Farming

Angus based precision farming solutions pioneers SoilEssentials have announced that they are going to be arranging catch up calls and chats to anyone who would have been planning to visit them at this year’s Highland Show in order to say hello, and raise money for charity at the same time.

With so many agricultural shows cancelled in 2020, the team at SoilEssentials have come up with an alternative, which means existing and potential customers can receive a call from them instead.

The latest episode of OnFARM, Scotland’s Rural Podcast, has been working in partnership with RHET (The Royal Highland Education Trust) to provide some rurally inspired home-schooling tips and advice for parents and teachers.

Legislation which allows the Common Agricultural Policy to be simplified and improved post-Brexit has passed Stage 1, following a debate in the Scottish Parliament.

Around 7,000 specialist beef producers will benefit from payments worth around £40 million in the coming weeks, ensuring money is still going to farmers and crofters during these unprecedented and challenging times.

A further 469 convergence payments worth £768,500 have also been processed this week, mainly for new entrants to farming.

A new service is being launched to match rural businesses with potential employees and volunteers during the response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

£86.2 million of convergence payments to farmers and crofters are now underway.

Rural projects that protect the environment and mitigate the impact of climate change will share £34 million.

A total of 472 businesses will benefit from the latest award of Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) funding, which promotes environmentally friendly land management practices and looks to protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage.

This brings the total committed to rural businesses under AECS since 2015 to more than £211 million, benefiting almost 3,000 applicants.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

Bidding is open for some fantastic prizes in the Royal Highland Educational Trust's silent auction.

The rural education charity Royal Highland Educational Trust (RHET) are holding a gala dinner on 21 February, now sold out, to celebrate their 21st birthday. If you missed out on dinner tickets you can still bid in their silent online auction, which will be open until 4pm on 21 February 2020.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced funding for a new programme to support farming's contribution to meeting Scotland's climate change ambitions. 

The Scottish Government has started early engagement on the development of Scotland's fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

The National Planning Framework is a long term plan for development and investment across Scotland.