Emma Gray's farming life:

Emma Gray's farming life: "Scottish National Sheepdog trials is around the corner...Rumours are it is to be held on Scots blackies - my nemesis"

In the first of a new blog series with Emma Gray, the renowned sheepdog trialler talks organic lambs, relentless rain and preparing to face Blackface sheep

Emily Ashworth

23 August 2024 • 2 min read

It is August, and there is no change in the relentless rain we have experienced all year on the west coast, and it looks set for the foreseeable, dashing any hopes for an Indian summer.

We sold a large proportion of our store lambs to a private buyer earlier in the week. Previously we have always sold via auction, however, now the lambs have achieved accredited organic status it made sense to find an organic finisher.

We agreed on a three-figure average for a full wagon load, the best average in my lifetime of selling store lambs.

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After agreeing the deal, my social media algorithm seemed to think I wanted to see the record prices for store lambs across the length and breadth of the country, which did trigger a little seller remorse, mostly because a day at the mart when the trade is good is such a high, and I was a little sad to miss out on the buzz. These outstanding prices shows the confidence in the industry, but could also be reflective of there being less lambs in the country.

Frustratingly there aren't as many lambs on the ground as we would have hoped, due to a less than successful outside lambing where it rained torrentially throughout April. We aim to lamb indoors in 2025, so straw is on the shopping list - getting straw bought and onto the island is looking like an expensive exercise as prices remain high across the country. I know from experience that lambing inside brings its own challenges, but I feel that to preserve our marriage we can't have another repeat of spring 2024.

READ NOW: Farming life with Emma Gray: "If someone told me when I was younger that this is where I would be, I would never have believed them"

In other news, The Scottish National Sheepdog trials is just around the corner, and this year it will be held at Farr, Inverness.

Rumours are it is to be held on Scots blackies - my nemesis. Since moving to Scotland three years ago, this breed of sheep has continually thwarted me at trials.

The lively spicy nature of this ewe requires tactical and careful handling - experience in bomb disposal would certainly a helpful attribute come the end of the month.