Crofting

This year's BBC Food and Farming Awards are now open for nominations.

Is there an outstanding food or drink producer in your area? Do you know an amazing cook? Is there an inspirational farmer you think deserves special recognition?

You can make your nominations for the annual BBC Food and Farming Awards in the following categories:

The 2018 application window for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is now open.

The scheme supports environmentally-friendly land management practices that aim to safeguard and improve Scotland’s natural heritage and help businesses adapt to climate change.

The AECS 2018 application window opened today (17 January) and will run for 12 weeks until 13 April 2018. The deadline for applications for collaborative projects which involve five or more businesses is 31 May 2018.

The EIP-AGRI Service Point is looking for coordinating experts for a number of workshops, seminars and Focus Groups on a range of topics.

The agricultural European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI) works to foster competitive and sustainable farming and forestry that 'achieves more and better from less'. 

Scotland Food & Drink are carrying out a short online survey to gather views to help grow the food tourism sector in Scotland.

Food tourism includes any tourism experience in which a person consumes and/or learns about food and drink that reflects the local cuisine, heritage or culture of a place. This includes the active pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences as well as agri-tourism.

Over 800 projects in Scotland are to benefit from funding from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme to encourage environmentally-friendly land management practices.

AECS 2017 has awarded £47.7 million to 801 projects over the next five years to protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk, and help agricultural businesses adapt to climate change.

Announcing the award, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) exists to help new farmers and crofters grow their business through a range of business development support and one-to-one advisory services.

As a new farmer or crofter you are entitled to access a range of subsidised expert business support –worth up to a total of £2,200–to help you increase the profitability and sustainability of your new business.

The Annual Implementation Report (AIR) of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) has been published.

Covering the first three years of the 2014-2020 Programme, the full report and Summary for Citizens can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.

A new brochure highlights all the Horizon 2020 calls relating to agriculture and forestry.

The official Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2018-2020 was released on 27 October 2017.

Horizon 2020 (H2020) aims to create solutions for problems which farmers and foresters currently face. It is the largest source of public funding for research and innovation from the European Commission with a budget of around €3.7 billion.

If you're struggling with your utility bills the rural charity RSABI may be able to help.

RSABI helps people woth are working or have worked in farming, crofting and growing emotionally, practically and financially.

Grants of £300 are available through their Help for Heating grant scheme for those living in fuel poverty.

Call RSABI on 0300 111 4166 to find out more.

Find out more about help available on the RSABI website.

A series of workshops is about to start as part of the Farm Advisory Service's New Entrants Programme.

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) which is co-funded by the EU and Scottish Government. It provides information and resources aimed at increasing the profitability and sustainability of farms and crofts.