That the Parliament congratulates Craig and Claire Grant, from Aberdeenshire, on being awarded Farmers Weekly 2023 Farmer of the Year; commends them for their hard work, commitment and pioneering spirit; understands that they were the first to calculate carbon footprint on an egg-specific basis, that they designed the UK’s first split-feeding system for laying hens, and that they have created a local pulse market for arable farmers in North East Scotland; further understands that, in a drive to cut escalating feed bills, they cut the soya in poultry diets by 50% and replaced it with homegrown spring beans, which achieved a price point of £3/percentage point of protein versus £8/percentage point of protein from purchased soya, and now collaborate with local farmers to grow beans to meet demand; notes that the Grants run a fully-integrated mixed farm with 160,000 laying hens, 200ha of combinable crops, 270 bulling heifers and a flying sheep flock of 1,500 ewes and lambs; further notes that they employ 15 members of staff, with two agricultural apprentices; understands that they have constructed 2,500 metres of public footpaths across their farm to benefit the wider community; further understands that they have joined the Farmer Time initiative, pairing with a school in Manchester, to help children to understand more about where food comes from; commends Craig and Claire Grant for their contribution to Scotland's agricultural sector, and wishes them and their farm all the very best for the future.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron (Registered interest)
, Jackson Carlaw, Sharon Dowey, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston (Registered interest)
, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Roz McCall, Stuart McMillan, Edward Mountain (Registered interest)
, Douglas Ross, Alexander Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle