Mob grazing farming couple get ready for cameras to roll after Nikki Yoxall named Soil Association Scotland ambassador
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A FARMING couple - who swapped life in Sussex for rural Aberdeenshire two years ago - are to give others in the industry and the public an insight into how they operate their small enterprise.
Nikki and James Yoxall have a small Shetland and White cattle herd at their seven hectare Howemill farm.
The couple have adopted an agroecological way of farming, including mob grazing, which they say has enhanced the farming experience and brings environmental benefits.
Nikki has just been named as one of nine ambassadors for the Soil Association Scotland as part of its Farmer Ambassador programme.
The UK-wide Soil Association programme will train a total of 24 ambassadors in smartphone video production and storytelling, so they can invite the public, policy makers and other farmers virtually onto their farms and showcase the benefits of nature- and climate-friendly farming.
Nikki (34) and James (30) say that by mob grazing their cattle - short and intense periods in different areas - this helps capture more carbon and creates a better habitat in other areas with increased grass length. They even allow their cattle to graze in wooded areas on their land.
"The dung that the animals leave behind not only helps to put nutrients into the soil but creates lot of dung beetles which are great for birds and bats," she said.
The couple contain their cattle in an area by using electric fencing as a paddock.
Nikki said they have seen an increase in wild flowers across large areas of land.
Asked what she hopes the video training will allow them to do, Nikki added: "We hope to give an alternative view of beef production. A lot of people challenge the environmental benefits of beef but I really believe that grazing is a key eco-system process."
The couple also have chickens, ducks and turkeys they are rearing for Christmas.
Nikki was a head of department at an agricultural college in England and James restored classic cars before moving north.
She now works as head of learning and teaching at Moray College UHI, where she has already embraced new technology to deliver education due to Covid-19, while spending much of her time at home tending to the cattle and farmland. James is currently studying for a degree in agriculture.
Their herd is set to expand with most of their cattle in calf right now.
Nikki's video training will take place in October and she will then hope to upload video diary pieces on a regular basis to keep people informed.
"It is exciting and social media can play a big part in connecting farming and the countryside to the public," she said.
The Soil Association ambassadors have set up a Whats App group so they can share good practice with each other.
Soil Association Scotland director Aoife Behan said: “Scotland’s farmers and crofters are a vital part of the solution to the challenges of climate change, nature loss and ill-health we all face.
"By producing food in ways that nurture people, the environment and the rural economy, they meet those challenges head-on. We want to give those farmers the tools to show people how they do it.
“We are proud to welcome such a brilliant, diverse bunch into the programme, and look forward to seeing and sharing what they produce after the training in October.”
Training will take place online with journalist and broadcaster Anna Jones and filmmaker Alex Price of Just Farmers, and the group will receive support from each other and the Soil Association.
Scotland’s other Farmer Ambassadors include Louise Munro of Mosshead Farm, Peterhead.
After two years, James and Nikki have launched a business, Grampian Graziers, which will allow them to work in collaboration with other farmers to graze their land.
“We’re working to promote wildlife and biodiversity, and soil health is central to our whole approach. We live here; we want it to be beautiful, to have amazing wildlife – and we don’t want to disturb the natural balance. I can't think of any other way of working.”
Their land includes a 15-year-old woodland of native broadleaf and conifer. Grazing through the trees allowed James and Nikki to outwinter the cows last year.
“When the snow came and we had these really awful storms, we just changed the paddocks so that they could get right in under the conifers,” said Nikki.
