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Tuathanachas Alba
editor's bit
The elected madness of…
I was once asked if I would be interested in becoming a politician for a certain political party who I had some sympathy with. This was over 35 years ago.
I replied with rather quick –“Not really, I cannot work with liars, no matter who they are!’.
During my life I have at some point, voted for them all, except for the real nutters!
A journey you might say.
Now here we are in 2025, and the nutters are taking over the asylum!
On the world stage, Donald Trump is a thin skinned selfdelusional maniac who actually thinks he is clever – a wee dram of bleach anyone?
While in Westminster the Labour party is so way off the mark, Keir Hardie must be doing ‘Strip the Willow’ in his grave.
Pensioners, employers (including health workers), social benefits, and of course family farms – all targets for the grim money reaper from 11 Downing Street.
No mention of a tax on silver spoons then? – Not a chance!
Labour is no longer the party of the people or famers for that matter, neither is the Tory party, who never have been.
Time for a change methinks.
The First Past the Post system for UK elections is so out of date, Dick Turpin could stand and win.
The current system in Westminster doesn’t give us the quality of leadership that our industry needs, with too much power in the wrong hands.
“No farms no food” is the ignored cry!
Would I have been popular as a politician?
I have zero respect for liars and cheats – I would have been interesting, and I would have supported our food producers, do I have your vote? – LOL
Slàinte, Athole.
A new study, published in Nature Genetics, shows there are many ways to build a barley plant
A new study published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics has again highlighted The James Hutton Institute as a global leader in crop plant genetics.
Hutton scientists at the International Barley Hub (IBH) who have been leading a 48-strong international consortium have found that different strains have very different patterns of switching genes on and off (known as gene expression).
The findings will form a foundation for future scientific studies that depend upon knowing dynamic patterns of gene expression within and between strains.
Despite all modern barley strains containing approximately the same number of genes, only a few produce ‘premium’ grains. This is because most genes contain variations that either modify their function or affect where, when or at what level they are switched on or off. As each type of variation can modify a gene’s role in the plant, it is the unique combination of barley’s >30,000 genes, that are patched together by plant breeders, that define whether a strain is destined to become ‘premium’ or not.
This study identified where, when and at what level all the genes in a globally representative collection of barley strains are expressed. The resulting data, which in the world of science is called a ‘Pan-Transcriptome’, showed that different strains may have very different patterns of expression, indicating that there are many ways to make a barley plant.
Prof. Robbie Waugh, director of the IBH, said, “This is the most in-depth study to date of how different strategies of switching genes on and off in different places and at different times are used to build a barley plant. Importantly, all our data is freely available as it represents an important resource for the global barley research community and barley breeders alike”.
The work underlines the IBH scientists’ position as
world-leaders in crop plant research.
Barley is Scotland’s most important, and the UK’s second most important, crop. Around 30% of the grain is classified as ‘premium’ and it is this segment that underpins the global malting, beer and whisky industries. The rest is used as animal feed. Pubs, brewing, and whisky together contribute over £30Bn to the UK economy annually, with around half of that amount taken as tax revenue for the Exchequer.
Alternative approach to neonicotinoids for sugar beet growers
Following DEFRA’s decision to deny the application for emergency authorisation to use the neonicotinoid-based Cruiser SB, farmers are being reminded of alternatives to help manage aphids and the threat of yellows
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virus (YV) to sugar beet. Biological alternatives have shown promising results in trials including a silicon-based product manufactured by Orion Future Technologies.
“Sirius, a biostimulant with
21% bio available silicon, was trialled in 2022 and has since been used by growers in the UK to help strengthen sugar beet plants against damaging virus transmission,” explains Orion agronomist Mike Stoker.
Unlike Cruiser SB, which provides seed protection against the potato peach aphid and the yellows virus it transmits, Sirius strengthens the cell walls of the plant and increases leaf hair density to make the plant less appealing to aphids.
“This approach, alongside common insecticides including Tepppeki and Insyst, has shown a significant reduction in the virus transmission. By accumulating more silicon, the plant becomes less attractive to pests and combining this with aphicides offers an attractive alternative to using Cruiser SB,” he says.
Emma Hardy MP, Minister for Water and Flooding and the minister responsible for
pesticides, suggests in her recently published decision that yield losses in 2019 and 2021 when Cruiser SB was not available, were minimal (0.5%). She accepts a freak 25% crop loss in 2020 occurred when Cruiser was not available but says that crop losses ranging from 0.3%1.7% when Cruiser SB was available in 2022-2024 were not dissimilar to 2019 and 2021.
“Relying solely on seed treatments is not a sustainable way to farm sugar beet in the UK, nor has it necessarily provided the level of protection expected. There are alternatives, and concentrating on strengthening plants using naturally available solutions like silicon are sustainable and efficacious,” says Mr Stoker.
Silicon is applied as a foliar spray to sugar beet at growth stage 6-8 true leaves and, once accumulated, acts to reduce the feeding time of predating pests
such as aphids. This reduction in feeding time has been identified as an important factor in the reduction in virus transmission and has also led to healthier plants with an improved yield.
“The data we have gathered from multiple sources, field
application, replicated plot trials and lab studies has demonstrated not only why a silicon treated crop is more resilient, but also how increasing silicon levels in the plant can have a positive impact on quality and yield,” he concludes.
Soil incentive not to be missed
DEFRA’s soil testing incentive
CSAM1 is part of the wider SFI scheme and offers £6 per hectare and £97 per SFI agreement to farms willing to test the organic matter of soil on an annual basis. This has spurred a sharp rise in soil tests and led to more farms applying for the CNUM1 £652 payment to request nutrient management plans from FACTS certified advisors.
“Our labs in England and Scotland have been very busy conducting the Fertilisation Manager test, which measures the chemical values of macro and micronutrients, soil pH and the overall structure of the soil along with biological components such as fungi and bacteria,” says Eurofins Agro’s Shane Brewer.
He further suggests that most farms are seeking to go a level deeper by learning more about the characteristics of soil.
“We have seen growing interest in the Soil Life Monitor test which determines the total microbial biomass, fungi, bacteria and protozoa. It also identifies some physical characteristics such as pH and the quality of organic matter,” he adds.
Better understanding the structure of soil will help farms to judge which crops are better suited to both the soil and growing conditions. It also acts
as an indicator for how well soil can retain water.
“Recent years have shown that weather extremes can damage soil nutrient levels through leaching and leave soil less able to deal with rainfall. Testing soil each year helps to build a picture of how the soil is reacting to weather, crop choice and fertilisation decisions,” says Mr Brewer.
The SFI CNUM1 (previously NUM1) will pay £652 per agreement for a FACTS certified advisor to create a nutrient management plan. Mandy McAulay, head of marketing and product sustainability from Origin Soil Nutrition, says:
“Having soil samples that are no more than four years old is key to managing your nutrient usage more efficiently and effectively. Knowing the expected yield and crop offtake, and calculating the nutrients required after optimising organic sources, will produce a nutrient management plan that maximises nutrients and minimises waste.”
The combination of more regular soil testing and detailed nutrient management planning is hoped to improve soil health whilst reducing input costs.
Introducing RevyPro: Unleash the power of Revysol
RevyPro® is an innovative new fungicide from BASF, joining Revystar® XE as an additional Revysol® containing option in 2025. RevyPro® builds on the
proven strength of Revysol® to give excellent efficacy, long lasting protection and outstanding flexibility across crops such as wheat and barley.
RevyPro® formulation
RevyPro® contains 50 g/l Revysol® and 100 g/l prothioconazole and is approved for use on all cereals except oats
and offers growers flexibility with application timing, dose rate and mix partners when building their fungicide programmes.
Its unique formulation results in benefits which are greater than the sum of the performance of its active ingredients.
Rebecca Joynt, Senior Plant Pathologist, ADAS said, “RevyPro has good broad spectrum activity and will certainly help disease control across programmes. In ADAS trials we compared RevyPro with its component straight actives, Myresa (97 g/l of
Revysol®) and Decoy (250 g/l) prothioconazole, we found there is a formulation benefit of using RevyPro. It gave greater control of Septoria, and higher yields than the equivalent tank mix.”
Jared Bonner, Business Development Manager, BASF said, “RevyPro’s unique formulation ensures it can be relied on to deliver broad spectrum control. It gives exceptional leaf and ear coverage, with rapid uptake getting both the Revysol and prothioconazole components into the leaf faster than other prothioconazole products. This
ThermoPlus Rape brings options for livestock farmers
ForFarmers has launched a new innovative protected rape product called ThermoPlus Rape which can be used as an alternative to soya.
Wyn Morris, Nutritional Solutions Director at ForFarmers, says: “Our objective with ThermoPlus Rape has been to create a bypass rapemeal with a new heating process which is unique in the market. We aim to achieve more protection and therefore more bypass protein compared to our standard treated.
“ThermoPlus Rape is a sustainable alternative to other
protein sources especially soya and can be made from UK-grown rape if available,” explains Wyn. “This means we can use homegrown protein sources, producing less wastage while offering opportunities to improve nitrogen efficiency and utilisation.”
While in development, trials and quality tests were carried out to discover the optimal mix of raw materials to increase bypass protein while feeding the rapemeal product.
Wyn explains: “In its manufacture, a formulation of rapemeal, molasses, and other distinct ingredients are mixed
ensures better protection from wash-off and UV degradation whilst enabling quicker
activation of prothioconazole resulting in enhanced disease activity.”
together. This mixed meal is then compressed and heated in high temperature short time process in the expander, resulting in the Maillard reaction and increased rumen undegradable protein (RUP%).
“The final additional stage is pelleting which combines the mix in a unique way and adds additional heat to increase the rumen bypass of the product, meaning the animal can get more of the right amino acids to
the right places of its digestive system.”
ThermoPlus Rape can achieve levels of 18-19% DUP DM and TDP levels of up to 240-260 in dry matter.
Wyn says: “ThermoPlus Rape contains more bypass protein compared to standard rapemeal, so cows receive a greater supply of methionine and lysine and less essential amino acids lost to protein degradation.”
Three new fungicide coformulations approved and launched in the UK
ADAMA has launched three new fungicide co-formulations in the UK. All three products contain the active ingredient prothioconazole, with two also incorporating ADAMA’s unique AsorbitalTM formulation technology to provide faster protection against key cereal and oilseed rape diseases.
MAGANIC®
The first of the three new products, MAGANIC, contains a unique combination of prothioconazole (175 g/l) and difenoconazole (125 g/l) in an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation.
“MAGANIC provides strong protection against a range of wheat, barley, rye, triticale and oilseed rape diseases, and is the
ideal tebuconazole-free option for the T3 timing in wheat,” explains Andy Bailey, ADAMA’s fungicides technical specialist.
“MAGANIC provides reliable control of all major ear diseases as well as brown rust and septoria, and, like our straight prothioconazole fungicides, uses ADAMA’s Asorbital formulation technology to deliver faster protection.”
Asorbital uses a patented solvent and adjuvant system to improve uptake of active ingredients into, and migration within, leaf tissue: this novel technology not only provides faster protection against key pathogens but also helps to improve rainfastness, with trials showing that all Asorbital
formulations are extremely safe when used on registered crops.
AVASTEL®
The second new product, AVASTEL, provides protection against a broad spectrum of foliar and stem base diseases thanks to a combination of prothioconazole (150 g/l) and fluxapyroxad (75 g/l).
AVASTEL is also manufactured using Asorbital technology and boasts a flexible label in terms of when it can be applied, and to which crops: in wheat it can be applied at T1, T2 or T3, and in barley at T1 or T2.
“AVASTEL combines two complimentary modes of action to deliver robust and long-lasting protection in wheat and barley
as well as in rye and triticale,” Andy adds.
“It demonstrates broad spectrum control of key foliar and stem base diseases in wheat and is also effective against brown rust, yellow rust and tan spot. It also provides good protection against net blotch, rhynchosporium, brown rust, ramularia and mildew in barley, with field trials clearly showing its ability to maintain a stronger flag leaf which is crucial for maximising crop yield.”
MAXENTIS®
The third new product, MAXENTIS, provides great value disease control thanks to its unique combination of two broad spectrum active ingredients: azoxystrobin
(200 g/l) and prothioconazole (150 g/l).
“MAXENTIS is very flexible in terms of its application rate and timing and is suitable for use with a wide array of partner products,” Andy continues. “Its co-formulation of two broad spectrum fungicides gives effective control of a range of foliar and ear diseases including septoria, fusarium, rusts, ramularia, net blotch and powdery mildew in cereals, and sclerotinia and alternaria in oilseed rape.”
For the control of foliar diseases in wheat and triticale, MAXENTIS can be applied from BBCH30 (stem elongation) through to and including BBCH69 (end of flowering). In barley and rye, MAXENTIS can be applied from BBCH30 (stem elongation) through to and including BBCH65 (midflowering). MAXENTIS is also registered for crown rust control on winter and spring oats.
For the control of fusarium on the ear of wheat, MAXENTIS can be applied after ear emergence until the end of flowering (BBCH5969), with the optimum timing being early flowering (BBCH6163).
To control sclerotinia in oilseed rape, MAXENTIS can be used as a protectant spray at flowering, with the optimum timing for application being at the mid-flowering stage (GS60-65). For the control of alternaria, MAXENTIS can be used as a protectant spray from full flowering (BBCH65) to and including 30% of pods at their final size (BBCH73).
Formulation mastery
“All three products have been developed by ADAMA following feedback from agronomists, growers and spray operators to provide novel co-formulations that are cost effective and easy to use,” adds Jonny Oosthuizen, fungicides portfolio manager for ADAMA.
“By using our innovative formulation technology to combine a selection of the best-in-class active ingredients, our ongoing investment into R&D has made the protection of cereal and OSR crops from a range of key pathogens a little bit easier to achieve.”
Meet our new President
It is an incredible honour to have been recently elected President on NFU Scotland.
At the AGM in Glasgow, I knew that depending on which way the vote went, I was either going to have to buy a new business suit or go and buy a new boiler suit. Following the vote, it was the more expensive option.
I promise that I will do my utmost to serve Scotland’s farmers and crofters to the best of my ability, striving to meet the incredible high standards of those who have held this post before me, not least my predecessor Martin Kennedy who has been an incredible servant to our industry.
Following the voting at the AGM, I will Duncan Macalister and Robert Neill as Vice Presidents, and together we will make up NFU Scotland’s Presidential team for the next 24 months.
There are undoubtedly difficult and challenging times ahead but Duncan, Robert and I have been given a clear mandate by members to represent them, and we
are honoured to carry their message forward. We have a top table team, who, backed by the members, staff and secretaries have the vision to deliver a sustainable and profitable future for Scotland’s farmers and crofters and the generations to come.
In the first few days of coming to office, I put that new business suit to good use and stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow farming union presidents in Westminster in the latest chapter of our united battle to have the deeply damaging family farm tax proposals from UK Government overturned.
The Treasury must pause, re-think and properly consult due to the serious negative impact the proposals for inheritance tax (IHT) reforms would have on growth and employment in the agricultural sector, the wider rural economy and on the nation’s food security.
We strongly believe that proper consultation would ensure that any reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property
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Relief (BPR) will better enable the UK Government to meet its fiscal objectives; working family farm businesses would not be arbitrarily broken up on death and the land available for agricultural tenancies would not be reduced.
A growing number of independent studies have clearly established that the statistics used by Treasury to justify its proposals are flawed. Government has misjudged this, has not consulted, and must get round the table to discuss so that we can allow of family farming businesses to farm for the next generation.
NFU Scotland
Farmers are asset rich and cash poor. There is low profitability in the job and these taxation proposals will simply force those who want to keep farming to down size, reducing their profitability, hitting the rural economy, and further threatening our food security. We are fully committed to this fight which has such fundamental implications for the future of our industry.
Andrew Connon, President, NFU Scotland
FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND
SCOTTISH BREAD CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS 2025
The one and only of its kind, The Scottish Bread Championship, sponsored by The Edinburgh Bakers Trust Scottish Food Guide and Scotland The Bread brings together Real Bread makers from across the nation. 2025 saw a record number of 210 entries delivered to Bowhouse in Fife on Valentine’s Day. True love or perhaps True Loaf? This year’s Supreme Champion is Selkie
Bakery, a micro bakery in Leith, with Reserve Champion, Dunbar Community Bakery, owned by the community and run for the benefit of the community in East Lothian.
Bakers have been planning and experimenting for weeks. Some enter their favourite family loaf; others see the Championship as a sounding
board, welcoming the judges’ feedback on their latest creations. This Championship is unique to Scotland: from its Real Bread criteria and rigorous judging, to its comprehensive marking and individual written feedback. This year’s entries certainly kept the excellent team of dedicated judges on their toes.
This year’s team, giving freely of their time, were:
Ameena Mur, of Jeju Baked Goods, Glasgow
Chris Young, Real Bread Campaign Co-ordinator
Jennie Macdiarmid, Aberdeen University
Lynne Halfpenny, Boxmaster of the Incorporation of Baxters
Morven Hastie, former restaurateur and cookery presenter
Neil Forbes, Chef Director Café St Honoré, Edinburgh
Professor Nicola Holden, SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College)
Pat Jones, Deacon of the Incorporation of Baxters & Trustee of Edinburgh Bakers Trust (Main Sponsor)
Paul Hooper, Honorary Treasurer, Bread for Good Community Benefit Society (Scotland The Bread)
Pete Ritchie, Executive Director, Nourish
Professor Wendy Russell, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen
Walter Mowat, Slow Food Scotland
Judging took place all Friday, with Winners announced at the Scottish Festival of Real Bread on Saturday February 15th. With eight classes ranging from Classic Sourdoughs to imaginative pastries showcasing our diverse food cultures, the judges sampled sourdoughs and yeasted additive-free creations celebrating Scottish grains
with recipes reflecting Scottish, Italian, Hungarian, German and Scandi influences. So many skills under one roof and recognition for artisan bakers.
Wendy Barrie says, “With a record number of entries, the judges were terrific: full of energy and praise for the bakers’ skills. The enthusiasm of the bakers is heart-warming and a timely reminder of the importance of our food heritage, skills and food security. We have no public funding and are indebted to The Edinburgh Bakers Trust for their unstinting support of this important event in Scotland’s food scene.”
The Scottish Bread Championship was co-founded in 2017 and run by Wendy Barrie and Andrew Whitley, Scottish Food Guide and Scotland The Bread respectively, and also sponsored by The Edinburgh Bakers Trust since 2022.
For further information /additional photos contact wendy@ wendybarrie.co.uk Mob: 07802 426205
Scotland The Brand
Understanding the soil beneath our feet
By Ruth Watson
Recently, I have been speaking to farmers and scientists about soil and the importance of knowing more about what the land beneath our feet contains. Interest in visual soil assessments is growing, with added science to back up traditional techniques; as one farmer told me, “The spade and eye have long been a reliable way to understand how healthy our soil is”. I find it fascinating being out with farmers who can point to the different fields and tell me the characteristics of the soil, cast their eye across each of the undulations and explain why their forebears drew the fields in different ways; that knowledge is vital as fields have grown with the scale of modern agriculture and are impacted more by livestock, machinery, and extremes of weather.
There is growing interest in using a range of approaches for supporting healthy soil through regenerative agriculture; nematodes and other insects for pest control; green cover
to support healthy soil and suppress weeds. Soil testing is key for understanding the requirements of the land, and to gauge its health. Dr Roy Neilson is a Rhizosphere Ecologist, leading the PlantSoil Interactions Research Group at the James Hutton Institute. He and his team are part of the ECHO project, which involves 16 partners from Europe and Scotland with the purpose of creating ‘a long-term open access repository with a direct link to the EU Soil Observatory, [which] will enable the citizen science data collected during ECHO to be available for use not only by scientists, but also by the general public, policy makers, farmers, landowners and other end-users.’
As we all know, the health of the soil is a crucial component in the quality of the produce it can grow, and the biodiversity it can support. The opportunity to get a Scotland-wide picture of the state of our land should provide some important, and fascinating, results.
campaign
Ruth Watson is the founder of the Keep Scotland the Brand
Reserve Champion: 100%Rye Loaf with Coriander & Sunflower Seeds, Dunbar Community Bakery
Dunbar Community Bakery bread
With the spring season and lambing in full swing, farmers can look forward to a well deserved day out thereafter on Wednesday, June 11 at NSA Highlandsheep 2025
The event, due to take place at Midfearn farm, Ardgay, Ross-shire, by kind permission of the Brooke family, is shaping up to be a terrific event, with plenty to see and learn throughout the course of the day.
Midfearn sits on the brow of the Dornoch firth with breathtaking views of the firth and the surrounding hills. The Estate amounts to approximately 13,500 acres in total, with the majority being hill ground leaving around 250 acres in arable/grassland. The farm is managed by Neil Shaw, with the farm working as a purely closed stock producing unit with around 650 head of breeding ewes which are predominantly Cheviots and Suffolks and a small hirsel of
Blackfaces remain which have been the backbone of the sheep flock since Midfearn begun. All lambs are sold as store through Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd with the best ewe lambs selected to be kept as replacements with only tups being bought in.
In addition, Midfearn originally ran a herd of Simmental cross cows, but over the years it has changed to a closed herd of 110 Aberdeen Angus cross breeding cows. All calves are sold between 12-
18 months as store cattle, again through Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, with the best heifer calves kept as replacements and breeding bulls bought in.
Things to see and do
The prestigious event, which will officially be opened at 10am by Mrs Joanie Whiteford, The Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, includes a packed programme of events, featuring a farm tour, seminars, demonstrations, workshops,
competitions and the show and sale of ewe hoggs, with a few new additions introduced by the organising committee.
As of the beginning of March, more than 80 commercial, educational, sheep breed societies, individual sheep breeders, farmers’ market and craft trade stand entries have been accepted. Mainline sponsors for the event include Agrimin, Caltech-Crystalyx, Dingwall & Highland Marts, Elanco Animal Health, MSD
Young Shepherds competition
Fleece rolling demonstration
Animal Health/Allflex, Quality Meat Scotland, Shearwell Data and Scottish & Southern Electric Networks, as well support from many other national and local companies.
Special features of the day include an invitational sheep dog trial and SAYFC National sheep dog trial finals, butchery, cookery, crook making, prime lamb selection, sheep dressing, wool demonstrations, as well as many others. A vast variety of workshops and seminars will take place within two separate areas of the farm buildings followed by the sale of ewe hoggs, finishing the day off with the finals of the speed shear competitions.
Speed Shear & Clean Shear Competitions
The Speed Shear and Clean Shear competitions are set to be a thrilling event for shearers across the UK and beyond, taking place on 10th and 11th June at Midfearn Farm. The Clean Shear will kick off the event, aligning with the NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the Year competition, while the Speed Shear will follow on the main event day.
The competition will feature multiple sections, including Open, Intermediate, Senior, and Junior (Clean Shear), with teams of two also taking part. Participants will be shearing one hogg each in heats, followed by a final. A semi-final may be introduced depending on the number of entrants, who are advised to enter with the event organiser in advance of the day. The winners and runners-up will share in a generous prize pot, alongside trophies for each section's champion. Competitors must pay two separate fees: a £10 entry fee to secure a place in the competition itself, and an additional £20 entry fee to attend the main event day (£10 for NSA members). Junior competitors can enter for free.
There’s also a focus on bringing the next generation into the fold, with demonstrations for schoolchildren to learn about sheep shearing and wool's various uses. Shearers must
bring their own equipment, with Ryan MacLean acting as Chief Steward to ensure everything runs smoothly.
The competitions promise to be an exciting and well-supported gathering for shearers and spectators alike.
Show & Sale of pairs of Ewe hoggs
There are classes for Mules, North Country Cheviot (Hill), North Country Cheviot (Park), Scottish Blackface, any other native breed, any other Continental breed and any cross-bred, with both MV accredited and non-accredited sheep eligible for the show and sale.
A schedule and entry form can be obtained from the auctioneers Dingwall & Highland Marts or from the event organiser.
Next Generation Shepherd of the Year
The younger generation are being invited to test their skills and knowledge of sheep in the Next Generation Shepherd of the Year competition. A total prize fund of £1,400 will be on offer and will be held the day before the event at Midfearn farm, on Tuesday, June 10.
Competitors will be expected to have the ability to carry out five
of six designated tasks – prime lamb selection, shear two sheep, ATV handling, demonstrate their knowledge of correct foot care techniques such as weight of ewes for worming and examples of injection sites, answer questions on flock management and health and show skills in sheepdog handling by gathering, moving and penning sheep.
Entry is free and open to all young shepherds who reside in Scotland, aged up to 26 years of age on 28th July 2026. The
winner will receive £300 in prize money, a trophy, and get the chance to represent NSA Scotland at the UK finals held at the NSA Sheep Event 2026. A schedule and entry form can be obtained from the event organiser, with a closing date for entries of Friday, May 2.
Get yourself a ticket in advance! Visitor tickets are now on sale at £20 per head and £10 per head for NSA members and available from the event website www.highlandsheep.org.uk
For any enquiries and entry forms for competitions or trade stands, please contact Event Organiser Euan Emslie, on 07902 540985 or euanemslie053@gmail.com
Butchery demonstration
Essie Suffolks
BALERS
A look at some baler models on the market
RB HD Pro Series from Case
The Case IH RB HD Pro series are heavy-duty, flexible round balers for high-volume baling optimised for livestock farmers and contractors. They produce high-density bales in a wide range of crops, from heavy wet silage to bulky straw windrows, and a 2.3m wide, cam-guided heavyduty pick-up allows operators to handle them with ease.
With durability and reliability at the forefront of priorities, these balers have been designed with extra strong components and fewer moving parts. All RB HD Pro models feature strengthened rolls, shafts and tailgates and have a more powerful gearbox and driveline, which also helps to increase the number of bales per hour. In other areas, they have been simplified to help with
reliability and maintenance, such as a reduced number of driveline chains and sledge rolls.
A unique, active drop floor prevents peak loads from turning into blockages by moving the automatic mechanical floor to a lower position so that heavy crop can pass, maximising output. Additionally, due to its heavy weight, a diameter of 520mm, and high-grade steel composition, the rotor is highlyresistant against blockages, even with lumps in the swath.
Four high-strength belts, with a strong surface grip that rotates as the bale is formed, produce well-formed, high-density bales with a moisture resistant surface. A dual density hydraulic system with a step-less adjustment from the cab was developed for a
high and constant level of bale compaction in all conditions. Fewer, heavier bales require less transport and storage, and promise higher silage quality.
These balers come in two bale size options: the RB 456 HD Pro makes 120cm-wide bales
from 90cm to 165cm in diameter while the RB 466 HD Pro’s are also 120cm-wide but from 90cm up to 190cm in diameter. Each size comes with three rotor options: a feeding rotor, 13 cutter knives or 25 cutter knives, making six models in all.
Claas Rollant 630 Uniwrap
The latest addition to the CLAAS ROLLANT baler range is the ROLLANT 630 UNIWRAP introduced last Autumn.
Building on the success of the ROLLANT and ROLLANT UNIWRAP ranges over the years, the new ROLLANT 6390 UNIWRAP takes the range to the next level providing even further reduced wear, more optimised drives, further wrapper improvements and greater ease of operation.
As previously, from the pickup the crop is transferred to the heavy duty ROTO CUT cutting rotor, with its bank of 25 knives that can provide up to 13,800 cuts per minute. Knife groups (25/13/13/0) can be selected electrohydraulically and are hydraulically engaged. The chopping unit floor can also
be moved 30mm to adjust crop flow and allow blockages to pass through.
The drive chains in high wear areas have been substantially reinforced and are driven by larger gears to reduce wear. Guides on the chain-tensioning wheels also help reduce wear and the size of the oil lubrication reservoir has been increased. In addition to central lubrication of the baler, there is also the option of a lubrication system for the wrapping table.
In the chamber, the size of the drive shafts has been increased in areas prone to heavy wear, and the tailgate mounting further reinforced. The chassis frame has also been redesigned to handle greater densities, especially around the tipping cradle, which also now features end-stop damping.
A new hydraulic brake on the wrapper helps reduce film consumption and the transfer time from the chamber to the wrapping table is now just 12 seconds – the fastest on the market. At 36rpm, the increased wrapping table speed means that a bale can be wrapped in 6 layers of film with 52% overlap in just 23 seconds and film can now be pre-stretched from 67 to 82%.
New variable chamber baler with film binding
The Fendt Rotana 160 V Combi baler-wrapper is now available with film binding and a variety of features which enable it to produce 30 more bales a day and save up to three metres of film per bale. The new model also features a quick-change system for film and net rolls as well as a ‘Speed’ tailgate function. Fendt’s Ed Dennett explains:
“Film binding is already available for the fixed-chamber, baler-wrapper combi machines. To offer variable chamber baler operators the same advantages, this technology has been transferred to variable chamber models of the Rotana.”
Using only film, the Rotana 160 V Combi reduces the air between the bale and the film. This reduces feed losses caused by mould formation and also protects the bale in freezing temperatures.
“Two gathering arms, and a shaft binding system specially developed for the variable presses, guide the binding material into the baler chamber. The shaft formation also protects the film from damage. An electromagnetic brake controls the pre-stretching of the net or film according to the binder and its roll diameter,” says Mr Dennett.
Only one waste material is created with film binding and film is typically much less contaminated and, therefore, easier to recycle. Usage is also reduced compared to net and Fendt’s new film binding system can save up to three metres of film per bale.
The arrangement of the rolls on a magazine enables a quick change between film and net. This allows operators to quickly switch from silage to hay or straw bales and there is a choice between Eco Load and Comfort Load systems.
“Machines with Eco Load have a simple loading chute that requires a little more muscle
power. With Comfort Load, the operator places the roll in a padded carriage, lifts it and guides it up to the quick-change system. A further benefit is that rolls can be loaded from the ground,” says Mr Dennett.
An intelligent lever system makes it possible to switch between the three ready-to-tie rollers in a few simple steps. In addition, the easy operation and padded contact surfaces prevent damage to the net or film.
The new model benefits from a faster ‘Speed’ tailgate capable of baling up to thirty more bales per day than the previous Rotana. Folding, self-steering, pick-up wheels can also be specified on all Fendt Rotana Xtra and Combi machines. To make reversing the baler easier
the pick-up wheels can be locked with a pin, an addition that will help operators baling on steep slopes.
For those looking to maximise forage quality, Fendt’s automated dry mass control will be a useful feature. Operators can select how
much dry matter a bale should contain before the baling process. Two synchronously operating sensors in the bale chamber record the moisture and mass of the bales. From this, the software calculates the dry matter content during the baling process.
The Krone ‘all-rounder’ baler range
is perfect for any type
The Comprima range was developed by KRONE to be both reliable and durable even in the most difficult conditions. Featuring a unique baling technology the NovoGrip chain and slat conveyor bales all types of crops. In combination with an extremely powerful intake system, the machine produces high-density bales with high throughput.
Offering a choice of chambers the round balers of the Comprima series are particularly flexible and match all customers’ requirements.
