A special agricultural and rural affairs conference for young farmers will take place in November, with a focus on precision farming.
Organised by the agri and rural affairs committee of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC), the conference will take place from Friday November 21 to Sunday November 23.
Committee chairman Scott Somerville said: “With a growing world population, demand for agriculture output will increase but also with increased production cost and lower farm gate prices, the need to increase production per unit cost is as important now and it has ever been.
“There are technologies available that are underutilised and the Young Farmers population will be the ones who take precision farming to the next level.”
Clive Blacker from Precisions Decisions will talk about precision farming technology, while Michael Blanche from Quality Meat Scotland will talk about its use at a grass roots level.
Conference delegates will be split into three groups, depending on their interest and sent on different farm visits.
The dairy group will visit the Hamilton family’s farm 520-cow unit at Meldrum Far, Blair Drummond, while the arable group will visit the Young family’s enterprise at Mawcarse farm, Milnathort.
Lastly, the beef and sheep proup will visit the Barr family at Halhill Farm, near Cupar where they finishing yearling Charolais beasts and breed Texel cross ewes.
SAYFC communications and rural affairs manager Rebecca Dawes said: “This is an exciting step forward for SAYFC’s agricultural and rural affairs committee who were relaunched in 2013 to provide better support to members who have a strong interest in agriculture.”
The conference will take place at North Queensferry Hotel, near Edinburgh. Tickets cost £95 for two nights’ accommodation, all meals, the conference, delegate pack and transport to and from the farms. To book a place contact Ms Dawes on 0131 333 2445 or email rebecca@sayfc.org.