Ken Fletcher

Deputy Editor at The Scottish Farmer

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Articles

A singular aim for profitable sheep

Mar 6, 2025 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

A HOLISTIC approach to managing their sheep flock, with particular focus on input costs, is paying dividends for an Ayrshire farming partnership which is profitable, brilliant for the environment and a stress-buster for the owners, David and Cora Cooper. They farm around 5050 acres on exposed hill ground at Tardoes Farm, just outside Muirkirk in Ayrshire, on land that rises from 800-2000ft above sea level.
Ken Fletcher gets an new outlook on farming internationally

Feb 27, 2025 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

'It is exactly the kind of lateral thinking that will help us all save the planet by reducing the amount of waste we produce and turn it into a positive. We need to start re-thinking our waste management and buy into these kinds of ideas' Maggots, avocado and coffee farms have given me a new perspective on farming life as a result of being able to travel in retirement. We’ll start with the wee wriggly horrors first.
New Highland female record paid at Oban for Caithness breeder

Feb 13, 2025 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

The breed record for Highland females was well and truly smashed at the breed’s spring sale in Oban, when the overall show champion from Sunday’s show went on to make 35,000gns through the ring – some 15,000gns ahead of the previous female best. The top dollar was paid for Kirsty Dubh 3 of Blingery, which was shown by herd manager Morven Coghill on behalf of owner Peter Haig Thomas, from Blingery Farms, Wick, Caithness.
Going electric the best EVs to supercharge your drive in 2025

Jan 10, 2025 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

Fast and luxurious travelling with the BYD Seal Well, a good start in answer to that headline question would be to get yourself the pretty monstrous Kia EV9 – and you don’t have to take my word for it as it was recently crowned Scotland’s best large electric vehicle in the Scottish Car of the Year Awards. This is, by quite a distance, the South Korean manufacturer’s biggest, most luxurious and expensive vehicle that it sells in the UK.
All-electric Renault Scenic E-Tech crowned Scottish Car of the Year at SCOTY 2024

Dec 3, 2024 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

(L to R) Andrew Currie, franchise manager Renault, Arnold Clark; Aidan Chesters, Scenic product manager, Renault UK; Alisdair Suttie, ASMW President (image: Stuart Vance) An all-electric car has been crowned the Scottish Car of the Year – the second year in succession and EV has taken the title.
Malones and Halls take top prizes at the Scottish Premier Meat Exhibition

Nov 13, 2024 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

21 1/1 Craig and Teen Malone, from Cardenden, were top of the tree in the cattle section at last week’s Scottish Premier Meat Exhibition, with ‘an almost perfect’ carcase of beef. Held at ABP’s meat plant at Bridge of Allan and run by the Scottish National Fat Stock Club, the event was sponsored by Marks & Spencer. The 31st event attracted 330 entries across the wide spectrum of M&S contract cattle and sheep, plus a young producers’ section.
Ford Rangers - a pick-up option for everyone

Oct 8, 2024 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

Despite the fact that the pick-up market is now more or less dominated by the Ranger series from Ford, it does nothing to detract from the blue oval-badged models being able to offer an ever-changing and wide format of options for buyers. From the lowly XL designation to the Raptor, there’s a pick-up in there for everyone. In recent months, I’ve had the opportunity to put three different varieties of Rangers to the test and they did not come up wanting. Let’s start at the bottom.
Sheep scab remains a hidden threat, costing farmers millions annually

Sep 26, 2024 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

Schmallenberg sounds like a small town in the American Midwest, rather than a sheep disease spread by the dreaded midge. Blue tongue is somethings you get when you eat too many blue Smarties, which subsequently gives you the heebie jeebies. But sheep scab does what it says on the tin. It is a horrible, debilitating and hugely stressful disease which does massive economic harm, notwithstanding the misery it causes to the animals that suffer from it.
Islay Show sees first supreme overall for Bluefaced Leicester champion

Aug 16, 2024 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

It was a first ever champion of champions win at Islay and Colonsay Show for a Bluefaced Leicester sheep, as selected by the judge Aileen McFadzean, from Perth.
Road damage and rural woes spark talk of agricultural vehicle tax in Scotland

Aug 15, 2024 | thescottishfarmer.co.uk | Ken Fletcher

Having been at a few farming events this summer, it’s the hot topic of the weather that has formed the main talking point. And when your business depends on it, then of course it will always take centre stage. Various tasks have taken me to almost all parts of Scotland this past month or two and I don’t think that any part of Scotland has remained unscathed from the continual battering of rain and hail, interspersed with so few bright, warm and sunny days.