Farming

 Scottish agricultural charity RSABI is working with Dyslexia Scotland to raise awareness of the challenges many people involved in farming face with dyslexia. 

Holyrood’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has today launched a call for views to inform its consideration of the Scottish Government’s Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill. 

The legislation represents the Scottish Government’s ‘vision for agriculture’ to transform farming and food production in Scotland and to make it a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

Scottish farming and crofting families who have been severely hit by October’s extreme weather events are being encouraged to contact RSABI to apply for support via a Flooding Crisis Fund to support those who were most affected.

RSABI, the charity which provides practical, emotional and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture, is offering payments of up to £1000 per farming family business for those who experienced greatest loss as a result of the extreme rainfall and flooding.

Tickets are now on sale for a Farmers’ Choir concert which is set to raise people’s spirits at the start of 2024, as well as raising funds for Scottish agriculture charity RSABI and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA). 

VirtRural Careers 2023

The aim of this event is to raise awareness and increase knowledge of the careers available in Scotland’s land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation sector. The event is open to anyone interested in finding out more about careers in our sector, whether that be career influencers, students, parents or career changers.

The Chief Statistician has released first estimates of the 2023 Scottish harvest.

The figures predict that cereal production will remain in line with the ten-year average despite significant challenges during the year, including high input costs and poor weather condition. Total cereal production is expected to be around 3.0 million tonnes.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and Trade Minister Richard Lochhead have written jointly to the UK Government to voice the Scottish Government’s concern about the possibility of the UK Government negotiating a ‘foundational trade partnership’ with the United States of America, as reported recently in the media.

Farmers in North Ayrshire, West Aberdeenshire and Orkney will have the opportunity to benefit from free business support, worth around £120,000, via the 2023/24 Farm Resilience Programme which starts this month.

The countdown is on to Scotland’s national smallholding festival, which takes place at the Royal Highland Centre on Saturday 14th October 2023.

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