The Trust manages a small organic farm which forms part of the estate and which is integrated with forestry operations, ongoing woodland activity and community initiatives, in line with the Trust’s conservation philosophy.

Although, philosophically, at completely the opposite end of the spectrum from industrial agriculture, the Trust nevertheless complies with all Scottish Executive regulatory requirements pertaining to government rural policy and modern farm management. Management principles are based on promoting sustainable land use whilst embracing diversity in line with the Scottish Executive’s Forward Strategy for Agriculture.

The farm is wholly geared to raising slow maturing organic Highland beef from its small herd (25 breeding cows, followers and a bull) of pedigree Highland cows. The Applecross fold has a long history and is believed to be one of the oldest herds in Scotland. Cattle numbers are kept low, harmonising with the carrying capacity of the land.

CLIMATE, LOCATION, SOIL & LAND CLASSIFICATION

The Applecross Peninsula in Wester Ross rises from sea level to 770 metres, the farm area covers a variety of land types including deep river alluvium, peaty gleys, peaty podzols, rugged mountain terrain, wooded land and a riparian zone. It is formally classified as type 4(2) to 6(3), therefore restricting agricultural potential while the remote location has a significant impact on viable economic potential. Costs such as freight, haulage and development are inevitably higher as a consequence of geographical isolation.

LAND AREA
The farm, in comparison to most modern agri-business enterprises, is small – the in-bye land covering some 75 Hectares (185 acres) with 1000 hectares (2470 acres) of rough hill
Ground completing the designated farm unit.

ORGANIC MANAGEMENT

The farm’s organic status is monitored and certified by the Soil Association and all feed and any necessary veterinary attention (e.g. worming) complies with SA protocol. The cows are treated for worm infestation, if necessary (in accordance with Soil Association rules) before being put to the Glen for summer pasture grazing. Rotation is important to minimise re-infestation by worm larvae lying dormant in the soil. One significant problem is the invasion of ragwort which is poisonous to cattle and horses. This is a serious problem, the solution being to pull out the weeds by hand. This is time-consuming and expensive but is an increasingly common problem across the Highlands and other parts of the UK.

FEEDSTUFF

The farm aims to grow most of the necessary winter feed in-house in the form of home grown organic silage although occasionally organic hay is also bought in to supplement their diet at the end of the winter or in early spring should stocks of silage run low. In summer the cattle graze on meadow pastures designated by the Scottish Executive as organic.

THE MANAGEMENT YEAR

The Highland bull is kept separate from the cows till March. He is introduced at the end of the month and runs with the cows till August. Calves are born from December to early May on in-bye grassland. Although one of the attractions of Highland cattle is their appearance – woolly, shaggy coat and wide horizontal horns – it does make for difficult (and sometimes dangerous) management, particularly at slaughter where some abbatoirs do not have HSE-compliant facilities for horned cattle. Thus male calves are usually castrated and de-horned at an early age and sold on, as steers, to a finishing producer after weaning in November. Heifer calves are usually sold privately or retained as herd replacements. All the cows, as well as being ear-tagged with statutory official numbers have personal names, most being of Gaelic origin. From November to March the cattle are out-wintered on the in-bye fields allowing the glen pastures to rest for the following summer. Lime, sanctioned by the Soil Association as a soil improver, is applied to the land on a rotational basis and is usually applied around May. Ongoing repairs to fencing are required regularly and handling facilities require continuous maintenance.

PEDIGREE

The Herd book goes back to the 18th Century and the Trust is a member of the Highland Cattle Society, the specialist breed society which monitors and records all Highland cattle genealogy as well as all births and ownership transfers, organize special sales of Highland Cattle and produces an annual herd book showing and describing most of the registered Folds. See website www.highlandcattlesociety.com

ENVIRONMENT

The Trust maintains a 4235 Hectare (10400 acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Bheinn Bhan. The site is designated as such due to its range of plant communities including summit heath, corrie ledge ferns and tall herbs inaccessible to grazing animals as well as the very interesting geology comprising mainly Torridonian sandstone and limestone pavement. The SSSI is managed in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage

ACCESS

The Trust has created an extensive network of footpaths across the farm and other areas of the estate. See related website www.applecrosswalks.org.uk The walks are designed, variably for all abilities and there is much to see of interest in a wide variety of terrain and wildlife habitat. Visitors should be aware of their responsibilities as defined by The Scottish Outdoor Access Code and should avoid contact with grazing cattle. All cattle are curious but Highlanders have large sharp horns which could easily injure with an innocent flick of the head. The Trust’s Deer Manager David Abraham or Farm Manager Mike Summers will be happy to answer questions on any aspects of the walks network.

The Trust’s policy is to maintain a balance between livestock operations, crop production for feedstuff, protection of the environment and the encouragement of public access.