The fixed-chamber round balers Comprima F 125 and F 125 XC deliver with their simple, clear-cut and robust design, high stability, extra operator comfort and ease of maintenance.
of crop
The Semi-variable bale chamber Comprima F 155 model produces 1.25-1.50m diameter bales. Operators simply set the required diameter in 5 cm increments on an easy-to-use system combining the many advantages of fixed and variable chamber balers.
The variable chamber round baler Comprima V 150 XC and V 180 XC models allow operators to enter the bale diameter on the operator terminal from the comfort of their own cab. The diameters can be set from 1.00m to 1.50m or to 1.80m diameter respectively. This way you are set to handle all crops and conditions. Smaller bale sizes are often preferred in grass silage whereas larger bales are more typical in hay and straw. Depending on the crop, the baling density in the core of the bale can be reduced, which is perfect for ventilating hay bales.
The variable chamber combination baler and wrapper the Comprima CV 150 XC has
a powerful wrapper and twin arms for high speed wrapping. The wrapping table forms a deep cradle and has large guide rollers
on the sides to ensure the bale is consistently rolled during the wrapping process even when operating in steep or bumpy
conditions. The Comprima CV 150 XC table can also be used for unloading the bales in pairs when no wrapping is taking place.
Kubota’s latest BV variable chamber round baler offers lower running costs with improved output. Now with ‘Plus’ designation, the updated BV5160 and BV5200 models are available with a range of intake systems including PowerFeed rotor or 14-knife SuperCut crop chopping system.
Additional capability comes with the ability to use Tractor Implement Management (TIM) through Isobus connectivity, with the Techno Pack providing real-time moisture content readings.
Maximum bale sizes are 1.65m and 2.0m respectively, for BV5160 and BV5200 models.
Performance enhancing upgrades include a redesigned roller crop press capable of lifting higher in heavier crops, while the side support arms have also been strengthened and incorporate improved limit stops.
Enhanced protection against crop wrapping is also provided
for the bearings, which have now been mounted inside the roller crop press.
Up front, the 2.2m pick-up reel - which features twin-cam tracks and five tine bars - has also been improved. It now features 10mm longer tines and wider stripper plates to improve cleaning in wet crop conditions. The pick-up drive chain has also been increased in size for added durability.
The driveline has received attention and is now equipped with long-life HBC specification chains providing higher fatigue strength and increased wear resistance, compared to conventional chain. The bale chamber has not escaped attention either, with a new design of idler rollers which benefit from a 45% increase in bearing diameter, along with
larger internal grease capacity and improved shielding. The idler rollers also gain a continuous central shaft, which adds rigidity. Maintenance has been simplified with bale chamber drive rollers gaining cast iron housings and centralised grease banks, ensuring non-productive maintenance time is kept to a minimum.
KUHN adds film binding to more models and launched new VB models
KUHN Farm Machinery has extended the option of its innovative TWIN-reel film binding technology to its FB 3130 baler.
The TWIN-reel system was already available for the larger FB 3135 and the addition means both models in the fixed chamber FB 3100 range now feature the option. The system uses two 750mm stretch film rolls to bind the bale as opposed to a single, wider conventional unit. This means operators are handling lighter rolls, which makes them easier to load into the mantle. The film features a higher pre-stretch ratio compared to conventional films, offering the potential to reduce binding costs by up to 37%.
Rhodri Jenkins, KUHN’s grassland product specialist, says the technology offers operational savings too. “Users will notice an increased period between changing film rolls and the stretched film has a sticky tack between each layer, protecting the bale instantly and providing an extra barrier once fully wrapped.”
KUHN has also introduced a new VB 3200 variable chamber baler range offering users 10% additional capacity and bale density compared to the outgoing models.
The new VB 3260 and VB 3290 models replace the VB 3100 series – VB 3160 and VB 3190 machines – and along with the increased capacity, the
new models feature Progressive Density Plus to achieve 10% higher bale density. The VB 3260 can produce bale sizes from 0.8m to 1.6m, whereas the VB 3290 can reach bale diameters of 1.85m.
A new heavy crop roller, with spring loaded tines for improved pre compression and crop flow, can increase overall efficiency of the baler by 10% compared with the previous generation. Further efficiency gains are provided by a
quicker tailgate that ejects a bale in six seconds. A reinforced driveline for improved longevity includes a stronger main drive chain, larger rotor drive chain, and additional reinforced bearings and seals for the high-capacity rollers.
MF RB variable chamber Protec models
Massey Ferguson updated its RB round baler series for model last year to feature a quicker tailgate, film binding on its variable chamber Protec balers, and new options for loading net or film rolls onto the baler.
The new high-speed tailgate can offer users up to 6% higher output due to the increase in tailgate speed, allowing up to an extra four bales per hour to be produced. The new tailgate is included as standard on all Xtra and Protec models, improving overall performance of the baler.
MF’s RB V Protec balers can now be fitted with film binding, which follows the fixed chamber Protec models getting this feature last year. As part of this, machines with film binding are fitted as standard with the Rapid Reload system. This allows three rolls to be positioned on a rotating
frame near the binding area. When one roll is finished, the operator rotates the frame to the next full roll without any lifting. This means that changeovers can take minutes, helping to increase baler output, with three rolls providing most users with a full day of baling. Contractors using the Rapid Reload system can store two film rolls and one net roll in the rotator, depending on their customer’s requirement.
MF’s Easy Load System (net tying), Comfort Load and new Eco Load are options for loading rolls onto the baler. Comfort Load uses a sliding tray to lift rolls and present them to the Rapid Reload system at the correct angle, which also helps prevent damage. Eco Load allows users to manually lift rolls up to the binding area without the use of the tray.
For 2024, the auto tailgate function, integrated bale weighing system, and The HayBoss moisture meter, are three popular
features that can now be ordered individually on new machines, without the requirement to select a full specification package.
Embracing Tradition and Elevating Innovation with Teesdale Structures & Ellipse Leisure
Nestled within the heart of County Durham and North Yorkshire, Southside Farm stands as a testament to generations of agricultural heritage. Today, it serves as the home of two pioneering farm building companies: Teesdale Structures and Ellipse Leisure. Though the farm itself may no longer be operational, the deep-rooted understanding of farming's demands remains at the core of everything we do.
At the helm of these enterprises stands Managing Director Stuart Metcalf, a fourth-generation farmer with an intimate knowledge of the land.
His unwavering commitment to quality and reliability is reflected in every project, as he draws upon his extensive experience to deliver solutions that meet the specific needs of modern agriculture.
Looking for top-quality farm buildings? Teesdale Structures is your ideal partner. We specialize in robust, versatile steel-framed structures perfect for various agricultural uses. Need livestock housing, machinery storage, or a workshop? Our customizable solutions are designed to meet your precise needs.
With over 35 years of experience, we handle everything from design and
manufacturing to installation. Our expertise spans a wide range of projects, from simple polytunnels to complex twostory portal frame structures, including school classrooms. Our client portfolio reflects this diversity, from smallholdings to large commercial enterprises.
Our animal field shelters offer comfortable and secure accommodation for your livestock, including horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry. We offer both open and enclosed designs, in static or mobile (skid-mounted) options, ensuring the perfect fit for your farm.
Safe and compliant silage storage is guaranteed with our purpose-built steel-framed
structures. Meeting the latest regulations, our structures carry the CA mark, signifying compliance with BS5950 structural steelwork standards. Choose Teesdale Structures for durable and versatile farm building solutions.
From Farm to Glamping: Discover Ellipse Leisure Buildings
Our journey into the world of leisure buildings began with a serendipitous encounter at the Royal Welsh Show. A "CLA" representative, admiring one of our cattle shelters, mistook it for a "glamping pod," and an idea was born. The overwhelming interest from show attendees sparked a demand we couldn't ignore.
Thus, Ellipse Leisure Buildings Ltd. was established, with a focus on crafting unique and stylish structures for the growing glamping market. We understand the needs of farmers diversifying their land and seeking to capitalize on stunning rural views.
For farmers seeking new income streams, Ellipse Leisure Buildings offer a unique opportunity. Glamping provides a way to leverage your existing assets – beautiful landscapes and underutilized land – to create a thriving leisure business, attract tourists seeking a unique rural experience, generate yearround revenue, and breathe new life into your farm.
Choose an Ellipse Leisure Building for its distinctive design, ease of siting, variety of options, quality construction, and affordable luxury. Our glamping structures are perfect for farm diversification projects, rural retreats, holiday let businesses, and unique accommodation experiences.
Exclusive Offer: Ex-Show Demonstration Units Available Now!
Take advantage of this limitedtime opportunity to own an Ellipse Leisure Building at a significantly reduced price. We have two ex-show demonstration units available for immediate delivery, offering exceptional value and a quick start to your glamping venture.
Why Choose Us?
We are a farmer-owned and operated company, deeply understanding the challenges and priorities of modern farming.
We build to last, using durable local materials and proven techniques, ensuring quality and longevity.
We offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality.
Contact Us Today
Schedule a free site visit and consultation to discuss your needs and receive a detailed quote for your chosen building.
Call Stuart or Derek on: 01833 638675 & 01833 630851
Email us: sales@teesdalestructures.co.uk or sales@ ellipseleisurebuildings.co.uk
Mae ffermwr llaeth sy'n rheoli achosion cronig o TB buchol wedi dileu bygythiad clefyd mawr i'w fuches drwy beidio â phrynu gwartheg i mewn mwyach.
Mae Michael Williams yn un o 15 ffermwr sy'n rhan o gynllun peilot TB Sir Benfro, sef menter gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n ceisio datblygu mesurau ychwanegol ar gyfer rheoli
TB buchol, yn ychwanegol at y camau statudol sy'n cael eu defnyddio ar hyn o bryd.
Wrth rannu ei gynnydd gyda ffermwyr eraill mewn digwyddiad Cyswllt Ffermio yn ddiweddar, dywedodd Mr Williams fod llawer y gall pob ffermwr ei wneud i amddiffyn eu buchesi rhag TB.
Mae wedi cyflwyno nifer o fesurau bioddiogelwch, gan gynnwys rhedeg buches gaeedig.
Mae'n godro 150 o wartheg ar system odro robotaidd ar fferm Fagwrfran East, Cas-mael, ac roedd wedi prynu gwartheg o farchnadoedd da byw, ond daeth hyn gyda'r risg o fewnforio TB.
"Roedden ni eisoes wedi rhoi'r gorau i brynu gwartheg cyn dod yn rhan o'r prosiect hwn ond ers hynny, rydym ni wedi dod yn fuches wirioneddol gaeedig, dydyn ni ddim hyd yn oed yn prynu tarw stoc,''' esboniodd Mr Williams.
Cafodd camerâu eu gosod i weld a oedd moch daear yn dod i gysylltiad â gwartheg yn yr iard a'r siediau ac â ffynonellau bwyd a dŵr.
Ni chanfuwyd yr un, ond roedd arwyddion corfforol amlwg o weithgarwch mewn caeau ac ar draciau gwartheg.
Ers hynny, mae un filltir a hanner o ffensys sy'n atal moch daear wedi cael eu codi ar hyd gwrych gyda nifer uchel o frochfeydd a charthfeydd, er mwyn gwahanu'r rhain oddi wrth y stoc.
Mae Mr Williams wedi cyflwyno mesurau eraill, hefyd:
Creu ardal stoc marw anghysbell
Roedd y man casglu stoc marw wedi’i leoli ar ran o'r fferm a orfododd gerbyd i groesi'r iard i gasglu carcasau.
Mae'r cyfleuster hwn bellach wedi'i leoli mewn ardal amgaeedig o adeilad sydd agosaf at y ffordd, a gellir ei selio'n llwyr oddi wrth fywyd gwyllt.
Codi ffensys trydan ar hyd y cladd india-corn
Er nad oes gan y fferm finiau bwyd anifeiliaid sy'n agored i fywyd gwyllt, mae ei gladd india-corn
agored yn risg bosibl adeg bwydo allan.
Cododd Mr Williams ataliad syml, gan lenwi dau drwm cemegau llaeth 20 litr diangen gyda thywod, a gosod y rhain ar bob pen o wyneb y cladd a rhedeg gwifren polywire o un i'r llall, wedi’i gysylltu ag offer ynni solar.
"Roedd hyn yn costio tua £20, wedi cymryd deng munud o'm hamser ac yn atal moch daear rhag ymyrryd â’r porthiant,'' meddai.
Cyfyngu nifer yr ymwelwyr Nid yw ymweliadau heb eu cynllunio gan gynrychiolwyr gwerthu ac eraill bellach yn cael eu hannog.
Mae ymweliadau trwy apwyntiad yn unig ac mae arwydd wedi'i osod wrth fynedfa'r fferm yn rhoi gwybod am y polisi hwn.
Rhaid i gerbydau sy'n dod ar y fferm fod yn lân.
Draenio cafnau dŵr nad ydynt yn cael eu defnyddio
Mae cafnau dŵr yfed yn y cae nad ydynt yn cael eu defnyddio yn y gaeaf pan fo'r fuches a'r anifeiliaid ifanc yn cael eu cadw mewn siediau yn cael eu draenio ac yn aros yn wag nes y bydd yr anifeiliaid yn cael eu troi allan. Caiff cafnau dŵr sy'n cael eu defnyddio eu glanhau bob wythnos.
Lleihau dibyniaeth ar gontractwyr fferm
Gwnaed buddsoddiad mewn offer gwasgaru slyri i gael gwared ar yr angen i logi contractwyr ar gyfer y swydd hon.
Cadw llwybrau troed siediau gwartheg yn lân
Mae amlder glanhau llwybrau porthiant yn y siediau gwartheg wedi cynyddu i leihau'r cyfnod
Hannah Wright, Michael Williams and Gwennan Evans
Ffermio Cymru
y mae slyri yn cronni yn y lleoliadau hyn.
Mabwysiadu'r lefel uchaf o hylendid wrth loia
Mae matiau sy’n debyg i fatresi gwely ciwbicl wedi'u gosod mewn lloc geni pwrpasol i ganiatáu i'r llawr gael ei olchi a'i ddiheintio'n drylwyr rhwng pob achos o fwrw lloi.
Darparu pwyntiau diheintio esgidiau
Mae cynwysyddion o hydoddiant diheintydd wedi'u lleoli o amgylch yr iard i ganiatáu I esgidiau gael eu diheintio rhwng cyswllt â gwahanol ddosbarthiadau o stoc.
Cynyddu’r cyfnodau rhwng gwasgaru slyri a chynaeafu silwair
Er bod Mr Williams yn gweithredu system silwair amldoriad, mae wedi cynyddu cyfnodau torri o bedair wythnos i bump ac yn gwasgaru slyri ar yr adladd cyn gynted â phosibl, y diwrnod ar ôl i'r glaswellt gael ei gasglu o'r cae.
Mesurau eraill
Yn ogystal â chyflwyno mesurau bioddiogelwch, mae Mr Williams wedi bod yn difa anifeiliaid y nodwyd eu bod mewn perygl mawr o ddal neu ledaenu TB, a nodwyd ar restr 'sgôr risg' trwy ap a ddatblygwyd ar gyfer cynllun peilot TB Sir Benfro.
Mae unrhyw fuwch yn y ddau gategori risg uchaf – sef coch neu oren yn yr achos hwn – yn cael ei gwerthu fel buwch hesb.
"Mae bod yn fwy rhagweithiol gyda difa, dewis pryd mae anifail yn gadael y fferm yn hytrach na bod mewn sefyllfa dan orfod o ganlyniad i brawf TB, yn opsiwn gwell mewn sawl ffordd,'' meddai Mr Williams.
Os yw anifail yn syrthio i fand 'melyn', sef yr isaf o'r tri chategori risg, ond yn risg serch hynny, caiff ei bridio i darw terfynol i sicrhau na fydd unrhyw anifeiliaid cyfnewid benywaidd yn mynd i mewn i'r fuches.
Yn 2024, gadawodd 35 o wartheg Mr Williams y fuches yn seiliedig ar ganlyniadau sgôr risg.
"Ceir poen tymor byr wrth fynd i’r afael â’r clefyd gweddilliol, ond rwy'n hyderus y byddwn ni’n cael y budd ychydig flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach,'' meddai.
"Os gallwn ni fynd i lawr i sgôr risg o ddau neu dri y cant, byddwn yn cyrraedd sefyllfa lle byddwn yn feistr ar y clefyd yn hytrach na bod y clefyd yn feistr ar y fuches.''
Mae'n credu bod y system hon yn gweithio.
"Ym mis Rhagfyr 2024, roedd y sgôr risg yn 7% o’i gymharu ag 11% ym mis Ionawr 2024, felly mae hyn yn ddechrau, rydym ni'n credu bod difa yn gweithio.''
Pwysleisiodd Mr Williams hefyd bwysigrwydd neilltuo amser i drafod peryglon bioddiogelwch a chlefydau gyda milfeddyg y fferm.
"Peidiwch â gwneud hyn tra bo'r milfeddyg yn profi am TB neu ar y fferm am reswm arall; neilltuwch amser penodol i gael trafodaeth go iawn,'' cynghorodd.
Mae'n rhoi clod i’w filfeddyg, Rhiannon Lewis, o Gwaun Vets, am ei gefnogi drwy'r broses hon. "Rydym ni wedi gweithio gyda'n gilydd ar hyn," meddai.
Cafodd y digwyddiad Cyswllt Ffermio ei gynnal gan Rhys Lougher ar fferm Tŷ Tanglwyst, fferm laeth ger y Pîl.
Mae buches 120 o wartheg Holstein pedigri Mr Lougher wedi bod yn rhydd o TB ers blynyddoedd lawer.
Mae ganddo hefyd lefelau uchel o fioddiogelwch ac mae'n elwa o’r ffaith bod ei fferm yn bell i raddau helaeth o wartheg ar ddaliadau eraill ac wedi'i gwarchod gan ffiniau caled gan gynnwys ffyrdd a chwareli calchfaen.
Dim ond semen â’r rhyw wedi’i bennu sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer bridio, ac nid oes unrhyw wartheg wedi cael eu prynu i mewn ers 40 mlynedd.
Mae gan Mr Lougher ei dancer slyri a'i beiriant chwalu tail ei hun i osgoi defnyddio contractwyr.
"Rhan fawr o'n busnes yw gwerthu heffrod Holstein pedigri â statws iechyd uchel, sydd newydd loia, i ffermydd llaeth eraill; yr awydd i barhau i wneud hyn yw ein prif sbardun am fod eisiau cadw TB allan o'n fferm,''' meddai.
Navigating peatland restoration
Currently, there is up to 100% funding available for peatland restoration projects through The Scottish Government, who have pledged £250 million to restore 250,000 hectares of peatlands across Scotland by 2030. Additional public and private funding is available, potentially offering long-term income to landowners.
Restoring peatlands can provide new grazing opportunities, reduce black loss, improve water quality and water flow for hydro schemes and fisheries. It can mitigate droughts as well as flooding, create new, greener jobs, enhance biodiversity on farms and contribute toward national efforts of greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Peatland eligible for restoration will, in general, be 50 cm or deeper across the site and will have been altered through land management such as drainage, intensive grazing or muirburn. This can be detected in peatlands by
visible surface erosion (bare peat) and water courses turning brown with washed-out peat.
Peatlands in good condition add value to a farm. They support biodiversity, act as water storage, protect settlements and infrastructure from flooding and wildfires, and they maintain good water quality. Restored peatlands can also be safer for livestock to track across, and increased vegetation cover can enhance grazing.
Peatland ACTION manages the Scottish Government’s fund for peatland restoration and provides support to farmers and crofters with their projects from planning, through delivery to ongoing management and monitoring, while ensuring current and intended land uses are considered in every project. Contact your local Peatland ACTION Officer to discuss the feasibility of peatland restoration on your farm free of charge.
environment
Farmers urged to join trial to shape UK carbon strategy
Farmers are being called on to join a new paid research programme that will help improve their farm practices while also shaping the UK’s carbon footprint strategy.
The Land Use To Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Accounting Project (LUNZ Footprint) research programme is being run by the Cool Farm Alliance (CFA) and the University of Gloucestershire and aims to make it simpler for farmers to measure and reduce their carbon footprint.
Farmers are now urgently needed to join the initial trial and will be expected to complete two greenhouse gas footprint measurements over two years with the support of the Cool Farm Alliance.
By taking part, farmers will be able to benchmark their farm and get insights and guidance on how to make improvements and find efficiencies.
The LUNZ project is being led by Eleanor Durrant from Cool Farm Alliance who said:
“We already have a number of farmers involved in the project, but we urgently need more. This paid trial will bring a wealth of benefits to each farm involved but, by participating, you’ll be contributing to shaping the future of farming and the environment, whilst learning more about the tools available to understand your farm’s GHG footprint.”
Farmers will be paid £200 + VAT per year for taking part in the LUNZ programme and will be expected to complete two
greenhouse gas footprints with support, a short online survey, a 45-minute interview and attend two online workshops.
Some participants may also be approached for farm visits.
Eleanor adds: “This is a great opportunity for farmers to engage with experts and fellow like-minded farmers to share best practices and find ways to improve their farm. Most importantly, this will help put farmers at the heart of decision-making as the UK shapes its future carbon strategy.”
Land use framework will need to turn aspirations into reality
Responding to Environment
Secretary Steve Reed's announcement today of the launch of the consultation on a Land Use Framework for England: Soil Association Policy Director Brendan Costelloe said: “We welcome today’s launch of the consultation on a strategic approach to managing land use in England, which is long overdue and marks significant progress. Just as we take a strategic approach to delivering the homes, offices and shops we need as a society, we need a strategic approach to delivering the types of nature and climate friendly farming and the habitats that we need to avert the nature and climate crises and ensure food resilience. We have been calling for a land use framework for years to give the clarity and confidence that nature-
friendly farmers, land-users and progressive businesses so desperately need to invest in the future of our countryside.
"We're pleased with the intent to protect good quality agricultural land, but it's the way that land is farmed that will determine whether the Government can avoid unnecessary trade-offs between food, nature and climate. It was good to hear the Secretary of State talk about restoring our soils, reducing pesticide and fertiliser use and creating landscapes that deliver multifunctional synergies. The land-use framework will need to turn this aspiration into reality.
"The biggest challenge will be getting the balance right between flexibility for farmers and certainty for the environment and food resilience. Clearly, the
framework shouldn't be telling farmers what to grow and where to grow it, all the time. But nor can we continue to allow blatantly harmful practices to push the environment to the brink in particular areas. We shouldn't allow harmful intensive poultry or maize production in sensitive
catchments, any more than we would allow harmful housing.
"We look forward to working with Government to help them find the right balance and to deliver the workable, impactful, land-use framework that farmers, the environment and society so desperately needs".
New vertical farm a first for Scottish education
SRUC has stepped up its commitment to global and local food production and security by becoming the first higher education institution in Scotland to open a commercial-sized vertical farm.
Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, officially opened the £1.8 million SRUC Vertical Farming Innovation Centre – which has received £200,000 from the Scottish Government – at the Edinburgh Campus of Scotland’s Rural College.
SRUC, which gained taught degree-awarding powers in October, will use the six-metre facility to carry out research, as well as educating the food and horticulture scientists, growers and industry experts of tomorrow.
Students will learn how to grow crops more quickly, or with higher nutritional value, as well as how to grow food using less water, with 250 times more water required to grow a lettuce in an open field than in a vertical farm.
The SRUC Vertical Farming Innovation Centre, which will be available to students and researchers, particularly those students studying Advanced Horticultural Production, will support the acquisition of new skills and knowledge of growing a range of plants under controlled growing conditions, including water, nutrients and light, in order to enhance food production in the presence of climate change.
Featuring technology designed by Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), the facility is coming into use at a time when the world’s population is set to increase by two billion by the year 2050, to ten billion while agricultural land is lost
to urbanisation. In this global context providing education and new knowledge in how to use vertically layered space under precisely controlled environmental conditions is an important part of our future sustainability.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “I am delighted to attend the SRUC Vertical Farming Innovation Centre opening event, and proud of the Scottish Government support for it. Making farming as efficient as possible is vital to the sustainability of the sector. The development of vertical, low carbon farms will be a boost both to researchers and our
ability to produce more fruit and vegetables in Scotland.
“The research that will come from this and the access students will have to cuttingedge horticultural technologies will be invaluable to them and our farming sector.”
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “The SRUC Vertical Farming Innovation Centre enhances SRUC’s ability to address the major challenges facing the world, both now and in the future.
“It provides us with an innovative learning and research platform to advance our understanding and practice of
growing crops under controlled environmental conditions and the design of climate resilient crops.
“Our researchers will utilise this advanced technology to progress solutions to issues such as more nutritious and energy efficient crops, matching demand to supply, supporting locally produced fresh produce and year-round production.”
The vertical farm is one of SRUC’s collaborative innovation hubs, designed to drive placebased innovation, economic growth and creating new jobs and opportunities.
To find out more, contact Hadi Aliki: hadi.aliki@sruc.ac.uk
The Seed Hawk 600-900C from Vaderstad
The Seed Hawk 600-900C is a versatile no-till seed drill available in 6, 8 and 9-metre widths. Its standout tine coulter system creates a clean seed slot, placing both seed and fertiliser in undisturbed soil for optimal germination. A 7,000-litre pressurised hopper, divided into three compartments, allows independent mixing and application of up to three products, offering flexibility for modern farming.
At its core, the Fenix III metering system ensures precise seed and fertiliser delivery. Known for reliability and flexibility, it accommodates various inputs while enabling section control to reduce overlap and input costs. The 6-metre model operates in two sections, while the 8 and 9 metre models have three, maximising efficiency.
Individually mounted dualknife tine coulters, spaced at 250mm, ensure accuracy in all soil conditions. A packer wheel maintains consistent seed depth and soil contact, while the hydraulic downforce system (up to 190kg) allows fine-tuning via the E-Control system. Fertiliser is placed 38mm offset from the seed row, optimising early root development.
An optional front disc system enhances performance by combining disc coulter precision with tine coulter reliability, ensuring an even seed slot. The press wheel seals moisture into the fertiliser row, preventing soil capping and improving germination.
For efficiency, the optional SeedEye blockage monitoring system detects and alerts
operators to blockages in real time, preventing wasted inputs. Optional hydraulic weight transfer on the drawbar adds 1,500kg to the hitch, improving stability and weight distribution. With its robust design, innovative features, and precision application, the Seed Hawk 600-900C is a reliable choice for no-till seeding, maximising productivity and yield potential.
Alpego Inversa stone-burier creates a fine tilth for reseeding
Based on the Italian manufacturer’s time-proven rotary tiller, or ‘rotovator’ range, INVERSA models have some key features that make them capable of creating a friable seedbed in even the stoniest soils.
Spinning in reverse to the conventional direction, the heavy-duty rotor lifts soil and carries it over the top, propelling it through two rows of spring-loaded screening tines. Working in combination with an adjustable levelling bar, this setup ensures stones, clods and crop residue drop first to the bottom of the worked pass and are then covered by the layer of finer soil that has passed through the tines. Not only does this create a fine tilth ideal for seed germination and emergence, the buried layer of stones provides sub-surface
drainage for growing crops without limiting their capacity to access moisture at depth. These well-structured seedbeds have the ideal combination of permeability and an ability remain stable throughout the growing season, giving crops the best possible chance to meet their yield potential.
What sets all Alpego rotary tillers apart from the competition is the company’s unique centredrive system. Rather than power being transferred to the rotor via a series of gears or chains and sprockets at one end of the shaft, a slimline geartrain transfers drive to the middle of the rotor.
This has a number of advantages. Primarily it means torque loadings are transferred equally to either side of the machine, reducing strains and
stresses on the entire driveline. In addition, by having four support bearings for the rotor, rather than
two, the opportunity for shaft flex under load is drastically reduced.
The MATRIX precision seeder with hydraulic pressure support
The MATRIX precision seeder, which was launched in August 2024, will be supplemented by a version with hydraulic pressure support and spraying track marking.
With the MATRIX’s hydraulic pressure support, the additional pressure on the seeding coulter can be adjusted continuously and conveniently from the operator terminal from 0 to 120 kg per seeding unit. As an option, an additional 20 % coulter pressure can be applied to the seeding units which run in the tractor track to ensure smooth running of the machine and precise placement of the seed. With the aid of the built-in hydraulic cylinder, the
individual seeding units can not only be pressurised, but also lifted if required. When creating a spraying track, which can be done via “Tramline Control”, the entire seeding unit is lifted so that the seed row is not cultivated. By lifting out, the individual seeding units do not work in the ground, so that wear can be reduced. Furthermore, no additional components are required for the spraying track marking, so that no additional weight has to be carried and there is no one-sided load on the seeding unit. The hydraulic equipment of the MATRIX also enables simultaneous marking with the right and left lane marker.
Next issue out May 2025
FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE
renewable energy
Growing Orkney’s renewables potential
Ambitious plans to create a major new renewables hub in Orkney have been accelerated with a £5 million grant to help take the project to the next stage.
The funding will further the development of a new harbour facility for the assembly of offshore wind turbines at Scapa Flow - the largest natural harbour in the northern hemisphere.
The Scapa Deep Water Quay will help to attract inward investment to the area, creating a new, cutting edge hub for offshore wind - supporting the expansion of windfarms off the coast of Scotland and Europe.
The grant comes from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is part of the Scottish Government’s wider strategic investment of up to £500 million over five years to develop the offshore wind supply chain.
Announcing the new funding whilst in Orkney, First Minister John Swinney said:
"Accelerating Scotland’s offshore wind capabilities is crucial as we prioritise maximising Scotland's vast potential in renewable energy. Not only are we striving to take our place at the forefront of the global green energy revolution, investments like this help us guarantee a just transition for our existing skilled workforce, maintaining their vital role in Scotland's energy landscape.
"This landmark project will help attract private investment in the area, creating new highly paid jobs and unlocking enormous economic opportunities for the Orkney Islands and Scotland as a whole. This is another example of how, together with local government and our partners, we are delivering on our collective priorities of growing the economy and protecting the planet."
Head of Marine Energy at HIE Graeme Harrison said:
"Scotland has been at the forefront of renewable energy
development and Orkney has been at the heart of this for the past 20 years. The planned Scapa Deep Water Quay is set to help advance the industry to the next level It will help attract inward investment, create jobs and drive economic growth in Orkney, the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland, as well as contributing to the country’s net zero ambitions.
"This funding for the PCSA will ensure the council has access to all the information it needs to make an informed decision and bring the project to the next stage."
Leader of Orkney Islands Council Councillor Heather Woodbridge said:
"This funding award from HIE, demonstrates the Scottish Government’s understanding of the importance of the energy
sector, not only here in Orkney but to Scotland as a whole. Securing the funding unlocks the potential for Orkney – alongside the wider industry - to further explore and develop a vision for our role in the continued growth of renewable energy, and is reflective of the good work, prominence, and reputation of our islands in this.
"Development of facilities in Scapa Flow could deliver considerable economic benefits to the area – especially as we look to counterbalance any potential downturn in the oil industry. Enhancing our marine capabilities and strengthening our capacity to support future industrial and commercial activities is key to this."
