Netherton Farm named Scotch Beef Farm of the Year

Orkney’s Netherton Farm in Holm has been named the Scotch Beef Farm of the Year during a presentation at AgriScot.

The 340 acre farm is run by Alistair Foubister along with his wife Anne and they beat off competition from Lanarkshire’s Calla Farm and Brownhill Farm in Aberdeenshire in a competition which is designed to showcase excellence in the production of cattle in Scotland.

Alistair was surprised to win the award and he said: “It is really a great result for Orkney and recognition of all the cattle producers there who work very hard to produce great beef, often in very challenging conditions.”

The annual award, run by AgriScot and Quality Meat Scotland was brought in to try and raise the profile of the dedication and stock management skills behind the production of Scotch Beef and the man who presented the award, Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, said: “I congratulate Alistair and Anne Foubister and family on this achievement.

“Their dedication, and those of their fellow finalists, is to be highly commended. The hard work of our top beef producers shows what is possible across the sector and I would encourage every beef farmer in Scotland to follow their lead.”

John Elliott, award co-ordinator and Jim McLaren, Chairman of Quality Meat Scotland, visited the trio of finalist farms and looked for: evidence of a high standard of technical and financial performance, uptake of new ideas to improve efficiency and profitability, a high level of welfare and a keen eye on the market for the end product.

Jim said: “What made Netherton stand out was the total commitment shown by the Foubister family and their sheer passion for the job they do. They are 100 per cent committed to continuously raising the bar on their cattle management and increasing the number of animals they sell.”

Netherton runs 120 suckler cows which are mainly Aberdeen Angus cross. The Foubisters have been steadily increasing the number of cattle they sell each year, from 79 in 2009 to 106 in 2012.