ABOUT US - GRANT BRAND

ABOUT US - GRANT BRAND
Grant's our main man here at East Fortune Farm even if he's more often behind the scenes. Here's a Q&A with Grant including how East Fortune Farm are tackling the challenges facing agriculture today.

Q - Favourite thing about East Fortune Farm?
A - The view from our house which we built 4 years ago. It is so rewarding to see all the livestock from the house looking healthy and in great condition after a hard day at FRM (my day job followed by working on the farm with my father Dick.

Q - Where and what did you study after school?
A - After leaving North Berwick High School in 1994, I went straight into a job at Stonelaws Farm, Whitekirk working on David Miller’s 600 sow outdoor pig herd and arable farm. While there I attended the SRUC Oatridge Campus of Scotland's Rural College where I studied Crop and Livestock Management.

Q - How will Brexit affect East Fortune Farm?  
A - We are hoping with our continued diversifying of the farm that Brexit will not affect us as much as other large scale farming businesses. We are developing our farm to be sustainable, producing quality produce with low food miles for the local community. We are not a large scale farm with 1000’s of acres producing for the masses, relying on exports and market prices with thousands of pounds invested in equipment. My newest bit of farm equipment is an 8 year old second hand forklift but it does the job perfectly! As for the tourism side of our business we hope that people may do more ‘staycations’ and enjoy the fantastic Scottish environment and outdoors we have here in East Lothian Visit East Lothian.

Q - What are the biggest challenges currently facing agriculture?
A - In the large scale of faming there are certainly a few challenges ahead including basic things like the general public’s knowledge of food - where it comes from, how to cook it, the demand for all year round out of season produce increasing a demand on imports. Another important challenge I see ahead is attracting the younger generation into farming and creating that hard working ethic that you need to have when farming livestock. It’s a 7 day a week job 52 weeks of the year, rearing animals with a high health welfare is not just a job it’s a life style and needs 110% commitment. I am very lucky to be taking this challenge on and working alongside my father who is an incredible stockman and has so much farming knowledge.

Q - How do you relax?
A - When I get the chance to relax I love to BBQ for friends and family but my true chill out is when I get to sit down and watch the rugby !

Q - Favourite restaurant
A - A restaurant I really enjoy going to with friends in Edinburgh is Kyloes Restaurant - great food & service but also perfect rugby viewing on the TV screens.

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