Video: How sustainable farming is benefiting Scottish family

A Highland Perthshire farmer has brilliantly captured the positive effects sustainable agriculture is having on his family’s farm in Scotland.

Patrick Barbour’s innovative three-minute video, filmed at Mains of Fincastle, near Pitlochry, illustrates the benefits of tree planting, species-rich grassland, rotational grazing for cattle and sheep, and stitching nitrogen-fixing crops into pastures.

Mr Barbour’s sister, Catherine, and brother, Robert, also star in the video, describingg the family’s approach to sustainable farming.

See also: Opinion: Scottish farming needs a united voice to prosper

The video has won NFU Scotland’s climate-friendly farming competition.

Environmental benefits

Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, it encouraged farmers and crofters to film the steps they are taking to reduce emissions and deliver wider environmental benefits.

Mr Barbour said: “We’re really pleased to win this as a family.

“It’s great for us to be able to share what we’ve been doing on the family farm here at Fincastle, and I hope people enjoy the video.”

NFU Scotland’s Next Generation chairman, Peter Moss, was among the judges who described the video as the perfect advert for the Scottish farming industry.

“Congratulations to Patrick on winning NFU Scotland’s climate-change competition and becoming Scotland’s climate-friendly farming champion,” said Mr Moss.

Scottish innovation

“This competition has highlighted what we already know – that the next generation of Scotland’s farmers, crofters, and growers are prepared and already taking steps to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises in innovative ways.

“Thank you to everyone who entered this competition, and to our partner, Royal Bank of Scotland, for its support.”

Roddy McLean, director of agriculture at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s really encouraging to see how Patrick is taking action to reduce emissions to help protect the environment and making the business more resilient.”

Mr Barbour has won a drone from precision farming company Soil Essentials.

It uses drones to give the most detailed view of what is happening on farmland.

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