Farming

Working for Waders

Wading birds are in steep decline. If we don’t act now, iconic species like lapwings and curlews may vanish from our farms. Come and find out what you can do on your farm to help.

Earlier this week, Mairi Gougeon announced a newly funded project through the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF),  which aims to help farmers by supporting projects aimed at increasing farmers skills and knowledge. To date the Scottish Government has awarded over £5 million to 21 projects through the scheme.

This week, we met with colleagues from the LEADER Delivery Team (LDT), Tyne Esk LEADER and the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) team to support the EU Desk Officer, Egle Puosiunaite, from the European Commission on her visit to Scotland. Ms.

Find out how 12 projects across Europe are helping to make rural areas more attractive places for young people to live and work.

A new edition of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) Projects Brochure has been published by the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD). 

You can find out about a range of initiatives including:

Ethical Farming Conference

The conference will explore models of food production that have a focus on fair work for people, high welfare for livestock, environmentally regenerative closed-loop production and sustainable circular economies.

The event will take place at Rainton Farm in South West Scotland, home of The Ethical Dairy, the largest cow with calf dairy farm in Europe.

You can see the event programme and find out more about the conference on the event website: https://www.ethicalfarming.org/ 

Tickets should be booked by 8 May 2019. 

The Scottish Government's Regional Food Fund has awarded bursaries to ten young women to attend the Ethical Farming Conference free of charge.

The successful applicants include a Scottish post-doctoral animal welfare researcher now working in New Zealand, post graduate researchers exploring issues around agri-environment, food security and animal behaviour, veterinary medicine students, small holders and new entrant farmers.

The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) has published a Rural Crime Strategy for 2019-22.​

SPARC is a multi-agency partnership involving key organisations collectively working together to tackle rural crime, in particular the increasing threat posed by Serious Organised Crime Groups throughout Scotland. 

​The Rural Crime Strategy sets out seven priorities for SPARC. These are:

The seventh annual British Farming Awards are now open for entries and nominations in 14 categories.

The awards celebrate the creative thinking, innovation and dedication of Britain's farmers. They are organised by AgriBriefing and supported by Morrisons. 

The award categories are:

Recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in nature conservation, the eighth annual Nature of Scotland Awards co-sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage are open for applications until 4 June.

SLE Annual Spring Conference 2019 - Maximising the Margins

‘Maximising the margins’ – the theme of this year’s conference – will explore land use in our more challenging and fragile areas. The event will look in depth at how rural business can rise to the challenge of increasing social, economic and environmental benefits.

The conference will examine how to maximise:

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