Farming

A summary report from the recent 'Digital Innovation Hubs: mainstreaming digital agriculture' seminar is now available.

The EIP-AGRI event took place in Kilkenny Ireland on 1-2 June 2017. Around 150 people from 25 countries across Europe got together to share experiences, discuss needs and identify priority actions for developing Digital Innovation Hubs for agriculture.

Inspired by the Scottish Crofting Federation, a group of Scottish smallholders has set up a new organisation to represent and support their community.

Scottish Smallholder Festival

The Scottish Smallholder Festival is Scotland’s largest smallholder event, celebrating the best of Scottish smallholding, growing and craft.

Organised by smallholders and growers, it is aimed at all those with an interest in the productive use of small land holdings. The next Festival will be held on Saturday 23rd September 2017 at Lanark Agricultural Centre.

Dumfries & Galloway LEADER are delighted to confirm that they have awarded just over £740,000 to a number of diverse and innovative projects over the past six months. 

Rural Enterprise

Project: Hold the Front Page!

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a new group to ensure women are better represented in farming.

The Women in Agriculture taskforce will look at issues including better access to training and progression within the agricultural industry and better succession planning. The group will be co-chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity Fergus Ewing and Joyce Campbell, a farmer and entrepreneur based in North Sutherland.

A new funding round for the Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme (AECS) has been announced by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham at the Royal Highland Show.

Agri-Environment, Diffuse Pollution and Organic schemes will open in January 2018, with a round for Improving Public Access expected to open in March.

The National Council of Rural Advisers has been annnounced by Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing.

The new Council will cover all aspects of future rural development, including appropriate financial support beyond 2022.

It will provide advice on the potential implications of Scotland leaving the European Union as part of the UK, and make recommendations on future policy and support, with the aim of ensuring a vibrant, sustainable and productive rural economy.

Announcing the new group ahead of the Royal Highland Show, Mr Ewing said:

Buzzing About Grassland

Species rich grassland meadows are an important part of our farming landscape, providing habitats for birds, pollinators, and areas of nutritionally low fodder to manage sheep condition on.

How can we better utilise these areas within our farming systems - and what revenue is available for managing these areas through AECS?

Grazing expert Michael Blanche will take us through the grazing systems, detailing how we can make the most of the grass that we have, before moving outside into the fields to look at different types of grassland and how they can be managed.

Field Lab: Good Green Manures

Green manures should be good for your crops and your soil. But do they make enough of a difference to justify their cost?  And which ones work best?

This field lab is comparing different green manure mixes, looking at their benefits on the soil, and importantly on the yield of the following crop.

Going Undercover: Profiting From Green Manures

Green manures have long been used at Stonelaw’s to build soil fertility, increase biodiversity, improve water quality and provide a valuable source of winter fodder for store cattle.

Join us for this practical morning session covering topics on:
• How to select different types of green manure to suit your farming system;
• How you can incorporate green manures and cover crops into AECS and Greening,
• How to maximise farm output from green manures.
• Why green manures- what are the benefits?

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