Crofting

A new agricultural and business training programme has been launched by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs (SAYFC).

'Cultivating Futures' will provide access to affordable practical training, business and efficiency training and will include the SAYFC's own leadership programme 'Cultivating Leaders' and an online information hub.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) wants to hear your views on nine big issues in the Park including flood management, housing and economic development.

The Big Park Big Questions consultation has been launched to gather views on the key issues to be addressed in the next National Park Partnership Plan 2017-2022 - a management plan for the Park which sets out a vision and overarching strategy for managing the area.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research to build a picture of the role women play in agriculture across Scotland.

Research undertaken in other parts of the UK, Europe and beyond shows that women’s work on farms is under-reported and women are not well represented in agricultural organisations, but there has been no research in Scotland.

The European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI) is calling for experts for three new focus groups.

EIP-AGRI are encouraging people involved in agroforestry, dairy farming or tending vineyards to apply to be part of the Focus Groups and work with 19 other experts from across Europe.

Can you help the rural charity RSABI raise £150,000 by spring 2017?

RSABI is encouraging the rural industry to back its 'Help us help them' campaign to help put a stop to rural poverty.

The charity provides financial assistance, support and a helpline to people who have worked in land-based employment and through age, injury, illness or misfortune now experience hardship.

A new documentary highlighting access to land issues across Europe is available to watch online. 

The 'Land for our Food' film follows the journey of Gavin Bridger, a grower from the Community Supported Agriculture project of Farnham Local Food in England, through various European countries in his quest of accessing land for agroecological farming.

The 34-minute 'road trip'  film was produced by the Access to Land network, a European network of grassroots organisations securing land for agroecological farming.

Know a farmer or farm business that deserves recognition? Enter or make a nomination for the British Farming Awards 2016 by 15 July.

Now in its fourth year, the awards recognise the hard work, innovation and determination of farming and showcase the achievements of farmers working in the UK agricultural industry.

Sarah Hyslop, Ayrshire LEADER Programme Manager, shares her experiences and reflections from the recent Swedish Rural Parliament event which took place in Visby, Gotland, Sweden from 27 to 29 May 2016.

A report has been published looking at options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish farms.

The ClimateXchange report considers 20 options to reduce emissions including changes in management of fertiliser, soil and manure, livestock feeding and energy use.

Some of these changes require an investment in new tools, equipment or other installations on farm.

Twenty farms across Scotland will be opening their gates as part of Open Farm Sunday 2016.

This year's Open Farm Sunday takes place on 5 June. The annual celebration managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) sees farms across the UK welcome visitors to their farms.