Farming

Police Scotland, National Rural & Acquisitive Crime Unit (NRACU) have issued a warning about the impacts of Livestock attacks and worrying.

Livestock attacks and worrying is the phrase used when a dog attacks or worries livestock animals in rural and farmland areas.

Sheep producers who have lost livestock to sea-eagles will continue to receive support from Scottish Government for 2024. Up to £400,000 has been allocated to the Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) to help farmers explore different management techniques and trial new prevention measures.

Land managers in receipt of financial support through long-term Management Agreements as part of the scheme have been assured payments will continue this year.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair (SGF) is back for 2024, celebrating its 35-year anniversary at Scone Palace.

Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will take place from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July at Perthshire’s heritage location, set in parkland alongside the River Tay.

Proposals to modernise how Scotland’s cattle are tagged, identified and traced is the focus of a new consultation launched today.

Cattle farmers and businesses are encouraged to give their views on plans to fit all new-born cattle with electronic ear-tags. If implemented, Bovine electronic identification (EID) can provide cattle keepers with an easier way to collect and store cattle information, leading to improvements in efficiency and safety.

A consultation on banning the use of cages to house laying hens for egg production has been launched this week.

Views will be sought on phasing out the use of enriched cages, which offered more room to nest, roost, scratch and rest than the previously used battery or barren cages that were banned in the UK in 2012.

In the latest of a series of initiatives behind its #KeepTalking campaign, RSABI is encouraging people to try find time, even during lambing, calving and sowing, to look out for each other.

Working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), the charity is publishing social media posts highlighting the vital #KeepTalking message along with SAYFC’s powerful AreEweOk? message.

Further details about the actions farmers and crofters will have to take to receive agricultural support payments from 2025 have been unveiled. The new criteria for support will help farmers and crofters meet more of our food needs sustainably, and farm and croft while working to protect nature.