Learning and skills

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.

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.

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?

A practical day discussing  paddock grazing and the benefits it can bring, optimising animal performance from pasture.

The importance of functional genetic traits will also be discussed.

Speakers include Murray Rohloff, NZ sheep/grazing consultant and Robyn Hulme, Easyrams.

The day will also include  a visit to Montalt Farm courtesy of the Ritchie family.

Free of charge to farmers and land managers and £40 + VAT to others.

A practical workshop on a hill farm looking at effective ways of treating fluke and worms. It will cover diagnosis, control, different treatments, and pasture management. 

Can you change things to improve health and productivity, and maybe even save a bit of cash? Practical demonstrations will show the principles in action – with handling, weighing, and faecal egg counts. 

People from across the country can now apply to take part in Scottish Enterprise's Rural Leadership Programme.

This unique and popular programme - which is delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise by SAC Consulting - is aimed at business managers and employees from rural businesses who have a desire to develop their leadership skills and grow their business.

People from across the country can now apply to take part in Scottish Enterprise's Rural Leadership Programme.

This unique and popular programme - which is delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise by SAC Consulting - is aimed at business managers and employees from rural businesses who have a desire to develop their leadership skills and grow their business.

People from across the country can now apply to take part in Scottish Enterprise's Rural Leadership Programme.

This unique and popular programme - which is delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise by SAC Consulting - is aimed at business managers and employees from rural businesses who have a desire to develop their leadership skills and grow their business.

People from across the country can now apply to take part in Scottish Enterprise's Rural Leadership Programme.

This year Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have joined forces with Scottish Enterprise to offer 15 places on the programme to people from Highlands and Islands businesses.