Zoey Symington 21 Shetland
Being the youngest Ambassador this year, and the one with the furthest to travel, will not phase Zoey. She already runs her own shepherding business and holds down three jobs. Zoey is an important part of Shetland’s farming community, working at the island’s livestock lairage (import/export processing) and at the livestock market. She also works on a beef and sheep farm with 800 ewes and, if that weren’t enough, is in partnership with her mother and sister on the family farm at South Nesting (in the centre of the mainland island) with a 150-ewe flock. Her priorities for the future are gaining a reputation as a contract shepherd and taking on more responsibility on the farm where she works, improving the breeding flock in the process. Ambassador goal: Zoey can’t wait to get started. She says: “To get to learn more about the sheep sector, where my main love of farming lies, is very exciting. I can’t think of a better way to get involved in something I’m passionate about.”
Zoey completed NSA Q&As throughout 2018
March
- Are you planning anything different for this lambing season? The farm I work on only starts the first mob of ewes on 20th April, with another lot starting on 1st May. My own ewes start on 26th April so we have a few weeks to wait yet. Preparations are well underway with feeding ewes, cleaning out sheds and setting up. The next job is to dose ewes with their pre-lambing vaccine. We haven't done anything different as of yet – but who knows what might happen before lambing!
- What was the biggest surprise for you attending the first NSA Next Generation Ambassador session? The whole thing! There is no YFC in Shetland and not many young people interested in the sheep sector so it was an amazing opportunity for me to sit around a table and discuss sheep and farming. It sounds so stupid, I know, but is very true! I had the best couple of days getting to know everyone and am now looking forward for the year ahead.
- What will be your favourite thing about the clock’s changing on 25th March? Longer days, lighter mornings and lighter nights. It's been a long winter of it getting light at 9am and dark at 3pm. And it’s the sign that spring and lambing is just around the corner, which is exciting. It’ll give me more time to get jobs done that have been neglected through the winter months.
- If you were Prime Minister for a day, what single thing sheep-related thing would you change, and what single non-sheep thing would you change? Sheep related – a different kind of penalty for dog worrying. This is a problem in the UK that isn't getting any better, but if a financial fine was to become active then it might be a deterrent. Non-sheep related – I have no idea. I’m the worst at politics and all that!
- If you could swap your farm (or the farm you work on) for the farm of one of the other NSA Next Generation Ambassador’s this year, which one would you chose and why? Richard's farm in Devon, because of the climate and the scale of the farm he is on, as well as it being the farm that’s furthest south England. In his presentation at the first session he told us they lamb in September/October and then again at the beginning of the year, which I was totally shocked by, as that could never happen here. I would love to work that far down in England to see the real difference compared to here and down there.
April
- What was the highlight of lambing this year? (Or highlight so far?) We have just started lambing and the highlight so far is the quite good lambing weather, plenty of grass (for a change) and that the ewes are lambing fairly strong lambs. Hopefully I’ll still be saying this by the end of lambing!
- How are you getting on with meeting the targets you’ve set yourself as an NSA Next Generation Ambassador? I need to get onto my targets after lambing when I get more time. I’m going to NSA Scot Sheep this year, which will be my first time so I’m really looking forward to it. It was one of my targets to support an NSA Sheep Event so I am hoping to achieve that at least!
- If you could give the general public one fact about sheep farming, what would it be and why? That farming is a lifestyle you choose. It has numerous plus points but you have to be ready for the minuses. It’s a challenging career but very rewarding!
- The tough spring conditions have caused high lambing losses and stunted grass growth for most places. If a genie offered you more grass growth, more live lambs on the ground or one other wish, which would you chose and why? Because we lamb later in Shetland and have therefore missed the worst of the weather, my wish would be a better scanning percentage for another year. This past winter has been one of the toughest in terms of weather than I can remember and has taken a toll on livestock.
- If you were asked to step in at the last minute and compete at the Commonwealth Games, what would be your best discipline and why? I would play netball, as I already play for Shetland and love playing the sport.
May
- What’s keeping you busy at the moment, and what job do you really need to get done but can’t find the time for? We have nearly finished lambing (15 left to go!) so are busy moving ewes and lambs back to their paddocks and carting water to various mobs of sheep as it’s so dry. We are really needing to get the ploughed paddocks broken and sown to seed, as well as get the silage parks locked off and fertiliser on so we get a good crop. We'll be starting to drench the ewes and lambs next week too.
- How is your 2018 lamb crop performing so far? Very well! We have had a brilliant period of nice weather so are hoping they will keep improving throughout the summer.
- Defra has just closed its ‘Health and Harmony’ consultation on post-Brexit agricultural regulation. Environment, health and welfare were given higher priority in the paper than food production. What are your thoughts on this? It doesn’t make me feel very encouraged about farming in the future and makes me concerned what the final outcome may be.
- What were you doing on the hottest Bank Holiday Monday on record? We were still flat out lambing. It was a beautiful day here in Shetland so I did get a little sunburnt!
- What (sheep related) wedding gift would you give Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and why? A traditional wedding gift in Shetland is a sheepskin rug so that would be something different.
July
- How are you and your flock coping in the drought conditions? I can’t remember it ever being such a dry summer up in Shetland. We are spending our days carrying water to the various mobs of sheep. The lambs are looking well even with the dry conditions and thriving – but we are getting short for grass and would appreciate some rain.
- Are you optimistic that we’ll a) get a Brexit deal before our official departure date from the EU, and b) that it’ll be a good deal for UK agriculture? I am not optimistic we will get a Brexit deal before our official departure date from the EU, or not in Scotland anyway. But I am forever hopeful the government is going to come with a good deal for UK agriculture They rarely produce agriculture prospects on time and don't think Brexit will be any different!
- What was the best take home message from your day at NSA Sheep 2018? The best take home message was in the seminar I took part in about employment in farming, UK wide, and that there are more opportunities out there if you are willing to go for them.
- What summer agricultural shows are you going to / have you gone to? Which is your favourite and why? I went to the Royal Highland Show in June and just have the local shows to go back home, which I always look forward too. The Highland has to be my favourite, as it’s such a good weekend with various types of livestock, machinery, food and social. This year I was lucky enough to go along with friends who were showing sheep so that was a new experience for me.
- Tell us about your sheepdogs. I have three sheepdogs right now . Allie is a five-year-old bitch who is my main collie that I depend on every day and am hoping to put in pup. I have a one-year-old Welsh sheepdog called Meg who I got as a trial as I was needing something to move sheep. As she barks, she has proved to be very handy for using in pens/yards. Jet is a nine-month-old collie pup I got as a gift and she is going to be a worker! She is very interested and keen. She’ll take a bit of handling but I have high hopes that she’ll be a good sheepdog.
August
- How are you going to feed your stock this winter? Will you have to feed a higher number of concentrates due to the lack of roughage? Will you use fodder crops? We will be feeding our stock this winter with silage, for which we are short on bales this year due to the dryness of the summer. We feed concentrates every winter and this year we will have to increase their use as we’re so short on fodder. Fodder crops are just used for feeding lambs and cast ewes in the back end.
- How have you, or will you be preparing for tupping. How will you flush your ewes with so little grass available? Are your tups in yet? We are hoping for a late flush of grass but if this doesn't materialise then we will have to purchase high energy tubs to flush the ewes on. This would be an extra cost but our tups don’t go to the ewes until the middle to end of November so there is time yet.
- What do you consider the best way to unwind after a long day with the sheep? Doing something I enjoy, so either playing netball or socialising with friends. That’s if I have enough time, as very often it’s just home to bed, ready for another day!
- What is your favourite lamb dish? Lamb chops. I think it’s the best tasting piece of meat and can be cooked in so many different ways.
- What do you do on your farm for the environment? We spread our muck on fields that we are ploughing straight away, to put the goodness back into the ground. It’s on a seven- year rotation so that every field is done.
October
- Who is your farming hero? My boss, David Leslie, as he has taught me all I know about farming over the years and I am forever grateful.
- What would be your one, best piece of advice for someone looking to enter the world of sheep farming? Work for a farmer for a year or so to give it a try and see if it’s for you. It’s a tougher life but very rewarding.
- The Government is looking to replace area-based farm support payments with payments for ‘public goods’. As a sheep farmer, which public good to you think you deliver the most on, how and why? And why is this important to the tax payer? We provide a variety of public goods and bring most of public goods nearer to the population. I don't agree with the new idea of changing the payments.
