Farmers and land managers in Central Scotland, who are thinking of planting trees but don’t know where to begin, can now get free help from Scottish Forestry.

As part of ongoing work to promote the benefits of tree planting to rural businesses  in the region, a limited number of FREE Farm Woodland Assessments are up for grabs, to help farms and estates identify opportunities for new woodland planting to support their  businesses. 

RSABI has launched a new programme to encourage young people to get involved with the organisation’s board.

The charity, which supports people in Scottish agriculture, is now accepting applications from people aged 18 to 30 for its Trainee Trustee programme.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) wants to work with farmers in South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Highland in a new Rural Risk Project set up to help reduce the risks from fires on farms.

A plan has been published setting out how crofting can be supported to flourish in the future.

The National Development Plan for Crofting highlights the core elements necessary to ensure that crofting continues to play an integral role in rural and island life, as well as delivering policy priorities for climate change mitigation and biodiversity.

RSABI is among eight charities to receive a welcome funding boost from the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

The Charitable Trust has recently donated £80,000 to RSABI, the charity providing emotional, practical and financial support to people in the Scottish agricultural industry.

More than 95% of Basic Payment Support, Greening and Young Farmer payments have been made, four months ahead of regulatory requirement.

Welcoming the progress, Mr Ewing said:

The winners of Lantra Scotland’s ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills) were announced on Thursday 4^th March at a special virtual ceremony.