Environment

Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Community Workshop

Please join us in a community workshop and help us shape and inform our approach to the Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition. This in-person event will be held on Monday, 24th July, 2023 at Hawick Rugby Club, Mansfield Road, Hawick, TD9 8AW.

Preparing for the future of agricultural support - Get ready for 2025

Agricultural support in Scotland is changing. From 2025, new conditionality will start to be introduced to agricultural payments, targeted towards biodiversity gain and a drive to low carbon approaches.

Scottish Government are working with farmers and crofters on the detailed proposals and how they will be implemented. To support this, Officials representing the programme are visiting agricultural shows, marts and area offices across Scotland, to share information and answer questions about agricultural reform in Scotland. You can find them at:

Agricultural support in Scotland is changing. From 2025, new conditionality will start to be introduced to agricultural payments, targeted towards biodiversity gain and a drive to low carbon approaches.

To help support farmers, crofter and land managers, Scottish Government have produced a range of information sheets to help farmers and crofters prepare for these changes, to identify recommendations that can lower emissions and increase efficiencies.

The widespread effects of the virus on seabirds and wildfowl in Scotland and throughout the U.K. have been well documented, but the effect on birds of prey is less well known.

A forest for the future, designed to help in the fight against climate change, a young farmer mixing trees and pigs, and a community woodland in a country park were all honoured at the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2023.

In response to the independent Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) Taskforce report, the Scottish Government is proposing to bring forward provisions to allow for a limited extension of the Scottish SPCA’s current powers to investigate wildlife crime.

Vital in the fight to tackle climate change, peat covers more than 20% of Scotland and is crucial for water quality, richly diverse landscapes, slowing floods and wildfires, sustaining rural jobs and storing carbon.

An evaluation report - 'Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund 2021-2022: evaluation report' - has been published by Scottish Government. 

An industry-led strategy which aims for a 25% increase in turnover for Scotland’s food and drink sector by 2028 has been published.

A herbicide previously used to control bracken on farms in Scotland, will not be authorised for use this season because of the risks it poses to the environment and human health. The same decision has been taken in Wales.

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