SOPA farm visits - 1 week, 2 great examples of organic farming

SOPA toured two great examples of organic farms in early November. At the 6,000-acre Glenrinnes Organic Estate, discussions covered the estates 400 head strong deer herd, cattle and sheep health, calving and breeding, silage and grass quality, weed disruption, grazing and livestock feeding, cereal rotations, tree planting, biomass, soil sampling and more. Organic since 1991, the estate began setting up its distillery in 2019, producing organic vodka and gin in copper stills, using some farm-foraged botanicals and spring water from the estate. Solar panels help power production, and waste becomes animal feed. The Eight Lands brand takes its name from the eight regions visible from Ben Rinnes’ summit.

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Next was Chapel Organics in North Berwick, run by father and son Graham and Angus Elder and organic since 2000. Its approximately 270 hectares follow a seven-year rotation of cereals, potatoes, vegetables, herbal leys and grass mixes. Vegetables including leeks, onions, cabbages, beetroot, celeriac, carrots, parsnips, kale & kohl rabi supply organic box schemes and wholesalers directly. Potatoes mainly fulfil packhouse contracts, with exports to Ireland and supply of box schemes and wholesalers. Crops are sold as commercial seed through a local trader, alongside malting barley and milling oats. The farm has extensive cold and grain storage and irrigates 90% of its land with the help of a large reservoir filled in winter. On farm machinery includes tractors, fork lifts, a combine harvester, a potato harvester, a camera-guided weeder, a Farm Droid robotic weeder and a CMN Kvik killer for uprooting docks, couch grass and thistles. Outwintering of sheep and summer grazing of cattle on a rental basis helps improve soil fertility.

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Two great visits to farms fully certified organic with SOPA.