- The previous NSA Ambassador session visited British Wool, a timely visit as ‘Wool Week’ falls in October. What surprised or encouraged you about this visit? I was encouraged with all the hard work they are doing to produce a valued wool product they are selling all over the world. Their set up was remarkable to grade the wool.
- If sheep were not your passion, what other farming enterprise would appeal to you the most? I would try farming beef cattle or dairy cattle, as I have enjoyed working with both in previous years. I don't think I would go into chicken or pig farming, as its not in my interests.
Final round of questions
- Of the farms you’ve visited during your year as an Ambassador, which would you like to live and work on and why – or, which farmer you have met would you like to work with and why? I would like to work for Kevin Harrison. He had a very different system to me, as he was lambing inside, but it seemed interesting. He also had a great personality and was open to telling you about his successful farm.
- What useful piece of advice have you taken away and implemented on your farm since becoming an NSA Next Generation Ambassador? Are you seeing any benefits from this already? The piece of advice that springs to mind would be the control of worms in our flock. I have already reduced wormer use, as we are not routinely drenching like we used to. This has reduced cost and is definitely a benefit.
- What useful piece of advice have you taken away and plan to implement in the next year or two. I would like to do more stock recording. We have all the devices but don’t use them to their full potential.
- Select an ambassador from team 2018! Where do you see them in 10 years’ time? I see Kirree taking over the family farm and continuing her passion for breeding Texels. I think she will grow and take the opportunity in her stride.
- 2019 is just around the corner. Will you be making any new year’s resolutions for yourself personally or for your farm / place of work in 2019? To make the most of my new job on the mainland. I will be working on a large farm in Aberdeenshire and am looking forward to getting stuck into it.
- Brexit has been the top topic during your first year as an Ambassador. Where do you think the final negotiations will end up and will it be good for UK sheep farmers? Brexit could be very difficult for Shetland and farming could easily become a non-profitable enterprise. Shetland farmers would like to see more of a focus on the regulations for Scotland to include the highlands and islands.
Being the youngest Ambassador this year, and the one with the furthest to travel, will not phase Zoey. She already runs her own shepherding business and holds down three jobs. Zoey is an important part of Shetland’s farming community, working at the island’s livestock lairage (import/export processing) and at the livestock market. She also works on a beef and sheep farm with 800 ewes and, if that weren’t enough, is in partnership with her mother and sister on the family farm at South Nesting (in the centre of the mainland island) with a 150-ewe flock. Her priorities for the future are gaining a reputation as a contract shepherd and taking on more responsibility on the farm where she works, improving the breeding flock in the process. Ambassador goal: Zoey can’t wait to get started. She says: “To get to learn more about the sheep sector, where my main love of farming lies, is very exciting. I can’t think of a better way to get involved in something I’m passionate about.”
Zoey completed NSA Q&As throughout 2018
March
- Are you planning anything different for this lambing season? The farm I work on only starts the first mob of ewes on 20th April, with another lot starting on 1st May. My own ewes start on 26th April so we have a few weeks to wait yet. Preparations are well underway with feeding ewes, cleaning out sheds and setting up. The next job is to dose ewes with their pre-lambing vaccine. We haven't done anything different as of yet – but who knows what might happen before lambing!
- What was the biggest surprise for you attending the first NSA Next Generation Ambassador session? The whole thing! There is no YFC in Shetland and not many young people interested in the sheep sector so it was an amazing opportunity for me to sit around a table and discuss sheep and farming. It sounds so stupid, I know, but is very true! I had the best couple of days getting to know everyone and am now looking forward for the year ahead.
- What will be your favourite thing about the clock’s changing on 25th March? Longer days, lighter mornings and lighter nights. It's been a long winter of it getting light at 9am and dark at 3pm. And it’s the sign that spring and lambing is just around the corner, which is exciting. It’ll give me more time to get jobs done that have been neglected through the winter months.
- If you were Prime Minister for a day, what single thing sheep-related thing would you change, and what single non-sheep thing would you change? Sheep related – a different kind of penalty for dog worrying. This is a problem in the UK that isn't getting any better, but if a financial fine was to become active then it might be a deterrent. Non-sheep related – I have no idea. I’m the worst at politics and all that!
