Farming

The Scottish Farm Land Trust are running a crowdfunding campaign to employ a development worker.

The Scottish Farm Land Trust aims to increase access to land for small-scale, ecological agriculture. They'll do this by acquiring land to be held in trust and rented fairly to new entrants and young people.

Their crowdfunding campaign aims to raise £10,000 to employ a development worker to progress this idea. At the moment the Scottish Farm Land Trust is entirely volunteer-run. 

Are you in a position to make environmental change at a landscape scale?

Soil Association Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates are looking for ambitious and forward-looking land managers to apply to their new Landscape Leadership programme, where you will develop the skills needed to make change happen.

Scottish farmers Andrew and Aileen Marchant scooped a top prize at the recent British Farming Awards. 

The husband and wife team who took on Clonhie Farm in Dumfries and Galloway won the New Entrants: Against All Odds award at the national awards. 

An upcoming business seminar will explore the concept of farm business incubators as a route into farming for new entrants in Scotland.

The NEWBIE business seminar at AgriScot on 20 November will be a chance to hear about an international exchange to north France and how farm business incubators to help new entrants there.

Applications are now being accepted for Be Your Best Self -- personal development training for women living and working in Scottish agriculture.

• Do you feel like you need to re-focus on your life goals?
• Do you want to build your confidence and discover the true value of your skills and strengths?
• Are you looking for new opportunities and possibilities?
• Would you like to connect with other women in Scottish agriculture?

If so, then this course is for you!

The first ever National Islands Plan for Scotland has been laid before the Scottish Parliament for consideration.

The proposed National Islands Plan provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for Scotland's island communities.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has launched a new land matching service for the farming industry.

The Scottish Land Matching Service will initiate discussions between new entrants to farming and landowners. The service will provide unbiased guidance and support to both parties and is aimed at tackling the issues of an ageing farming population and lack of access to land for new entrants.

Find out about free assistance available for land managers considering the opportunities for woodland creation in this article from Scottish Forestry.

Significant opportunities exist for Land Managers to maximise their business productivity and sustainability by adding value to underproductive/marginal land through tree planting.