Farming

New measures to increase the maximum available penalties for the worst cases of animal cruelty have come in to force.

Taking effect from 30 November, the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 increases the maximum penalty for the most serious animal welfare and wildlife crimes to five years imprisonment and unlimited fines.

Introduction to Seed Saving in Scotland Online Course

Seed production training courses for 2021 - enroll now –

With the Seed Sov programme planning for another 3 years, an ambitious seed training programme will be rolled out in Scotland over two years. These courses aim to train seed savers in Scotland to a professional level. The focus is primarilly on vegetable seeds and specifically for Scottish growing conditions.

Farmers and crofters will receive funding towards the purchase of agricultural equipment chosen for its effectiveness in reducing greenhouse gases.

Letters with grant offers worth almost £18 million are being sent to over 3,500 eligible farmers and crofters as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme.

Wholesale food and drink businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are to be supported through a new £5 million fund.

Galloway Beef will be the centrepiece of festive dinners across Scotland this year as Aldi champions Dumfries & Galloway’s iconic native cattle breed with the launch of a trio of Scotch Galloway Beef joints in all 96 of its Scottish stores.  The backing for Galloways by Aldi has been described as ‘transformative’ by the Galloway Cattle Society, and the start of a process the Society hopes will ultimately lead to Galloway Beef becoming widely recognised as a premium brand.

Sheep and Trees Q&A: Small woodland creation on your farm

The Sheep and Trees grant for small woodlands (up to 50 hectares) is unusual in that it can be used to fund infrastructure too. Sheep and beef farmer Andrew Whiteford used his to create a road leading to woodland on 3500-acre Burnfoot Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Join Soil Association Scotland with Andrew, woodland creation consultant Peter Atkinson, and Woodland Officer Andrew Kitching of Scottish Forestry, to discuss:

Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry are establishing a new demonstrator network of farms, crofts and estates across Scotland, to raise awareness of the multiple benefits that planting trees can bring to an agricultural business. These include but are not limited to: providing shelter for livestock; habitat for wildlife; reducing carbon footprint; providing future income from timber; and prevention of flooding. The aim is to encourage more trees to be planted on Scottish farmland, in the right place, for

Local routes to Market: Exploring the opportunities in school food for Scottish suppliers

Are you a Scottish producer or supplier interested in the business opportunities in public procurement? Or do you work in catering or food procurement for a local authority that’s looking to support local businesses?

Farmers and crofters across the country will benefit from the simplification of schemes, which form part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

This follows the laying of new regulations which will come into force on 1 January 2021.

A completely restored vintage tractor is set to be auctioned later this month to raise funds for RSABI – the charity supporting people in Scottish agriculture.

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