Ken Fletcher

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.