We were delighted to be back at AgriScot to host the judging of the silage competition and announce the winners. With the weather creating a somewhat challenging year it was a credit to all those who had entered to see the high standard across the board. As always creating good quality silage is fundamental to every farm business and its importance is only growing with the rise in feed and fertiliser costs. With these costs in mind getting your silage analysed is key in creating a winter feed plan and minimising other inputs.
The four categories were dairy and beef clamp, big bale, and a young farmers section. It was great to have Hugh McClymont from the Crichton Royal back judging live and he was expertly joined by Jim Warnock the Chaiman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. The top three in each category had been prejudged based on their analysis and the judges were able to finalise the order in the ring.
The dairy section highlights the breadth of the competition with the top spot going to Alexander Shankland & Sons, Portencalzie, Stranraer and the runner up from the other end of the country with Laird & Co, Pole Farm, Orkney. In third place was Allan Scott of Georth Farm, Orkney.
In the beef section James Marshall, SRUC Easter Howgate won with his silage particularly impressing the judges with an ME of 12.3 with Ian & John Whiteford, Hill Tarvit Mains coming in second & R Black, Drochil Castle Farm in third.
In the big bales section Tom Bennie, Oxhill, Stirlingshire won with his silage combing an ME of 11.8 with a crude protein of 15.0 with Hamish Dykes, South Slipperfield, West Linton coming in second and Craig Bothwell, Cleugh Farm in third.
The young farmers section was competitive with Ben McClymont, Saughland Estate, Pathhead taking the top spot after judges were very impressed with the sample presented on the day. Fiona and Rebecca Thomson, Tillyrie, Kinross finished in second place and third place was awarded Andrew & Harry Neill of Upper Nisbet.
We would like to thank all those that entered the silage competition. The number and quality of the entries were outstanding and created 12 superb finalists to be judged on the day.
