SWSGS Silage Competition 2021

Information from SWSGS

The Southwest Scotland Grassland Society (SWSGS) has pleasure in announcing the results of their 2021 forage competition, which drew a record entry from Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Wigtownshire and Ayrshire.
The SWSGS, as with all of society, has been greatly affected by the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, with meetings cancelled, and communication limited to telephone and emails. Although this was the best we could do in the circumstances, it is never quite the same as having a face-to-face discussion on new ideas and opinions.

For the 2021 forage competition we were delighted to have the services of Mr Jimmy Warnock to judge the finalists. Jimmy farms at Sandilands Farm, Lanark with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Carol-Anne. The 500 acre farm, which encompasses three steadings, was predominately a dairy enterprise until 2016. It currently carries a suckler herd, cereals and both pedigree and commercial sheep. Jimmy has held several positions in the Agricultural community, Past Chairman of the RHASS, Past Chairman RHASS PR and education committee, as well as past Past Chairman of RHET national. He also serves on his local committee as a farmer host and classroom speaker. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies in 2012 and was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to education and communication in agriculture.

The judging of the finalists was carried out over three days, with the judge, Jimmy Warnock being chaperoned by Committee members, Andrew Best, Peter Cowan, Drew Watson, Katherine Marr, and Andy Nelson. The following farms were judged by a farm inspection:-

In the Dairy Section:
1/ Messrs Bryce & Robert Sloan Darnlaw Farm, Auchenleck
2/ Mr Tom Hainey, South Carnweil, Port Logan, Stranraer
3/ Mr Robin Campbell, Cally Mains, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas
4/ Mr Crawford Wilson, Largs, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright
5/ Mr Donald Millar, Trailflat, Lochmaben, Lockerbie

In the Beef Section:
1/Mr Adam Wardrop, Knockterra Farm, Cumnock
2/ Mr Adam McIntosh, Auchneel, Stranraer
3/ Mr Boyd McIntosh, Drumflower, Stranraer

The final placings were determined by adding the marks for ME, Protein and Dry Matter to the marks the judge allocated for the on-farm inspection.
Other sections of the Forage competition Maize, Whole crop, Big Bale, and the Young Farmer Sections were judged by a points system based on marks for ME, Protein and Dry Matter. This data was collected from chemical analysis of the forages.

Please find attached the results for the 2021 Forage competition (click here).

The judge’s comments on the judging of the competition and the announcement of the finalists were filmed and a video will be available for viewing in due course.

The SWSGS is indebted to the services of Jimmy Warnock for judging this forage competition.