Farming

The movement to build a better future for our farms and for Scottish soil is building momentum with a two-day festival lined up in Fife this summer.

A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed today (10 May 2024) on a farm in Ayrshire.

Precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place at impacted premises and cover animals which have been in contact with the case. Further investigations to identify the origin of the disease are ongoing. This is standard procedure for a confirmed case of classical BSE.

The deadline for submitting the Single Application Form (SAF) application is fast approaching and farmers and crofters are being encouraged to submit their applications before the window closes on Wednesday 15 May.

Applications submitted by the deadline can be amended, added to, or increased, up until 31 May without penalty.

The findings of the Scottish Small Producer Access to Abattoirs Report, published this week, highlight the various challenges facing producers who require ‘private kill’ services in Scotland, and the abattoirs providing them.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands today announced the reappointment of John Connelly, Malcolm Currie, Denise Penny and Sue Stahly as Independent Members of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, has signed off the 'Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill - Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment'. 

The new Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill aims to provide the legal framework to deliver:

Alistair (Ally) Brunton has been elected as the latest Chair of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC). Ally (27) from East Fife JAC was officially appointed at the Association’s AGM held on Saturday 20^th April, stepping up from his position as National Vice.