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The Farm
Gloagburn farm is a mixed arable farm of 950 acres, run by Ian Niven,
third generation farmer. His grandfather, John Niven, started farming
in 1924, growing cereal crops and specialising in the breeding
of Angus bulls. Next his father, Joe Niven, took over in 1955 again
growing cereal crops, rearing Angus cattle and then moved into
rearing the more commercial breed of cattle.
Ian took over from his father in 1985 and has increased the acreage
by 500 acres. The farm is traditionally managed with the minimal
use of chemicals. Instead 6 metre margins are left around fields
to encourage helpful wild life, a white fine mesh is used over the
turnips to stop the cabbage root fly laying its eggs at the base
of the turnips, and hedgerows are cared for as they serve as a shelter,
passageways and food for animals and birds.
The following is a rough breakdown of the farmland.
- 40 acres potatoes, 30 acres turnips grown for the farm shop
and supermarkets
- 30 acres grass for fattening cattle
- 40 acres oil seed rape grown for the oil and cattle feed
- 100 acres winter barley and 200 acres spring barley grown for
cattle feed, seed production and the whisky and beer trade.
- 200 acres winter-feed
- 60 acres oats grown for porridge oats
- 40 acres vinning peas for the freezer pea market.
There is also a 5 acre site for the 2000 free range hens. Aggi
is the person in charge of this brood. We have fondly named her ‘Mother
Hen’. Our
eggs are sold through the farm shop, the Perth Farmers
Market once a month, and
many other local shops in Perthshire.
We have a wonderful pond, the home to several ducks, all of which
are very tame especially one named Peeps who was hand reared by Aggi.
They will greet you as you drive into the farm shop!
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