Farming

The James Hutton Institute, in partnership with local hosts, has organised a series of workshops to gain a better understanding of what sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices are currently taking place in Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) around the country as part of a Scottish Government feasibility study.

The north-east farming community is set to come together for a night of music, laughter, and fundraising at The Farmers’ Choir Concert, hosted at ANM Group’s Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, in aid of agricultural charity RSABI

Imports of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany have been banned to protect farmers, their livelihoods and food security following the discovery of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in water buffalo in Brandenburg.

The risk level of FMD to the UK has been increased to medium.

FMD does not pose a risk to human health but is a highly contagious virus of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals.

Updated guidance about Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has been published by Scottish Government to support farmers and crofters identify the illness in livestock.

(SBV) is a virus first identified in Europe in 2011. It was first detected in the UK in 2012, and then in 2016-2017 and from 2021 onwards. 

A major campaign to encourage farmers and others in Scottish agriculture to wear a helmet every time they get on a quad bike has been launched by RSABI, in partnership with The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies).

The six-month “Use Your Head. Use Your Helmet” campaign, kicks off this month with the launch of a video featuring farmer Callum Lindsay who sustained major head injuries when he had an accident on his quad in October 2023.

A new initiative to tackle rural vehicle and equipment theft is being rolled out within Scotland and neighbouring English police forces.