Farming
All Farming Posts
Favourable weather puts Agrii back into the black
One of Britain’s biggest arable businesses bounced back into the black last year.
Another championship win for young farmer Ally
A young farmer from Nairn scooped a fifth championship win at this week’s young farmers overwintered cattle show and sale at Thainstone and sold it for the top price, £2,200.
Young farmers friends still co-operating – 30 years on
Collaboration is key to the way Bob Simpson runs Castlemains Farm on the East Lothian coast, a 600-acre arable unit which has been in the family since 1892.
How wars put tractor pioneer on right track
In the 1970s any farmers wishing extra traction for their tractors started to get a large choice of more affordable machines due to an influx of mainstream European-built tractors that offered a four-wheel-drive option.
Call for more diversity in rural land ownership
Concentrated land ownership is causing “significant and long-term damage” to communities in some parts of Scotland, according to a new report by the Scottish Land Commission (SLC).
No-deal Brexit would be ‘catastrophe’
A three-month deferral of Brexit and no-deal being taken off the table would be preferable for the farming industry to the “catastrophic” prospect of the UK crashing out of the EU on March 29, according to Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.
Award-winner taking his farm into space age
Easter Ross farmer Donald Ross is to embark on a technology make-over after winning the AgriScot Scottish Arable Farm of the Year 2018 award.
Defra keeps ASF threat at ‘medium’
The risk to UK pig farms of African Swine Fever (ASF) entering the country through contaminated or infected products remains “medium”, says the latest disease update from Defra.
Unions unite to alert Hammond to no-deal fears
The UK’s farming unions have joined forces to warn Chancellor Philip Hammond not to permit his proposed temporary no-deal Brexit tariffs to ever be allowed to take on a more permanent look.
£1.6m SRUC lab targets faster disease diagnosis
Scotland’s animal disease surveillance capacity took a leap forward yesterday with the opening of a new £1.6 million centre on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
SPONSORED: Farmer shares the secrets behind the success of Scotch Beef
When it comes to choosing quality meat, nothing gives Aberdeenshire farmer David Barron more satisfaction than buying his own beef at the local butcher.
Auctioneers hit back at loss of prime sheep deals
Scotland’s livestock auctioneers have launched a campaign to win back business after losing around 20% of prime sheep trade to direct deals between abattoir buyers and farmers in the last year.
Scotch Beef win on menu for chef Joe
St Andrews chef Joe Reddie has been named Scotch Beef Scottish Young Chef of the Year after winning a cook-off held during ScotHot, Scotland’s largest food, drink, hospitality and tourism show.
Trials use facial recognition to test pigs’ mood
Facial recognition technology to detect pigs’ emotions, especially pain and stress, is the subject of new trials.
Fruit pickers to improve their craft with video
A free video designed to help fruit pickers develop essential skills has been produced for fruit growers by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
Trials show laser beams divert birds from crops
Trials involving the use of laser beams to keep birds away from crops have shown ‘great results’ according to a European research consortium which is now planning to test the same approach to keep deer, rabbits and rodents from also causing damage.
Tariff plans for a no-deal Brexit have been slammed by Scottish farmers’ union NFU Scotland
The proposals would result in zero-tariff access for 87% of all imports to the UK by value.
Migrant workers have been ‘sticking plaster’ for labour shortages on Scotland’s farms
Long-term reliance on migrant workers has been a “sticking plaster” for labour shortages across Scotland’s farms, MPs heard today.
Farmers can be key to survival of wading birds
I am co-chairman of the Working for Waders initiative.
Tractor theft crimewave leads to fears of violence
A leading Fife farmer has warned that the spate of tractor thefts in the area by organised criminal gangs has the potential to escalate into a “danger to life and limb”.
It’s better to be SAF than sorry, advises NFU chief
Farmers and crofters have been urged to prioritise filling out their Single Application Form (SAF) online before the May 15 deadline.
Focus on roles for women in agriculture
An equality charter for Scottish agriculture to help develop fresh opportunities for women is to be rolled out this year in response to initial findings by a Scottish Government taskforce.
Apply seed at variable rates boost
Farmers using Väderstad Rapid trailed drills who want to apply seed and fertiliser at variable rates within fields can now do so without needing ISOBUS electronics thanks to new controller software.
Full-fat excitement froths over milk vending machine arrival
We are all very excited – the vending machine has arrived! We are now eagerly awaiting delivery of our branded glass bottles.
Barbara’s growth spurt as pumpkins farmer
A farmer’s wife and mum-of-three from Glenurquhart, near Inverness, is gearing up for her second season of growing pumpkins after being the first to establish a pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the Highlands.
Concern for sheepmeat exports after leaving EU
Concerns remain over the future of sheepmeat exports to Europe after Brexit, claims Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Ewing sees two more farms join in agri-tourism
Two new Scottish agri-tourism monitor farms have been created.
Farmers and crofters to receive £39m in loan payments
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme loan payments will start arriving in bank accounts in the next few days.
Number of cattle keeps on falling
Scottish cattle numbers continued their long-term decline last year, according to the December 2018 Agricultural Survey.
Producers in fresh bid to sell more large eggs
Britain’s top celebrity chefs are being asked to help persuade consumers to buy all sizes of eggs, not just large ones.
Efforts to tackle BVD stepped up south of border
Efforts to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) on farms south of the border have stepped up thanks to a £5.7 million project.
Supermarkets praised for use of UK products
NFU Scotland’s secret beef shoppers have given the majority of the country’s supermarkets a vote of confidence for stocking home-reared products, with only a couple of retailers identified as needing to improve their sourcing.
