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While spiralling costs for fertiliser, fuels and mineral costs are causing concern for all members, one Ayrshire business club has been looking at ways of maximising what nature has already given farmers.

The club held a farm walk at member Alistair Brown’s farm and independent consultant Jim Bretherton of Agscope conducted tests to explain the benefits to members of condition scoring their soil and fields.

Jim had already spoken to the group in April and by popular demand, he was asked to carry out a practical session on-farm, to bring the theory to life.

He looked at the soil and soil samples from a number of Alistair’s fields, some of which were ‘challenging’ including fields that tended to go to seed early in the season, an area of grass which his cows turned their noses up at and a field that had not been ploughed since 1903!

Area Manager Heather Wildman said members had found the event very insightful. “Every day, members score their animals but they rarely, if ever, take a spade into a field and just dig up a sod to have a look at what is under the grass and condition score it.

“Jim takes a refreshing look at what is already in the land and makes members take a step back and think about why and what they are putting on their soil and how making even slight changes at often less money, can help release valuable and essential minerals and nutrients.”