17 September 2009

17 September 2009
Peelham Farm is Scotland’s “sustainable best”

Peelham Farm has today scooped the 2009 Future Farmer Award [1].

Award judge David Younie was quick to praise the 680 acre Berwickshire enterprise, which supplies beef, lamb and pork to local markets [2]: “As well as producing stunning food, Peelham is resilient, low carbon, and shows great imagination in the way it engages with customers.”

The Future Farmer Award is supported by the Elizabeth Murray Trust andNFUScotland and recognises exceptional achievement in sustainable farming in Scotland. Award winners receive a cash sum of £4,000, and a package of support, to enable them to share their skills and success with other land managers [3].

Mr Younie said: “As Future Farmer Award winners, Peelham will be throwing open their gates - I hope that Scotland’s farmers and policymakers will jump at the opportunity to come and see farming at its sustainable best.”

Jim McLaren, President of the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland, presented the annual gong to partners Chris & Denise Walton and Amanda Cayley.

Mr McLaren said: “Peelham Farm demonstrates that Scotland’s farmers are rising to the twin challenges of climate change and increasing costs of farm inputs. I’m delighted that this award not only recognises what the Waltons have accomplished, but makes it possible for them to disseminate their knowledge and expertise.”

Mr Younie said that the selection committee had been impressed by Peelham’s environmental credentials: “Instead of buying nitrogen fertiliser, Peelham sows clover, which builds soil fertility using energy from the sun. Rather than using pesticides and bought-in animal feed, the team employ natural methods of pest control, and grow their own feed”, he said. “This is a low carbon approach that is also good for wildlife.

“The policy of minimal inputs and self-reliance also makes the farm more economically robust, and resilient to agrochemical and feed price shocks, which cause headaches for many farmers.”

Peelham butcher their own meat and sell their award winning products – including Scotland’s only field-raised beef veal - direct to hotels, restaurants, shops and consumers fifty two weeks a year. Customers know who is producing their food, and Peelham enjoy a diverse and loyal customer base, insulated from middlemen and commodity markets.

Reflecting the team’s commitment to social sustainability, Peelham creates rewarding employment for eleven staff, and diverse recreational and educational opportunities for visitors, which include a Tamworth pig ownership scheme and an equestrian cross-country course.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead said: “Peelham Farm is a wonderful example of the win-win situations possible for farmers and land managers. Not only are they improving farming inputs and business resilience, they are adopting measures to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions – something which will benefit us all.

“Evidence of such commitment and innovation within the sector is hugely encouraging. And by implementing practical measures there is the recognition that sound business practice and low carbon farming need not be mutually exclusive. “

Mrs Walton said: “We’re over the moon to have won the Future Farmer Award and really looking forward to sharing more of what we do, particularly with other farmers.”

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