Sweco signs significant agreement with Statkraft in Norway
Sweco has entered a major new framework agreement with Statkraft, Norway’s state-owned enterprise for renewable energy production and Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy. Under the three-year agreement, Sweco will provide consultancy services across multiple areas, such as construction and civil engineering, geoscience, hydropower, electrical power and resilience to natural hazards.
As a long-term advisor to Statkraft, Sweco has supported various renewable energy projects, providing environmental studies and impact assessments as well as technical planning for hydropower projects. “This new agreement with Statkraft marks yet another milestone in our joint efforts to
advance Norway’s transition to green energy. Through this partnership, Sweco will contribute to increased power production and enhanced energy supply security,” says Rasmus Nord, Business Area President, Sweco Norway. The
framework agreement was signed in December and extends for three years, with the possibility of two additional one-year extensions. Sweco was awarded all six expert areas in the agreement, which took effect in January.
Seaweed: Nature’s Answer to Methane Emissions
Edwards’ Seaweed Fertiliser UK presents research confirming seaweed’s natural ability to reduce livestock methane emissions safely
Edwards’ Seaweed Fertiliser UK, suppliers of natural seaweed products for commercial and domestic application, is excited to share the huge potential presented by UK seaweed as a 100 per cent natural and sustainable approach to reducing methane emissions in livestock and lowering the environmental footprint of farming across the country.
In light of consumer concern about the chemical feed supplement Bovaer®, Edwards' Seaweed Fertiliser UK is eager to highlight the significant library of research about ecofriendly seaweed. This includes two decades of scientific data gathered from across the world, which confirms the positive role that sustainable UK seaweed can play as nature’s own alternative.
The potential is real for seaweed harvested from the Scottish North Sea to mitigate methane emissions from animals, including cows and sheep, when ingested directly and/or indirectly.
Studies conducted as recently as last year show that brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) contains phlorotannins which, when supplemented to an animal’s diet, improves their gut health and digestibility, and can reduce enteric methane emissions organically.123
Furthermore, farmers that use seaweed fertiliser on their grasslands produce a high dry matter, nutrient-rich, broadleaved sward with less stalk. Scientific research indicates that ruminants fed fresh young grass with an absence of stalk chew less, reducing enteric methane production in their gut naturally and safely.45
Dave Edwards, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Edwards’ Seaweed Fertiliser UK, explains: “Significant research into the use of seaweed in agriculture has been completed over the past 20 years although farmers have been using seaweed since the Neolithic era to feed both animals and crops.”
Edwards continues: “Seaweed contains 10-20 times more nutrients than its terrestrial counterparts. Research has proven that for livestock this 100 per cent natural and sustainable product offers incredible intestinal and immunity benefits.6 Plus unrivalled advantages for crops like grasslands in terms of plant health, pest and disease
resistance, and soil structure. Using seaweed also contributes to a lower carbon footprint for farmers.”
Edwards adds: “In ruminants, the consumption of seaweed extract and a more readily digestible diet can reduce enteric methane production. By working with nature, the immunity and natural wellbeing of the animal can be improved and the rumen microbiome promoted, leading to healthy stock with a reduction of chemical interventions. Added to that, seaweed farming is known to be a carbon negative crop, so a more natural approach can assist the UK in achieving its carbon neutral target by 2050.”
Edwards’ Seaweed Fertiliser UK produces its own UK-sourced
seaweed animal feed supplement. Branded Edwards’ Sea Juice, the liquid supplement improves the intestinal health of livestock, increases nutrient absorption and digestibility, and thus raises feed conversion ratios. In all lactating livestock, Edwards’ Sea Juice can improve milk yields, milk nutrition, and lower the incidences of mastitis and endometritis.
Independent research has suggested that the antioxidants in seaweed increase livestock’s resistance to environmental stress factors, reducing the risk of immune response inflammation in the animal. Research also demonstrates a reduction in livestock disease and mortality, as well as improved wellbeing, fertility, and coat condition.
science & technology
New seed germination model devised
Novel tool will give breeders more predictive accuracy for seed development and growth
Scientists at Rothamsted have developed a novel mathematical model for seed germination. The new tool is derived from field data and marks a significant improvement in accuracy over previous models.
Germination models use water and temperature as the main drivers of seed activity. Currently these are based largely on water potential, which is the energy that drives water to move from one system to another. This is challenging to measure accurately in the field. The new model uses water content which is much easier to measure.
These models are essential to the seed industry as it is important to develop lines where each individual seed germinates at roughly the same time and grows uniformly. This is particularly important for crops like carrots or onions where having similar sized plants makes them more profitable.
Seed suppliers must therefore test seed samples to ensure a certain germination rate is met, a process that is difficult and time consuming. So modelling is used to assess each batch based on a given sample.
However, current models do not always accurately reflect field conditions.
That is where the new model comes in. Water content is much easier to measure accurately in situ than the drivers of water potential. That makes the new model far more likely to accurately predict germination times in field situations.
“This is the first time a germination model has been able to be developed using field data,” said Dr Xiaoxian Zhang, corresponding author of the new study. “Seed germination is a crucial stage in plant development, intricately regulated by various environmental stimuli. Understanding these interactions is essential for optimizing planting and seedling management but remains challenging due to the trade-off effects of environmental factors on the germinating process.”
The research team created a new model by viewing seed
germination as a dynamic process. To validate the model, they conducted field experiments by drilling wheat seeds at different dates to establish a temperature gradient and in different plots to create a soil water content gradient.
Comparisons between the experimental data over a period of seven years and calculated results show that the model accurately reproduces all germination patterns and the subsequent seedling tillering with a 95% fit.
“In germination there a trade-off effect of soil water on
bioavailable water and oxygen. Introducing a physiological dimension enables seed germination and the subsequent tillering process to be modelled as a continuous physiological process, providing deeper insight into plant growth dynamics,” said Zhang.
We believe this new approach offers a genuinely new approach to germination modelling and for the first time takes on tiller number. We also hope that it will be more stable than the hydrothermal time models and hence more useful for field application,” he added.
THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP Gethin Lloyd and the Bryce 180 Pro
When Gethin Lloyd, from Denbighshire,started contract fencing 23 years ago he used his father’s tractor-mounted post driver until such time as he could afford a one-man tracked post driver. He was not flush with cash.
“I had just moved house and had a small family, so I had to crawl before I could run as far as equipment choice was concerned” said Gethin. Now with two full-time and two part-
time employees, Gethin and his team carry out an extremely impressive portfolio of fencing which includes domestic, agri stock fencing, equestrian, post and rail and security.
Moving forward, a tracked post driver was first on the list simply to save labour and increase output. He couldn’t stretch to a Bryce so settled on a Protech to get him started and owned this machine for 4 years. “By this time it was long overdue a replacement so with a heavy workload, I decided to finance a Bryce 180 Pro” said Gethin “ and this has proved to have been
a very major advance in terms of performance and ability. The Bryce can deal with anything you throw at it no matter the terrain or ground conditions, and answers the call every time – it never lets us down”
Gethin Lloyd erects all types of fences and he has found the Bryce Hole Puncher System to be a revelation when it comes to erecting security or domestic
Erecting security fencing
Erecting domestic fencing
fencing. Quick, no mess as with an auger or digger, the Hole Puncher gives a clean, tight hole as all the material is moved to the circumference. This is particularly beneficial when erecting a post in looser made-up ground with a high degree of stone or rock hardcore for example, or when erecting security fences on industrial sites. The same benefits apply when working on recreational grassland where there is no major disturbance of the site or soil to be removed. “The Bryce Hole Puncher System has allowed us to secure all the domestic fencing contracts with a local property developer because we can do it for half the price “ said Gethin.
“The Bryce is not overpriced for what it is. I keep my ear to the ground and study the design and specification of what else is on the market, but from my experience to date, the 180 Pro is the one to go for as far as a dedicated post driver is concerned.”
“After two and a half years of ownership and hard use, there is literally no noticeable wear which is true testament to good design and build quality plus it is well-balanced and tracks well across slopes”.
“There is just so much to like about the 180 Pro but the combination of exclusive features and hitting power are what make it stand out in the crowd”.
Driving a 3.6 metre post
Hole puncher working on recreational ground
Driving a heavy gate post
Meeting the challenge of hard conditions
Tidy work erecting a stock fence
Installing metal sockets
new to market
The New Shearwell Speedy Tagger: A Game-Changer for Efficient Sheep Tagging
Efficient livestock management is essential for farmers, and one of the most critical tasks for the sheep farmer is tagging to ensure traceability, record keeping, and compliance with regulatory standards. To make this process easier, and more efficient, Shearwell Data has introduced their latest innovation: the Speedy Tagger.
Speed, Simplicity, and Precision
The Shearwell Speedy Tagger is compact and lightweight, engineered to simplify the tagging process for sheep farmers. The Speedy Tagger uses cartridges designed for SET Tags - the market leading sheep tag in the UK. One of its standout features is the effortless loading of strips of 10 SET Tags in mere seconds.
Farmers know that speed and accuracy are crucial when tagging livestock. With the Speedy Tagger, you’ll find tagging to be smoother and quicker, as it reduces resistance and hand fatigue. Thanks to its ergonomic design, the Speedy Tagger makes the tagging process more comfortable and efficient, helping you get through the race or pen without unnecessary delays. This streamlined process makes it ideal for both small and large-scale farming operations, where time is of the essence.
Perfect for Both Single and Double Tagging in Scotland
The Speedy Tagger is ideal for single tagging, and as sheep farmers in Scotland can combine both visual and EID tags in the same-coloured strip, it’s also perfect for double tagging - saving time and making tagging more efficient than ever!
Designed for All Users
One of the key benefits of the Speedy Tagger is its adaptability. It’s been designed to be userfriendly for everyone, whether
you’re left-handed or right-handed. The tagger’s ergonomic design ensures that it is easy to grip and operate, even for extended periods, without causing discomfort or strain.
When it comes to usability, the Speedy Tagger is incredibly simple to operate. In addition to the device itself, you’ll receive a straightforward instruction leaflet, and Shearwell even offers instructional videos to ensure that you can get the most out of
the tagger. Whether you’re new to tagging or a seasoned pro, the Speedy Tagger is intuitive and easy to use right out of the box.
A Safe and Reliable Tagging Solution
The Speedy Tagger is designed to be used for all ages of sheep and goats, ensuring that lambs and adult sheep alike can be tagged with ease. The high-quality construction and reliability of Shearwell’s products mean you
can count on the Speedy Tagger to perform consistently, year after year. In addition, cleaning and disinfecting the tagger is a breeze. Simply dip the jaws of the Speedy Tagger into disinfectant, and it’s ready to go again.
Value for Money
At £69.95 (exc. VAT), the Speedy Tagger offers incredible value. Not only do you receive the Speedy Tagger itself, but you also get 5 cartridges included in your purchase. These cartridges are specially designed to hold strips of the popular SET Tags. The tagger’s affordable price point and long-term durability make it an excellent investment for any sheep farmer looking to streamline their tagging process.
Conclusion
Shearwell’s new Speedy Tagger is the ideal tool for sheep farmers looking to simplify tagging. Its ease of use, efficiency, and comfort make it the perfect choice for both small and large operations. The tagger offers speed, reliability, and value. With its ergonomic design, and dual tagging capabilities for Scotland, the Speedy Tagger is sure to become an indispensable tool in your farming toolkit. To find out more and to see it in action, please visit Shearwell. co.uk or call 01643 841611 to speak to the friendly Shearwell team.
Leading egg producer joins the scramble to find some positives for farming
A third-generation egg producer has welcomed some aspects of Defra secretary Steve Reed’s so-called “new deal for farmers.”
However, managing director of Farmlay Iain Chapman, stopped short of giving his wholehearted support to the Secretary of State’s speech at last month's Oxford Farming Conference because of the cloud of controversial changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) hanging over the industry and worries about whether all the new initiatives will see the light of day in his home nation of Scotland.
Mr Chapman picked out the following positives from Mr Reed’s new vision for the farming sector:
• Making it easier for British farmers to get business from selling into the £5 billion spent on public service catering contracts. Confirmed by Defra as an England-only policy at this stage
• Improving opportunities for farmers to make money from selling surplus energy back from solar panels and wind turbines; a UK-wide initiative
• New supply chain rules, ensuring contracts are set out clearly and that changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. UK-wide
“These would all be great news and - in some cases such as improving access to public service catering contracts - something that the industry has been banging on about for years,” said Mr Chapman.
“But my initial enthusiasm will be kept in check by the proposed farm IHT changes. In my opinion, the Government’s plans will stifle all farming businesses from expanding.
“On a personal note, although we have started on succession we have not completed and I am - along with many thousands of others - worried about IHT impact if the worst was to happen to any generation of a family farm.”
The Chapman family, whose Farmlay business is Scotland’s second largest egg producer, farm almost 3,000 acres of land near Strichen, in Aberdeenshire.
“My dad started out at 15 on his parents 130-acre farm. He had a dream of owning 100,000 hens and 1,000 acres of farmland. Farmlay as a business now owns more than 450,000 hens, with a further 550,000 owned by contract farmers.
“Although my father is an amazing man, it’s hard to imagine that sort of growth being possible if there had been the dark cloud of IHT hanging over him and other farmers.”
Reflecting on the aspects of Steve Reed’s OFC speech that caught his eye, Mr Chapman
said in theory the issue of public sector procurement - monitoring where food is bought with the aim of making it easier for British farmers to access opportunities to sell produce into public service catering contracts - was “great news if it happens”.
With agriculture devolved in Scotland, ScotGov now has control over how the agricultural portion of the overarching budget is spent, although Westminster can steer direction of travel. A spokesperson for Defra has confirmed that the procurement policy is England only at this stage, rather than a national directive.
“NFUS has been talking about this for years but yet it always seems to come back to what’s cheapest,” said Mr Chapman. “It was disappointing to learn that at this stage Scotland isn’t included. If it had been, it could have been brilliant news for the whole farming sector.”
However, Defra has confirmed that the plans highlighted by the
Minister to make it easier for farmers to make money from selling surplus energy back from solar panels and wind turbines will include Scotland.
“I am unsure how this would work, so will be following developments closely. It will be really interested to hear how Mr Reed will actually achieve this.”
Finally, Farmlay has been at the forefront of securing what has become widely known as a “golden age” for egg producers with fixed five-year rolling contracts with many major supermarkets.
So Defra’s fair supply chain guidelines, confirmed as UK-wide, caught Mr Chapman’s eye. New rules are due to come in for the pig industry in the spring, with the promise of other sectors such as eggs and fresh produce to follow.
“Yes, we personally have long term supermarket deals, but nobody can afford to get complacent. Food security is too serious an issue to leave to chance and hardly a day goes by in the news when this isn’t highlighted.
“Any new supply chain guidelines to support the UK farming industry’s world-leading field to fork story and help give us and other farmers security to expand is to be welcomed.”
Commenting after Steve Reed’s 25-year roadmap for farming Oxford speech, NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Many are worried about making it to the end of 2025, never mind what happens 25 years down the line.”
Changes to IHT relief for farms are due to take effect from April 2026.
SPRAYERS
…spreading it around!
AMAZONE offer a plethora of updates for UF 02 mounted sprayers
Individual nozzle shut-off is taken to a new level of reliability
Although AmaSelect offers the ultimate in nozzle control with its unique blend of individual shut-off and on-themove automated nozzle size selection, a simple individual nozzle shut-off system fitted to a 24 m boom offers 85% less overlap than standard section control and so can generate up to 5% savings on your ag chem bill by reducing overall chemical usage as well as preventing crop lodging through overlap during liquid fertiliser applications and preventing yield penalties caused by spray under- and over-application. AmaSwitch has offered all these benefits at an affordable price. Individual solenoid valves sit on the nozzle holder which can be specified either as a triple or quad body. The quad body can also be used to spray at 25 cm spacing, as and when required.
Now 2025 sees the launch of the new AmaSwitch plus. AmaSwitch plus features new components that have been extensively tested in the harshness of a marine environment and in purpose-built climate stations and so is built to a whole new level of durability giving all the benefits of individual nozzle switching, yet with much improved reliability. AmaSwitch plus comes with a four-year guarantee as standard via your myAMAZONE account. AmaSwitch is also available on the UX trailed and Pantera self-propelled as well as for the UF 02 mounted sprayers.
ContourControl boom guidance comes to UF 02 sprayers
For those growers running a mounted sprayer and farming on undulating terrain where the boom sometimes needs to go below horizontal as well as above, AMAZONE, in 2023, introduced the ContourControl automatic boom height control system for mounted UF 02 sprayers with 27 m, 28 m and 30 m booms. The system was first pioneered on the trailed and self-propelled sprayers and offers unprecedented height control. However, from 2025, due to a demand for the system on narrower booms, ContourControl will be available on the UF 02 with both 21 and 24 m booms. One such customer making the most of the system already is Hugh Murrie of John Murrie & Sons, who invested in a 27 metre UF 2002 with the new ContourControl system last year. With 200 ha of arable just outside Forfar, Angus, the farm previously ran on a 21m tramline system but the move out to 27m pushed them towards embracing this new technology. ‘We have some heavily rolling land where, at times, each side of the boom needs to be able to go both above and below horizontal. Even on 21 metres, there were parts of the farm where we had the boom height right on one side and the other end of the boom dragging in the crop or up in the air. Now, by having the addition of ContourControl, it means that we can ride the undulations knowing that the boom height is always at its optimum’, comments Hugh.
And it is that instantaneous response to changes in target height, that owners of trailed and self-propelled sprayers wax lyrically about, which is now proving its worth on the mounted models. The system also self-
levels when one boom is folded in to go around a pole.
Finally, the UF 02 sprayers also get new contactless flow meters that give increased metering accuracy for better rate control and improved reliability.
Chafer Trailed Sprayers
Chafer revolutionised its trailed sprayer lineup last year, unveiling significant enhancements to the Guardian and Sentry models. Central to these updates is the introduction of the ePlumbing RinsePro system, an evolution of the existing setup, now integrating a 120l/m piston diaphragm pump alongside the proven 1,100l/m centrifugal pump. This innovative system provides precise control over rinse water, minimising
contamination risks and enabling concurrent filling of main and rinse tanks. Moreover, the induction hopper receives a continuous supply of clean water during operation, streamlining spray can cleaning and ensuring operator safety. The addition of a secondary pump, discreetly placed at the rear to reduce noise, facilitates optimal priming of the main spray pump, ensuring seamless functionality
even when the machine is fully drained.
Chafer also upgraded its eControl system, now fully compatible with ISObus terminals, eliminating the need for a separate touch screen and reducing incab clutter. Furthermore, new trailed sprayers will offer Hypro Prostop-E Individual Nozzle
Control across all boom sizes, in single and twin line setups. These systems promise rapid on/off times, ISObus compatibility, and enhanced auto line switching. Additional enhancements include increased compressed air volume to optimise features like AirPurge and Central Tyre Inflation. The redesigned front
bulkhead creates more space around the tractor, simplifying tractor mudguard installation. Overall layout changes aim
to enhance diagnostic and maintenance access, aiding the dealer network in supporting Chafer’s trailed sprayers.
Fendt Rogator sprayers
Fendt updated its self-propelled Rogator sprayer last year with improved boom stability, electropneumatic nozzle bodies and a revised liquid system to reduce cleaning times. The new features will be available on all Rogator models – 645, 655 and 665 –with boom widths from 24-39m.
A redesigned plumbing system features an additional clean water pump to enable continuous internal cleaning of the application tank. The ContiRinse system works on two
adjustable thresholds, with the first initiating cleaning when the liquid volume in the main tank drops below a set value. Water is pumped into the non-applicant lines and pipes, displacing chemical residues, without diluting the tank mixture. The second threshold is closer to the end of the tank and activates the full cleaning process.
The system is designed to reduce the downtime spent cleaning and rinsing the plumbing system after spraying.
SPRAYERS
The additional clean water pump allows the pre-rinse cycle to begin whilst spraying and there is now an auto pump shutoff, which switches off the main 785l/min pump after cleaning to prevent it running dry. There is also a new cleaning kit at the rear to increase the working comfort of wider booms.
All Rogator models are now fitted with electro-pneumatic nozzle bodies as standard, which replace the electric versions, and
have a lower power requirement. The changes will increase longevity and reliability of the machines as the new nozzle bodies don’t have diaphragms and feature no dead volume areas for liquid or chemical residues.
Coupled to this, Fendt has added new nozzle option. These are compatible with Fendt’s OptiNozzle automatic nozzle selection system and are supplied by Lechler to meet requirements for drift control.
HORSCH Leeb AutoSelect Pro and Spot Spraying
HORSCH Leeb constantly develops its precision crop care technologies with the opportunity to update existing machines.
AutoSelect Pro adds curve compensation
AutoSelect Pro is the latest update of the well-proven automatic nozzle control system and adds curve compensation to an extensive set of features. This system automatically switches the nozzles with the operational speed to ensure a consistent application rate. It also automatically adapts the working height of the boom, removing workload from the operator and improving performance.
AutoSelect Pro curve compensation system adjusts the application rate when cornering. The quantity is increased on the
outside of the curve and reduced on the inside. HORSCH sprayers with AutoSelect can be upgraded to AutoSelect Pro.
Spot Spraying
There is intensive focus on spot spraying to make plant protection even more efficient. HORSCH is developing spot spraying technologies based on its pulse nozzle system, PrecisionSpray. This system is in widespread use, which would offer practical upgrade path as spraying technologies develop in the future.
Spotting means that the individual plant is assessed and treated instead of the whole field allowing sprays to be used in an even more efficient and effective way. HORSCH is currently researching different methods, such as Green on Brown (GOB) and
The objective is to adapt the new technology to meet the different environmental conditions and requirements of the farmers around the world. GOB plays a major role in dry regions, such as Australia, to remove individual
Kuhn’s sprayer range
implement due to the small differentiation between weeds and emergent crops and is proving a challenge for experts across the agricultural industry. GOG is important in northern Europe, for example, for the application of herbicides or fungicides.
The latest updates to KUHN’s sprayer range include future technology that will help users apply crop protection products with greater precision, help protect the environment and reduce input costs.
KUHN’s I-SPRAY spot spraying system has been developed in partnership with Carbon Bee to offer different applications depending on the crop. A key benefit of the targeted system is reducing product use and
cost, compared to current methods, by up to 95% in some crops. Furthermore, the environment is better protected as applications are targeted to the plants that require it, and blanket applications are avoided. This also helps to reduce the chances of herbicide resistance. The system works from live data fed via hyperspectral sensors positioned along the boom. These are lightweight and use a wideangle view, so the number of sensors required is reduced. The
Green on Green (GOG) detection and carrying out field tests with different camera manufacturers.
weeds from the stubbles. GOG is far more difficult to
control module uses the data to activate individual nozzles to target the specific plants or areas.
Three application modes are possible. Green on brown spot application to target weeds on stubbles. Green on green spot application for weed detection in growing crops and, finally, green on green using variable rate application. This allows a low volume spray across the width
with targeted individual dosing when weeds are detected. This is particularly useful to treat whole fields that could require a smaller dose but increase rates to specific plants. KUHN say that variable rate application of fungicides, growth regulators and nitrogen will be possible using crop biomass measurements.
Integration with ISOBUS interfaces and MYKUHN
digital platform are possible with the system. I-SPRAY continues to be tested across KUHN’s mounted, trailed and self-propelled sprayer range during 2025.
KUHN’s trailed sprayer range KUHN’s trailed sprayers fall into two categories. The Lexis models with 2,400, 3,000, or 3,800 litre tanks and booms
from 18-28m. The larger Metris 2 range has a 3,200-litre or 4,100-litre tank and booms from 18-38m wide. Both models come with a variety of boom construction and operation including KUHN’s Diluset + allowing electronic control of the sprayer for filling and spraying applications, with rinsing of the sprayer or the boom controlled from the cab.
More sprayer innovations from Kverneland
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), closed chemical transfer and TwinFill tank management are among the innovations being introduced on Kverneland’s sprayer range.
PWM availability is for iXtrack T4 and T6 trailed models, in the guise of iXflow-Pulse, and in combination with the heavy duty HSS 30-40m boom. PWM
offers greater accuracy and precision through fine-tuning of droplet size, plant coverage and water volumes.
Using Raven’s Hawkeye to underpin the system, Kverneland Group Mechatronics has integrated PWM control into its existing iXspray software. This manages the duty cycle for opening and closing times
of individual nozzles while maintaining droplet size and pressure, without impacting on the desired application rate.
Advantages include an extension of the working range of a single nozzle system, plus a greater ability to cater for speed changes. These include curve compensation to manage the boom speed differential from
one end to the other; starting and stopping on headlands; slowing down during turning; and adapting to speed changes when going up or downhill.
Closed chemical transfer is another development for iXtrack trailed sprayers, which avoids the need to manually open containers and measure out the contents.
SPRAYERS
With closed chemical transfer, pesticides flow in a controlled and measured manner, even with part-can volumes. Suction and pressure connections allow empty containers to be thoroughly rinsed before removal from the transfer mechanism.
Additional changes found on the iXtrack T4 range include an increased tank capacity of 5,300-litres, bridging the gap between the flagship 4,600-litre T4 and the entry-level 6,400-litre T6 model.
In addition, the T4 series is now available with Kverneland’s innovative HC vertical folding boom, in working widths up to 30m. The HC boom offers single-side spraying, and asymmetric and symmetric folding of three, four or five boom sections, lending itself to those with narrow headlands or no headland at all – for example in vegetable production.
The vertical folding HC boom is available from 18-30m, and can be equipped with five, seven, nine or 11 sections, or in
combination with iXflow-E boom line recirculation and individual electric nozzle control.
Technology continues to evolve with the introduction of Twin Fill software to simplify multi-tank management with combinations using the iXter B
linkage-mounted sprayer with the iXtra front tank.
Twin Fill ensures that the correct volumes of liquid in the correct concentrations for each tank, and are correctly mixed, split and transferred. When induction is complete,
Team Leader 4
Twin Fill then ensures both tanks are correctly topped-up to the requested volumes with clean water. It is a process that avoids having to measure out all pesticides twice, and in different amounts, to separately fill a twin tank set-up.
Ely based Team Sprayers’ Leader 4 sprayer is the most popular sprayer in their trailed range. The Leader 4’s design puts an emphasis on stability and has been designed to meet the rigorous demands of any agricultural environment.
The Team Leader 4’s design incorporates a low-folding boom and a profiled tank which ensures a low centre of gravity, thereby maximising machine stability. The Leader 4 has a 25L stainless steel hopper for safe transfer of liquids and powders via a high pressure venturi system to the main tank and a rotary nozzle for cleaning containers. The diaphragm pump is made from high quality Poly’ which withstands any aggressive plant protection chemicals.
All booms are manufactured from steel tubular sections; the three dimensional structure guarantees strength and
durability. All nozzles and spray lines are secured above the base of the boom for protection against accidental damage whilst the Pantograph boom lift system, which allows height adjustment from 500-2500mm ensures excellent stability and performance.
This model is available with boom widths from 21m to 36m and tank sizes of 3000, 4000 and 5000L as well as a Muller Track Guide 3 control system as standard.
Other main features of the Leader 4 include:
· Air ride axle suspension
Boom re-circulation (air stop nozzle assemblies)
· Steering/tracking axle system
· Full electro-hydraulic control system
· HD PTO driven air compressor
· Work station with simple control valve layout
· Optional GPS mapping and boom section control
· Optional automatic boom height and contour levelling Team also offers a front mounted tank range to increase spray capacity as well as productivity. The front mounted unit is quick and easy to mount and demount from the tractor and is fitted with quick release
couplings on all liquid and hydraulic hoses. In-cab controls allow fast transfer of liquid to the rear tank during the spraying operation. The low-line 1000L and 1500L tank increases operator visibility, ground clearance and being closer coupled to the tractor reduces overall length and maximises the weight distribution
Legend of Scottish agricultural journalism Eddie Gillanders receives Ambassador Accolade
Prestigious NFU Scotland/NFU Mutual award marks six decades of reporting on Scottish food and farming.
NFU Scotland and NFU Mutual’s prestigious Ambassador Award has been presented to Scottish agri-journalist legend Eddie Gillanders, marking his retirement from reporting after almost sixty years.
Established in 2009, the Ambassador Award was set up to recognise those individuals who, through their own efforts, have played an influential role in communicating the work, challenges and the value of Scottish food and farming to a wider audience.
Eddie’s journalistic journey started as assistant agricultural editor at the Press and Journal in 1964, and he would later return to the paper for a 20-year tenure as agricultural editor, overseeing the creation of its influential weekly farming supplement. Alongside his wife Marion, he would later go on to publish the well-respected independent farming magazines Agri-Business Scotland and
Farm North East. In recognition of his journalistic skills, Eddie received the Netherthorpe award for excellence in communications from the UK Guild of Agricultural Journalists in 1982.
In press and marketing roles, many other businesses and organisations have benefitted from Eddie’s communications skills, support and guidance over the years including the AberdeenAngus Cattle Society, Aberdeen and Northern Marts, North East Farmers’ Co-operative and the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.
In autumn 2024, Eddie received the Lifetime Achievement at the Scottish Agricultural Awards ceremony in Glasgow.
Accompanied by his wife, Marion, Eddie was announced as the winner of the Ambassador trophy at NFU Scotland’s annual dinner in Glasgow (6 February), attended by more than 400 guests and delegates. Eddie received the award from NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy and NFU Mutual Chair Jim McLaren.
Announcing Eddie as the winner, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “Eddie has had a career steeped in agriculture and has been an integral part of our sector for over six decades. His insightful, honest, trustworthy and informative reporting of the highs and lows of Scottish agriculture over many years have been hugely valued by his readers and provided an invaluable source of informed comment on all parts of the agricultural and food industries.
“Since the mid-sixties, agricultural journalism has been his first love but a lifelong association with the Aberdeen Angus breed must make it a close second. Eddie was recognised for his dedication to the Angus breed with a lifetime achievement award in 2016 and it is only fitting, now that he has put down his pen and notebook, that we recognise his incredible achievements as a journalist.
“He is a tremendous advocate for Scottish farming and a very worthy winner of this Ambassador award.”
Euan Warnock awarded prestigious Miskelly Award
Award recognises Argyll and the Islands stalwart for service to farming and crofting.
One of NFU Scotland’s highest accolades, the prestigious Miskelly award, has this year been awarded to Argyll and the Islands Group Secretary Euan Warnock for his service and dedication to farming and crofting in the region.
It marks a hattrick of landmark events for Euan in recent months. At the Argyll and the Islands regional AGM, held in January, NFU Scotland Chief Executive John Davidson made a presentation to Euan to mark his 30 years of service as a Group Secretary based at Oban, assisting members on behalf of both NFU Scotland and NFU Mutual. At that same event, Euan then went on
to win the Argyll and the Islands Stalwart Award which recognises those who have given time and effort to the work of the Union and agriculture in Argyll and the Islands.
Winning the Miskelly award, presented by President Martin Kennedy at NFU Scotland’s annual dinner in Glasgow in February gives national recognition to Euan’s incredible contribution to fellow farmers and crofters.
The Miskelly Award was established in memory of John Miskelly, an inspirational staff member with the Union and was presented by John’s family following his death in 2006.
