Crofting

Farming Scotland Conference

A half day conference including lunch, featuring a range of speakers from different organisations, all of whom will provide their views as they relate to agriculture in Scotland.

Rob Clayton, Strategy Director (Potatoes), AHDB - Growing potatoes in an island nation.

Trudi Sharp, Deputy Director for Agriculture and Rural Development, Scottish Government - Scottish Agriculture Policy - current and future issues.

Marion MacCormick, Meat Buying Director, Aldi Stores - Local sourcing and Scottish consumer expectations.

The SRUC Rural Policy Centre has launched its Rural Scotland in Focus 2016 report.

The report provides a fast-track to up-to-date evidence and commentary on key topics of rural and national importance, in order to inform policy, practice and research.

Rural Scotland in Focus 2016 is the fourth report in the series, and was launched at an event in Edinburgh on 29 November attended by over 90 people.

A new report outlines a plan to increase the number of starter opportunities for new entrants to farming.

The ten-point action plan aims to kick start a new generation of farmers by dramatically increasing the number of starter opportunities on public land.

Grass Matters Scotland Conference

A free conference in Dingwall aims to give farmers and crofters an unprecedented, practical insight into getting the most from their grassland.

The 'Grass Matters' conference is being held by Soil Association Scotland on Friday 2 December. The event is a chance to hear from grassland management experts from across the UK.

Topics to be discussed inlcude:

A free conference in Dingwall aims to give farmers and crofters an unprecedented, practical insight into getting the most from their grassland.

The 'Grass Matters' conference is being held by Soil Association Scotland on Friday 2 December. The event is a chance to hear from grassland management experts from across the UK.

Topics to be discussed inlcude:

New entrants to farming are being offered a free one-to-one mentoring service as part of the new Farm Advisory Service, which launched earlier this year.

The mentoring programme pairs new starters in farming or crofting with experienced farmers to share expertise in farm and business management to help overcome the financial and technical challenges of setting up a farm or croft.

Five Land Commissioners and the Tenant Farming Commissioner have been selected for the first Scottish Land Commission.

The Commission will be based in Inverness and will be operation from April 2017.

The appointments, which are subject to Parliamentary approval, are as follows:

  • Land Commissioners - Andrew Thin, Professor David Adams, Megan MacInnes, Lorne MacLeod, Dr Sally Reynolds
  • Tenant Farming Commissioner - Dr Bob McIntosh

Scottish Ministers have selected Andrew Thin to chair the Commission.

Over 200 people gathered in at Gogarburn in Edinburgh on 14 November at an event designed to recognise the collective contribution of women to agriculture and rural or land-based industries.

Farmers across Scotland are being encouraged to open their gates to the public for Open Farm Sunday 2017.

Registration is now open to take part in the annual event on 11 June. Open Farm Sunday is a great opportunity for farmers to show the public their achievements and the range of goods and services they deliver. 

The public engagement programme at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is looking for farmers interested in participating in a research project about Scottish farm practices.

They are looking for farmers that are keen on meeting with the artist Asuncion Molinos Gordo while she is visiting Scotland. She will be here for field research, between 15 and 24 November, to learn more about the various issues Scottish farmers are facing in their day-to-day lives.

Pages