Field Talk: A Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast
Welcome to Field Talk, the Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast. Each episode will follow one of the nine farms chosen to take part in the four-year programme. The Monitor Farm Scotland programme is farmer led and farmer driven, with support from specialists and experts to assess farm performance, explore opportunities, and develop solutions to the challenges farmers face. Our host, Wallace Currie, will speak with farmers about what they've been implementing on their farms, sharing both their successes and the challenges they've faced. We’ll also bring in industry experts to dive deep into key topics and offer valuable insights.
Field Talk: A Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast
Series 4 Episode 4:Looking Back to Move Forward - Lessons from a Previous Monitor Farmer
In this episode, we’re joined by Andrew Marchant, former Nithsdale Monitor Farmer from Clonhie Farm, to explore how his earlier three‑year Monitor Farm journey shaped the business he runs today. Andrew reflects on when and why he got involved with the programme, how data helped build confidence in decision‑making, and the practical changes he made — from soil and grassland improvement to grazing innovation and livestock system adjustments.
Andrew also discusses how the programme strengthened his business resilience, the similarities and differences he sees between the previous and the current Monitor Farm Programme, and the insights he believes are most relevant to farmers today. He shares what’s changed on his own farm as a result, and with the benefit of hindsight, what would have helped him most during his time as a Monitor Farmer.