Crofting

A new croft has been created in Moray for the first time since crofting was extended to the area in 2010.

The woodland croft, lies on the Moray coast and extends to around 5 acres of naturally regenerated woodland. The owners plan to run a forestry business and carry out other woodland activities on the croft, providing social and economic benefits to the local community. 

People are to be supported to drive forward innovation and knowledge transfer in agriculture, helping businesses contribute to the green economic recovery by farming and crofting more sustainably.

Applications have opened for the next round of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) for projects aiming to introduce new and innovative approaches in agricultural practice or improve sector knowledge transfer and skills.

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has acknowledged the outcome of the recent election of Crofting Commissioners, saying that they have their work cut out to effectively regulate crofting.

Agroforestry: trees mean business

In this webinar we will explore three hands-on ways to make money from your trees: fruit production, coppicing and timber production. Join us to hear from experts, farmers and crofters about their experience and ask your questions about:

  • Coppicing: how, why, when
  • Fruit trees: the right product for your project
  • Timber: reasons to embark on this long-term crop
  • Challenges and how to tackle them.

Scottish Forestry will also be present to answer your questions.

FREE and open to crofters, farmers, land managers and foresters. 

‘The Green Bowl’ - Running a Crofting Township Food Hub

 Join crofters Tessa & Helen to see The Green Bowl in action and discuss the challenges/opportunities in setting up a local food hub.

Crofting and Grazing - Using NoFence Collar Technology

As part of the Corncrake Calling project, crofter Domhnall Macsween has been working with RSPB Scotland to trial NoFence collar technology for conservation grazing at the Loch Stiapabhat reserve.

This visit will begin with a presentation of the learning so far from Domhnall and Shona with an opportunity for discussion over a late lunch. This will be followed by an on croft demonstration of the NoFence collar technology in action. More about this trial and RSPB Scotland’s “Corncrake Initiative” scheme can be found here.

Lunch, tea and coffee will be provided.

Livestock health planning for assurance – what it means for you

An online event to answer your questions Monday 28th February 7pm

Health planning is a useful way of proactively managing livestock health and welfare, avoiding disease and optimising productivity. Veterinary input helps to ensure such plans are effective and strategic. In line with other UK assurance schemes, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) introduced a requirement for annual veterinary visits and veterinary sign-off of health plans, to their cattle and sheep standards, in 2020.

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) will host a series of events with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to explain what the changes to sheep and cattle assurance standards that go live in April will mean to crofting.

Rewilding Britain is launching the UK’s first Rewilding Innovation Fund to boost locally led land and marine nature recovery projects across Britain, including community initiatives and those focused on improving people’s health and wellbeing.

The fund will be given to innovative projects seeking to create new opportunities for large-scale nature restoration, such as through community engagement, business plans or use of technology.

The purpose of the Natural Capital Pilots are to inform what future rural support outside of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) might look like. 

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