Now being presented for the seventeenth time, the trophy
Agri Journalist legend Eddie Gillanders (centre), accompanied by his wife Marion and grandson Aaron received the prestigious Ambassador award at NFU Scotland’s annual dinner in Glasgow, recognising almost 60 years of journalism. The award was made by President Martin Kennedy and NFU Mutual chair Jim McLaren.
recognises those who have shown outstanding dedication and commitment to NFU Scotland and Scottish farming and crofting.
Euan receiving his award from NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy
Stuart Long: The Man Driving Logic’s Success Across Scotland and Beyond
For Stuart Long, being a regional salesman isn’t just about selling equipment—it’s about building relationships, understanding the land, and connecting people with the tools they need to succeed. As Logic’s Area Sales Manager for Scotland and Ireland (both Northern and the Republic), Stuart brings his wealth of experience, energy, and passion to every dealership, farm, and estate he visits.
Since joining Logic in January 2019, Stuart has become a trusted face across Scotland and Ireland. With over 80 dealerships under his wing—including well-established partners and new additions—he ensures that Logic’s renowned range of ATV and UTV attachments is available to land managers, farmers, and groundskeepers far and wide. Covering most ATV and UTV franchises in the region, Stuart’s role is integral to maintaining Logic’s reputation for reliability and quality.
A Lifelong Passion for the Outdoors and People
Stuart’s journey into sales and customer service began straight after school in the late 1980s, where his natural rapport with people quickly set him apart. His love for the outdoors and commitment to helping others were ingrained early on, shaped by his years in the Cubs and Scouts. A highlight of his scouting days was a transformative three-month expedition to Alaska in 1991 with Operation Raleigh, which further deepened his appreciation for adventure and teamwork.
His leadership qualities shone through when he established and ran the first Hexham Venture Scout Group, a testament to his drive and community spirit. Since 1980, Stuart has called Hexham, Northumberland, home—a place where his love for the countryside thrives. A dedicated family man, Stuart balances his busy work
life with time spent with his three children, mountain biking through Northumberland’s trails, enjoying long walks with his dog, and exploring the great outdoors.
From Sales Coordinator to Area Sales Manager
Before stepping into his current role, Stuart worked for Logic as a Sales Coordinator, gaining invaluable insight into the inner workings of the business. This experience laid the foundation for his success as an Area Sales Manager.
His commitment to providing exceptional service extends beyond the UK. Stuart also oversees export enquiries, managing shipments to countries like Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. His attention to detail and dedication ensure that international clients receive the same high level of service as those closer to home.
Connecting with the Community at Major Events
A big part of Stuart’s role involves attending key agricultural and
rural shows, where he showcases Logic’s latest innovations and connects with both new and familiar faces. This year, you can find Stuart at:
• The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh
• Scot Sheep in Dunbar
• AgriScot in Edinburgh
• Scots Turf at Hamilton Park Racecourse
• The Perth Game Fair at Scone Palace
These events offer the perfect platform for Stuart to demonstrate Logic’s products in action, share expert advice, and catch up with customers and dealers.
Looking to the Future
Stuart’s success isn’t just down to his knowledge of Logic’s extensive range of sprayers, spreaders, trailers, and other attachments—it’s also his genuine care for the people he serves. Known for his handson approach, Stuart is involved at every stage, from initial enquiries to delivery and aftersales support. He takes pride in offering product training and demonstrations to ensure that customers get the most out of their equipment.
“Every customer is different,” Stuart explains. “Whether it’s a smallholder looking for a simple solution or a large estate needing specialist equipment, my job is to listen, understand their needs, and find the right fit. There’s a real sense of satisfaction in knowing I’ve helped someone work more efficiently and effectively.”
As Logic continues to grow, Stuart remains at the forefront of its expansion in Scotland, Ireland, and international markets. His dedication, extensive knowledge, and love for the great outdoors make him the perfect ambassador for Logic’s values of quality, reliability, and innovation.
Beatha an eilean
Neach-gairm ùr Coimeisein na Croitearachd
Le Murray MacLeòid
Chaidh Anndra Thin ainmeachadh mar neach-gairm ùr Coimeisein na Croitearachd. Tha e air a bhith air a’ bhòrdstiùiridh bho 2022, mar aon dhen fheadhainn a chaidh ainmeachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba.
Bidh gu leòr a’ ceisneachadh a’ cho-dhunaidh. Gun teagamh, tha eòlas aige ann a bhith a’ stiùireadh bhuidhnean poblachd an Riaghaltais. Tha e air a bhith na chathraiche air Nadair Alba (Dualchas Nadair na h-Alba), Coimeisein Fearann na h-Alba, Pairc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh agus Canàlan na h-Alba. Ach, a-thaobh eòlais air croitearachd, ‘s e tha sin ach rud eile.
Tha naoinear air bòrdstiùiridh a’ Choimeisein, sianar air an taghadh bho choimhearsnachdan croitearachd agus triùir air an ainmeachadh leis an Riaghaltas.
Chan eil e soilleir an robh an fheadhainn eile ag iarraidh na dreuchd, ach bidh gu leòr a’ ceisneachadh gu bheil Mgr Thin a’ gabhail a-nall bho Chalum MacMhathain - fear eile a chaidh ainmeachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba.
A’ dh’aoidheoin nan teagamhan, chur Caidreachas Croitearachd na h-Alba fàilte air a naidheachadh.
Thuirt iad gur e “àm cudromach a tha seo dha croitearachd, le mòran atharraichean a’ tighinn air poileasaidhean àiteachais, athnuadhachadh fearann agus ath-
nuadhachadh laghan croitearachd, a bheir buaidh air croitearan agus coimhearsnachdan croitearachd”.
“Tha e gu bhith riantach mar a dhèiligeas Coimeisein na Croitearachd ris na h-atharraichean seo agus mar a stiùireas iad an t-slighe air adhart.”
Thuirt cathraiche a’ Chaidreachais, Ionatan Hedges: “Bha sinn toilichte gun tàinig Anndra Thin gu grunn dhe na tachartasan a chur an SCF air adhart as t-foghar agus gun tàinig e còmhla rinn son èisteachd ri draghan chroitearan.
“Tha sinn earbsach gun d’fhuair e tuigse agus eòlas a bhios na chuideachadh dha na dhreuchd mar neach-gairm Coimeisein na Croitearachd.
“Tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla ris
agus a’ guidhe gach soirbheachadh dha na dhreuchd ùr.”
Thuirt a’ Choimisein gu bheil “beartas de dh’eòlais aige, an dèidh dha a bhith na choimeiseinear bho 2022 agus rona sin na choimieseinear air Coimeisein na Croitearachd”.
“Tha eòlas aig Anndra a bhith ag obair air feadh a’ Ghàidhleatachd agus nan Eilean ann an iomadach dreuchd, ag amas air an eaconamaigh, an àrainneachd agus leasachadh sòisealta.
“Bidh an t-eòlas a th’aige ann an gnothaichean dùthchail is poileasaidh sòisealta air leth riatanach ann a bhith a’ stiùireadh a’ Choimeisein ann a bhith cumail taic agus a’ leasachadh coimhearsnachdan croitearachd air feadh Alba.”
Thuirt Gary Caimbeul, àrdoifigear a’ Choimeisein: “Tha sinn air leth toilichte fàilte a chur air Anndra Thin mar neach-gairm ùr Coimeisein na Croitearachd. Bidh an t-eòlas farsaing agus an tuigse domhainn a th’aige air sgìrean dùthchail na h-Alba air leth feumail dhan bhuidheann.
“Tha mi cinnteach fon an stiùir aige gum bidh an Coimeisein fhathast soirbheachail agus a leasachadh agus a’ toirt seirbheis dha croitearan air feadh na dùthcha.
“Bu mhath leum cuideachd an cothrom seo a ghabhail taing a thoirt do Chalum MacMhathain airson an t-seirbheis dìchealach a thug e seachad mar neach-gairm. Tha e air a bhith cudromach ann a bhith stiùireadh obair a’ Choimeisein agus tha e fàgail dìleab às a dhèidh.”
Thuirt Anndra Thin: “Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart gu mòr ris an obair mar neach-gairm Coimeisein na Croitearachd agus tha e na onar dhomh. Tha mi a’ creid ‘s gu mòr anns a’ bhuaidh a th’aig croitearachd air sgìrean dùthchail bho taobh soisealta, eaconamaigeach agus dhan àrainneachd agus tha mi airson obair còmhla ris a’ Choimeisein, croitearan agus eile airson dèanamh cinnteach gum bidh an dòigh beatha sònraichte seo soirbheachail san àm ri teachd.
“Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart gu mòr ri na cothroman agus ri na dùbhlain air thoiseach agus gu mòr airson cur ri soirbheachadh croitearachd.”
Tha Anndra Thin air a bhith os cionn grunn bhuidhnean poblachd
Making sure animals are safe in the fields
Now is the time to think about the safety of livestock out in the fields. What is the condition of any electric fencing after winter? Is any permanent structure still secure and intact? Were all the temporary supplies put away tidily and are they ready to go this spring?
Electric fencing specialists from Gallagher UK advise making a thorough check before turnout.
Gallagher Check
Gallagher is proud to design and deliver some of the safest electric fencing products possible. But as the saying goes, good tools are only half the battle. The other half is proper installation and maintenance.
To help with this, Gallagher has developed the Gallagher Check, which can easily be done by farmers at the start, and during the grazing season.
This step-by-step action list makes sure all the elements, including the power source, voltage reading and correct earthing, are working to their full potential. This will ensure the fence will work without fault so there will be no escaping animals.
Step 1: Check your energiser
Switch off the energiser unit and disconnect the fence by pushing the red button - the output. Switch the unit back on. Then hold a tester against the end of the output and hold the end of the wire attached to the tester against the end of the connection, where the earth is connected – the green button (Figure 1). Is the voltage above 6000V? If it is, the unit is OK. Is it lower? If so, the unit is faulty.
Step 2: Check the voltage on the fence
To measure the voltage on the
fence, will require a tester, either a digital voltmeter or fault finder. Go to the end of the fence and check the voltage with the tester. Is this voltage more than 1500V lower than what was measured at the energiser? If so, farmers need to go back to the energiser and check the earthing to see where power may be leaking from – see step 4.
Step 3: Check the fence itself Walk along the fence and check that everything is in order. Is the wire taut? This will reduce the risk of animals becoming entangled. Is the wire damaged and are the connections between the wires still intact? It is also important that all the insulators are sound. This will prevent the wire from losing its voltage or the animals from being injured.
Posts should also be checked to make sure they are straight and undamaged. Finally, check the gates are still working properly. Are the gate handles still in one piece and is the wire tight?
Step 4: Check the earthing
The earthing should be checked to make sure the energiser is working to its full potential. No matter how powerful the energiser is, if it is poorly earthed, it will perform less than a well earthed unit.
Place an iron post against the fence at a distance of 100 metres
from the energiser. By creating a short circuit like this ensures there is less voltage on the fence. Is it now less than 1000V? If so, continue. If it is still above 1000V, place a few more posts against the fence until the voltage is below 1000V.
Now go to the earth pin of the energiser and measure the voltage on it. This can be measured by holding the tester against the earth post and sticking the wire with the pin in the ground at a distance of about one metre. Is the voltage less
Checking the output from the energiser
The Gallagher Fault Finder makes finding faults on the fence quick and easy
than 300V? if so, the earthing is fine. Is the voltage higher than 300V? if this is the case, install additional earth stakes and test again.
To measure is to know A digital voltmeter or tester, such as the Gallagher Fault Finder is an essential tool for this check. In addition to measuring the voltage, it can also be used to quickly locate faults.
The tester has an arrow to indicate which direction to look for the fault. This will save farmers a lot of time and hassle.
Find out more about these tools and the Gallagher Check at www.gallagher.eu/ check or contact the local Gallahger stockist for advice.
NORTHERN ISLES News
No stopping 'Sue the Coo' as she welcomes eighth pair of twins at Hermisgarth
By Sarah Gilmour
AN UDDERLY exceptional
Sanday mother has given birth for the 23rd time.
In just 13 years of breeding, the British Blue-cross owned by James Muir of Hermisgarth has welcomed four single calves, eight sets of twins and one group of triplets into the world.
“There's a programme on Channel 5 called 22 Kids and Counting, so she'll be 23 calves and counting," laughed Mr Muir, who was delighted to see the 15-yearold cow welcome her latest set of twins a fortnight ago.
He added: "The mother in that show is called Sue, so we'd likely need to call this one Sue the Coo!”
The number of calves a cow has in her lifetime can vary massively, depending on how long she is kept breeding and whether she has any multiple births.
The Guinness World Record for the most in a lifetime is held by an Irish beast called Big Bertha, who lived 48 years (also a world record), and birthed 39 calves.
Sue, meanwhile, has proven to be a good mother who births her calves easily, meaning that she has been put back to the bull year after year.
“She's got milk in all four udders, and there's been no hassle with her," said her owner.
"She calved the triplets herself and these twins were born in the morning no trouble at all, and they were just up and sooking.
"She does have a peedie bit of a temper with her too, so you don't want to go too close to her calves. She's protective.”
Sue was born in 2010, and bought from Orkney Auction Mart by James's late father Alasdair in 2013 as an in-calf heifer. She soon welcomed the first of a tremendous brood — which have been fathered by a number of different Charolais and Limousin bulls.
There was no stopping her from there! Indeed, for the next two years on the trot she had twins, and later had a four-year run of twins between 2017 and 2020. In 2023, she welcomed triplets.
Sue's prolific legacy will live on beyond her own breeding years. All 23 calves have survived that crucial infant stage, according to Mr Muir, bar one. One of two heifer calves kept for breeding by
the farm has gone on to birth two sets of twins and a single — and is now in-calf again.
But when will Sue retire, and will she be spared from the plate when she does?
“There's not much sentiment here, I doubt,” said Mr Muir.
"I think she'll go away. She would need a bit of feed put in her after carrying twins, but I doubt I'm a hardened farmer and I don't have a sentimental bone that way — which is maybe the wrong way to look at it.”
So plate it is — but she might be spared for another year yet.
“I wouldn't mind putting her back to the Limousin bull, just to see if I can get another heifer calf
out of her,” said her owner, who feels his father's investment over a decade ago has more than paid off.
For now, Sue is happily nursing her latest babies at the family farm — to the admiration of Mr Muir, his mother Alison, daughters Caitlin and Grace, and his wife Kirsten, Sandays headteacher, who shares something in common with British Blue-cross.
‘The cow came out of South Ronaldsay — the same neck of woods as my wife,” Mr Muir explained.
“I did jokingly ask on Facebook whether she was the best female to come to Sanday from South Ronaldsay! But I'm not sure of the answer to that one . . .”
A major funding boost will encourage small-time producers concerned about the bureaucratic nightmare of complying with support mechanisms to remain in crofting
Shetland Livestock Marketing Group (SLMG) has secured £30,670 from Shetland’s community-led local development fund (CLLD). The money will be used to help producers preparing for the new Whole Farm Plan (WFP) requirements.
The funding is being secured following a partnership with SAC Consulting, which has raised repeated concerns over recent months about how the WFP will impact on isles producers.
The project will see a series of five drop-in sessions held across Shetland to support crofters in accessing information and advice to be able to continue claiming support in 2025/26.
Alongside this, well over 100 crofters who currently claim low levels of rural support –£1,000 or less annually in basic payments – will be able to access fully funded SAC subscriptions for 2025.
It comes after a one-sizefits-all government policy position, which rules that future agricultural support will be dependent on new compliance measures for all agricultural businesses.
The WFP will gradually be phased in for all businesses who submit a single application form.
While crofters and farmers in Shetland will still be eligible for the same schemes as they were last year, for 2025 they will have to undertake at least two baseline plans or audits before they submit their IACS claim this spring.
Chairman of SLMG Cecil Eunson said: “It is not difficult to see how challenging this will be, especially for many of the older generation of crofters who are often those preserving some of our most traditional agricultural practices with an extremely high nature value.
“They are often the people who will suffer most from the digital skills gap as well, and they will definitely struggle with these new requirements.
“The government is saying that folk can complete many of the new plans and audits themselves, but many simply won’t be able to. And we are hearing from many SLMG members who are either thinking of giving up or just not claiming anymore.”
www.shetlandtimes.co.uk
Tel: 01595 742000
Figures from the Scottish government’s rural payment and inspections division (RPID) show over £10 million came to Shetland in 2023 through agricultural support.
Industry leaders say most of that money has stayed within the rural economy, with agriculture having the greatest multiplier effect of any local industry.
And they warn that any reduction in the amount of agricultural assistance coming into Shetland will very quickly have a detrimental effect on our most fragile communities.
The CLLD boost will be used to provide funded assistance to those most at risk of dropping out of the support system all together as they face disproportionately higher compliance costs and a greater administrative burden to meet the new requirements.
Agricultural organisations as well as an SRUC report published last year have all highlighted the risks and potentially devastating knock-on effects of small producers disengaging with the agricultural support system.
The Scottish government also chose to break a longstanding commitment to help
crofts and small farms with subsidised access to advisory support through the Farm Advisory Service Croft and Small Farm Subscription to SAC Consulting’s services.
Osla Jamwal Fraser, SAC Consulting Lerwick, said: “It’s an incredibly challenging time for the industry in general but especially for island agriculture where everything is that bit harder and that bit more expensive.
“We are delighted to be able to deliver this project with SLMG. I would really encourage any crofter who claims less than £1,000 in BPS to get in touch with us or come along to one of the drop-in sessions and we will make sure you get the support you need to be able to meet the requirements for 2025.
“I think it’s really important to remember how diverse our crofting community is. Even locally there is a tendency to think of crofters as a homogenous group of folk, forgetting that many of our crofters are also perhaps low income pensioners, folk struggling with fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis as well as all the industry challenges we are seeing at the moment.
In association with www.orcadian.co.uk Tel: 01856 879000
beef
Using EID to proactively manage Scottish beef herd
For the Green family of Corskie Farm near Garmouth in Morayshire, the use of precision farming technologies such as GPS guided soil mapping, automated cattle weighing, and automatic pig feeding are vital to the successful management of their large-scale mixed farm. Key to the management of their livestock enterprises is the proactive use of electronic identification (EID) tags which the Greens adopted way ahead of them becoming compulsory in beef.
Along with his daughters Laura and Jemma, Iain Green manages a mixed farming enterprise covering a total of 5,819 acres of owned, rented and share-farmed land. With 2,981 acres of arable, 680 sheep, 360 pigs and 539 beef suckler cows and 92 in-calf heifers, plus a nationwide haulage company, the family run business relies heavily on its team of pig-men, stock-workers, general workers, mechanics, drivers and office staff to keep the cogs running smoothly.
But despite their devotion to their jobs, even this dedicated team relies on a few key pieces of technology to enable them to work accurately and efficiently.
On the arable side of the operation, an RTK (real-time kinematic) enabled GPS system is used to map soils, guide machinery and make variable rate input applications, while the high welfare pig unit has used an EID based system since 1995 to automatically feed sows according to their specific requirements.
EID tags are also used to manage the sheep, and even though the use of EID is not yet compulsory in Scottish beef herds, the Greens have proactively been using the technology to oversee the farm’s commercial and pedigree beef herds more accurately and more efficiently.
“We first started using EID tags in our pedigree Simmentals in 2011 after we’d hosted a National Beef Association event at Corskie,” Laura Green explains. “One of the
topics discussed at the event was how to use EID to manage cattle more effectively. That part of the day’s proceedings was presented by Allflex’s Helen Sheppard who successfully persuaded us that we should be using EID to keep a closer track on the performance of our cattle.
“Since then, we’ve been using an Allflex button EID tag alongside the mandatory primary and secondary ear tags and have moved away from a solely paperbased system to a nearly fully electronic way of record-keeping.”
Every animal within the farm’s commercial and pedigree herds is fitted with an EID tag which not only makes record keeping easier and quicker, but also eliminates the scope for human error.
“At first we were using a basic electronic scale and stick reader to weigh cattle on a semi-regular basis,” Iain continues. “But we’ve since moved to a fully automated system where each batch of fattening animals gains access
a water trough by standing on a Ritchie Beef Monitor electronic weighing platform.
“With each animal being weighed multiple times a day and the EID tags ensuring data is correctly assigned to the right animal, we’re getting extremely accurate daily liveweight gain figures for each individual animal and each group of animals.”
With finished cattle sold on an ad hoc basis direct to slaughter, access to such accurate data enables the Greens to react quickly to market prices so that they can maximise returns. “We aim to send cattle away at a dead weight of 400kg which means we’re finishing at a live weight of 700kg,” Iain continues.
“As a direct result of weighing animals and using the EID tags and the farm’s herd management software to select which animals are ready to go, nothing leaves the farm under or over-weight. We’ve been sending batches of up to 50 animals at an average deadweight
Laura and Iain Green proactively introduced EID into the Garmouth pedigree herd of Simmentals in 2011
beef
of 399kg which is pretty close to our optimum finishing weight. And, since 2018, we’ve increased our average deadweight by 23kg which, even as far back as then, was netting us an additional £90 per animal.”
In addition to improving returns and improving the consistency of finished animals, using EID also brings significant time and efficiency savings.
“Our 180 pedigree Simmental cows and 38 in-calf heifers are kept at home, but the commercial herd which consists of 359 Simmental-cross cows and 54 in-calf heifers is kept 12 miles away,” Laura describes. “Using EID enables us to keep track of both herds from the convenience of the farm office with daily weight data easily interrogated without us having to leave the office.
“It’s a much more professional way of running the two herd. Previously we were pulling individual animals out for condition and back-fat scoring which meant we were handling the cattle much more frequently. That was stressful for the cattle and could easily set an animal’s weight gain back by as much as seven days. We’re now finishing cattle more quickly and all without any of the stress.”
Using EID also helps to improve the management and quality of the Simmental herd’s offspring:
“The primary purpose of the pedigree herd is to rear bulls for the suckler industry,” Laura adds. “We pride ourselves on producing some of the best Simmental breeding bulls including a good number of show champions. The data collected by the EID tags helps us to keep a close eye on each cow and calf’s performance and to select the best bulls for sale. Using the EID tags to electronically collate and manage data including key events such as birth, weights, movement dates, and any routine medical intervention also helps us to market our bulls more efficiently and lets us share data with customers who can purchase stock from us in total confidence and complete transparency.”
The VET Squeezing Life into Dummy Calves?
After a calf is born, as a rough guide, we expect it to lift its head within a couple of minutes, sit up on its chest within 5 minutes, attempt to stand within 20 minutes, and achieve a standing position within 60-90 minutes, hopefully attempting to suckle at this stage too.
Many of you will unfortunately be all too familiar with the frustration and disappointment that is dealing with a “dummy” calf. These are newborns which are lethargic, slow to stand, appear disorientated and vacant, and struggle to nurse - sometimes exhibiting no suckle reflex.
Why does this happen? When in the womb, a calf’s brain is naturally maintained in a state of unconsciousness. It is thought that the gradual pressure exerted on a calf’s body as it passes through the birth canal during the normal calving process is critical in triggering the brain to switch
By Balfour S Hay BVMS MRCVS
from this sleepy state into normal activity. Calves born rapidly, with assistance, or by caesarean section therefore might not have experienced the pressure required for this brain activation, possibly resulting in a dummy calf. This is known as Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (NMS).
Developed for the treatment of NMS in foals,
The Madigan Squeeze is a relatively new technique, which has shown promising results in calves also. Only effective in the first few days of life, this technique aims to recreate the pressure experienced in the birth canal to try and restimulate the switch in brain activity. This involves using a soft rope to apply consistent gentle pressure around the calf’s chest (ensuring no pressure is
applied to the airway), which induces a state of sleepiness. After approximately 20 minutes the pressure is released, waking the calf and resulting in instant improvement of the dummy behaviour in some cases! There is lots of information available online about the specifics of performing this technique.
Although this sounds like a miracle cure, it is important to appreciate that NMS is not the only cause of a dummy calf. For example, some will be the result of oxygen deprivation during a prolonged or difficult calving, and these will therefore not respond to the Madigan Squeeze. The Madigan Squeeze is also not suitable for (and could potentially harm) calves with respiratory disease, broken ribs, and other illnesses - therefore as always, seek advice from your vet regarding specific cases on your farm.
Momentum continues at Aberdeen-Angus sales with breed records smashed
A series of record-breaking Aberdeen-Angus cattle sales has reached new heights with Netherton Eclipse Z036 setting a breed record for a bull of £65,600.
The sale, which achieved an exceptional breed average of £8,792, took place during a special online auction run by Marteye and Harrison and Hetherington, celebrating the 101st anniversary of the Perthshire-based Netherton herd.
Eclipse – an embryo by SAV Territory 7225 and out of SAV Emblynette 9811 – attracted international interest and sold in a two-way split to Barningham Angus and Angus House Farm in Romania.
The sale came hot off the heels of the Stirling Bull Sales where a top price of 32,000gns was paid for a bull from Alistair and Graeme Fraser, Idvies Pink Profit Z149.
Sired by Duncanziemere Jacobite W374 and out of Idvies Pinky Paula W933, he sold jointly to Jonathon and Lisa Doyle of the Drumhill Herd, Cookstown, and the Wattie
family of the Tonley Herd, Aberdeenshire.
A new UK record for a red Aberdeen-Angus bull was also set when Mosshall Red Earl Z575, from the West Lothianbased Mosshall herd, sold for 11,000gns.
Put forward by Messrs G & N Taylor, Red Earl is by Mosshall Red Ferdinand U922 and sold to the Fife-based St Fort herd.
A centre record for AberdeenAngus was also set at the Stirling sale with 66 bulls selling to average £7,727 – up £1,542 on last year’s fixture.
Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society CEO Robert Gilchrist says: “The impressive results from these sales highlight the ongoing demand for native genetics as more and more farmers seek low-input cattle as a means of boosting margins and sustainability.
“Although many of the bulls sold to pedigree herds, buoyed by strong beef prices, a good number of buyers were commercial beef producers looking to cash-in on low input cattle that also offer a market premium.”
Reflecting on these recordbreaking prices, Mr Gilchrist emphasises how the auction system helps achieve a fair market value.
“Livestock auctions provide an invaluable service to the livestock industry by delivering a transparent price discovery system,” he says.
“They offer an open and independent way of determining an animal’s value, with new online sale formats expanding accessibility and choice for buyers and sellers alike.”
Farmers looking to invest in quality Aberdeen-Angus genetics
will have another opportunity at the upcoming Native Beef Genetics timed online timed auction, taking place between the 7-9 March. The sale, conducted by Harrison and Hetherington through Marteye, will offer a selection of high-quality semen and embryos.
Further opportunities to purchase Aberdeen-Angus bulls and females include the Melton Mowbray Sale on 22 March, Dungannon Spring Sale on 18 April, and Worcester Sale on 19 April.
Pedigree Livestock Services partners with Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society
Pedigree Livestock Services (PLS) is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, effective 1st March 2025. This collaboration marks an exciting development for both organisations, as PLS takes on the role of administrative partner for the society.
Under this new arrangement, PLS will manage a comprehensive range of services for the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, including
administration, registrations, membership enquiries, and DNA enquiries. This partnership aims to streamline operations and enhance efficiency for society members.
Andy Ryder, Managing Director of PLS, commented, “We are delighted to join forces with the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society. Our team’s extensive experience in livestock society administration will ensure a smooth transition and improved services for all members.”
John Scott, President of the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, added, “This partnership with PLS represents an exciting new chapter for our society. We are confident that their expertise and innovative approach will greatly benefit our members and contribute to the continued growth of the Beef Shorthorn breed.”
As a family-owned business with decades of industry experience, PLS understands the unique challenges faced by livestock societies and breeders. Our team of industry experts is dedicated to reducing costs and allowing members to focus on what matters most – their herds and the advancement of the Beef Shorthorn breed.
This partnership reinforces PLS’s position as a leading provider of administrative services to livestock societies. With its tailored approach and comprehensive range of services, PLS continues to support the agricultural community in navigating the ever-changing landscape of the industry.
New feed launched to help finish cattle quicker
Beef farmers could finish their cattle quicker and more efficiently thanks to a new feed launched by Carr’s Billington.
ProFinisher, which is available in blends or as a farm pack, has been proven to boost daily liveweight gain by up to 6% resulting in cattle being finished earlier on less feed.
Carr’s Billington’s feed sales specialist, Jessica Bertram, says trials have shown huge benefits from using the feed in finishing rations.
“ProFinisher has been found to improve daily liveweight gain by 0.1kg, with feed conversion efficiency increasing by 0.11, and cattle boasting an overall 19kg
Monitor Farm Scotland programme reviews progress and looks to future
Halfway through its current four-year programme, Monitor Farm Scotland has published a comprehensive review of progress, statistics and feedback, including updates on all nine Monitor Farms.
So far, it has connected over 1,000 farmers and covered more than 60 topics.
It has held 48 open Monitor Farm meetings, attracting an average of 54 attendees, of which 48% were under 45 and 27% female. It has also developed collaborative partnerships with 58 organisations, ranging from farmers and agribusinesses to research institutions and vets.
Surveys have given additional feedback on its influence:
• 99% of farmers plan to attend future meetings.
• 87% report improved technical knowledge.
• 78% say it will improve business decision-making.
• 90% of management group members say it has strengthened local collaboration and communication.
The programme, which has an ethos of being ‘Farmer-Led, Farmer-Driven’ has been extended by a year this time and is fully funded by Scottish Government’s Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund. It is managed by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) with support from AHDB and delivered by programme manager Beth Alexander and three regional advisers.
Beth says: “It has been fantastic to be part of discussions at the Monitor Farms and see how each of the businesses is adapting.
“As a supportive, business-focused network, it helps shift perspectives and drives change. Few initiatives
provide such a unique platform for collaboration and growth in the farming sector.”
The Monitor Farm programme’s remaining two years will focus on ensuring farming businesses are sustainable technically and financially, adds Beth.
“There have been significant financial insights through the ‘Farmer-Led, FarmerDriven’ approach, boosting confidence for farmers to identify and address business challenges.
“Technology will also play a role, with trials exploring virtual fencing, EID and high-tech boluses to monitor health. We are also expanding our digital reach with more videos and a new podcast.”
• Find out more and read the review at https://www. monitorfarms.co.uk/
Find out more about Quality Meat Scotland at qmscotland.co.uk and follow @qmscotland on social
Beth Alexander, Monitor Farm Programme Manager
increase in total liveweight,” she adds.
“This not only delivers a financial benefit for farmers due to less feed being required but also delivers environmental gains because the cattle are being finished on less inputs.”
ProFinisher is manufactured for Carr’s Billington by Techna and the company’s GB technical sales manager, Jamie-Leigh Douglas, says the product contains natural active ingredients.
Ms Douglas adds: “ProFinisher contains a blend of 100% natural plant-based essential oils, which work to improve the energy efficiency of the digestive tract in ruminants.
“It increases the amount of propionate – a volatile fatty acid
– in the rumen, which is really important for improving energy utilisation from the feed the cattle are eating.