- If you could swap your farm (or the farm you work on) for the farm of one of the other NSA Next Generation Ambassador’s this year, which one would you chose and why? Richard's farm in Devon, because of the climate and the scale of the farm he is on, as well as it being the farm that’s furthest south England. In his presentation at the first session he told us they lamb in September/October and then again at the beginning of the year, which I was totally shocked by, as that could never happen here. I would love to work that far down in England to see the real difference compared to here and down there.
April
- What was the highlight of lambing this year? (Or highlight so far?) We have just started lambing and the highlight so far is the quite good lambing weather, plenty of grass (for a change) and that the ewes are lambing fairly strong lambs. Hopefully I’ll still be saying this by the end of lambing!
- How are you getting on with meeting the targets you’ve set yourself as an NSA Next Generation Ambassador? I need to get onto my targets after lambing when I get more time. I’m going to NSA Scot Sheep this year, which will be my first time so I’m really looking forward to it. It was one of my targets to support an NSA Sheep Event so I am hoping to achieve that at least!
- If you could give the general public one fact about sheep farming, what would it be and why? That farming is a lifestyle you choose. It has numerous plus points but you have to be ready for the minuses. It’s a challenging career but very rewarding!
- The tough spring conditions have caused high lambing losses and stunted grass growth for most places. If a genie offered you more grass growth, more live lambs on the ground or one other wish, which would you chose and why? Because we lamb later in Shetland and have therefore missed the worst of the weather, my wish would be a better scanning percentage for another year. This past winter has been one of the toughest in terms of weather than I can remember and has taken a toll on livestock.
- If you were asked to step in at the last minute and compete at the Commonwealth Games, what would be your best discipline and why? I would play netball, as I already play for Shetland and love playing the sport.
May
- What’s keeping you busy at the moment, and what job do you really need to get done but can’t find the time for? We have nearly finished lambing (15 left to go!) so are busy moving ewes and lambs back to their paddocks and carting water to various mobs of sheep as it’s so dry. We are really needing to get the ploughed paddocks broken and sown to seed, as well as get the silage parks locked off and fertiliser on so we get a good crop. We'll be starting to drench the ewes and lambs next week too.
- How is your 2018 lamb crop performing so far? Very well! We have had a brilliant period of nice weather so are hoping they will keep improving throughout the summer.
- Defra has just closed its ‘Health and Harmony’ consultation on post-Brexit agricultural regulation. Environment, health and welfare were given higher priority in the paper than food production. What are your thoughts on this? It doesn’t make me feel very encouraged about farming in the future and makes me concerned what the final outcome may be.
- What were you doing on the hottest Bank Holiday Monday on record? We were still flat out lambing. It was a beautiful day here in Shetland so I did get a little sunburnt!
- What (sheep related) wedding gift would you give Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and why? A traditional wedding gift in Shetland is a sheepskin rug so that would be something different.
July
- How are you and your flock coping in the drought conditions? I can’t remember it ever being such a dry summer up in Shetland. We are spending our days carrying water to the various mobs of sheep. The lambs are looking well even with the dry conditions and thriving – but we are getting short for grass and would appreciate some rain.
- Are you optimistic that we’ll a) get a Brexit deal before our official departure date from the EU, and b) that it’ll be a good deal for UK agriculture? I am not optimistic we will get a Brexit deal before our official departure date from the EU, or not in Scotland anyway. But I am forever hopeful the government is going to come with a good deal for UK agriculture They rarely produce agriculture prospects on time and don't think Brexit will be any different!
- What was the best take home message from your day at NSA Sheep 2018? The best take home message was in the seminar I took part in about employment in farming, UK wide, and that there are more opportunities out there if you are willing to go for them.
- What summer agricultural shows are you going to / have you gone to? Which is your favourite and why? I went to the Royal Highland Show in June and just have the local shows to go back home, which I always look forward too. The Highland has to be my favourite, as it’s such a good weekend with various types of livestock, machinery, food and social. This year I was lucky enough to go along with friends who were showing sheep so that was a new experience for me.
- Tell us about your sheepdogs. I have three sheepdogs right now . Allie is a five-year-old bitch who is my main collie that I depend on every day and am hoping to put in pup. I have a one-year-old Welsh sheepdog called Meg who I got as a trial as I was needing something to move sheep. As she barks, she has proved to be very handy for using in pens/yards. Jet is a nine-month-old collie pup I got as a gift and she is going to be a worker! She is very interested and keen. She’ll take a bit of handling but I have high hopes that she’ll be a good sheepdog.
August
- How are you going to feed your stock this winter? Will you have to feed a higher number of concentrates due to the lack of roughage? Will you use fodder crops? We will be feeding our stock this winter with silage, for which we are short on bales this year due to the dryness of the summer. We feed concentrates every winter and this year we will have to increase their use as we’re so short on fodder. Fodder crops are just used for feeding lambs and cast ewes in the back end.
- How have you, or will you be preparing for tupping. How will you flush your ewes with so little grass available? Are your tups in yet? We are hoping for a late flush of grass but if this doesn't materialise then we will have to purchase high energy tubs to flush the ewes on. This would be an extra cost but our tups don’t go to the ewes until the middle to end of November so there is time yet.
- What do you consider the best way to unwind after a long day with the sheep? Doing something I enjoy, so either playing netball or socialising with friends. That’s if I have enough time, as very often it’s just home to bed, ready for another day!
- What is your favourite lamb dish? Lamb chops. I think it’s the best tasting piece of meat and can be cooked in so many different ways.
- What do you do on your farm for the environment? We spread our muck on fields that we are ploughing straight away, to put the goodness back into the ground. It’s on a seven- year rotation so that every field is done.
October
- Who is your farming hero? My boss, David Leslie, as he has taught me all I know about farming over the years and I am forever grateful.
- What would be your one, best piece of advice for someone looking to enter the world of sheep farming? Work for a farmer for a year or so to give it a try and see if it’s for you. It’s a tougher life but very rewarding.
- The Government is looking to replace area-based farm support payments with payments for ‘public goods’. As a sheep farmer, which public good to you think you deliver the most on, how and why? And why is this important to the tax payer? We provide a variety of public goods and bring most of public goods nearer to the population. I don't agree with the new idea of changing the payments.
- The previous NSA Ambassador session visited British Wool, a timely visit as ‘Wool Week’ falls in October. What surprised or encouraged you about this visit? I was encouraged with all the hard work they are doing to produce a valued wool product they are selling all over the world. Their set up was remarkable to grade the wool.
- If sheep were not your passion, what other farming enterprise would appeal to you the most? I would try farming beef cattle or dairy cattle, as I have enjoyed working with both in previous years. I don't think I would go into chicken or pig farming, as its not in my interests.
Final round of questions
- Of the farms you’ve visited during your year as an Ambassador, which would you like to live and work on and why – or, which farmer you have met would you like to work with and why? I would like to work for Kevin Harrison. He had a very different system to me, as he was lambing inside, but it seemed interesting. He also had a great personality and was open to telling you about his successful farm.
- What useful piece of advice have you taken away and implemented on your farm since becoming an NSA Next Generation Ambassador? Are you seeing any benefits from this already? The piece of advice that springs to mind would be the control of worms in our flock. I have already reduced wormer use, as we are not routinely drenching like we used to. This has reduced cost and is definitely a benefit.
- What useful piece of advice have you taken away and plan to implement in the next year or two. I would like to do more stock recording. We have all the devices but don’t use them to their full potential.
- Select an ambassador from team 2018! Where do you see them in 10 years’ time? I see Kirree taking over the family farm and continuing her passion for breeding Texels. I think she will grow and take the opportunity in her stride.
- 2019 is just around the corner. Will you be making any new year’s resolutions for yourself personally or for your farm / place of work in 2019? To make the most of my new job on the mainland. I will be working on a large farm in Aberdeenshire and am looking forward to getting stuck into it.
- Brexit has been the top topic during your first year as an Ambassador. Where do you think the final negotiations will end up and will it be good for UK sheep farmers? Brexit could be very difficult for Shetland and farming could easily become a non-profitable enterprise. Shetland farmers would like to see more of a focus on the regulations for Scotland to include the highlands and islands.
