How might climate change affect Ardoch of Gallery?
In common with most farms, it will be the unpredictability and extremes of weather that could add an extra level of complexity to the day to day activities for us here at Ardoch of Gallery.
Changing rainfall patterns can have a big impact on us, depending on the intensity and time of year; too dry and we need to rely on irrigation for the potatoes; too wet and that gives us problems for field work, especially at harvest. Prolonged use of potato/bulb stores alongside the grain dryer also adds to energy costs and further reduces profits.
Nutrient use
Ardoch of Gallery is in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). We already carry out GPS soil testing and draw up a nutrient budget on a field by field basis.
Based on the soil testing results, we work with a contractor who uses variable rate application for lime. We would like to expand this to P & K, targeting applications within fields as required.
With yield mapping on the combine, this will be another way we can look at our efficiencies and adjust our management accordingly.
Cutting energy costs
We would be keen to cut the farm fuel bill; we keep a record of fuel used in the tractor, but we are going to see if we can attribute this to different jobs, for example bed tilling for potatoes or establishment of oilseed rape using min till techniques. Once we can breakdown what a job costs we can look any additional scope for savings.
Between the bulbs and the potatoes, the new shed is in use for around 9 months of the year, meaning a significant demand for electricity to maintain optimum storage conditions. Although we are expecting our electricity bill to double due to the new shed, we are being more efficient with energy use through measures such as insulation and variable speed motors on fans. By installing a few extra electricity meters, we will be able to see exactly which activities account for most energy use and if there are any other steps to consider to cut electricity bills.
Benefitting from renewables
We are already investigating how renewables could cut our electricity bills at Ardoch of Gallery. With no suitable watercourse, micro-hydro is not an option, but wind and solar to support regular electricity demand would work well here.
We already have plans for a 100kW turbine which will give us access to free electricity, but installation is currently on hold due to grid connection. Electricity from Solar PV (photovoltaics) is something else we will look to investigate.
‘Storing carbon’
All farms can ‘lock up’ carbon within farm crops and soils; we are interested to see if this can financially benefit the farm business.
With around 2.5ha of hardwoods planted in the early 1990’s, we will be looking at ways to maximise any income from the farm woodland.
Like many arable units, we don’t have regular access to livestock manures so need to consider other ways to enhance soil organic matter (OM). We are chopping and ploughing-in more wheat straw, building OM content which will help to maintain and improve soil health.
Currently most fields are ploughed, but we do direct drill for oilseed rape which has been very successful.