“It also works in the hind gut by increasing the crypt depth of the villi, ensuring better absorption of nutrients.”
She says another benefit of the feed is the inclusion of specific coatings on the natural oils for targeted release within the rumen and hindgut – ensuring it is effective where it needs to be.
Ms Bertram believes these two modes of action, alongside the coatings on the oils, are key to ProFinisher’s success, and the wider success of a beef enterprise.
She adds: “By ensuring cattle make better use of the energy and nutrients in their diet, they
will gain weight more quickly – something which is key to the success of a profitable and efficient finishing enterprise.”
For more information on ProFinisher, please get in touch with your local Carr’s Billington representative.
Scientists develop AI tools to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock farming and land use
Loughborough University computer scientists have developed AI tools that offer insights into how greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK livestock farming and land use can be reduced.
The tools – which are hosted on an online digital platform and created as part of research funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) – aim to provide farmers, farming organisations, and government bodies with valuable data on how changes in livestock practices and land use can help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero goal.
Developed by a team led by Professor Baihua Li and Professor Qinggang Meng, key features of the platform include machine learning models designed to estimate methane emissions from livestock farming, predict milk productivity and ammonia emissions from dairy farms, and analyse how land use and
environmental factors influence methane emissions across the UK.
“Our mission is to bridge the gap between innovation and practicality, offering a platform that supports data-driven decisions to combat climate change, advance
sustainable farming, and achieve global net-zero emissions goals”, said Professor Li.
“By harnessing AI, our platform can offer data-driven insights that can help forecast future emissions based on a diverse
range of data, giving stakeholders actionable intelligence to make cost-effective proactive decisions.”
Why tackling livestock emissions and promoting sustainable land use will help achieve net zero.
sheep
Subsidised Industry Support Available to Help GB Sheep Farmers Identify Possible Reasons for Early Lamb Losses
MSD Animal Health UK
Limited (a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE: MRK)) has launched its 2025 FlockCheck diagnostic scheme, which allows sheep farmers in England, Scotland and Wales to ask their vet to blood test their flock for exposure to toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion (EAE).
The opportunity to test GB flocks for exposure to toxoplasmosis opens on 1st February 2025, with the EAE diagnostic phase starting on 1st April 2025. This popular subsidised service, which helps farmers identify possible reasons for early lamb losses, closes at the end of June 2025.
According to sheep farmers, ewe reproductive failure, neonatal lamb disease and mortality are the three biggest factors limiting better flock productivity1 – with toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion continuing to be significant causes of these unwanted flock heath issues. Consequently, GB sheep farmers who find that more than 2% of their flock is barren or aborting this lambing season are being encouraged to contact their vet to take advantage of the FlockCheck diagnostic scheme.
“From our own 2024 flock health survey of 966 sheep units, we know that more than 30% of GB sheep flocks don’t know their barren ewe rate or are reporting a figure greater than 5% after lambing2. This is particularly concerning,” said MSD Animal Health veterinary adviser Dr Kat Baxter-Smith.
GB sheep farmers can take advantage of the FlockCheck diagnostic scheme by asking their vet to take blood samples from six to eight aborted, unvaccinated ewes, or from barren ewes or ones that have
produced weakly lambs. Experience has shown that the results help vets and their farmer clients make more informed decisions about appropriate flock health measures.
Annual FlockCheck blood test results consistently demonstrate that a significant proportion of aborted ewes tested have been exposed to either toxoplasmosis or EAE – and sometimes both. For example, 2024 results showed 80% of 382 sheep flocks had been exposed to toxoplasmosis and 26% to EAE3. 74 flocks (19.4%) had been exposed to both pathogens. This is consistent with a recent APHA analysis showing that between 2002 and 2019, toxoplasmosis and EAE were the two most common diagnoses of sheep abortion4.
According to Dr BaxterSmith, both these causes of abortion can be responsible for reducing the number of lambs
per ewes mated, which can increase workload and stress during lambing.
“For example, toxoplasmosis, caused by infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, does not just cause abortion. It is also the main infectious cause of early embryo loss in sheep and a very common cause of barren ewes or weak, sickly live lambs. It is likely that almost all flocks in Great Britain have been in contact with this endemic parasite, which means all breeding sheep should be considered at risk.”
Dr Baxter-Smith also explained that one of the main reasons for such high levels of toxoplasmosis is that sheep can become infected very easily.
“Sheep pick up the toxoplasma parasite from the environment and so normal biosecurity measures are not enough to control the disease. Infected cats shed toxoplasma
eggs in their faeces and sheep become infected when they ingest these eggs from contaminated pasture, feed and water. The eggs are tough and can survive in the environment for over a year, which means farmers need to take steps to protect their sheep.
“Fortunately, the disease can be controlled effectively by a simple vaccination regime. What’s more, the costs of a vaccination programme can be easily covered by a reduction in future flock barren and abortion rates5. In reality, every ewe should ideally be vaccinated before she breeds because of the widespread disease threat and the significant financial losses,” she said.
Sheep farmers interested in taking advantage of this industry support from MSD Animal Health to help reduce the risk of lower productivity and profitability, should contact their local practice as soon as possible.
sheep
National Sheep Association welcomes major step forward for farm assurance
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has declared the Farm Assurance Review, released last week, a ‘huge victory and major step forward’ for making standards simpler and more relevant to sheep farmers. The first UK-wide review of farm assurance has called for a fundamental reset of the system to rebuild confidence amongst farmers.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “NSA has regularly made itself unpopular by consistently challenging our main farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, over several years and we raised our head well above the parapet last year when we wrote to the Assured Food Standards/ Red Tractor Board saying that unless significant change came about we were prepared to demand a vote of no confidence in the leadership team. Past NSA Chairman Bryan Griffiths plays a vital role representing NSA on the Red Tractor Beef and Lamb
Board, supported with his wife Liz who is an enormous help and driving force.
Devon Sheep Farmer
Mr Griffiths adds: “The comprehensive review highlights the issues that have beset farm assurance in recent years and makes detailed recommendations for the way forward. Among the numerous recommendations made by the independent commissioners is a need to ‘clarify and reset’ the purpose of assurance. They also acknowledged the impact of participation in farm assurance on mental health by recommending that ‘on-farm audits must be reduced, simplified and delivered more consistently.’
“With specific reference to Red Tractor, the report notes that ‘a significant proportion of farmers and growers have lost confidence in the operations of the scheme and ‘the overwhelming call is for a new leadership approach and culture’. It also refers to appointments to sector
boards being independent of the senior executive team, which is also something I particularly welcome. The implementation of these recommendations should allow the rebuilding of a new, fit for purpose, assurance scheme with NSA helping to keep it grounded and practicable.”
The nine month review, established by the UK farming unions and the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), was conducted independently by four Commissioners.
It concludes that farm assurance is critical to the industry’s future, is delivering necessary assurances on quality to consumers but must make some fundamental changes to address growing frustration amongst farmers in how it is delivered. The report is nuanced in its approach, recognising where existing arrangements work well, but being clear where changes are essential.
NSA has long been committed to the principle of farm assurance and would like to see as few barriers as possible for sheep keepers to sign up and remain scheme members. The Association believes farm assurance should be based around core industry foundation schemes that provide the option for farmers to give a declaration of legal compliance to guarantee food safety and animal welfare. Standards should reflect this foundation level and not be developed to suit consumer/ retailer trends.
This farm assurance review supports NSA’s belief that implementation at farm level must be clearly and practically explained, using a commonsense approach. Any changes to the standards must be developed in partnership with industry stakeholder groups, such as NSA, and then be communicated clearly, consistently and in good time.
pigs
Piglet health and survival boosted in microbial bedding conditioner trial
UK pig farmers are being encouraged to use a microbial bedding conditioner after trials showed its use can help reduce disease and mortality rates in piglets.
Lallemand Animal Nutrition UK & Ireland’s environmental product manager, Lientjie Colahan, says the use of a microbial bedding conditioner to creative a positive biofilm in pig sheds has been proven to deliver benefits.
“Creating an environment with beneficial microbes in it for piglets from birth will help support them in the face of bacterial challenges such as postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) – and ultimately support a reduction in mortality rates,” says Mrs Colahan.
“The positive biofilm can be created by applying a microbial bedding conditioner in farrowing pens; this will inoculate the piglets’ skin with positive bacteria and help to provide a barrier to any negative bacteria in the environment which they may come into contact with.”
A trial on a farrow-to-finish farm in France looked at the use of Lallemand’s microbial bedding conditioner, EazyBed PRO, on a total of 355 piglets that were split into two batches[1].
Both batches were divided into groups, with one group’s mats covered with EazyBed PRO and the other group’s mats covered with a standard conditioner containing plant extracts and silicates.
The trial found the number of piglets suffering from PWD dropped by 95.63% in the group with mats covered in EazyBed PRO, compared to the standard bedding conditioner, and mortality rates also dropped by more than 13%.
Mrs Colahan says there was also a significant improvement in weight gain in the piglets in contact with the microbial bedding conditioner.
“The difference in the increase in weight between the two groups ranged from between 210g and 500g in weeks 1 to 4, and at week 5 when the piglets were weaned the average weight increase of those in contact with EazyBed PRO was 440g more than those piglets in contact with the standard conditioner,” adds Mrs Colahan.
One farmer who has enjoyed the benefits of using a microbial biological bedding conditioner on his 1,000-sow, farrow-to-finish unit in Northern Ireland is Jonny Hessin.
He says: “Promoting piglet health and nutrition from the off is important to me because robust piglets support productivity and profitability.”
Previously using a dry powder disinfectant conditioner, Mr Hessin made the switch to using EazyBed PRO.
He says: “Since making the switch, I’ve noticed that piglets dry much quicker after birth which allows them to take their first colostrum feed quicker, bolstering health.
“The environment the piglets are in is also much more hygienic,
limiting the risk of infection, which can have knock-on effects on welfare and growth.”
Mr Hessin concludes: “I wasn’t sure whether we’d see
much change from using a different product, but we’re really pleased with EazyBed PRO and wouldn’t switch back to our previous product now.”
Mrs Colahan
National Shooting Show Preview Is Scotland ready for Lynx?
Waking up to venison
The Natural Environment Bill
Article
Staying ahead of the curve
Deer Management
Don't forget people and jobs when delivering deer management changes
Habitat & Species Protection
Changes to General Licenses for 2025
Gun dogs with Stuart Dunn
Scottish Country Life with Jake Swindells
The Ghillie Bob Whyte is hoping for another good salmon season
Cooking with Game Wendy Blair's Argyle Venison Casserole
Now that we have managed to bring back our Shooting Scotland title after 5 years off due to a certain pandemic, it is truly humbling to have the backing and support of everyone who has contributed to this issue, be it with editorial content and/ or advertising placement.
Everyone I have spoken to have been so very encouraging, that I would like to thank you all.
Of course, we are still in the early stages of our Shooting & Fishing title ‘come-back’, but Christina and I now see a great future ahead where we can support and promote this side of our rural life in Scotland in addition to, and complimenting the farming community as represented with Farming Scotland Magazine.
After five years away, we have re connected with agencies who hold our natural and native lands in their protective hands. Going forward, we will build on this, and create a platform where the rural lifestyle story can be told – from the perspective of those who actually live it.
At the same time, we will hold our government to account in Scotland and throughout the five nations.
Shooting Scotland Magazine and Farming Scotland Magazines are both on your side!
Slàinte, Athole.
Is Scotland ready for Lynx?
Don't forget people and jobs when delivering deer management changes - by Tom Turnbull, Chair, ADMG
With Stuart Dunn, Caledonian Retrievers Club
Changes to General Licenses for 2025 - by Felix Meister, Advisor, GWCT Scotland
With Jake Swindells, Scottish Countryside Alliance
Bob Whyte is hoping for another good salmon season
A few gift ideas maybe?
Scotland’s first flagship country sports tourism conference set to bring together sector leaders
Country Sport Scotland is proud to announce the inaugural Scottish Country Sports Tourism Conference, set to take place on Friday, 2nd May 2025, at Blair Castle, Perthshire.
This flagship event will bring together estates, sporting providers, tourism businesses, and key stakeholders to discuss the future of Scotland’s thriving country sports tourism industry.
The conference will provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration, offering expert-led keynotes, industry discussions, and handson workshops tailored to those involved in Scotland’s country sports tourism sector.
With Scotland being a worldrenowned destination for activities such as deer stalking, fishing, and game shooting, the event aims to strengthen and promote the economic and cultural significance of country sports tourism.
As the leading resource for country sports tourism in Scotland, Country Sport Scotland connects visitors with world-class sporting experiences, from deer stalking in the Highlands to goose-shooting along Scotland’s coasts, driven game shooting on renowned estates, and exceptional fly fishing on Scotland’s famous rivers.
As highlighted in the Value of Shooting report, the sector contributes £340 million in direct value and £760 million in total impact annually to Scottish economy, generating 270,000 trips and 910,000 visitor nights while supporting 4,400 full-time equivalent jobs. Shooting alone provides an additional £177 million in environmental, health, and foodrelated benefits in Scotland.
With strong demand from the UK, Europe, and North America, the sector has significant growth potential, particularly in high-end markets. To ensure Scotland fully
capitalises on these opportunities, the conference will also explore ways to position the country as a world-class destination for fieldsports.
The conference will feature keynote speeches from industry leaders, panel discussions on current challenges and opportunities, and afternoon breakout sessions covering key topics such as marketing strategies and business development.
This event is organised by Country Sport Scotland (owned and operated by Scotland’s largest shooting and conservation organisation, the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC)), as part of its mission to support and promote Scotland’s country sports sector.
Kirk Norbury, Project Manager of Country Sport Scotland said:
“This is a significant step forward for Scotland’s country sports tourism sector. Our industry
plays a crucial role in supporting rural economies, attracting international visitors, and preserving Scotland’s sporting history.
“By bringing together experts, businesses, and providers, we can ensure that country sports tourism remains a sustainable and thriving part of Scotland’s visitor economy.”
Peter Clark, Scotland Director of BASC said:
“Scotland showcases the very best of sporting tourism, with a worldwide reputation of warm hospitality and the very best of experiences.
“BASC was delighted to take on board Country Sport Scotland last year, and we have seen this organisation go from strength to strength since this acquisition.
“This inaugural conference will bring the brightest and the best in the sector to champion a way forward for Scotland’s worldrenowned sporting sector”.
SSAFA Borders clay shoot on target for April 27
For the fourth year in succession, the Borders Branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has organised a clay shoot at Bisley at Braidwood to support of veterans and serving personnel, and their families, in the area. Now an established and muchanticipated diary date, the 2025
shoot takes place on Sunday, April 27 starting at 9.45am with shooting commencing at 10.30am.
Bisley at Braidwood –overlooking the Eildon Hills – is described as the largest and most comprehensive sporting clay shooting layout in Scotland, and the
charity shoot for SSAFA promises to be a blast for experienced guns and novices alike.
The charity shoot in aid of SSAFA has been organised by Borders branch fundraisers John Currie and Jane Dickson.
John, a retired major late The King's Own Scottish Borderers,
said: “Our clay pigeon charity events have everything you need for a truly memorable experience, from the clay shooting right through to delicious lunch and auction of donated prizes.
“With a relaxed atmosphere and excellent catering, your team will be looked after impeccably,
so you don’t have to worry about a thing and can instead concentrate on your shooting and raising money for a great cause.”
Adrian Lucas, chairman of the Borders branch, added: “Our SSAFA Borders Clay Shoot is now a regular fixture in the diaries of teams in the area and from further afield, and it – the local Armed Forces family – is a cause they’re as dedicated to supporting as we in SSAFA are.
“But we couldn’t do this without the hard work from John and Jane in the branch. It was their effort and alacrity that made the day such good fun. Many thanks also to the Bisley at Braidwood team for its outstanding and continuing support.
“However, while fun, these fundraising events are crucial to our work. They enable us to can carry on what we’ve been doing for 140 years this year, because we believe that no-one in the Armed Forces community – regardless of ship, regiment, or squadron, old or young, serving or retired – should never have
to face struggles and battle them alone.”
Teams of four can register for the seven sporting stands, Pool Shoot, and 60-clay Team Flush for just £360 (£90 per person), which includes a breakfast roll, a buffet lunch, a prize draw, and cartridges.
John added that there are still opportunities for businesses or individuals to sponsor the event or a stand, or to donate a prize for the draw to take place after the shoot on April 27.
To learn more about SSAFA Borders, or to discuss entering
a team or sponsorship, contact John on 07810 486337 or john. currie@borders.ssafa.org.uk.
The 2025 Clay Shoot for SSAFA takes place at Bisley at Braidwood, Midlem, near Selkirk, TD7 4QD (off the B6453).
Appeal for urgent rethink by government on deer management proposals
Land-based businesses, estates, gamekeepers and stalkers across Scotland have appealed to the Scottish Government to reconsider its approach to deer management, warning that proposed policies could jeopardise rural livelihoods, biodiversity, and Scotland’s natural heritage.
Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, said that an urgent pivot in direction is required for deer management to be more effective.
Speaking after a parliamentary evidence session before the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee,
SLE said government should work to enable deer managers through incentives coupled with proportionate regulatory powers and appropriate legal safeguards for landowners.
The organisation said the forthcoming Natural Environment Bill presented a crucial opportunity to chart this path – but that this would require Scottish Ministers to engage effectively with private deer managers who are responsible for 80% of the annual cull.
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Significant
progress has already been made in tackling deer impacts through collaboration—particularly via deer management groups and, more recently, through initiatives like the award-winning Common Ground Forum. This progress –predicated on finding consensusshould be acknowledged and built upon, rather than disregarded.
“A purely regulatory approach to deer reduction could have unintended consequences. Disproportionate regulatory powers may disrupt deer management already taking place, as well as putting at risk other land management practices,
and employment in the rural economy.
“Fixating on reducing a contested national population figure of one million deer is, to quote NatureScot, “misleading and unhelpful”. The focus should be on local and regional impacts instead.”
Mr Ewing appealed for the Scottish Government to address lowland deer management and also to work with land managers and utilise their experience in deer management to design policies fit for the future.
Ross added: “Lowland deer management looks set to
be overlooked yet again in the forthcoming Natural Environment Bill, which is a major concern for many within the sector. We need an urgent rethink to enable lowland deer management through improved collaboration, incentives, and investment in community infrastructure such as larders and chillers.
“Any future regulatory powers need to recognise that deer are not the only barriers to nature recovery—all herbivore impacts must be considered. Proposals to compel deer culls on the basis of ‘nature recovery’ alone are likely to be legally and practically flawed. We would appeal to the Scottish Government to work with those who understand the realities of deer management rather than impose ill-conceived top-down policies.”
Deer managers hail decision not to change seasons
Relief at avoiding culls of heavily pregnant hinds
Scotland’s deer managers yesterday hailed Scottish Government’s decision not to alter the female deer seasons, saying professionals will be spared the mental torment of culling heavily pregnant hinds.
Scottish Government consulted on whether to extend the female culling season which would have added six weeks to the end of the current open season and three weeks to the start.
The change was one of 99 recommendations made by the 2020 Deer Working Group report, which reviewed deer management laws and practices in Scotland.
However, deer management professionals in the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) campaigned against the change, saying it would impact the mental wellbeing of professionals.
Culling up to 31st March, they said, would mean deer managers having to shoot females which could be up to three quarters of the way through their pregnancy.
They would then have to remove large calves from the mother whilst carrying out routine gralloching (opening) of animals for the food chain.
The SGA claimed that this prospect revulsed consulted members and the representative body met with Ministers and other MSPs, cross-party, to seek a stop to the proposal.
They were joined in their campaign by Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust, a charity providing mental health and financial support to professionals and their families in land and river management.
On Tuesday, Rural Affairs Minister Jim Fairlie announced that Scottish Government would not be changing the female deer open season, having listened intently to deer stalkers on the ground.
Responding to a Parliamentary question by Highlands SNP MSP Emma Roddick, he said the Government believed the female deer cull could be undertaken within the current season, with authorisations remaining available for out of season culling, when required.
“Following consultation with stakeholders, I have concluded that, in most cases, the cull levels required to reduce the overall deer population to support nature and climate objectives can be achieved within existing deer seasons.
“Where it is necessary to cull outwith existing seasons, there will continue to be the ability to apply to NatureScot for authorisations. In coming to this decision, I have taken careful note of the potential distress caused to many stalkers by being required routinely to shoot heavily pregnant female deer and I have decided against
any wider change to the timings of the female close season.”
Yesterday the SGA welcomed the ‘common sense’ decision by the Minister, saying that having the buy-in of professionals would be essential to meet higher culls in future.
“We are really pleased at this announcement. We met with the Minister, and others, and relayed our members’ fears over the proposal. Everyone we spoke to didn’t want to be in situations where culling heavily pregnant animals and removing large calves was to be normalised in Scotland.
“Deer managers have a difficult job to do and they are not uncaring people. They are humans with feelings and families, lime other professionals, and they respect their quarry.
“Had this gone through, it would have demoralised them. That would have been counterproductive because these highly trained professionals are going to be needed more than ever, if Scotland is to meet its nature and biodiversity goals.
“This is a victory for common sense and listening,” said SGA Chairman, Alex Hogg, MBE.
Is Scotland ready for lynx?
The abandonment of four apparently tame lynx in the Cairngorms National Park in January was universally condemned as irresponsible. Nobody except the perpetrators knows why these animals were dumped in the manner they were, with no apparent regard for the local community or the welfare of the animals. However, the fear has long been that impatient individuals might bypass the law and release lynx back into Scotland by clandestine means. Hopefully, the message has now got through that unsanctioned releases are not the way to reintroduce missing species in the modern era. But that message was swiftly undermined when Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, dismissed hopes
Photographs
Rewilding
of an official reintroduction out of hand at the recent NFU Scotland conference in Glasgow, saying his “government will not be reintroducing lynx.” Swinney referenced a need to “balance” food production with action to address the nature and climate emergency, playing one against the other as if food production didn’t depend on nature and a stable climate.
Swinney’s justification was disingenuous at best, since lynx would pose no threat to Scotland’s food security. It’s true that lynx might kill a small number of sheep, but never enough to threaten our nation’s food security. After all, Scotland produces a large surplus of sheep meat and exports nearly as much as it eats. How many sheep does
John Swinney imagine lynx might eat from the millions roaming our landscapes? Even in Norway, where sheep losses are orders of magnitude higher than any other country in the world, the national flock has been increasing alongside a thriving lynx population.
John Swinney should also note that a growing majority of the Scottish public are now in favour of a lynx reintroduction, with nearly two in three expressly supporting the lynx’s return and only one in eight opposed. If there was a referendum tomorrow, the mandate for a reintroduction could hardly be clearer. And yet, while a shrinking minority of Scots remain opposed to lynx reintroduction, their perspective must still be recognised, their
rights upheld, and their interests given due consideration. That must be the focus of future consultations – to examine the feasibility of different reintroduction proposals, to identify what hardships and costs people might incur, and to explore how any problems might be avoided or mitigated.
Certainly, a lynx reintroduction would generate costs, including the possibility of disruption to shooting activities, interruptions to forestry operations and, very likely, some loss of livestock. But lynx would also generate benefits, enriching the natural environment and our experience of it, while also boosting tourism revenues.
Indeed, an analysis from Germany’s Harz Mountains,
where lynx have recently been reintroduced, suggests each lynx has generated around £200,000 per year for the local economy. While we refuse to reintroduce lynx in Scotland, our rural communities are being denied that boost, an opportunity cost under-acknowledged by those who oppose reintroductions.
The problem with wildlife cost-benefit trade-offs, common the world over, is that those who bear the greatest costs of coexistence often receive the fewest benefits. To address this, we need a system that redistributes more of these financial gains to those most affected. While the details of how such a system might operate for lynx in Scotland are yet to be determined, similar approaches in other countries provide useful models, and Scotland has an opportunity to learn from this global experience, designing a system tailored to our needs, shaped through public consultation and continuous refinement.
Public consultations attract disparate opinions and often require decision-makers to balance competing interests without offering any one group a veto or disproportionate influence. But they are also necessary, and while it’s true that ‘unofficial’ releases helped lynx become re-established in Switzerland in the 1970s, contemporary conservationists better understand the importance of community consultation and the need for public support ahead of reintroductions – especially when considering an apex predator like the lynx.
Some who oppose lynx reintroduction argue that no measure of compromise is acceptable and no level of loss tolerable. But we should be clear about the choice we face: we either support the complicated and sometimes uneasy business of coexistence with wild animals, or we endorse their extermination and absolute exclusion. If countries like Uganda or Sri Lanka, with much higher human population densities and lower GDPs than our own, can coexist
Rewilding
with leopards or even lions, it’s hard to argue that we couldn’t live with a medium-sized cat like the lynx.
The challenge is to find a way in which a lynx reintroduction can be managed fairly. Illegal releases benefit no one, stripping local communities of any say, alienating potential supporters and undermining broader conservation efforts. But ignoring the impact of the lynx’s absence and blocking reintroduction hopes is equally harmful. Without these animals, our ecosystems are fundamentally impoverished, and our lives are deprived of the wonder and joy that only such charismatic animals can provide.
Nor is their return only about restoring health to our natural systems or enriching nearby nature, creating opportunities for more people to enjoy inspiring wild experiences in our naturedepleted country. It is also about the example we set for the wider world, as either a country that is genuinely committed to nature restoration, or a nation that is hostile to nature and exceptionally intolerant of wildlife. After all, how can we expect other countries to
conserve their wolves or tigers, their elephants or rhinoceroses, if we refuse to coexist with even a humble lynx? Do we want to live in a world rich with wildlife, or not?
One farmer I spoke to on this issue expressed his fears that releasing lynx could exacerbate what he described as a culture war, worsening relations between those who claim nothing except nature matters and those who act as if only food production counts. Certainly, if we get this wrong, that divide will only deepen. But make no mistake, ignoring popular sentiment and blocking the lynx’s return without a proper public debate will be just as divisive. It’s critical we get this right. The only way forward is through compromise. It won’t be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
SCOTLAND: The Big Picture is part of the Lynx to Scotland partnership, along with Trees for Life and the Lifescape Project. Lynx to Scotland is working to return lynx to the Scottish Highlands through a carefully managed reintroduction.
Over 50% of our total support in the UK is carried out in Scotland, whether through Jamies’ Helpline for advice, a listening ear and help, in the job, out of the job, health, housing, relationships, redundancy or retirement.
With a busy schedule of events this year, we look forward to catching up with gamekeepers, stalkers, ghillies and their families along the way. This is an excellent opportunity to explain how we can help and what we do and thank our wonderful supporters.
It is also an opportunity to offer our support on the spot. Health Checks for anyone coming along; only takes a few minutes, no appointments required and a card to take away with results. An MOT check with other benefits too as our GWT nurses are on hand to chat about any
concern and follow up calls if required. Almost 900 health checks were given last year and several serious health problems averted as a result. To make the most of our lives we owe it to ourselves to remain as active and as healthy as we can for as long as we can, whether we are young or more mature in age.
Our Housing and Benefits Officer, Gillian is on hand to offer practical advice and is available at any reasonable time to call and assist in any financial or housing issue. This is not just in retirement and later life but might be because of a change of career or in the job.
The Check in with a Mate campaign continues and for anyone is a great way to keep in touch, check in with that friend you haven’t seen for a while don’t forget those closer to us who may appreciate a blether.
deer management
Decision makers urged not to forget people and jobs when delivering deer management changes
By Tom Turnbull, Chair, the Association of Deer Management Groups
ADMG’s member Deer Management Groups (DMGs) cover three million hectares of the Highlands. Through voluntary collaborative working they deliver deer management at little cost to government. Change is happening however, and deer management is now considered in the light of the climate and biodiversity crises and the public interest. The Natural Environment Bill will undoubtedly increase pressure on deer managers to deliver more through new legislation and increased regulation. In the Highlands reliance is placed on some 50 voluntary DMGs to undertake collaborative deer management, helping to deliver ambitious targets for biodiversity and climate change. Collaboration across landscapes should be nurtured. Care should be taken to ensure that those people tasked with delivering
targets are recognised for the work they undertake.
A recent report from the James Hutton Institute commissioned by Scottish Government Enabling landscape scale management in Scotland highlighted the need to incentivise and support DMGs as relevant examples of collaborative working in the Highlands. The importance of collaboration and the need for deer managers to work together is understood in the sector, but many of the men and women tasked with delivering these important targets feel overlooked.
Deer management is a tough, unrelenting job requiring long hours in often difficult weather and conditions day after day. It’s not a job for everyone, but those doing it are rightly proud of their work and its heritage. These are highly skilled, motivated people dedicated to the task
because of the affinity they have with the landscape and the deep understanding they have with deer.
Whilst I am sure that they will continue to deliver, we must not overlook the fears that exist in the sector. As deer numbers are reduced through regulation and increased pressure, many practitioners feel there is a real threat to their jobs in the short to medium term. Income derived through deer management will potentially reduce too but employment and business security for deer management is absolutely vital through this period. Across Scotland 80% of the deer harvest is undertaken by the private sector with very little financial support. With peatland restoration, and woodland creation and protection all relying on deer management, consideration must be given to incentives and support for
the people and jobs critical to delivering this change.
A ‘just transition’ is something we hear a lot about and it is important to reassure and support our deer managers as they are pushed to reduce deer numbers to ever lower levels. As habitat improves and tree planting targets are reached one thing is certain, in the long term we will need a motivated and inspired deer management sector. Scottish Government support for the next generation of deer managers and remote rural communities is needed now to ensure that we have that resource and capacity in place to deliver deer management in the future.
Venison, the outstanding product of deer management should also be supported. It should be on the menu in schools and hospitals. As an organic, sustainable and healthy protein it should not be a hard sell, and we have to promote it to a wider audience. Scottish Government has a role to play here too.
With the introduction of the Natural Environment Bill, strong feelings and concerns are coming to the fore in the sector, change should be encouraged and nurtured and those tasked with undertaking deer reductions must be valued. We need to support deer managers and stalkers in their jobs, and incentivise deer management and the venison sector and this will deliver results - for climate change, biodiversity recovery, rural communities and the rural economy.
This article was first published in Holyrood Magazine 13 January 2025
Red Deer
We should all wake up to venison - a natural, sustainable resource that’s on our doorstep
By Sophie Gault, Assistant Stalker, Ben Alder Estate
I’ll never forget the day I cooked my first piece of venison. I was lucky enough to be given a hind carcass from my manager at the time, to work on my butchery skills. After breaking it down I found myself with a freezer full of venison and no clue how to cook any of it. I didn’t grow up eating venison or any wild game, unless it was on a menu in a restaurant. Taking a part of the loin - a cut of meat from the back of the animal known to be extremely tender - I began to ponder what to do with it. Recipe books, YouTube tutorials and tips from top chefs on websites were bombarding me with elaborate recipes for glazed, flambéed venison etc. Instead of overcomplicating it,
I oiled a frying pan and brought it to a high heat, seasoned the loin with salt and fried it evenly until browned on all sides and cooked to what I hoped would be medium rare. I rested it for five minutes, eagerly and somewhat nervously waiting to try it. I cut the loin straight down the middle and, to my relief and utter excitement, it was a perfect pink medium rare. The taste was better than any steak I’d ever had, and I couldn’t believe I had just cooked it!
