Quality Meat Scotland – On the Couch with Michael Blanche

‘On the Couch with Michael Blanche’, host of The Pasture Pod, brings together five young, positive, entrepreneurial stars who are clear that their future lies in farming.

They’re striving to do what they do well. Seeking out opportunities and continually improving and growing is in their blood.

On stage at Inverurie Town Hall, Michael will interview each in a light-hearted, discussion about the routes each has taken on their steps to farming fame.

Interactive, passionate, hopeful and amusing, ‘On the Couch’ is aimed squarely at an audience who wants to hear good news and optimism about North East Farming.

Guests:

Michelle Bruce farms at Meikle Tillyeve, Udny with her husband Gary. They work 6 collies and 730 breeding ewes. She runs Aberdeenshire Sheepdogs hosting training clinics for shepherds and their dogs. Michelle is developing her business by buying 45 Chevease ewes to lamb this April, seeking ever more efficiency in her flock.

Robert Marshall, runs a mixed Aberdeenshire farm extending over 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of arable and grassland. Robert took over the majority partnership of his family business in his 20s, with the support of his parents. He continues to manage change, building climate resilience into his system. Part of the Deeside Monitor Farm Management Group, Robert sees a long-term future in farming.

Kirsty and Ross Williams – farmers at Ranna Farm, Tarland, where they moved with their family after an FLS starter farm. They have pedigree and commercial cattle and sheep, oven ready poultry, finishing pigs and arable crops, and also have day jobs working with SAC Consulting and Norvite, respectively.

Louise Munro – farms with her husband Stuart at Mossend near Hatton, Aberdeenshire where she manages 50 Stabiliser cattle, finishing the progeny and brings in store lambs over winter. She’s a mum to two boys, is a farm consultant and the North East of Scotland Farm Management Association secretary.

For more information, contact Peter Beattie, Monitor Farm Adviser at pbeattie@qmscotland.co.uk or call 07769 366614.