Farming

The agricultural European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI) has issued a call for experts for two new Focus Groups.

Do you have practical experience or specific knowledge in the following areas?

The latest edition of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) newsletter is now available online.

The February newsletter includes information on an ENRD conference on unlocking the potential of Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) as well as links to summaries of RDPs from across Europe.

You can also find out about new information platforms in Spain, a workshop on using simplified cost option in LEADER and Community-Led Local Development, upcoming rural development events taking place in Europe and much more.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced that five projects will receive a share of £2 million from the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF).

The projects will promote skills development, knowledge transfer and deliver on-the-ground improvements to the farming sector in Scotland.

Grants will be awarded to the following projects:

Soil Association are looking for new Field Lab ideas to test new farming approaches, share best practice and solve problems.

Field Labs bring agricultural research directly to the field and the shed, bringing farmers and growers together with a researcher and a dedicated facilitator to focus on your own research questions. Field Labs in Scotland are free to attend and open to all farmers and growers, not just organic ones.

Around 150 people gathered at Perth Racecourse this week for a New Entrants to Farming Gathering.

This free event was aimed at Scotland's farmers of the future and was organised by SRUC as part of the Scottish Government's New Entrants to Farming programme.

A short film produced by the Scottish Rural Network Support Unit highlights some of the cultural and social benefits of the International Farm Youth Exchange Programme.

Each year, young farmers and students from across rural communities apply to take part in a cultural exchange programme and stay with host families in another country.

The International Youth Farm Exchange (IFYE) Conference 2015 took place last year, with previous participants of the IYFE programme from across the world gathering at Gordonstoun, Scotland for a week of activities. 

Farmers affected by recent floods can now apply for a grant to help repair man-made floodbanks.

The Agricultural Floodbank Repair Grant Scheme was announced by the First Minister earlier this year, with £1 million being set aside to fund the repair of man-made floodbanks on farms in nine local authorities: Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, Aberdeenshire, City of Aberdeen, Angus and East Ayrshire.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

The annual Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) Member’s Day and Conference was held at Crieff Hydro in Perthshire on 28 January.

Around 100 delegates were treated to a stimulating mix of guest speaker presentations, interactive debate, practical advice and networking opportunities.