A new £20million national advisory service for farmers and crofters has been launched.
The Farm Advisory Service (FAS), which runs until the end of 2020, will be delivered by SAC Consulting and Ricardo Energy.
It sets out to deliver practical information and advice to farmers and crofters through series of workshops, network farm meetings, conferences and training courses.
All of these activities will be outlined on a website – www.fas.scot – and farmers and crofters will also have access to information through a dedicated telephone advice line at 0300 323 0161. The phone line will be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
The website also hosts the starting point for grant applications for integrated land management plans (ILMP), specialist advice, mentoring for new entrants and carbon audits.
Grants of up to £2,200 will be available for ILMP and £500 for carbon audits.
In addition to the FAS, a new crofter and small farm advisory service has been launched. This provides discounted subscription and consultancy services for crofters and farming business under 75 acres in size.
Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, said: “Access to the best and most up-to-date advice is essential to any business. Aimed specifically at farmers and crofters across Scotland, I welcome the launch of the new integrated Farm Advisory Service, which will provide a faster and less complicated entry point to a range of relevant practical advice, information and tools from business efficiency and viability to compliance and climate change advice.”
NFU Scotland’s director of policy, Jonnie Hall, welcomed the launched of FAS and said the union fully supported the development and roll out of the scheme.
He said: “The real need for relevant and accessible advice for all of Scottish agriculture has come into sharp focus over the last eighteen months. Looking forward, every active farmer and crofter in Scotland will need to look more closely at what they do and how they do it. That makes an effective and seamless advisory service essential.”
The new scheme replaces significant parts of the Veterinary and Advisory Services (VAS) programme delivered by SRUC. The veterinary components will continue as previously.