Taking into consideration the low fat content of venison, it is easier to overcook compared with other red meats. It is also very easy to overcomplicate cooking venison, and you can
simply use it as an alternative in many regular dishes at home. For example, meals including bolognese, curry and fajitas can all be made using venison with no difference in timings or process to your usual recipe. Locking in the moisture is key to keeping that flavour and tenderness that venison is known for. Sauces and marinades are always a welcome idea when it comes to venison, and I am certainly fond of a whisky sauce!
Venison is lean, high in protein, nutrient dense, and high in omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamin B6 and B12 that are vital for brain health and energy production plus very low in sodium. Research shows
wild venison is higher in iron that any other red meat. Given the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in the UK, this makes it, in my eyes, the healthiest red meat option available to us. Scottish wild deer are selfsustaining. Once shot, it takes minimal transportation and fuel emissions for the carcass to reach the game dealer for processing, or increasingly often is processed locally. Wild deer in Scotland aren’t owned by anyone, they exist in our environment, need to be sustainably managed to maintain natural habitats at an appropriate density and therefore we should be developing ways to make every use of this exceptional asset, particularly in the light of the imminent Environment Bill Venison must become more mainstream, talked about in a more natural way, and not approached as a luxury or to be wary of cooking. Thousands of children rely on meals every day through our education system, so picture this - multiple schools up and down the country, consistently supplied with the healthiest red meat Scotland can provide, wild venison. No additives, no nasties just packed with protein and all the necessities for growing children. Not only does this make use of a key, natural, sustainable resource but also allows the education system to embrace much-needed reality about where our food comes from and the conservation efforts implemented daily by the dedicated practitioners that
Venison stew
are so often overlooked. Wild venison, from wild Scotland.
This article was first printed in Holyrood Magazine 27 January 2025
Sophie Gault studied for a National Certificate in Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management at North Highland
College, Thurso, also working as a placement student deer ghillie with NatureScot on nature reserves including Isle of Rum NNR and Creag Meagaidh NNR alongside her studies. She has worked as a seasonal ghillie in Glen Etive whilst also spending time as a ghillie on the River
Etive. Employed as a seasonal deer ghillie at Ben Alder Estate, she became full time and has been working as an Assistant Deerstalker there for four and a half years.
Venison platter
Venison sausage
The National Shooting Show: A Celebration of British
Field Sports and Conservation
The National Shooting Show is a true highlight in the British shooting calendar. As the premier event for shooting enthusiasts, land managers, gamekeepers, and countryside custodians, the show brings together the best of the industry in a showcase of tradition, innovation, and conservation
A Show for the Entire Shooting Community
The National Shooting Show is designed to celebrate all aspects of shooting sports, from game and clay shooting to rifle marksmanship and pest control. With a strong emphasis on education, sustainability, and responsible shooting, the event provides a unique platform where professionals, enthusiasts, and newcomers alike can explore the latest developments in the field.
Taking place over two actionpacked days, the show features exhibitors offering everything from shotguns, rifles, optics, and ammunition to country
NATIONAL SHOOTING SHOW
clothing, accessories, and specialist equipment. In addition to the trade stands, visitors can experience a wide range of demonstrations and interactive experiences designed to enhance their skills and knowledge. The event offers the chance to fire a gun, whether testing their aim on the clay line with E.J. Churchill or trying out the indoor airgun ranges, making it an unmissable event for shooting enthusiasts of all levels.
The Latest Innovations in Shooting and Field Sports
One of the major highlights of The National Shooting Show is its focus on innovation. Our incredible line up of exhibitors, including leading manufacturers and retailers, will be on hand to showcase the latest advancements in firearms technology, ammunition performance, and shooting accessories. The event provides a one-stop shop for everything you need, plus bag a bargain with show only deals!
Additionally, visitors will have the opportunity to try out new products on the clayline where you can have a go at shooting with a range of different guns. This hands-on experience ensures that attendees can make informed decisions when investing equipment, with expert guidance available from exhibitors and industry professionals.
Conservation at the Heart of the Event
Shooting sports and conservation go hand in hand, and The National Shooting Show places a strong emphasis on sustainability and wildlife management. With The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) as a key sponsor, the event highlights the vital role of responsible shooting in conservation efforts. Attendees can engage with BASC and other key organisations to learn about best practices in land management, habitat preservation, and how shooting contributes to maintaining balanced ecosystems.
Bring your children along and get them involved in the Scavenger Hunt and Bird Box Making—fun, hands-on activities designed to educate the next generation about wildlife, conservation, and the importance of caring for natural habitats. These interactive experiences will inspire young minds and help instil an appreciation for the countryside and its wildlife.
Meet the Experts and Learn from the Best
For those new to shooting, the event provides a welcoming environment to gain handson experience and learn from qualified instructors. Whether it's clay shooting, air rifles, or rifle shooting, beginners will have the chance to develop their skills under the guidance of professionals in a safe and controlled setting.
The BASC Hunter’s Kitchen is a must-visit, offering a fascinating journey from field to fork. Watch expert-led deer butchery demonstrations and live cooking sessions by top game chefs that turn nature’s larder into mouth-watering meals. You’ll leave with fresh ideas on how to make the most of wild and sustainable ingredients.
A Hub for Country Lifestyle and Heritage
Beyond shooting sports, The National Shooting Show celebrates the wider countryside lifestyle that is deeply connected to field sports. Visitors can enjoy a range of attractions, from gundog competitions and falconry displays to country cooking. Make sure to watch the gundog demonstrations by Mordor Gundogs to see the incredible skill, discipline, and training that goes into producing top-class working dogs.
For those who enjoy traditional countryside activities, the show also features handson experiences like archery, bushcraft, and slingshot shooting. Whether testing your aim with a bow, mastering the art of slingshot accuracy, or honing survival skills, these activities provide an immersive way to appreciate the great outdoors.
For those looking to enhance their country wardrobe, the show offers an extensive shopping experience with premium brands showcasing the latest in country clothing, footwear, and accessories. Whether you’re after a new tweed jacket, sturdy boots, or handcrafted leather goods, the show has something for every taste and budget.
Save The Date!
Mark your calendars for the 10th & 11th May and join the shooting community for a weekend of learning, networking, and excitement at The National Shooting Show. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter, a countryside enthusiast, or simply looking to explore the best of British field sports, this is an event not to be missed.
Visit The National Shooting Show website and book your tickets today. BASC Members receive complimentary entry to both days of the event, and can invite guests with 20% off! Book now: www. nationalshootingshow.co.uk
GUNDOGS
As one season ends another one dawns… …its that time of year again!
As the long weary winter gradually subsides into a brighter early spring, and with the game
By Stuart Dunn, Caledonian Retriever Club
shooting season ended, it’s time for a lot of gundog owners and competition handlers to think
about undoing all the bad habits that have manifested themselves during the picking up, beating and shooting season.
Which ever gundog you own, Labrador/Retriever, Spaniel or any of the other minor gundog breeds, we all from time to time create situations which may at the end of a long season require “retraining” to correct any bad habits, or sloppy reactions, that
can usually creep into the dog or handlers control, whether it be not stopping as sharp as it use to, or not taking a right, left or a go back command as well as you would like, these issues can all be corrected with a return to “basics” on the training ground.
February marks the end of the game shooting season, and many gundogs, owners and handlers will give their dogs some “time off” in order to rest, recover and regain condition for a few weeks.
As March emerges, it’s the start of the competition season, with dummies replacing live game as the quarry.
There is numerous Scottish gundog clubs located across the country with most of them running at least one, sometimes two, gundog tests between March and August. Hence there isn’t much time to address any faults that have bestowed themselves before a lot of
Gundogs
handlers are quickly back on the competition circuit.
Training a gundog of any breed to a good level, requires a huge amount of dedication, time and patience, and what works for one dog may not work for another, and the handler must constantly find ways to hold the “student dogs attention”, prevent fear, or boredom, whilst encouraging their dog to love what its doing, with drive, style and passion.
It is still one of the great countryside sights, to see a gundog hunting ground vigorously in search of game, or watch a retriever flying out over grassland, woodland or moorland whilst contending with obstacles such as fences, drystone dykes, ponds and rivers, and returning to their handler and presenting the “prize”, be it a game bird, ground game, or a dummy, right into the owners hand. All of this simply because the dog loves doing it, trusts you, and all for a pat on the head, or a cuddle. It can be quite an exhilarating experience for both the dog, and the handler.
One of the keys to success with your gundog is having a high level of constant control over the dog, hence adherence to basic control, like stopping, going where its asked to go, hunting on command, coupled with marking ability, is essential, all of these attributes can be enhanced with a season in the shooting field, but they can also go wayward too, basic training methods will generally be required for most of us.
Owning any type of dog, far less a gundog, is a big decision not only in time, but also financially, and may involve some life style changes too, so choosing which type of dog you would like to train will depend on many factors, and your own expectations, but whichever breed you decide upon, joining any of the gundog clubs in Scotland, will allow you to gain valuable experience, meet
new like minded people, and be involved in a sport with long standing traditions, which have evolved over the last century and a half, to where they are now.
Scotland has around 16 gundog clubs, some of which offer training classes from beginners all the way through to open standard dogs. The Caledonian Retriever Club of Scotland is one of these, so if your interested in gundogs, training, competitions, or simply like watching dogs competing in some of the most spectacular terrain the country has to offer, then why not visit the club website and find out more about joining the club, being involved, and hopefully start creating some unforgettable memories yourself!!
The Natural Environment Bill
By Kenneth Stephen, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association
At the time of writing, we await the first draft of a new Natural Environment Bill, though by the time you read this it may be with us.
To summarise, this Bill is a Government commitment which still carries some undercurrents from the former SNP/Green pact.
It will undoubtedly be badged as a Bill to supercharge action towards 2030 climate and biodiversity goals.
Some of this should be welcomed, of course, and we can expect support for certain key aspects.
However, Scottish Parliament bills, in recent times, have had
a tendency to go rogue while the legislation passes from Committee to chamber.
It will not be a major surprise if this happens again.
Environmental groups have tended to stray beyond the original scope of several rural Bills in recent times to push amendments around campaign wish-lists.
Mountain hare ‘protection’ was segwayed into a Bill on wildlife penalties and the same legislative vehicle was used to try to prevent the culling of problem beavers, despite farmers and river workers facing headaches and high repair bills.
Expect a few more curved balls this time around and keep your eyes peeled on the future of lead ammunition. This is likely to arise as an amendment to the Bill but it is not as clear cut an issue as some will portray.
Professional wildlife managers in Scotland will always start from the premise that they want to do what is best by the environment and for human health, if they possibly can.
There has been a tendency by some to paint a different picture of land managers but this is incorrect. The vast majority of those you meet want to leave the land they manage better than they found it.
It is a shared aspiration you will recognise if you spend any length of time in their company, Scotlandwide.
What happens, though, when environmental and human health concerns clash with a land manager’s desire to ensure good standards of animal welfare and public safety?
This is one of the key issues to consider if we are to dive headlong into the ban on lead ammunition.
The SGA has just carried out an anonymous survey of deer managers who count night management of deer in forestry as one of their tasks. The survey was revealing.
For the past few years, government agency contracts have stipulated that deer must be shot using copper ammunition. Copper can make it easier for game dealers to market game but there are genuine fears within the professional community.
The clear message coming back to us is that those managing deer in forests at night want the ability to continue to use lead. The key reasons are animal welfare and public and stalker safety.
We heard stories from individuals who have seen copper bullets ricochet back past their own head or the bullets have exited target animals unexpectedly only to wound or kill others in the vicinity.
Imagine if this was a member of the public taking a night stroll through the woods? It really doesn’t bear thinking about and maybe we shouldn’t have to.
There are some issues where public safety has to take priority, especially when there is a greater expectation- in policy- that we manage more deer in Scotland during the hours of darkness.
Deer also need managing close to built-up residential areas
and trunk road infrastructure. If we can’t ensure the ammunition is going to end up where we aimed it, we are walking into a problem arguably bigger than the one we are trying to solve.
Clear heads will be needed on this issue, if it arises in the Bill, and MSPs need to listen carefully to the views of people on the ground who are the do-ers and actors when it comes to improving Scotland’s biodiversity.
Deer will continue to be a major focus of this legislation and expect a hot debate around target deer densities. It is not that long ago that Scottish Government seemed to have taken the message that deer impacts are the nub issue rather than setting arbitrary targets around numbers. You will have many situations where the deer ‘problem’ is highly site specific.
Certain ground can carry relatively high numbers of deer
but still have low damage. Other sites (remember we continue to plant deer habitat) will be browsed heavily with few deer present.
Now the government seem to have done a full u-turn. Maybe it’s because climate and biodiversity targets, themselves, have been framed around numbers. We need x amount of peatland restoration by year x if we are to be considered successful. We need x hectares of new forestry.
Small deer
Forest stag
Now we need x deer density by square km if we are to have this or that.
Government like these types of targets. It helps them answer Parliamentary questions.
“But we’ve planted x amount of this and it shows we are taking the issue seriously’.
Land management doesn’t work within political parameters. Ground, lie, weather, disturbance, soil, drainage, seasonality; all of these- and more- are factors in where deer will move to and what they will do when they get there. Yet, expect this Bill to suggest that, if you are in the Cairngorms National Park, you will be expected to have a lower deer density than across the rest of Scotland.
This aspiration of the Bill will not settle easily.
The land holding in the lowlands that is miles away from achieving the 10 deer per sq km target placed on the rest of Scotland is still likely to get away with doing very little. Yet, the mixed estate within the Park will be expected, by law, to meet a target density of 5-8 deer per square km; lower than everywhere else.
How can this be reconciled?
Unlike the roe deer (which should be the primary focus of this legislation), the highland red deer does not respect a boundary.
One day you will see a few, the next day they are gone. It could be a wind change or a dog walker causing it.
Expect this to be a ‘lively’ discussion. As ever, the SGA will be focused on ensuring its members’ wishes are reflected in the final legislation.
Capercaillie
Staying ahead of the curve
by Miles Montgomerie, Chairman, Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES)
Land managers have never been under more pressure to demonstrate best practice. The Scottish and UK governments today expect land managers to deliver a range of ‘ecosystem services’ which would have been unknown to previous generations. These include creating and supporting habitats and wildlife, contributing to greenhouse gas reduction, providing clean air and water, mitigating climate change hazards such as flooding and wildfire, sustainable food production, job creation and public access to the land for a wide range of leisure pursuits. In addition, there has been a significant focus on the introduction of major legislation affecting the rural sector, notably in relation to land reform, housing and the eleven ‘national outcomes’ set out by the Scottish
government to measure progress towards a ‘wellbeing economy’. ‘Environment’ is one outcome that is particularly relevant.
With increasing scrutiny and ever-evolving legislation, managing land effectively can seem a somewhat thankless task. Many land managers already feel overwhelmed. The shortterm indecision from regulators, delays, and the proposed changes we know are coming, but do not have details on, all add further frustration to an already stressful and uncertain situation. By the time we have finished producing food, and keeping up with the endless tide of paperwork, there is precious little time to do anything else, let alone commit scarce resources to something no one yet fully understands. We are rightfully sceptical of being promised large amounts of money
to sequester carbon, which when I was last in a science class (a wee while ago I admit), would have been classified as a symptom and not a cause. Many of us are also sceptical of expensive baseline studies when, as far as I am aware, no two methodologies produce the same results.
Sadly, gone are the days that we could simply be left to ‘get on with it.’ This is a great shame, as many Scottish landholdings have received significant local and international accolade for their fantastic contributions to the environment and their community, with many others doing what they can with limited resources.
We now find ourselves in a place where our land management practices can make a significant positive contribution to the climate. However, with land reform and the
newly proposed inheritance tax, we no longer know if we are going to be about to see it through. A tree doesn’t grow in a working lifetime and a herd or a flock take years of selective breeding to become established. I challenge anyone to create a pheasant shoot they are entirely happy with without some tweaking over multiple seasons. All of these take time, expertise - often handed down through multiple generations - and resource. Land management is long term. If we can’t plan for the next generation, it will be very difficult to achieve our own goals, let alone those set out by government. In short, I think the vast majority of those working in Scottish farming and field sports are doing a fabulous job. I just think we are not very good at talking about it. This is why I accepted the role of Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) chairman in 2024. I wanted
Pheasants freely roam throughout the estate
to help highlight the good work that environmentally and socially responsible land managers are undertaking.
The WES accreditation scheme recognises best practice and encourages continuous improvement in relation to conservation and biodiversity initiatives, irrespective of land use. It offers an independently assured accreditation, which can significantly assist in the challenge to prove that land is being managed effectively and sustainably. Scotland is one of 19 countries across Europe that operate schemes under the Wildlife Estates umbrella, set up by the European Landowners’ Organization in 2004, and endorsed by the European Commission’s DirectorateGeneral for the Environment. WES has evolved and grown considerably since its inception in 2010, with circa 300,000 hectares of land across Scotland currently accredited under Level 2 of the scheme. A further 855,000 hectares of land have Level 1 status, incorporating
members who are working towards accreditation. All types of landholdings can apply for accreditation.
WES members typically incorporate community outreach and engagement, conservation initiatives and 'best practice' management as a foundation for commercial activities. WES draws on the expertise of pioneering landowners, charities and public bodies through an advisory board, which includes NatureScot, Scotland’s Rural College and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. WES members are engaged in a wide range of activities, from sustainable agriculture, forestry, tourism and leisure, retail, shooting, stalking and fishing, to land that is managed purely for conservation and restoration purposes. A commitment to nature and biodiversity unites them all.
The stringent standards and detailed evidence required for accreditation mean that WES members routinely exceed relevant Scottish and UK legislative requirements, and are increasingly being seen as 'trusted operators'
by the Scottish Government. This collation of information is immensely valuable, not only to demonstrate compliance, but also to assist the landowner in future activity planning. It is clear that the Scottish government increasingly expects landowners to formally document their activities in order to qualify for funding, and also with regard to changes being introduced as part of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill – which is set to include land management plans for landholdings above an a certain size.
The process of achieving accreditation has proved invaluable for many estates. Their experience has encouraged other landowners to embark on the route to accreditation with greater confidence.
WES also holds forums for members to network, discuss experience and share knowledge,
including an annual assembly and quarterly webinars.
Although WES members are passionate about achieving conservation and biodiversity goals, this conservation work was often conducted under the radar before they became accredited. I suspect this is still the case on many other landholdings. There has never been a better time, therefore, for landowners of all persuasions to promote the excellent work they are doing. Moving towards WES accreditation is one way to do that, with independent assurance proving the conservation gold standard. Please don’t let all your good work go unrecognised.
Email the WES Project Manager, Neil Gunn, at neil. gunn@scottishlandandestates. co.uk to understand if WES is relevant for you, and for information on how to start the process.
Miles’ own cattle grazing on the Southannan Estate
habitat and species protection Scotland - changes to General Licences for 2025
By Felix Meister, Advisor, GWCT Scotland
General Licences for 2025 were issued by NatureScot in December 2024 and came into effect as of 1 January 2025. We had previously expected that the 2025 Licences would involve significant changes following the wider species review that was to be undertaken by NatureScot in 2024. However, as that review was currently still in progress at the time of writing, 2025 Licences are largely identical to their 2024 counterparts. The following are the noteworthy changes:
Registering decoy birds
General Licences 1 and 2 now include a requirement for all decoy birds kept in multi-catch cage traps and Larsen traps to be registered with the Scottish Kept Bird Register. Advice on the registration process can be found on our website www. gwctadvisoryscotland.co.uk/
Methods for controlling feral pigeons
General Licences 2 and 3 include, among the legal methods for controlling feral pigeons (Columba livia) “shooting with the aid of any device for illuminating a target or any device for night shooting.” This method had been included in previous General Licences but was omitted in 2024.
Definition of ‘wildlife crime’
The definition of ‘wildlife crime’ in General Licences 1, 2, 3, 4 and 14 now includes a reference to The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.
A previous reference to The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 in General Licence 14 has been removed.
Other minor changes
General Licences 1 and 2 previously stated, among general animal welfare requirements, that “authorised persons must use the permitted method of taking or killing which has the least impact”. ‘Must’ is now replaced with ‘should’. Detailed advice on the stipulations contained in these Licences, and how they are to be implemented in practice, is offered in our Approved Training Courses which have been running across Scotland from February 2025.
Please keep an eye on our web pages www. gwctadvisoryscotland.co.uk/ for advice of future events.
Ben Alder stalking
Red Deer
World Gun Makers Evening
On the evening of 29 May at The Savoy, we will welcome some of the world’s finest gunmakers, representing countries such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA. The second issue of 'The Bench' we return from the USA to talk to Londoner Mark McCarthy, Stocker and Trigger maker at James Purdey & Sons.
Born in London Paddington, mere steps from the historic Purdey workshops, and raised in Maida Vale, Mark McCarthy’s connection to the art of gunmaking began early. Now in his fortieth year at James Purdey & Sons, his expertise as a Stocker/Trigger Maker and Senior Craftsman epitomizes the seamless blend of tradition and innovation that defines the industry.
To kick things off, we asked him what his favourite tool is…
“I know this may seem trite, but it is my hands,” Mark responds.
“We often the need to sketch with a pencil to convey ideas, and in my many years of gun making, working with a plethora of materials using chisels, gauges, files and electrically powered machinery, the dexterity to effectively wield or operate any of these items in a controlled manner can still be challenging.”
Explaining his role with characteristic humility, Mark says,
“I make the trigger units— single trigger, double triggers, and spring-bladed or articulated triggers. These units interact with the lock-work and safety mechanism, which in turn ‘fires’ the gun.”
He also specializes in turning Turkish walnut into the stock and
forend, the components a shooter holds and supports. This dual mastery of engineering and artistry is a hallmark of Mark’s work.
Mark’s love for craftsmanship extends beyond firearms. Inspired by the Italian Renaissance, he admires how this era’s creative thinkers rediscovered and advanced ancient knowledge.
“They gave us perspective in art and initiated modern surgery, biology, and engineering,” he explains. “Even today, gunmakers apply the ‘golden ratio’ to create designs that ‘look right.’
While Mark is smitten with The Renaissance, he also has a lot of time for jeweller and egg designer extraordinaire Cal Fabergé. “This is a man who saw absolute excellence daily from his team of craftspeople,” he says.
Travel is another passion, and Mark’s adventures have spanned continents. From journeying overland from Tierra del Fuego to the Darién Gap to exploring the Far East and Europe; his curiosity about history, architecture, and culture is insatiable. Recently, he’s been drawn to the ancient Silk Roads, with a trip to Azerbaijan marking his latest exploration.
Mark’s career exemplifies the delicate interplay between preserving traditional craftsmanship and embracing modern techniques. After two decades of experience, he sought a new challenge, learning CAD and completing a building surveying degree while continuing his work at Purdey.
“This academic training taught me to take a more scientific approach to my work,” he says.
Collaborating with experts in CAD, CAM, and CNC machining, Mark has contributed
to Purdey’s digital transformation. “Traditional gunmaking is often qualitative, while the digital age demands a quantitative approach. I balance these by learning from those with different mindsets and staying open to continuous learning.”
Mark is optimistic about the future of artisan gunmaking.
“There will always be a place for well-crafted and beautiful
handmade items,” he asserts. He sees knowledge as being reapportioned rather than lost, believing in the potential to merge historical techniques with modern innovation. “Our brains are incredible instruments. It’s possible to master both the old and the new.”
See James Purdey & Sons representing best London guns at World Gunmakers Evening.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE
Scottish venison and vegan extremism
By Jake Swindells
It has become clear that one of the main focuses in Holyrood is the reduction of the deer population throughout Scotland. With an estimated 1 million deer in Scotland, a figure that is disputed since there are no clear records of how many lowland deer exist, the Scottish Government are channelling efforts into the reduction of populations across the nation. But there is a problem. There is very little money to support the effort and, given that around 50,000 additional deer are to be shot per year in Scotland alone, there doesn’t seem to
be a stable market in the UK to receive these numbers.
The head of a well-known venison handling facility in Scotland once quoted that the company could quite easily cope with the additional deer that might enter the food chain as a result of the new Scottish Government figures, and I have no doubt that it could, but this comes at a cost to others. The increase in venison in the market will surely continue to drive the price that the land manager will receive for a carcass down. It has already dropped from around £2.40 per kilo just 5 years ago to
around £1 per kilo now. Even at its height, costs were not being covered and those who control deer numbers would absorb the shortfall. Now, many consider it madness to even bother going out shooting deer since they would lose so much money in doing so, not to mention the fact that it is extremely difficult to achieve consistency in relation to a venison dealer picking up the carcasses. I, myself, have been left with 7 carcasses hanging in the larder for more than a week after broken promises of collection day after day.
In times when food miles
Jake Swindells
should count more than ever, what we are seeing is a system whereby land managers are being paid a pittance for their deer and the majority of the venison is being shipped abroad, instead of being readily available to the local community in schools, hospitals, food banks and local authority buildings. Instead, there are small minorities in positions of power in universities, councils and other facilities who actively campaign for their site to go vegan. Some facilities have already signed up to meat-free menus, giving the majority of employees, residents, students and patients absolutely no choice in what they want to eat on site. The Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) has been campaigning against these extremists and have had some success in helping to block some of these motions passing. In January this year, I undertook a keto diet myself, cancelling out at least 10 veganuary participants singlehandedly with the amount of meat I consumed.
Over the past 12 months, The SCA has been campaigning for better marketing of venison, normalising the consumption of a lean, healthy and sustainable food source. Others are doing their bit too as it was recently announced that a £119k pilot fund has been secured by NatureScot and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS). The project will see SAOS working alongside the Lowland Deer
Lying in wait with Myrtle
Network Scotland (LDNS) and Scottish Venison and could provide funding of up to 50% of capital costs to successful applicants. The intention is that this new source of funding will provide an improved infrastructure for handling and processing venison carcasses at a local level. This would allow lowland deer stalkers and wildlife managers access to vital resources such as small chillers and other necessary facilities and equipment to carry out their operations in the Scottish lowland areas. Here’s a radical (or not so radical in my mind) suggestion too –does our sector actually need a Venison Dealers Licence if we are already trained hunters and are able to inspect deer carcasses properly prior to direct public sale, and is this just acting as a barrier?
The COVID Recovery Fund currently supports three pilot chiller projects in Dumfries & Galloway, North Argyll, and Moray. The new facility at Barwhillanty Estate, Castle Douglas, cost around £50,000 and is predominantly for red, roe and fallow deer, and consists of both a chill and prep room. The COVID Recovery Fund provided around £20,000 for this project, with the estate funding the rest and is operated via a membership scheme.
The new pilot scheme is open for submissions from stalkers and groups from Friday 31 January 2025 and will run until Thursday 20 March 2025, with successful applicants notified by the end of March. SAOS staff are available to help with applications and initial enquiries should be directed to venison@saos.coop
In recent figures published by NatureScot, they estimated that income from deer management per annum is £15.8m, yet it costs £36.8m to shoot the deer. The private sector bears the brunt of this £21m shortfall, so further incentivisation from the Scottish Government is needed to help minimise this additional expenditure. Partfunding of equipment such as chillers, will go a long way to bridge the gap between deer management and venison production. These types of schemes will hopefully allow deer managers to produce good quality, nutritious venison products for the UK food market and beyond. The SCA welcomes the new pilot project and hopes that further projects and incentivisation schemes are rolled out to help the 80% of private deer managers across Scotland to access vital resources to continue building on this infrastructure.
Sika stag
Venison steak
The Ghillie
Hoping for another good salmon season
By Bob Whyte Ghillie on Catholes, Pitlochrie, Benchil and Luncarty on the River Tay
returning. It was alarming, to say the least.
In addition, anglers were voting with their feet and not
By the time you read this article the 2025 Salmon fishing season will have opened everywhere. There has been renewed optimism on the back of last year’s catch. At this time last year everyone was extremely worried, with catch statistics down 25% on the 2023 season throughout Scotland.
It was a relatively poor spring in 2023 but, as we entered the summer, a run developed in most rivers and catches soared. On my patch, at Stanley on the Tay, our catches went from 64 in 2023 to exactly 200. It was simply incredible! Suddenly, you had a reason to spring out of bed in the
morning to head to the river, full of confidence.
We had a lot of last minute bookings and I was running about crazy keeping everyone happy - I run 4 beats on the river (Catholes, Pitlochrie, Benchil and Luncarty), so it’s not easy.
There were lots of theories as to why the summer was so good but I don’t think anyone really knows the answer.
Something went right in the sea and let’s hope it happens again this coming year as I already have a number of bookings for the July/August window when the fish were running into the river last year, and being caught.
It was a far better summer for fishing as well with cooler weather and good water heights making the fish more vulnerable to being caught on rod and line.
That said, one swallow does not make a summer and time
will tell on that score, later this year.
The optimism has certainly spread. More people have come this spring, so far, plus we have landed one of the first fish off the river - a sparkling 15 pound beauty!
I am hoping for a better spring, the time, which would certainly help.
For my sins, I sit on the Tay Salmon Fishery Board and I am a member of the Tay Rivers Trust. I am busily trying to help transform the Trust into a larger, more meaningful organisation to help protect what we have and possibly help improve the river for future generations.
This is no mean challenge as the Tay Catchment is by far the biggest in Scotland, covering over 5000 square km.
I attended the Missing Salmon Alliance conference in London at Fishmongers
Hall recently and learned so much about what others are doing throughout the World. The event brought together organisations from across the Atlantic and Pacific, including the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, Norwegian Salmon Rivers, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and British Columbia’s First Nation’s Fisheries Council, to share strategies and strengthen efforts to address the wild salmon crisis.
The event fostered valuable collaborations, policy discussions, and a commitment to continued advocacy. It is no secret that salmon are now an endangered species in the UK but the conference theme was that we have only 10 years left to save this iconic fish and we need to act now. There is no more time to kick this down the road.
Three government Ministers were in attendance who have
jurisdiction over the aquaculture industry and/or wild salmon, including from the UK, Scotland and Norway.
During a panel discussion, participants did not miss their opportunity to ask the hard questions.
While we got the same old, same old, responses from most, we were refreshed by what the Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment had to say, a young and energetic Mr. Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.
Firstly, he acknowledged there was a serious problem, and secondly, he has been exploring solutions to significantly limit the impact of the industry through regulation, which will drive innovation and investment towards new technology and practices like closed containment.
Our Scottish Government should be taking notice of this.
The Ghillie
It is accepted that a lot of the problems lie in the sea which is out of our control. Therefore, we have to concentrate on our own catchments.
Cold, clean water is what is required due to the influence of Climate change. “Collaboration is the wicked solution for salmon” was a key phrase.
We all need to engage and come together and do
catchment-wide projects to sustain our wild Atlantic salmon in our district.
We have been reaching out to others for help and there is a real will to do this. Environmental projects appealing to all is the key and the iconic Salmon will be the main benefactor.
