Farming
All Farming Posts
Dairy family’s the big cheese in RNAS awards
An intensive dairy farming business near Inverbervie has been crowned cream of the crop.
New ice cream – and lick of paint for the house!
It’s hard to believe it is September already but the cooler, wetter weather of late feels decidedly autumnal with the long hot summer all but a distant memory.
Forkins Bently fetches top price at Scottish Texel sale
A selective trade peaked at 2,800gn at the Scottish Texel Breeders’ Club show and sale at Lanark.
Shearling ram toast of Beltex sales
Overall averages were back just £15 compared with last year’s trade at the Beltex Scotland show and sale at Lanark, but for 40 fewer sold, with 199 selling to average £611.16.
SRUC aims for uprade to rural university status
Scotland’s Rural College, SRUC, has announced plans to become a new rural university by 2022.
Shorthorn nets 6,000gn at dispersal sale
A top price of 6,000gn was paid at the dispersal of the Highland Wagyu herd of pedigree Beef Shorthorn cattle.
Call for clarity on post-Brexit farming policy
A group of five Conservative MPs has written to Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing asking him to put forward legislation for Scottish post-Brexit agricultural policy.
Blood test aims to point at future complications for dairy cows
A new blood test has been developed to help farmers and vets predict the future health and productivity of dairy cows.
First Milk hails progress despite drop in profits
First Milk has hailed “solid progress” despite experiencing a 47% drop in pre-tax profits last year.
Fall in lending to farms in real terms
Concerns about future interest-rate rises could be behind the first real-terms fall in borrowing by Scottish farms for almost a decade.
New class added to AgriScot show schedule
A new dairy class has been added to the show programme for this year’s AgriScot event.
Union reports ‘better than expected’ harvest
Harvest 2018 has been better than expected, according to the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS).
Views sought as forestry gets set for changes
Views are being sought on a new forestry strategy for Scotland.
Dairy farms in running for RNAS award
Two dairy farming enterprises have been named as finalists in this year’s Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) good farming practice award.
Thainstone’s annual show promises quality and variety
Sheep breeders from across the north of Scotland will descend on Thainstone later this month for the mart’s annual show and sale of pedigree rams.
Farming bosses demand legal change over ‘disappointing’ livestock worrying conviction
Farming chiefs are calling for tougher punishments for livestock worriers following a sheep attack so violent the photographs of the aftermath are unpublishable.
Fresh focus on the recycling role of animals
Future livestock breeding should focus on animals’ ability to recycle nutrients back into the food chain, rather than on improving their lifetime productivity.
Attractive tractors still pulling in the buyers
Back in the late 1930s, many tractor manufacturers started to develop new lines of products ready to capitalise on expanding markets.
Farmers offered discounted management training
AHDB is offering farmers discounted places on a management training scheme.
Ewing says Agriculture Bill ‘fails to deliver’ on promises
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has slammed the UK Government’s Agriculture Bill and said it could potentially spell the end of coupled and Less Favoured Areas (LFA) support payments.
Rowell new Quality Meat Scotland chairwoman
Borders farmer Kate Rowell has been named as the new chairwoman of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Gove outlines transition from farm support payments
Farmers in England are to be given seven years to adapt to life without the direct support they have relied on from Europe for almost 50 years.
Grass talks get down to roots of grazing strategy
Advice on winter grazing strategies and preparing for the spring is the subject of a series of meetings later this month.
Mundell rules out agriculture power grab
Agriculture will remain devolved to the Scottish Government after Brexit, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has said.
Federation unveils croft awards hopefuls line-up
The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has announced the shortlist for its Young Crofter of the Year and Best Newcomer Crofter 2018 awards.
Growers urged to dig in for better tattie stores
The cost implications for potato businesses of inefficient or old potato stores have been spelled out to Scottish farmers by AHDB.
Red Tractor introduces stricter new standards
Stricter standards, more unannounced farm inspections, and improved labelling for consumers are among a host of changes being announced today by Red Tractor.
Schools urged to include Scotch Lamb
Schools are being encouraged to include Scotch lamb in meal plans.
Call to find ‘fair solution’ to red meat levy issue
The Scottish Government has called for a “fair solution” to the ongoing problem of red meat levy money from Scottish-born animals being collected down south.
Scots breeders enjoy success at Texel sale
Scottish breeders enjoyed success at the Solway & Tyne Texel Breeders Club annual autumn show and sale in Carlisle.
Feeding cattle seaweed could make them more environmentally friendly
Scotland’s beef and dairy farmers could soon be feeding their cattle seaweed as part of efforts by scientists to develop more environmentally-sustainable livestock diets.
Scam alert as farmer ripped off by banking email ‘ghost’
A Scottish farmer has been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after falling victim to a convincing online scam known as “ghosting”.
