Rural Economy Minister Fergus Ewing gave the biggest hint yet that the Scottish Government is looking to increase finance to the beef calf scheme. Speaking at the Scottish Beef Association (SBA) event at Bethelnie farm in Aberdeenshire, Ewing described an enhanced suckler calf scheme as the logical way forward.

Neil McCorkindale, SBA chair, said the industry is already in talks with the Scottish Government about the beef herd, and enhanced calf payments are on the table.

Brexit concerns were also discussed in an expert panel session at the event. Peter Cook, a northeast agri adviser, said that Brexit would accelerate the pace of change that is already occurring in beef farming.

He pointed towards technological innovation as the key to future success; and explained that online automatic performance measurement would cause a “revolution”.

Local Conservative MP Colin Clark was adamant that the Scottish Government is overplaying the climate crisis and that productive farming and the environment can go hand-in-hand. He believes that the sequestering of carbon by cattle and sheep grazing systems was unappreciated.

The event at Bethelnie farm was well attended, with over 4,000 visitors at the gate. Attendees got a chance to tour the fields, with 320 Salers and Salers-cross cows across 664 acres.