Hopefully, I can update you further in my next column. We can all make a difference.
Good news for sustainable grouse shooting
The UK Government’s recent endorsement of sustainable grouse shooting marks a significant moment for both conservation and rural economies. In an era of polarised environmental debates, this stance recognises a more nuanced reality: sustainable grouse moor management benefits biodiversity, habitat preservation and upland communities.
For many upland regions, grouse shooting is more than a seasonal activity — it is a key economic driver. Employment extends beyond gamekeepers to land managers, conservationists, hospitality workers and local businesses. Visitors during the shooting season inject much-needed capital into rural economies.
Small villages and familyrun businesses rely on grouse shooting to remain viable. The Government’s recognition of the economic significance of grouse shooting ensures these communities can continue to thrive.
Concerns over wildlife crime, particularly the illegal killing of birds of prey, have been used to justify banning grouse shooting. Any instance of wildlife crime is unacceptable and the overwhelming majority of those involved in grouse moor management operate within the law.
The Government’s investment in enforcement measures, such as the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the Hen Harrier Task Force, ensures illegal activities are addressed without undermining the benefits of responsible shooting practices. BASC has consistently
Critics argue that grouse shooting harms conservation, but this overlooks the role that managed moorlands play in preserving biodiversity. Our uplands provide critical habitats for species such as curlew, lapwings and golden plovers. Keepers and land managers are essential to this ecosystem. Predator control and vegetation management create diverse habitats. The rotational cool burning of heather promotes regeneration, reduces wildfire risks and maintains open landscapes required by ground-nesting birds.
maintained a zero-tolerance approach to wildlife crime.
Calls to ban driven grouse shooting ignore the unintended consequences. Without active management, vast moorlands would become overgrown, leading to increased wildfire risks and habitat loss. The economic impact would be severe.
Moreover, conservation efforts would suffer as landowners lose incentives to maintain and protect these areas. The Government’s current
stance ensures land management remains a priority while avoiding the pitfalls of over-regulation or outright prohibition.
The Government’s handling of the grouse shooting debate sets an example for policymakers navigating complex environmental and economic issues. Rather than yielding to anti-shooting campaigns from a vocal minority, this decision supports sustainable moorland management, guided by scientific evidence and sustainability.
Bad news as Capercaillie faces extinction despite conservation efforts to reverse decline
New research by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has shown that capercaillie numbers in Scotland have nearly halved in ten years, with as few as 304 birds remaining in 2020, compared to 580 in 2010. The figures show capercaillie heading towards extinction unless further measures are put in place to save this iconic bird.
The largest grouse in the world, capercaillie were once widespread across Scotland before going extinct in the 1780s. Following reintroduction efforts in the 1830s, it is now only found in pine forests in the Scottish Highlands, primarily in the Cairngorms National Park.
Capercaillie are now redlisted and protected in the UK. In the 1970s there were around 20,000 left in Scotland but since then numbers have been declining despite efforts to help them.
When transect-based national surveys were first carried out between 1992 and 1994, they indicated there were around 2,200 birds left in Scotland. By 1999 only 1,073 were thought to remain.
During the ten-year-long GWCT study, numbers declined by 48%, with the biggest decline in the last five years of the study.
Dr David Baines, Head of Uplands Research at GWCT, said: “Declines are associated
with a reduction in breeding success, which varies annually in relation to poor weather in June when chicks are growing and increased signs of predators such as pine marten in recent decades.
“This has happened despite efforts by land managers to improve habitat, and legally control foxes and crows.
“To reverse the trend and save the capercaillie from once again dying out in Scotland, we need to take urgent action and conservation measures must be stepped up, including legal predator control, reducing predation risk by pine marten and further reducing the risk of bird collisions with deer fences.”
game cooking with
Argyll Venison Casserole
By Wendy Barrie
Ye canna beat a heart-warming casserole at this time of year and what better than venison for a healthy flavoursome supper dish? This dish can successfully simmer on the hob, as we do because our log stove is also heating the house, or slow cook in the oven. I used diced venison from my Roe Deer Box, a selection ordered from Winston Churchill Venison who supply wild red deer too. The flavour of the wild roe deer is delicate yet fulsome and delicious. Red deer is also available from Rothiemurchus & Carmichael Estates in the Highlands and Lanarkshire respectively. The cranberry sauce was a leftover from Christmas but redcurrant would work equally well. Recently we were on Orkney and returned with a car boot of comestibles, including the fabulous Orkney bere berries, an alternative to pearl barley, and beautiful foraged berry wine. Cairn O’Mohr also create a delicious range of berry wines from fruits in and around Perthshire.
Ingredients:
500g Winston Churchill diced venison
Drizzle of Summer Harvest rapeseed oil
Blackthorn salt
Generous scrunch of black pepper
1 glass of Orkney red wine
1 tblsp cranberry sauce
Method:
50g Orkney bere berries
2 carrots, peeled & sliced in chunks.
1 parsnip, peeled & cut in batons
1 medium can/carton of tomato pulp
Honey – to taste
Allan’s chilli jelly – to taste
• Brown diced venison in the oil until nicely roasted. Season and add remaining ingredients apart from honey and jelly.
• Lid on, simmer gently on the hob or in a moderate oven for 2 hours. Add an additional cup of water during cooking, if required.
• When meat is tender and bere cooked through, stir in a teaspoonful of honey and a dessertspoon chilli jam to complete the dish. Add a little more of either as you wish, to balance the juices to your palate.
• Serve in warmed bowls with a good sourdough bread to mop up the sauce.
Serves 2
Sponsored by
Wendy is a cook, food writer & campaigner for local sustainable produce & biodiversity. Founder Director of award-winning Scottish Food Guide, Scottish Cheese Trail & Scottish Farm Shops, Wendy is also Leader for Slow Food Ark of Taste & Cooks Alliance in Scotland, IGCAT Global Experts Network member, International Judge & co-founder of Scottish Bread Championship. She has co-written “Meadows: The Swedish Farmer & The Scottish Cook,” with her husband, on regenerative food production, available online & from selected farm shops.
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Scottish Land Commission Sets Out Changes to Simplify and Strengthen Land Reform Bill
Changes proposed to increase the positive impact of the Bill and simplify its implementation
The Scottish Land Commission has proposed key changes to the Land Reform Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, so that it achieves the Scottish Government’s objectives to address the impacts of concentrated land ownership. This additional advice follows the Commission’s earlier evidence on the Bill given to the Parliamentary committee last year.
The Land Reform Bill introduces some important new steps to increase transparency, widen ownership opportunities, and regulate large land holdings in the public interest, including:
• Requiring greater transparency and community engagement through Land Management Plans
• Ending private off-market sales
of large landholdings through prior notification
• Introducing scrutiny of the sale of large landholdings with a power to require land to be sold in lots.
In its advice published today, the Commission highlights several changes to simplify and strengthen these measures, ensuring they are both practical and impactful.
Key recommendations from the Commission include:
• Setting a unified threshold of 1,000 hectares for all proposed measures, rather than the varied thresholds currently set out.
• Simplifying the Prior Notification process by introducing a single 90-day notice period, with exemptions for small transactions and a decentralised local notification system.
• Ensuring a wider range of public bodies and community councils are involved in ensuring accountability of Land Management Plans.
• Strengthening the Transfer Test to focus explicitly on public interest and enable strategic public sector land acquisition for housing, community ownership, farming and other opportunities.
Hamish Trench, Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, commented:
A taxing problem!
By Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser Agriculture & Climate Change at Scottish Land & Estates
It is widely accepted that the UK Government is on the brink of making a catastrophic decision for the future of British farming. The proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) threaten to saddle Scottish farmers with an overwhelming tax burden, jeopardising the viability of family-run farms and the rural economy at large.
This issue has sparked widespread outrage and also debate in Westminster. With the Spring Statement approaching, the government has a crucial opportunity to reconsider its stance—but will it listen? While HM Treasury has agreed to meet with farming representatives, this commitment is overshadowed by the Prime Minister’s comments in mid-February, which framed the estimated £500 million revenue from these changes as vital for reducing NHS waiting lists. For perspective, £500 million amounts to less than a single day's NHS expenditure, raising serious questions about the proportionality and justification for these tax reforms.
At Scottish Land & Estates, we are deeply concerned about the lack of impact assessments and consultation with the farming sector before these sweeping changes were announced. The assumption that only the wealthiest estates will be affected is misleading— many small, family-run farms operate on tight margins, relying on their land as their primary business asset. These new tax rules will force them into impossible financial situations, potentially driving them to sell land just to meet inheritance tax liabilities.
The government’s decision contradicts its own messaging on food security. The PM has repeatedly emphasised that food security is national security—so why is Mr Starmer’s government enacting policies that make it harder for farmers to continue their essential work? Encouraging young farmers to take over family farms should be a priority, but these tax changes will only make it more difficult for the next generation to remain in agriculture.
This move is part of a broader pattern of taxation increases affecting rural businesses, including hikes in employers’ national insurance and new tax rules on double cab pickups. These added costs make it increasingly difficult for rural businesses to thrive, let alone survive.
The farming sector is already under intense pressure, instead of supporting farmers to invest in innovation and efficiency, the government is pushing them toward financial instability. There are alternative ways to reform APR and BPR that do not disproportionately punish hardworking farming families.
The solution is clear: the UK Government must expand its technical consultation scope and work collaboratively with the agricultural industry to develop fairer, more sustainable reforms. It must also consider Scotlandspecific considerations in ’91 Act Tenants. If it fails to do so, it risks not just the livelihoods of Scottish farmers, but the long-term future of food production, employment, and sustainability in rural communities across the country.
“The Land Reform Bill is a significant step in addressing Scotland’s long-standing challenges with concentrated land ownership. For too long, the imbalance of power created by concentrated ownership has limited opportunities for some communities, businesses, and individuals to influence and benefit from how land is managed and used. This Bill introduces measures to increase transparency, regulate land sales, and ensure land is owned and managed in ways that benefit the wider public.
“Our recommendations aim to ensure the Bill delivers on its ambitions by making its
provisions stronger, simpler, and easier to implement. With these changes, Scotland can move towards a fairer, more productive system of land ownership that is regulated in the public interest, moving Scotland closer to normal international practice in land governance.”
The Land Reform Bill is currently being considered at Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Land Commission is providing advice to the Scottish Government and to inform parliamentary consideration, to support the development and implementation of an effective Land Reform Bill. The Commission will continue to advise on this alongside its work on a wider programme of reforms.
Views sought on pioneering wildfire management plan for Cairngorms National Park
Land managers are being invited to give their views on a detailed plan to tackle wildfire risk across the Cairngorms National Park.
The Integrated Wildfire Management Plan - the first of its kind in the UK - aims to provide support and guidance for land managers in the National Park to reduce the risk of fires, be better prepared to tackle wildfires and to make the landscape more resilient.
Following approval by the Park Authority board last week, views are now being sought in a formal public consultation. This is being developed in parallel (but separate to) the National Park seasonal fire byelaw, which will be submitted to Scottish ministers in the coming weeks.
Wildfires release carbon, can damage or destroy sensitive and rare habitats, can kill species and pose a significant threat to people and property. Climate change impacts, including rising temperatures and drier summers, have increased wildfire risk. Major
incidents at Cannich and Daviot in the Highlands in June 2023 brought this into sharp focus.
The Integrated Wildfire Management Plan recognises that the Cairngorms National Park is already blessed with a workforce on estates which are skilled, practiced and equipped to fight fires. It is vital that those skills and resources are maintained in the years ahead, to ensure all land holdings reach a high standard in terms of wildfire prevention and preparedness. The plan sets out how land managers can lower the risks of wildfires breaking out in the first place, as well as how they can work together with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to tackle fires swiftly and effectively.
The comprehensive document – one of the commitments of the latest National Park Partnership Plan – covers everything from training guidance, risk assessments and fire-fighting equipment, to fuel loads and firebreaks.
A tree-mendous celebration of 40 years of success, and it’s still growing – Scotland’s
Finest Woods Awards returns
The biggest ever Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is back for 2025 with a new prize and plans for a 40th birthday celebration.
The new Urban Forestry Award, sponsored by Future Woodlands Scotland is all about celebrating the projects that are turning towns and cities into greener, healthier and more sustainable places to live.
Meanwhile, the trustees are proud to be celebrating four decades of championing the contribution woodlands and forestry make towards the Scotland’s environment and economy.
Entries are now open with a deadline of March 31 for the Schools and Early Years categories and May 31 for all other awards.
A glittering awards ceremony will take place in November when there will be the added chance to celebrate National Tree Week.
Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “It is wonderful to be planning for our 40th anniversary awards ceremony. And, having a new award to champion the important role urban woodland plays for our communities and the environment shows the vital role trees play in every part of the country.
“Scotland’s Finest Woods brings together brilliant work, from farms and forestry to local woods and schools. We are excited for this year’s entries, building on what has been a superb array of best practice woodland management and creation over the last four decades.
“Winners enjoy recognition and publicity for their hard work and care of trees and receive a cash prize in addition to the trophies on offer. If they are visited by judges, this is often a very worthwhile and inspiring experience for all involved. Will you enter your project this year and be in with the chance of winning?”
for 2025
Helping wildlife, communities and the climate through great woodland is not just happening in rural settings. The new award reflects the fact that 80% of Scotland’s population live in towns and cities, making urban forestry a vital element to create a greener environment, literally and environmentally.
There are 11 competitions at this year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards covering the new category of Urban Forestry, as well as Quality Timber, Farm Woodland, New Native Wood, Community Woodland and Schools and Early Years, and Climate Change.
Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands, presented many of the Awards last year. She said: “The awards are a brilliant showcase for the very best of Scotland’s woodlands.
“Each year there’s such a variety of awards covering communities, schools, farming, through to native and productive woodlands. I’m really pleased that for the first time there is now a prize for urban woodlands too.
“The event is a celebration for many people who work hard to manage their woodlands and I would thoroughly recommend owners to join in and submit an entry.”
In 2024, the awards went to a diverse range of work from forestry within a biologically and structurally diverse native wood to best practice farm woodland to a community group which transformed a heavily browsed deer park with increased biodiversity.
Guy Watt, Chair of Scotland’s Finest Woods, the charity which operates the programme, said: “It is great to look back on 40 years of celebrating and championing the best of all things woodlands and forestry. That is a fantastic achievement not only for the charity but also the great foresters, farmers, crofters, community groups and schools.
“To add urban forestry as a standalone award is a fitting way to mark four decades, especially at a time when the value of greenspace is rightly being appreciated more than ever.”
Celebrating a proud history of championing success
The awards ceremony will showcase 40 years of Scotland’s Finest Woods promoting the great work taking place each and very year across the country.
The awards, first established in 1985, celebrate the contribution that woodlands can make to the people of Scotland and to its environment and economic prosperity.
The underlying principle is that people from across Scotland work hard to support their local communities and the environment, and the awards provide a way to recognise and reward their achievements, and so identify exemplars for others to follow.
Enter now
Schools and Early Years entries must be made by 23:59 on Monday March 31, 2025. All other entries must be submitted by 23:59 on Saturday May 31, 2025.
For full details, criteria and entry forms see: www.sfwa. co.uk
forestry
Outstanding forestry investment opportunity in stunning Scottish highland setting
Sciberscross Forest, a highly productive conifer forest, is now on the market through Landfor, a leading land and forestry agency in Scotland, for offers over £8,500,000.
There is a substantial volume of mature timber ready to harvest at Sciberscross, and the property is situated in a highly scenic part of Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands.
Harry Graham, a Land and Forestry Agent with Landfor, said: “This is one of the largest and most productive commercial conifer forests to be offered on the market in Northern Scotland.
“The majority of the forest is now reaching maturity with an approved Long-Term Forest Plan in place, providing the opportunity for immediate income from harvesting over the plan period and beyond.
“The timber crop is of excellent quality and offers the purchaser the potential for a swift return on their investment.”
Extending to 957.60 Ha (2,366.25 acres), Sciberscross was established on former hill ground in two primary planting phases, in 1989 and 1990. The forest features a productive conifer crop predominantly composed of Sitka spruce, planted in a self-thinning mixture with Lodgepole pine, Scots pine and Larch, as well as attractive areas of mixed broadleaves.
Sciberscross is located in an area renowned for its excellent wind energy development potential, and there is significant opportunity for the development of a wind energy project, subject to planning permission, as well as some peatland restoration.
Sporting rights are included in the sale. The topography and habitat at Sciberscross offer excellent roe, red and sika deer stalking.
Sutherland is renowned for its wild and dramatic scenery with rugged coastlines, heatherclad hills, prominent lochs and sweeping glens. The area has excellent fishing and deer stalking and benefits from a good road network to the east and west coast of Scotland, linking to the North Coast 500 tourist route.
Sitting in an elevated position, Sciberscross Forest is about ten miles northeast of the popular coastal town of Brora. Inverness, 60 miles south, has an international airport to the east of the city, with access to timber mills via all major timber haulage routes.
Sciberscross is the first property brought to the market by Harry Graham since his appointment as a forestry agent with Landfor this year.
Director of Landfor commented: “Harry’s appointment is an important milestone in the growth of the company. Harry brings significant experience and enthusiasm to Landfor, with a strong track record in the sale of forestry and land-based investment opportunities for a wide range of investors and a commitment to providing a first-class service to clients.”
Harry joins Landfor with over 6 years’ professional experience as a land and forestry agent in Scotland.
Harry has overseen the sale and acquisition of over £300 million worth of forestry, farmland and estates across Scotland so far. This previously included running the forest disposal programme for Forestry and Land Scotland since
2022 and acting as sales agent for one of the largest forestry investment companies in the UK on several successful large-scale forest sales.
Harry Graham continued: “I am delighted to join Landfor at this exciting time for the rural property sector. Patrick has established the firm as one of the leading forestry and land agencies in Scotland. I will no doubt benefit from Patrick’s experience and expertise, and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth.”
Land for reports that existing forests and land for woodland establishment continue to be an excellent investment, providing multiple benefits.
Sciberscross Forest, Brora, Sutherland, is for sale on a joint agency basis through Landfor, for offers over £8,500,000.
Patrick Porteous, Managing
New beetle threat to Sitka Spruce plantations
Eight toothed spruce bark beetle shows a marked preference for fresh cut Sitka wood
An emerging pest of spruce trees that has devastated European Norway Spruce populations is equally attracted to Sitka Spruce, with direct consequences for commercial forestry in the UK, according to a new study.
The eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is a major pest of Norway Spruce and has done immense damage to native forests in Northern Europe. It has now been found in the UK, but it was not known initially if it would be as attracted to the principal commercial conifer grown in the UK, Sitka Spruce. The new study used Rothamsted’s semiochemistry expertise to find out whether the volatile chemicals given off by the two tree species were equally attractive to the beetle.
The research team, a collaboration between Forest Research and the Chemical Ecology group at Rothamsted, assessed how the beetles chose their hosts by setting up laboratory experiments using freshly cut spruce logs, and then verified the findings in the field in an area with an endemic population of the beetle. Overall, colonization and breeding success were found to be similar in cut Sitka and Norway spruce material. The team found that odours of aged wood from
the two species were equally attractive, and that fresh Sitka was more attractive than fresh Norway spruce.
“These findings suggest the beetles will select and colonize cut Sitka as readily as cut Norway spruce,” said Rothamsted’s Dr Jozsef Vuts. “It’s not clear yet what the susceptibility of live Sitka trees will be, but in doing this study we have gained a vital understanding of the role of host-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in attracting the beetle.”
Eight-toothed European spruce bark beetles are often associated with windblown, damaged and recently felled spruce trees, where they build up numbers before moving on to attack adjacent live trees. The beetles “mass-attack” trees, overcoming the plant’s usual defences by a combination of large numbers and blue-stain fungus. This phase can lead to extensive tree deaths.
If a tree is infested with eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, inspection of the bark, and the wood under the bark, usually reveals a linear gallery system, where the females lay their eggs. This has led to the beetles being often referred to as ‘engraver’ beetles because of the appearance of the galleries.
The Woodland Carbon Code - an income boost for farmers
Integrating trees into a farming business can bring many benefits including shelter for livestock, a boost for biodiversity, improvements in water quality, and flood prevention, while also being a potential timber income for the future.
There is another option for farmers which has potential to bring in more money too – registering with the Woodland Carbon Code.
What is the Woodland Carbon Code?
The Code, which is managed by Scottish Forestry, is the quality assurance standard for woodland carbon projects in the UK. It sets out requirements for voluntary woodland creation projects which tackle climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Benefits of the code
Woodland carbon projects can offer a revenue stream for farmers and a way for companies to support woodland creation and compensate for their unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects generate high integrity, independently verified carbon units which can be sold to generate income. This added income can help a new woodland
become a financially viable proposition to farmers.
How it works
To be eligible for the code, woodland creation projects must:
• Register with the code before work begins on site
• Demonstrate the project is not viable without carbon income
• Take place on a suitable site, which was not wooded in the past 25 years and is not deep peat
• Be sustainably and responsibly managed, meeting the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard
• Be validated within three years of registration and maintain verification for the duration of the project.
Potential income
A new native woodland can absorb 300 to 400 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare by the time it’s 50 years old. The average price of UK woodland carbon credits is currently £23.30 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare. Farmers can use their carbon units to reduce the carbon footprint of their business or sell them to generate revenue.
For more information, visit www.woodlandcarboncode. org.uk
City girl who became a proud farmer
Talking to Cora Cooper, one of the latest people to be interviewed for Farmstrong’s podcast Blether Together, is the gift that keeps on giving
Podcast host Sarah Stephen, who has all the gravitas gained from her television work for programmes such as Landward but also the practical knowledge of being married to a farmer, talks Cora through her journey from Glasgow girl to life on a 2,044-hectare hill farm at Muirkirk in Ayr. Cora, who openly admits she had never so much as stepped foot on a farm until she met her husband David, studied law at Glasgow University.
Their romance blossomed, like so many doubtless have over the years, after a chance meeting at the Royal Highland Show.
“At the time, I was doing some PR for Land Rover and was on their stand at the show,” recalls Cora. “I had never been to an agricultural show before and I can
remember David walking past and then turning around and coming back to have a chat.”
That was back in 2012 and within a couple of months the two of them were living together, then married in 2014 and with the first of their three children arriving in 2015.
“It was something of a whirlwind,” laughs Cora. “I do believe in soulmates, and we had an instant connection. It’s frightening to think that if I hadn’t taken that job at the Royal Highland and David hadn’t decided to turn back on himself, we would never have met.”
But meet they did, and Cora talks on Blether Together about a wide range of subjects from their farming system of 3,600 hill ewes to her love of high heels and the
fact that is possible to become first generation landowners in your own right.
“I didn’t expect to talk so openly when we were recording the podcast. I hope that in talking about my story others can believe more in themselves. It’s possible to chart your own path in life without losing your identity or principles.
Coming from a city background I truly value the community and support that comes with rural life. I have experienced real kindness from the local community, in particular a retired farming couple.”
The decision to work on the farm came quite early on when Cora’s own mother was very poorly going through cancer treatment, and she was juggling trying to visit and care for her,
by
looking after her first son and trying to find childcare to return to work.
“Childcare options in rural areas like ours can be very thin on the ground and it just seemed a natural decision to join David on the farm,” explains Cora.
The couple have always made a conscious decision to have “interchangeable roles” so either of them can pick up the reins and take care of the farm as well as their children Lynton, nine, Cassian, seven, and four-year-old Sybilla.
“We worked out pretty quickly that if anything happened to David, I needed to know how to run the farm, and that it was just as important that he could run the house and the family if I was ever out of action,” explains Cora, who says a pivotal moment in “thinking
Cora and David Cooper with their three children
Photograph
Somerville Captures
of myself as a farmer” was when David insisted they filled out their winning entry for the Farmers Weekly 2023 Sheep Farmer of the Year Award together.
“He said we’re a team and that we should fill out the entry together,” recalls Cora. “Winning the award was quite a turning point so far as my confidence in calling myself a farmer in my own right went.
“In the early days I remember going to farming meetings and not daring to put my hand up and speak in case anybody laughed at me. But now I don’t care and have been given confidence by all the people who have shown an interest in the way our sheep are delivering when it comes to improving biodiversity in the land. I’m proud to say I’m a farmer.
“As first-generation farmers we have a mortgage to pay and need to make money, but with all the current talk of de-stocking it’s important to share the message that a low input system like ours supports the livestock as well as nature. I’ve found it fascinating looking back at livestock sale reports from 1892 when there were high stocking rates and better biodiversity. There’s a lot to be learned from the traditional methods of those times.”
The Cooper’s Herdwick and Welsh Mountain ewes live off grazed grass only and are Pasture for Life certified, with no bought-in feed or preserved forage used. 90% of the farm is rough hill, and in a Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest with over 800ha of peatland restoration. All ewes are left to lamb by themselves on the hill. Twin ewes are brought to lamb outside in bye but still with low intervention rates. With limited lower grazing, singles are preferred, and twinborn ewe lambs are never retained for breeding.
“We have been maximising production using regenerative methods and as our sheep numbers have grown so our biodiversity has thrived - producing food while increasing our natural capital,” explains Cora.
“Input costs are next to nothing when you think how hardy our ewes and lambs are.”
While Cora’s journey to the farm is interesting, so is David’s. He left home at just 17 - bringing 350 Herdwick and Welsh Mountain ewes with him - to move 450 miles north from his family’s tenanted farm on Dartmoor to take on 190ha of rough former coal opencast ground in Scotland. This first enterprise began in partnership with his family, but David soon had the confidence to go it alone.
While Cora jokingly describes that the children have a more active social life than them, they always prioritise time away together as a family and as a couple.
Through fencing around 100km - or more than 60 miles - of field boundaries at home David has built up a reputation as “the local fencing contractor” so is regularly engaging with his farming customers.
“The Farmstrong message of ‘Be Active’ with something you enjoy is vital. For me that is pilates as it helps me bring a bit of calm to a hectic day. All I need is the space for a mat and joining online pilates, I can adapt the class to how much time I have available that day. For however long that class is, it helps me get out of my own thoughts and provides some clarity to go back with fresh perspective”
The couple watched New Zealand farmer Doug Avery’s Farmstrong tour in 2018 and Cora has followed the progress of the organisation through her connection as Vice Chair of Women in Agriculture Scotland and volunteering for RHET Ayrshire & Arran.
“Building up our own farm has meant we can instigate our way of doing things and we prioritise family time,” says Cora, who ensures they have two family holidays a year and regular days out.
“The children are only young once and we want to instil in them a love for the farm; not a resentment that it takes up all our life. We make sure that we are efficient with our time when working to give us that flexibility for family. Even if it’s just going down to the village and joining in a community event with them, we prioritise it.”
Investing in farming
Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Secretary
Recently, I was delighted to join the First Minister and the Agriculture and Connectivity Minister at the NFU Scotland AGM to give an update on the significant investments we will be making in the coming year and moving forward
With £20 million additional capital support over the next year (2025-26) and £26 million in 2026-27, the First Minister confirmed that at least £14 million of the 2025-26 funding will deliver a Future Farming Investment Scheme, providing flexible capital grants.
We will continue working with the sector to ensure the guidance and priorities for this scheme work for a range of businesses, with the application processes being simple and straightforward.
I look forward to hosting a summit to look at how we support the next generation of farmers and crofters and find ways of attracting more people into agriculture.
Other significant announcements at last week’s AGM included an additional £7 million in 2025
through the Agri-environment climate scheme (AECS) for activities supporting nature, climate and biodiversity alongside food production and a national programme of land Lidar laser scanning to accurately map terrain.
We have listened to NFU Scotland and confirmed our commitment to ultra-high frequency (UHF) electronic identification for Bovine EID to improve traceability and be a leader in the UK.
The last few years have shown how challenging farming can be, with weather and other factors placing further burdens on producers, so RSABI will receive a further £75,000 to provide mental health support for farmers and crofters.
Lastly, we provided an update on the direct payments that farmers and crofters receive as we work towards implementing a new framework of agriculture support. Last year, we announced that 70% of funding would be allocated to Tiers 1 & 2 and have now confirmed the funding split of 70/30 between Tiers 1 and 2.
The new 2024/25 Committee
– an exciting year ahead!
In November Iona Smith was voted on as the new chair of Women in Agriculture Scotland. Iona, 25, is from a Pedigree Beef and Sheep farm in Ayrshire and graduated from SRUC in 2022 with an Honours Degree in Rural Business Management. Iona works for Blackhall & Powis where she is involved in numerous onshore and offshore renewable projects all over the country. Coming from a strong agricultural background her main
passion is cattle, from owning a Pedigree Shorthorn herd to relief milking at nights alongside her full-time job as a Graduate Land Manager. At home they have over seventy head of cattle and one hundred texel sheep. Iona's Pedigree Shorthorns that were established in 2020 running under the Torvaig prefix alongside her families Aberdeen Angus and Herefords which the Smith family have bred for over 30 years under the well-known Milovaig prefix.
In her spare time Iona plays rugby for Marr Ladies, in April 2024 they were lucky enough to win the National Scottish Bowl at Murrayfield after only playing competitively as a team for a year. Iona is an avid gym goer and loves swimming. She is also a very keen traveller and likes to get away as much as she can trying out new experiences, cuisine whilst learning the history and cultures of other countries.
Iona is the youngest committee member to date; she uses this to her advantage giving a different, fresh perspective full of new ideas. This year her main goal is to keep pushing Women in Agriculture forward by hosting more regional events that people from all over Scotland can get involved in easily. Especially in today’s climate Iona is so enthusiastic to bring people together, voice opinions in a safe environment
Women in Agriculture
and work cooperatively to make the agriculture industry the best it possibly can be. She is so proud to lead this wonderful committee and is very excited and full enthusiasm for the year ahead.
The current committee of Cora Cooper Vice Chair, Lucy McClymont Sectary, Sanda Guthrie, Ailsa Smith, Pippa Ross, Carole Brunton and Alison Ross were joined by three new members Julie McLaren, Emma Harper and Kathryn Argo. Here’s a bit about them and what they had to say about being on the WiAS Committee.
Emma Harper –
Brought up on a small dairy farm in Dumfries & Galloway, Emma now resides in Morayshire with her husband and daughter. She always had a keen interest in agriculture through young farmers and working on large scale dairy farms. Emma take’s pride in having the opportunity to get out on her husband’s family farm with their daughter in between working part time for the NHS.
Emma is keen to make connections and ensure a network like this continues and provides opportunities to develop personally and professionally for current and future members. She holds a strong belief that the farming industry is and will continue to be a force for good within all communities in all regions. With her experience she believes she can contribute to the success of the committee in empowering women in agriculture and advocating for policies and initiatives that help shape the future of our industry.
Julie McLaren –
Julie is an Agricultural Relationship Director with Bank of Scotland covering Central and Southern Scotland and loves being out and about on Farms meeting people. Not from a farming background at all, Julie has specialised in the “finance” side for over 10 years and learnt so much from the people involved in the sector. She will still shy away from the practical side!
She has a Bachelor of Science in Quality Management and obtained her Chartered Banker qualification during COVID.
