Episode 19: James Playfair - Hannay: Farming for the future in an ancient landscape

James Playfair - Hannay is a fourth generation farmer from Morebattle Tofts, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders.
Farming 4,300 acres in the Cheviot Hills, an area of low rainfall ( by UK standards ) and free draining soils rising from 300 ft above sea level to 1,200.
Home to the Tofts herds of 450 pedigree Aberdeen Angus and Beef Shorthorn cattle along with a commercial herd of crossbred cows. Bulls are sold directly off farm for breeding, while steers are sold for finishing for branded retail markets. Heifers are kept for herd replacements, or sold for breeding.
The farm also runs 1,500 Hill North Country Cheviot ewes, some pure and some crossed with a Bluefaced Leicester to produce Cheviot Mule ewes for prime lamb production.
Morebattle Tofts cultivate 700 acres and grow a variety of crops. Spring Barley grown for the malting market, Winter Wheat goes in a similar direction to make spirit. Winter and Spring Oats head for human food production, porridge, muesli and oatcakes, whilst Triticale and Winter Barley along with Forage Kale are grown for animal feed on farm.
Away from the farm James has been President of both the Aberdeen Angus and Beef Shorthorn cattle societies which has helped him meet lots of interesting people around the world. The cattle industry has taken James to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa.
James has been heavily involved in the establishment and development of Machinery Rings ( a co-operative society of farmers and agricultural businesses who have the mutual aim of reducing machinery and labour costs) in the UK and Europe. He is currently Chairman of the Scottish Machinery Ring Association.
James' wife Debbie, is a farmer’s daughter from Somerset in the south of England. Having recently sold her mobile toilet business she is now embarking on a political journey with the National Farmers Union for Scotland.
James and Debbie’s son Robert is now part of the family business after studying at Harper Adam’s University College. He is married to Charlotte.
Their daughter Anna, is in Australia working for Woolworths as Sustainable Agriculture and Animal Welfare Manager. She graduated at Newcastle University and worked with Marks and Spencer in their Agricultural team.

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