Scottish Mixed Farm of the Year
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The finalists
CJ Grant & Partner Ltd
Gryffe Wraes Farm
2025 Winner
Carriston Farm
Carriston Farm is awarded Mixed Farm of the Year for its exemplary integration of multiple enterprises working in harmony. A fixed rotation supports disease-free ground for high-value carrot crops, while sheep and cattle enhance grass breaks and contribute fertility for arable production. A newly established 32,000-egg laying unit further boosts soil health through organic fertiliser. With plans to mix feed on-farm using homegrown grain, and the use of technologies like EID, soil mapping, and precision nutrient application, the Jack family are an excellent example of a family farm where the next generation are driving the business forward.
2025 Runners up
Past Winners
2024 Scottish Mixed Farm of the Year: Preston Farms
Preston Farm, Duns, Rob Forrest, Robert Forrest Ltd
“Robert Forrest Ltd being Rob and Lucy Forrest and son Bob Forrest, based at Preston farm near Duns in Berwickshire. It is a family business involved in farming land that is owned, tenanted and contract-farmed extending to 569 hectares. In terms of staff, we have family members, one full-time employee who has been with us for nearly 30 years and an apprentice through Borders College. The mixed farming activity involved cattle and arable with sheep being introduced over the winter for management purposes. We are also members of LEAF, SQC and QMS. We run a 380 Beef suckler cow herd with the aim of producing high quality store calves to sell at 12 months of age. Most of the cows are Simmental cross and Aberdeen Angus cross to the Simmental, Aberdeen Angus and latterly the Limousin has also been introduced. The cows and calves in groups of 35 to 40, are paddock grazed, moving every ten days to ensure the best quality grass in the early and middle part of the season and enabling some grass to be retained for late season grazing before housing. The arable element of the business involves winter wheat, winter barley, spring oats and beans. We are growing malt barley on contract to Simpsons Malt, distilling wheat on contract to Chivas, milling oats on contract to Quaker as part of the Oatco Growing Group. All of the feed barley and most of the beans are grown for the cattle. Malt barley is sold off farm at harvest and the remainder of the grain is all stored on site. Everything on and off the farm goes over the weighbridge. We are passionate about sustainable farming, and plant cover crop/ or stubble turnips on anything not drilled in the Autumn, to retain the soil activity and sequestrate carbon. Sheep are introduced in the winter to eat off stubble turnips and cover crops along with grazing the winter wheat. This we have found increases tillers, lessens the weed burden, and cuts out a fungicide application in the spring. In terms of renewables, we have a 40kw ground mounted PV, a 4kw roof mounted PV and a 40kw roof mounted PV which all significantly lower electricity costs. We are always trying to improve efficiency in all aspects of the business.”
2024 Finalists
Fearn Farm
Hilton of Beath Farm
2024 Scottish Mixed Farm of the Year: Preston Farms
Preston Farm, Duns, Rob Forrest, Robert Forrest Ltd
“Robert Forrest Ltd being Rob and Lucy Forrest and son Bob Forrest, based at Preston farm near Duns in Berwickshire. It is a family business involved in farming land that is owned, tenanted and contract-farmed extending to 569 hectares. In terms of staff, we have family members, one full-time employee who has been with us for nearly 30 years and an apprentice through Borders College. The mixed farming activity involved cattle and arable with sheep being introduced over the winter for management purposes. We are also members of LEAF, SQC and QMS. We run a 380 Beef suckler cow herd with the aim of producing high quality store calves to sell at 12 months of age. Most of the cows are Simmental cross and Aberdeen Angus cross to the Simmental, Aberdeen Angus and latterly the Limousin has also been introduced. The cows and calves in groups of 35 to 40, are paddock grazed, moving every ten days to ensure the best quality grass in the early and middle part of the season and enabling some grass to be retained for late season grazing before housing. The arable element of the business involves winter wheat, winter barley, spring oats and beans. We are growing malt barley on contract to Simpsons Malt, distilling wheat on contract to Chivas, milling oats on contract to Quaker as part of the Oatco Growing Group. All of the feed barley and most of the beans are grown for the cattle. Malt barley is sold off farm at harvest and the remainder of the grain is all stored on site. Everything on and off the farm goes over the weighbridge. We are passionate about sustainable farming, and plant cover crop/ or stubble turnips on anything not drilled in the Autumn, to retain the soil activity and sequestrate carbon. Sheep are introduced in the winter to eat off stubble turnips and cover crops along with grazing the winter wheat. This we have found increases tillers, lessens the weed burden, and cuts out a fungicide application in the spring. In terms of renewables, we have a 40kw ground mounted PV, a 4kw roof mounted PV and a 40kw roof mounted PV which all significantly lower electricity costs. We are always trying to improve efficiency in all aspects of the business.”
2024 Finalists
Fearn Farm
Hilton of Beath Farm
