More than £16k raised by sixth memorial event
More than £16,000 was raised at a charity stockjudging event in memory of the late Press and Journal farming editor Joe Watson.
NFU Scotland
Blueprint to set out low-carbon farming future
A blueprint for a climate change-compliant Scottish farming industry is expected to be produced in the next 12 months.
Ignore polarised political arguments, union warns
Uncertainty is stifling the agricultural industry and farmers have to fight for the sector in a way they have never done before.
Sea eagle news welcomed by farm leaders
Farm and croft leaders have welcomed an admission by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) that white-tailed eagles kill healthy sheep and lambs.
Survey seeking views on livestock worrying issue
Farmers, crofters and dog owners are being asked to share their views on sheep worrying as part of a new survey.
Brexit ‘could bust’ more than 21,000 farms across Scotland
Brexit "could bust" more than 21,000 farms across Scotland, shock new analysis has found.
NFUS wants Defra to act on convergence funding
Farming union NFU Scotland (NFUS) has called for “the long-running sore” of historic convergence funding allocations to be righted.
Consultation on future of pest control licences
The views of farmers and crofters on controlling wild birds under general licence – to prevent damage to crops, livestock or other wildlife – are to be examined in a 12-week consultation later this year.
Farmers must be on lookout to prevent Bluetongue in UK
Farmers and crofters have been urged to think carefully before importing livestock from areas that are known to be infected with Bluetongue virus (BTV).
Special dispensation for the movement of wide farm vehicles
Farmers and crofters have been reminded to apply to Police Scotland for a special dispensation for the movement of wide agricultural vehicles.
Farmers urged not to bottle up their problems
A north-east pig farmer has encouraged his peers to ask for help when they are facing problems with their mental health.
Bid to promote Scotch Lamb given £200,000
The Scottish Government has awarded Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) £200,000 to promote Scotch Lamb.
Scottish Government under fire for late land mapping letters
Long delays by the Scottish Government in processing land inspection forms have left a significant number of farm businesses with only days to complete their Single Application Forms (SAF).
Search under way after huge Charolais was spooked by pheasant and jumped over fence onto the A96
A search is under way for a runaway steer which leaped over a fence after being spooked by a pheasant - and was last seen stampeding across the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road.
Woman’s farming union ‘disgust’
The inclusiveness of NFU Scotland (NFUS) has been questioned less than a week after the union launched a campaign seeking to recruit new members.
Scotland should ‘aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2045’
Scotland can end its contribution to global warming within 25 years by setting an "ambitious new target" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2045, an influential climate change group has said.
Ageing of sheep before slaughter unchanged
Plans to change the way sheep are aged prior to slaughter have officially been put on hold.
Come on board, union urges Scottish farmers
A national promotional drive has been launched to grow grass roots membership of NFU Scotland from 8,500 to “well into double figures”.
Crops are looking good in spite of long dry spell
Crops across Scotland are looking good so far despite the prolonged dry spell, with NFU Scotland cereals chairman Ian Sands describing his own varieties as “charging on”.
Glowing report for first year of soil-testing pilot
NFU Scotland vice-president Martin Kennedy has cut his grassland fertiliser bill by £30 a tonne this year by not applying any phosphate to his grazing or silage pastures.
NSA’s cautious welcome over Brexit ‘flextension’
Farm leaders welcomed the extension to Brexit negotiations until the end of October and called on politicians to use the time wisely to avoid a no-deal exit from the EU.
Farm leaders write to MPs demanding an orderly Brexit
Farm leaders have demanded an orderly Brexit by Wednesday next week and repeated warnings over the devastating impact a no-deal Brexit would have on the sector.
‘Ignore Brexit, fill in SAF form’
NFU Scotland (NFUS) has issued guidance to farmers and crofters to help them complete their Single Application Form (SAF).
More than half of farms at loss without subsidy
More than half of Scottish farms would have made a loss last year without subsidy support, despite average farm incomes being at a six-year high.
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.
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.
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.
Union unhappy over BSE costs falling on members
Farmers and crofters will foot the bill for BSE testing of fallen stock from April 1.
Sheep sector fuming over ‘baffling’ U-turn decision
Farming and meat trade leaders have united in condemning ‘a hugely damaging U-turn’ by the UK Government.
Beef campaign to check on level of retail support
A new Scotch Beef “shelf-watch” campaign is to be run over the next few weeks to check which major retailers are supporting domestic supplies over imported products.
LFASS loan offer letters on way to farmers
Farmers and crofters will soon receive loan offer letters for the Scottish Government’s National Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS).