Farming

The winners of Lantra Scotland’s ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills) were announced on Thursday 4th March at a special virtual ceremony.

When the Covid-19 crisis hit last March, our weekly food shop hit a roadblock. With supermarkets struggling to keep up with customer demand, we took a local detour.

Taking the scenic route forced us to slow down, appreciate what’s on our doorstep and take time to discover the farm shops, markets, makers and producers right under our noses.

An initiative to help drive projects that celebrate locally sourced and produced food and drink has reopened for applications.

Scene & Herd created the OnFARM podcast because they wanted to share a positive and accurate picture of rural life in Scotland. Over the last year, they have told numerous stories about how businesses have thrived, how individuals have triumphed over adversity, how rural Scotland showcases both talent and tenacity and how science and farming are working together to solve serious challenges.

Integrating trees on your land (2)

The Imrie family will be share information on their family's new venture into woodland creation at Hillhead farm, Torrance, Lanarkshire and how this has helped them to maximise their marginal land and safeguard the future of the family business. There will be an opporunity to discuss the initial thought processes, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits etc.

Integrating trees on your land (1)

Andrew Adamson of Messrs W Laird & Son, Netherurd Home Farm, Peebleshire, will give an introduction to his farm and talk about how he has integrated trees into his business over a number of years; providing shelter for stock and crops along with an alternative income stream. He'll discuss the initial thought processes, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits etc. There will also be a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining the event to discuss funding and first steps to woodland creation.

A new farmer-led network aiming to encourage farmers and crofters to consider woodland creation on Scottish land has launched.

Bird keepers in Scotland are reminded to maximise biosecurity and keep their flocks housed after avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in a flock of approximately 14,000 mixed gamebirds on a gamebird rearing premises in Leven, Glenrothes.

Laboratory results of samples taken from the flock have identified the strain as highly pathogenic in poultry. In order to limit the further spread of disease, appropriate restrictions have been imposed on the premises.

Mob Grazing Q&A: Outwintering to reduce inputs

Join Soil Association Scotland to hear from farmers who are outwintering livestock in Scotland on how they do it and why, including saving on housing and machinery costs and improving soil. Hear from:

  • Andrew and Robert Brewster of Easter Denoon Farm, Angus, on bale grazing methods, breeding and infrastructure

A pioneering dairy farm in south west Scotland has made 25 years of soil data freely available on their website with a request to scientists to include more practical farming experience in their research.

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