Farming

Nearly 1 in 3 people in the UK find it difficult to use online services. Reasons for this include: poor internet access, not feeling confident using technology, having dyslexia, or low or no vision.

Yesterday First Minster John Swinney anounced his new Programme for Government (PfG), which focussed on actions to progress four priorities.

These are:

The drive to raise awareness and understanding of suicide prevention in the Scottish agricultural community is set to take a significant step forward this month.

Scottish farming businesses will see support payments start to reach their bank accounts this week with initial payments worth approximately £243 million.

The Scottish Government first brought the payments forward in 2022 to help with the transition from EU’s CAP Payment system and give recipients greater reassurance and stability.

The Scottish Government have published a ‘Factsheet’ which sets out the advantages for Scotland of a comprehensive veterinary and SPS agreement, the background, what will be required and how we can work together to achieve it. 

Researchers from The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen want to hear from livestock farmers about the risk of bluetongue disease in Great Britain to help shape how to deal with it.

A recent Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) project led by The James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with Scotland’s Rural College, the University of Aberdeen, and the British Geological Survey, highlighted a pressing issue for Scotland: the increasing likelihood and duration of water scarcity events due to climate change.

Scottish charity RSABI is extending its thanks to the 135 or so competitors, and support team members, who are set to take part in this year’s Great Glen Challenge, sponsored by Gillespie Macandrew.

This year’s event, on August 30, has attracted an unprecedented demand for places and the charity is extending its thanks to all those who are taking part, with sights now set on helping competitors achieve their fundraising targets.

This week saw the publication of a report evaluating the Capital Grant Schemes funded by the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014-2020.

Following the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd (SAOS) recent AGM (13 Aug), Rory Christie has been appointed as their new Chairman, with Andy McGowan taking on the Vice Chair role.