When the judges arrived at Firth Farming, Upper Locharwoods, Dumfries to assess the operation for the Scottish Agriculture Awards’ Sustainable Farm of the Year, it marked a first for the Jamieson family.
John and Helen, along with their son Graham are all directors of the business and have hosted many farm walks and herd visits over the years, but this was the first time anyone had come specifically to review what the family have built over the last seven decades.
“Being part of the awards process meant people coming on the farm to look at what we’ve done for sustainability and enhancing the landscape,” says John. “We never made a plan to go sustainable as such. It’s just happened because it’s the way we like to farm.”
That understated approach belies an operation that impressed judges enough for them to take home the award, sponsored by Virgin Money. Running 260 pedigree Holsteins on 580 acres, the Jamiesons have built a business that ticks every box for modern sustainable farming – from cutting-edge genetics to community allotments – without ever making sustainability the headline.
The Organic Journey
The foundation was laid in 1999 when John made what he calls “quite a big decision” – converting the family dairy to organic production. It was a bold move, with barely 20 organic dairy farmers in Scotland today.
“We had an interest in the whole concept and were keen to add value to our product,” he explains. “It’s been challenging, but very rewarding. Each year, we supply Müller with 2.3 million litres, and they distribute organic milk to most of the main supermarkets in Scotland.”
That decision has provided some insulation from recent market volatility. “At the moment there’s not a surplus of organic milk, so we haven’t been as badly affected by overproduction and the dynamics of supply and demand, fortunately.”
But organic isn’t something you “dive in and out of” – it’s shaped every aspect of how the farm operates, including the genetics. “Our typical cow has evolved over the last 26 years,” John notes. “She’s a slightly smaller uniformed cow, with strength, that maintains good body condition at all times.”
Breeding Out Methane
It’s in the breeding programme where Firth Farming is breaking new ground. Three years ago, John attended a presentation at a conference that changed his approach to genetics. The topic? Using genomics to breed cattle that produce less methane.
“As a result, we’ve focused on health traits in our breeding policy over the last three years, looking at bulls that are very efficient at producing less methane,” he explains. “Through genomics, we’ve been focusing on these bulls, and their progeny.”
The results are tangible. “In the last year, we’ve seen a 1.3% reduction in methane in the bulls’ progeny, compared with other stock in the herd.” The farm has also improved disease immunity by 15% through the same genomic approach.
“When you do it through genetics and selective breeding, it doesn’t really cost you anything long term,” John points out. The farm is targeting a 20% improvement in methane efficiency by 2050.
While other farmers pursue methane reduction through feed additives, the Jamiesons decided genetics offered a more fundamental solution. “With every generation going forward, hopefully, we’re reducing our methane production,” says John. “This alone isn’t going to save the planet but it’s a good start.”
Modern Infrastructure for Efficiency
Five years ago, the farm made significant infrastructure investments: a GEA 40-point rotary parlour, new housing for 180 cows on sand bedding, and a flush system that recycles wash water from the parlour to clean all the yards. With a 4% fall in ground level across the yard, it’s ideal for the water flush system.
The renewable energy setup is equally comprehensive. Biomass boilers, 200kW for the dairy, and a 50kW boiler heating the holiday accommodation, with a 50kW solar PV system supplying most of the power requirements. They also have their own borehole for water supply all contribute to farm efficiency.
The farming system itself reflects both innovation and tradition. The herd grazes on a rotational system introduced seven years ago, which has improved grazing efficiency. They cut silage five times a year and grow 120 acres of spring cereals for feed, along with fodder beet and an arable silage mix of peas, oats and barley which is undersown.
Community at the Heart
Perhaps the most telling measure of the Jamiesons’ approach came just before COVID when they made land available for village allotments.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time for the village,” says John. “We’ve always enjoyed engaging with the local community – we just felt it was the right thing to do.”
To align with the Jamiesons’ operation, the allotments must be kept organic, and the venture has flourished. The village now runs its own stall in summer, selling produce to finance their allotment association.
“It’s not all about making money sometimes,” John reflects. “We’ve had a lot of satisfaction engaging with the community in different projects over the years.”
The diversification into agritourism also reflects the family’s forward-thinking approach to succession. John and Helen’s daughter Emma runs Stanloch Steading – three barn conversions developed using locally recycled sandstone that have been running as holiday lets for just over a year and are proving very popular.
Meanwhile, Graham and his wife Carly manage two glamping pods at Caerlaverock Glamping, which opened in October with spectacular views overlooking the Solway Firth.
What’s Next: Biodiversity Collaboration
The most ambitious project is still to come. This April, if funding is secured, the farm will be part of the delivery phase of a large-scale biodiversity initiative covering 2,500 hectares across 16 farms and the local Caerlaverock Estate.
“There’s been no other project like this in Scotland of this scale,” says John. After a year in the development stage, funded by NatureScot, the collaborative project aims to link up habitats across the landscape, improve water retention, and enhance biodiversity – all while maintaining productive agricultural land.
“We’re trying to put Caerlaverock on the map, promoting it as a pleasant place to live and visit,” he explains. The estate, farms, and local community are all involved. “We’re hoping to be a good example of what can be achieved, and how farming, nature and the community can work together and benefit from biodiversity.”
The Sustainability Paradox
Ask John for advice for those looking to farm more sustainably, and he laughs. “Sustainability is just farming and includes every living thing on your farm. It’s up to everyone to engage with that and nurture it for future generations.”
The judges praised Firth Farming’s commitment to using renewable energy, water management, and genetics to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. They highlighted the farm’s approach to biodiversity through peatland restoration and extensive tree and hedge planting, alongside collaboration with neighbours to deliver landscape-scale solutions. The attention to detail in milk production, diversification through tourism, and community support through allotments all contributed to the win.
The Jamiesons never set out to win sustainability awards. They went organic because they believed in it, invested in infrastructure because it made sense, adopted genomics because the science was compelling, and gave land for allotments because it felt right. John hasn’t ever felt any of the changes were as challenging as they were rewarding.
“We’ve just had so much reward and pleasure from the various projects over the years,” John says. “Hopefully at the same time we’re future proofing our business for generations to come – maybe that’s exactly what sustainable farming looks like.”
