrated trees into their farming business. Providing multiple benefits from shelter and shade, increase in productivity to carbon capture. We will also have a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining us to discuss funding and first steps to woodland creation. As this is a farmer-led network please come along and bring your questions and ideas to help us guide future events. Book your free place here