- An introduction to the Pollock family and its plans to keep its farming business viable
After graduating as an accountant, Claire Pollock returned to the family farm to support her family and future development of their business. The Pollock family always enjoyed farming and plans to keep the business viable led to changes in production methods, aiming to reduce costs whilst also looking for diversified income opportunities by selling the farm’s beef direct to customers. .
Winter wheat and barley, oilseed rape, spring barley and beans, are farmed regeneratively on a five-year rotation, with cover crops grazed by livestock in between. A growing number of beehives are nestled between OSR and bean crops, with bees pollinating wildflower meadows and producing honey to sell in the farm shop.
Constantly looking to improve, heritage cereals are being trialled on the farm, where Hebridean bere barley and black oats are grown alongside apple trees in the walled garden, Claire explains, “Heritage grain experts, Wendy Barrie and Bosse Dahlgren, are working with us to try growing grains that will taste good and make delicious bread and oatcakes. We are harvesting them using traditional methods and nutrient testing the grains before deciding our next steps.
Read the full story and what happened when the family applied for the AgriScot Diversified Farm of the Year Award in the autumn edition of Tillage and Soils magazine.
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