Julie is a huge advocate of empowering people to achieve their goals and works as a mentor within the Bank as well as externally. This has been the main driver for her joining the board as she would like to help empower more people in the Agricultural space and encourage everyone to follow their dreams. Ideally this would be through a WIA mentoring program.
In her spare time, she loves music and travels all over the UK to see anyone from heavy metal to good old country.
Kathryn Argo –Katy grew up in a small town in Moray but now lives in Stonehaven with her husband, Neil and labrador, Dennis. Since 2022, Katy has worked as a Rural Solicitor at Shepherd & Wedderburn based in Aberdeen. She advises clients on all aspects of rural business including land/farm purchases and sales, lending work for farming businesses, partnership matters, advising on renewable energy projects and also advises on agricultural tenancy matters. Katy also has a strong interest in crofting law matters, having spent her early career working for a small firm in Forres and thereafter a larger firm in Inverness always specialising in the rural sector.
Katy’s husband, Neil, hails from a family of pig producers in the Northeast of Scotland and spends a great deal of time at the farm and each visit only strengthens her deep-rooted respect for farmers, their passion and the role they play in our lives!
Katy didn’t grow up in farming but having both married into and working in the industry, she truly believes there is no better more passionate sector to work in and is excited to do what she can to build greater networks for other women “in the field” and share the fantastic work women contribute to this industry.
Keep an eye out on social media for events being held this year and we look forward to welcoming you.
www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com
crofting
SCF out and about
By Donna Smith
Our first series of local meetings for 2025 are now in full swing with trips to Raasay, Tarbert and Galson under our belt in February with Yell, Voe, Kilchoan, South Uist, North Uist and Mull all to come in March. As always, these events are very useful and help inform our discussions with government as being able to relay the real impact of policy decisions on crofting communities is a powerful way to get the messages across, good and bad.
The main discussions continue to be what the changes to the 2025 support claims are with the introduction of the Whole Farm Plan, the proposed Crofting Bill changes and also updates to Muirburn requirements which are scheduled to take place for the start of the next burning season in September 2025.
Policy challenges
In relation to the Whole Farm Plan, SCF are maintaining the position that the administrative burden is disproportionate to the amount of support payment
received for many crofters and are therefore continuing to question this with the government, along with the unfair impact the calving interval conditionality may have on smaller herds. We have written to Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity about both these matters and hope to discuss these with him soon.
As for the Crofting Bill proposals, we still have serious concerns about some of the proposals and in particular the one to remove scrutiny from Assignations apart from in limited circumstances. Presented as a solution to help use the resources of the Commission better, we believe that the unintended consequences could be that even more croft tenancies are sold on the free market to the highest bidder whether or not the incoming tenant has any genuine crofting intentions. We wrote to the Minister on this matter also and have a meeting to discuss this issue with him and other key parties already in the diary.
Hopefully an update on both of those next time.
Travel Scotland
Bonny Brora
By Janice Hopper
The small village of Brora punches considerably above its weight when it comes to tourist attractions, landscape, history and food and drink. Situated 57 miles north of the city of Inverness, Brora is known for golf, tweed, whisky, beach life and fishing. It’s also set on the famed NC500 road trip route, plus there’s a stunning castle just down the road.
Those with an eye for fashion link Brora with its mill. The Sutherland Woollen Mill was built originally as the engineering workshops for the Duke of Sutherland's railway in 1875, but soon became synonymous with quality tweed, using wool from the Highlands, and islands such as Shetland. ‘Brora’, the cashmere, wool and linen fashion company, was named after the Scottish village because its founder, Victoria Stapleton’s, family became joint-owners of Hunters of Brora mill in the 1990s. After a spell running Hunter’s retail venture in the Highlands, Stapleton retained the name ‘Brora’ for her contemporary fashion company that has shops across England, Edinburgh, plus one in New York, and a strong mail order arm to its business (broraonline.com).
Alongside textiles, barley plays a key role in Brora’s economy, as this small village boasts not one, but two distilleries (malts.com/engb/distilleries). Brora Distillery is
the oldest, with over 200 years of history, originally opened back in 1819 by the Duke of Sutherland. The modern Clynelish Distillery began production in 1969 — the barley is still malted in the Northern Highlands with water from Clynemilton Burn. Outside the building, visitors are greeted by the ‘striding man’ figure of Johnnie Walker, but the distinctive Clynelish figure is decorated in yellows and gold representing the gold said to be found in the local water. Also look out for a yellow wildcat statue, in homage to the elusive wildcats that wander the Highlands. While both distilleries run tours, for those who simply fancy a dram in a beautiful bar, Clyenlish delivers. Its strikingly modern bar not only stocks an array of whisky, but its floor to ceiling windows offer sweeping sea views.
Another link to the Sutherland family is the undeniably beautiful fairytale castle of Dunrobin, just south of Brora (dunrobincastle. co.uk). The site has been home to the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century, but it was modelled into the iconic French chateau style by architect Sir Charles Barry in the 19th century, with the elegant gardens inspired by Versailles. Tours are available from April through to October.
On a more challenging note, the land in this area was subject
Clynelish Distillery
Curing Yard restaurant
Brora beach courtesy of Visit Scotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
Brora golf course
to the Highland Clearances, when crofters were replaced by more profitable sheep farming and other ventures. The first Duke of Sutherland (1758-1833) and his wife Elizabeth (1765-1839) whose names are linked to so many locations and businesses in Sutherland, were incredibly wealthy and powerful landowners — the land they controlled is said to represent one of the largest private estates in Europe at that time. In the early 19th century thousands of families were evicted and their cottages were even burned; these rural crofters often emigrated abroad or were resettled in small coastal crofts, while the landowners invested in new business ventures such as mills, harbours, distilleries and mines.
A vast memorial to the Duke of Sutherland on the summit of Ben Bhraggie stands around one hundred feet high. Built after the Duke passed away in 1833, people have argued for its removal; some people admire or are neutral about it; while others see it as a reminder of the events under Sutherland’s stewardship, marking how the land, those who lived on it, and how it functioned changed forever.
Names that do the area proud include internationally recognised fly-tyer Megan Boyd who put Brora and its fishing on the map. Much of Scotland’s most scenic land has been reimagined as golf courses, and Brora is no different. Its golf course by the sea is a key attraction, designed by the prolific Scottish golf course design genius, James Braid (broragolfclub.co.uk). Both figures are remembered and celebrated at Brora’s Royal Marine Hotel, where the lounge and bar are named after these Scots who made their mark on the village (royalmarinebrora.com). The hotel is metres from the sandy beach, and its Curing Yard restaurant is one of the key foodie destinations around. The Curing Yard’s suppliers include Munro Fruit Merchants, Highland Fine Cheeses and Bogrow Farm Charcuterie in Tain, A G Campbell seafood and Robert Grant butchers in Golspie, Ardgay Game, and West Drumliah Fruit Farm of Bonar Bridge. Try a starter of locally smoked mackerel, a duo of Highland beef with
potato dauphinoise as a main, then indulge with roasted plums with Brora honey and nut dukka for dessert.
The restaurant tells the story of how it’s named after the area’s rich fishing history, revealing that Berwickshire cooper James Landles married a Brora girl Margaret MacDonald in 1886 while in Shetland, both engaged in the herring industry that made its way down the east coast of Britain. James went on to take over the curing yard on Harbour Road, across the river from the hotel, and set up his fish-curing business around 1890. He was to be the last fish-curer in Brora.
After resting up in the Royal Marine Hotel take in the coastline that helped build Brora’s industry. The John o’Groats trail links Inverness with Wick, and passes right through the village. Hike the Brora to Golspie section to take in stunning coastal vistas, Dunrobin Castle, a scenic waterfall, Carn Liath broch, plus a WW2 radio intervention station (jogt.org.uk). Reward yourself with a dairy fix at Capalid's ice cream on Fountain Square once the hike is complete. Other farm attractions visitors may pass if they approach Brora from the south, include Dalmore Farm shop and its ‘meet the animals’ experiences. Meanwhile Davochfinn Farm near Dornoch
Travel Scotland
offers foot-golf, fishing, shooting and 'pitch and put’. And for a Highland games, nip north to
Helmsdale for a colourful event in August 2025. discoverbrora.com
Dunrobin Castle - Credit VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
Curing Yard restaurant - Duo of Beef
I had no idea in my childhood days that the walk gently uphill past the location of our filmyfern dam, would, in later years, become really significant, and that I would take a number of people this way, in order to look carefully at the surrounding trees
Into the Trees
By Robin Noble
which in my youth I rather took for granted. Even in my early adult life, Glenleraig was never far from my thoughts, and I had begun to think about, then to study closely, the nature of those encircling woods. Eventually, having made the acquaintance of
many like-minded enthusiasts, I slowly acquired some sort of reputation as an ‘expert’ on far-northern woods, and found myself, on occasion, leading groups around them.
We would climb the fence, go into the birches, crossing and
then following the little burn which my brother Rhoderick and I had had such fun damming. It is an easy walk uphill, and in spring, with willow warblers singing from every bush, and the vivid energy of redpolls overhead, it is a lovely one.
An oak, coppiced and pollarded, near Culkein Drumbeg
There may be a few primroses still in bloom, and, mercifully, the bracken is only just beginning to arch up from the short grass. With few leaves on the trees and bushes, it is the best time of the year to see the nature of the ground itself, and very soon you may see the ‘ghost’ of cultivation ridges ahead; in the past, crops were grown here. Some of it was presumably fenced, and you will spy the hint of a dyke along the burnside. Growing out of it is a complex tree, which on close inspection turns out to be a low-pollarded alder, closely integrated with a hazel – perhaps their stems were used for the fencing?
Our way continues to gain height slowly among widelyspaced birches, with the odd hazel and rowan, rather unremarkable woodland. Once rather higher than the little burn, we can see very clearly a significantly taller birch pollard, cut to regrow above the possibility of grazing by the stock which would have frequented these woods in the past. Sadly, a few years ago, one of its branches broke off in a gale, which has rather spoiled its look, but the basic shape remains, and a few other similarly-sized trees also show signs of management. Just a bit uphill, over to our right, is a most remarkable tree; short, thick, massive, but horizontal. This is, strangely enough, a hazel.
The normal form of growth of a hazel is what I call the ‘basket of sticks’, a whole collection of pretty thin stems with, perhaps, a few thicker ones somewhere in the middle. The individual stems are often so thin that you can close your fingers and thumb around them, and there will be many such. This particular hazel, however, has one single stem which is so thick that one cannot reach one’s arms around it; it is wonderfully covered, like most of its neighbours, in moss, a comfortable place to sit. It seems very secure – or did, the last time I was there; I used it as a seat and ate my lunch sandwiches in the soft sunshine! Obviously, it was once upright, and pollarded; you can see where it was cut and the new growth came. It is a very strange tree.
We continue up by the wee burn, into what might be called a sylvan dell in England, enclosed by a wall, out of which more old trees grow. Then into an open space, damp underfoot and only moderately heathery, looking north with a lovely view to the mouth of Loch Nedd. This space was devoid of even seedling birches when I first found it as a boy, and when I last went there it was still bare, despite the presence of many birches along its edges. Other heathery places were showing a good growth of regeneration, and it
may simply be that this area is just that little bit too wet for the birch to colonise it. We walk a little way down this clearing, then head again into the woods on our right, making a sharp little descent (some- times very damp and skiddy!), into a grove of hazels. These are nearly all strange; thick-stemmed, again with an obvious point of cutting. Such trees, like the one first encountered on this walk, seem rather unstable, and one has completely blown out of the ground, something which would be most unusual for an ordinary hazel. The root plate of this one is now vertical but the tree is certainly alive, shooting in new directions, proof that enough of the roots have remained viable. I am always amazed by the sheer tenacity of our native trees, even this far north, where the winter winds can be ferocious.
And, importantly, there is continuing evidence that these trees were harvested until quite recently; a cushion of moss perfectly preserves a saw-cut face, where a branch was once removed.
Not far away in this up-anddown hillside wood, on a boss of rock, there stands possibly the finest widest-spreading downy birch I have ever seen. And I have constantly pondered: its top has the typical shape of a pollard – surely this is far too high to have been reached? (Probably . . . but then I have since seen remarkably high pollarded trees in France.) Then again, perhaps it just broke in the wind, and regrew in the perfect shape.
Once below it, you find yourself in another grove, another group of the extraordinary hazels; all thick-stemmed, all with an obvious point of cutting, all with comparatively spindly regrowth above that point. These are single-stemmed pollarded hazels, and there are enough of them, in Assynt and in that important ‘ashwood’ at Rassal by Kishorn, to make it clear that they are an important feature of our ancient, preClearance woodlands. There is another group close to Drumbeg. Their location, close to long-
established crofting townships, with individual trees still preserving clearly the marks of quite recent saw cuts, makes it evident that to maintain, as some do, that their strange shape is simply the product of heavy grazing, is far from convincing. These trees were used by crofters, as you would expect.
All these veteran trees are effectively hidden by regeneration of birch, rowan and willow around the old woods, and even although the mosses, lichens and liverworts within them were surveyed many years ago, no-one really seems to have looked at the trees; often these woods were simply dismissed as ‘birch scrub’. In all these woods, the trees and even the rocks are covered with an extraordinary profusion of low growth (including the filmyfern), a luxuriant vegetation which has provided the ‘excuse’ for describing these places as the ‘Celtic Rain Forest’, a term, like the ‘Highland Tiger’ for the wildcat, which no Celt or Highlander has ever used. I much prefer ‘Atlantic Oakwood’ which may sound less evocative but is simple and accurately descriptive.
It is a real shame that early, ecologically-minded visitors, mostly from England and used to the magnificent, wide-spreading oaks of the south, when first entering the Highlands dismissed much of this precious woodland as ‘scrub’, and devoted their attention to the areas of old Scots pine, which became the focus of much attention as surviving patches of what was called the ‘Caledonian Pine Forest’. It is this which has come to represent the presumed natural vegetation of much of the Highlands, while the oak woods have only begun fairly recently to be recognised for what they are. It is a fact that many tiny remnants, in the least likely of places (or sometimes the most obvious, such as the fringes of the popular seaside village of Ullapool), are scattered over the area and are still without recognition or, most crucially, protection from grazing which would give them the chance to regenerate.
Haymeadow flowers just above the cottage, 1965
UK GOVERNMENT URGED NOT TO PUT SCOTLAND’S RURAL ECONOMY AT RISK THROUGH INHERITANCE TAX CHANGES
An
opportunity exists for the UK Government
to
change
course on its
illogical changes to inheritance
tax for farms - but it needs a willingness by government to work with the sector
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, made the comments as a Westminster Hall debate takes place after a petition against the changes reached almost 150,000 signatures.
Warning that the planned reforms will place an unmanageable tax burden on Scottish farmers, threatening the future viability of family-
run farms and the broader rural economy, SLE urged the government to engage constructively – something it had failed to do so far.
Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser – Agriculture & Climate Change at Scottish Land & Estates, said:
“The UK Government’s decision to reform APR and BPR
without a thorough consultation with the farming sector is extremely unhelpful and shortsighted.
“The notion that these changes will only impact the wealthiest estates is entirely misleading. Family-run farms, which operate on tight margins and rely on their land as their primary business asset, will face enormous financial pressure under these new rules.
“We are calling on the UK Government to engage directly with the agricultural sector to understand the real-world implications of these reforms. It is unacceptable to the industry that no discussions were held with the Scottish Government or industry representatives before these announcements were made. The lack of communication has only deepened the sense of frustration and distrust among farmers.”
SLE emphasised that the changes would not only affect current farm owners but also pose serious challenges for future generations looking to enter the industry. The impact on Business Property Relief will also be felt by a wide range of family businesses, not just those in agriculture.
Eleanor continued: “The Prime Minister has been clear that food security is national security. However, his government’s decisions now threaten our farmers’ ability to deliver on this national priority, making it significantly harder for young farmers to take over
family farms and forcing many to sell off land just to cover inheritance tax bills.
“This will have lasting consequences for Scotland and the UK’s food production, local employment, and the sustainability of rural communities.
“The major taxation change comes in alongside other tax increases, such as employers' national insurance and the taxation of double cab pickups, all of which serve to make the cost of doing business in rural areas even higher.”
SLE is urging the UK Government to rethink its policy and work collaboratively with the agricultural industry to develop solutions that protect both fiscal interests and the longterm future of British farming.
Ms Kay concluded: “The farming sector is already under immense pressure from rising costs, climate challenges, and market volatility. At a time when we should be supporting farmers to invest in innovation and efficiency, these tax changes will do the exact opposite— discouraging investment and driving many farms into financial instability.
“There are alternative ways to reform APR and BPR that do not disproportionately punish hardworking farming families. We strongly urge the government to extend its consultation process and explore fairer, more sustainable approaches that do not put the future of Scotland’s rural economy at risk.”
Virgin Money Strengthens Commitment to Scottish Farming With Seven Key Leadership Promotions
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, made the comments as a Westminster Hall debate takes place after a petition against the changes reached almost 150,000 signatures.
Warning that the planned reforms will place an unmanageable tax burden on Scottish farmers, threatening the future viability of familyrun farms and the broader rural economy, SLE urged the government to engage constructively – something it had failed to do so far.
Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser – Agriculture & Climate Change at Scottish Land & Estates, said:
“The UK Government’s decision to reform APR and BPR without a thorough consultation with the farming sector is extremely unhelpful and shortsighted.
“The notion that these changes will only impact the wealthiest estates is entirely misleading. Family-run farms, which operate on tight margins and rely on their land as their primary business asset, will face enormous financial pressure under these new rules.
“We are calling on the UK Government to engage directly with the agricultural sector to understand the real-world implications of these reforms. It is unacceptable to the industry that no discussions were held with the Scottish Government or industry representatives before these announcements were made. The lack of communication has only deepened the sense of frustration and distrust among farmers.”
SLE emphasised that the changes would not only affect current farm owners but also pose serious challenges for
future generations looking to enter the industry. The impact on Business Property Relief will also be felt by a wide range of family businesses, not just those in agriculture.
Eleanor continued: “The Prime Minister has been clear that food security is national security. However, his government’s decisions now threaten our farmers’ ability to deliver on this national priority, making it significantly harder for young farmers to take over family farms and forcing many to sell off land just to cover inheritance tax bills.
“This will have lasting consequences for Scotland and the UK’s food production, local employment, and the sustainability of rural communities.
“The major taxation change comes in alongside other tax increases, such as employers' national insurance and the taxation of double cab pickups, all of which serve to make the cost of doing business in rural areas even higher.”
SLE is urging the UK Government to rethink its policy and work collaboratively with the agricultural industry to develop solutions that protect both fiscal interests and the longterm future of British farming.
Ms Kay concluded: “The farming sector is already under immense pressure from rising costs, climate challenges, and market volatility. At a time when we should be supporting farmers to invest in innovation and efficiency, these tax changes will do the exact opposite—discouraging investment and driving many farms into financial instability.
“There are alternative ways to reform APR and BPR that do not disproportionately punish hardworking farming families.
We strongly urge the government to extend its consultation process and explore fairer, more sustainable approaches that do not put the future of Scotland’s rural economy at risk.”
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Atholl Gordon, Rona Jordan, and Colin Milne
New ARION 570 CMATIC: the most powerful four-cylinder in the CLAAS tractor range
CLAAS has extended the ARION 500 series with the addition of the ARION 570 CMATIC featuring a genuine 180 hp and a range of innovative functions with the focus on maximising customer benefits. The powerful four-cylinder engine with continuously variable, splitpower CLAAS CMATIC transmission is also available in the NIGHT EDITION.
The ARION 500 series marks the rise of the CLAAS standard tractor programme to the professional league. With growing demand for increasingly powerful, yet agile, four-cylinder models, CLAAS is launching a new top-of-therange model with high-spec equipment for the series. This tractor class encompasses a broad sweep of applications ranging from tillage, drilling and general cultivation work to yard work with or without front loader, transport operations and municipal work.
The ARION 570 CMATIC works with a 4.5 l Stage V engine, which delivers a maximum output of 180 hp without boost. The maximum torque of 730 Nm is available at 1,400 rpm.
The ARION 570 CMATIC has a reinforced Dana front axle to match its higher output. In addition, the compact, manoeuvrable four-cylinder is available with Trelleborg VF 710/60R38 tyres on the rear axle and VF 600/60 R28 on the front, a combination which effectively converts engine power to tractive power while protecting the soil.
The ARION 570 CMATIC also benefits from a 50:50 kerb weight distribution.
Intelligent and efficient: CMATIC, CEMOS, CMOTION and that’s not all
The ARION 570 CMATIC works with the latest configuration of the CMATIC continuously variable transmission developed and manufactured by CLAAS
Industrietechnik, which boasts two automatically selected drive modes, active powered zero and a top speed of 40 or 50 km/h. This type of transmission has demonstrated its efficiency, resilience and reliability under challenging field conditions in runtimes amounting to over 10,000 operating hours. Its optimally coordinated
powertrain management is equally impressive; acceleration, deceleration and direction changing are effortlessly smooth. Furthermore, the transmission software developed in-house maintains a perfect balance between engine speed and transmission ratio at all times, whatever the task, to enable powerful yet efficient work.
JCB launches 403E full cab electric Ultra-Compact Loader
A new version of JCB’s 403E ultra-compact electric loader keeps the operator warm and snug as it eliminates at-source emissions and reduces a farm’s carbon footprint.
The new machine is equipped with a fully glazed, heated cab designed to provide a comfortable environment while minimising its draw on battery
power, despite having heated front and rear windscreens, a heated seat and three-speed blower, and auto control features that warm-up the cab without reducing the machine’s power reserves.
The 403E was introduced in 2023 with a fixed or folding open canopy as part of JCB’s growing E-Tech range of battery-electric
farming and light construction machines that offer minimal running costs, exceptionally low operator and bystander noise levels, and an opportunity for businesses to lower their carbon footprint.
The new JCB 403E Full Cab features include:
• 972kg or 1,090kg tipping
load; 2.9m or 3.1m lift height with parallel-lift arms
• 33.4kW electric drive motor with 0.5kph, 8kph and 20kph speed ranges
• 20kWh lithium-ion battery providing four- to five-hour mixed-cycle work time
• 20kW electric motor-driven hydraulics with ‘shovel/ bucket’ and ‘fork’ modes
• On-board and off-board battery charging solutions for 2hr to 8hr full charges
• Full-time four-wheel drive, open or locking axle differentials, pivot steering
JCB Agriculture Managing Director John Smith, said: “Providing a fully enclosed, warm and weather-proof working environment involved
a lot more than just taking the cab from the 403 diesel and installing it on the all-electric version.
“A key requirement of any electrically-driven machine is a decent amount of work-time between charges; by designing special control functions for the 403E Full Cab, we meet that demand while keeping the operator warm and comfortable.”
Longstanding John Deere dealer J&S Montgomery to expand after acquiring DKR Agricultural Services
An acquisition agreement has been reached between two Scottish John Deere dealers which will see J&S Montgomery expand into Lanarkshire, South Stirlingshire and West Lothian.
The purchase of DKR Agricultural Services at Coulter, near Biggar, adds a fourth depot to the J&S Montgomery business.
The dealer principals at both companies – which together have more than 75 years’ experience of John Deere sales and service – are focusing on a smooth, seamless transition for customers in the territory.
Douglas Montgomery, Dealer Principal at J&S Montgomery, said: “DKR Agricultural Services is an excellent business with skilled staff and a well-earned reputation across Lanarkshire and beyond.
to incorporate and ensure it’s business as usual for all customers and staff.”
David Doig, Dealer Principal at DKR Agricultural Services, said: “We have known the Montgomery business for many years and our positive relationship will ensure sales and service continues uninterrupted.
“We are extremely proud to have worked with John Deere for so long, achieving a strong market share, and attracting great employees who delivered the best possible customer service along the way.”
J&S Montgomery became a John Deere dealer in 1980 when it had just one depot based on the We
“We are pleased to have been able to reach an agreement with the owners – the Doig family –and in the coming weeks and months we will work together
DKR Agricultural Services is run by David, his brother, Keith, and sister, Susan. It has been trading since 1989 and predominantly serves livestock and dairy farms as well as contractors and a significant number of arablefocused operations.
family farm near Beith, North Ayrshire.
It grew in 2005 and 2015 and now has depots in Stranraer and Ayr.
“We have a loyal customer base down the west coast of Scotland which is largely grassland operations such as dairy, beef and sheep,” Douglas added.
Brian D’Arcy, Division Sales Manager for Agriculture at John Deere UK and Ireland, said: “We are hugely grateful for the 35 years of loyalty and customer service excellence that the DKR Agricultural Services team has given customers. I would like to thank David and all the team at DKR for all their hard work and commitment to John Deere.
“We know that J&S Montgomery’s reputation for customer-focused service will be carried over into the new depot at Coulter and wish them every success in their expanded territory.”
Agriweld launches The Adapter Guard
The latest edition to our range has been designed to utilise existing cast weights and offer storage while shielding the front wheels.
The Adapter Guard is engineered to work in conjunction with your existing cast weight, (though you can run it without a weight by use of an additional frame for the top link.). The design features two fixed wings that offer storage pod placements whilst helping to minimise the danger of tractors running over objects during a collision. The wings are shaped to help deflect objects away from the wheels.
Reflective chevrons, amber flashing LED’s and twin
KATTRAK INTERNATIONAL LTD
We are proud to announce Kattrak International has appointed Kevin Cross, Cross Plant Sales Ltd as our new North partner. With new depots being placed in Aberfeldy and another further North / Inverness with Graham Stuart being appointed as Sales Manager. This adds to our network coverage throughout Scotland with our other depot in St Boswells / Scottish Borders run by Lee Riddell Sales / Hire Manager and our main depot running from Ayrshire
Distribution, Sales, Hire Fleet, Service, Spares, Training Wheeled dumpers, tracked dumpers, excavators, telehandlers, special machinery
Kattrak International Ltd is proud to be an official Scottish dealer & distributor for Sunward, Hidromek and Holp Rototop Attachments
Kattrak offers a broad range of wheeled & tracked dumpers as well as other machinery for hire at competitive rates
light stalks provide increased visibility to other road users from all angles.
The optional side pods feature rubber lined floors, catches, lid stays and lid seals offering 140l capacity in each pod. A clever collapsable lift point in each makes their removable quick and easy
Finished to the highest quality in a choice of colour with laser etched logo.
Product Availability
It will be available to order directly from Agriweld or through dealers. Ordering via the AGCO dealer network allows the option to use AGCO limited edition colours and tractor brands
Effective weed control with the AMAZONE Venterra 1K
The AMAZONE hoe range has been extended with the new Venterra 1K in working widths of up to 4.20 metres. This lightweight all-rounder is designed for smaller farms, with tractor outputs from 60 hp and can be equipped with various parallelograms and tools thanks to its modular system. Precise row guidance systems make it easier to carry out work with a rear mounted machine. A front mounting kit also enables costeffective use of the Venterra 1K when on the front linkage.
Customised solutions for every crop
Next issue out May 2025
The key component of the Venterra 1K is the parallelogram. This provides optimum tool
guidance. The EKP parallelogram is available for row widths between 16 cm and 37.5 cm and can be optionally equipped with up to three hoe blades. The KPP parallelogram with up to five tool carrier positions is used for row spacings between 12.5 cm and
90 cm. The working depth can be infinitely adjusted and there is a generous overlap between the hoe blades.
Different types and widths of hoe blades can be selected from the modular system which can also be used in combination, in
order to meet any requirement with regard to crops and soil conditions. The patented RapidoClip quick-change system allows the blades to be changed without tools in next to no time, both in the field and back in the yard.
Always on track Damage-free hoeing of row crops requires maximum precision. The row guidance system, consisting of a camera system
and an offset slide mechanism, ensures precise guidance of the hoe in between the crop rows or in fields on hilly terrain.
The Horus Professional camera system ensures reliable recognition of the crop based on its position or, in 3D mode, based on the height differences. Recognition can also be provided by colour selection. The inhouse developed SmartVision camera system guarantees reliable row guidance without
manual readjustment thanks to its automatic slope correction, even on steep slopes. Both systems control the sliding frame in accordance with the forward speed. The operator can check the exact row guidance via a video image on the terminal at any time. When working in beds, or at narrow working widths, that do not allow the camera to be positioned to the side of the tractor, the Venterra 1K, in its extended frame version, offers
an optimal solution by allowing a clear field of view of the crop rows between the profile frame and the headstock.
A row sensor can be used in addition to the camera system. This is particularly suitable for passes of the hoe that are carried out to control late weed flushes or when sowing undersown crops. In the event of strong plant movement, such as in a crosswind, the sensor systems ensure precise guidance along the plant rows.
Kubota dealer Hunts Engineering expands into agriculture
Kubota (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce that Hunts Engineering has been appointed as a dealer for the entire range of M-series tractors, to cover areas of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, Located on the Fosse Way at Halford near Shipston-onStour, Warwickshire, the family-
run business is no stranger to the Kubota brand, having been handling sales, service and aftercare for the Kubota ground care range since 2017. Since then, the firm has been gradually expanding its portfolio to include R0 compact loaders and KTH telehandlers. And that offering now includes
all M-series tractors up to the 175hp flagship model, the M7174 KVT Premium.
“As part of the ground care range, we had been selling tractors up to and including the M6001 Utility series,” explains managing director Pete Hunt. “And with our background in agricultural engineering, plus
on-going combine servicing and repairs for up to 20 harvesters per year, our business is ideally positioned in the marketplace to step into the full supply and servicing of the entire M-series product range.”
Established in 2007, Hunts Engineering currently operates with around 20 staff of which six
are mobile, operating with fullyequipped vans. The business believes in investing in staff training, and is keen to ensure its team is kept up-to-date with all products from the manufacturers it represents.
“Our business is all about giving great service,” says Pete. “If you look after your customers, then those customers will look after you.”
Henry Bredin, general manager of Kubota (UK)’s agricultural and ground care machinery division sees the firm’s expansion into agriculture as a positive step forward. “The ability of Hunts Engineering to grow its business to meet the needs of the farming sector and support a wider customer base is a positive step forward for new and existing customers in Warwickshire.”
NRH Engineering’s latest machine rolls out
NRH Engineering launched its new low disturbance subsoiler –the Tremor – at LAMMA 2025, selling several machines over the course of the two-day show and receiving more than a dozen enquiries from growers and potential dealers.
Updated for 2025, the latest version of ROLLX-GS can now be supplied with several optional features, including stone trays, hydraulic paddle tines, jackpot tines and harrowing tines, which can all be operated from the cab for convenience and time-saving.
Designed and manufactured in the UK, NRH offers five variations of the ROLLXGS ranging from 4.3m to 8.3
metres in length. All variations feature a 610mm diameter, 12mm thick barrel with rounded ends that can be ballasted for extra consolidation and stone suppression.
NRH has ensured the longevity of the roller by using grade SJ355 in 6, 8 or 10mm thicknesses for all box sections and 60mm high tensile axles with high-quality greaseable triple seal bearings.
All models – the 430-GS, 530-GS, 630-GS, 730-GS and 830-GS – feature fully hydraulic unfolding and folding (to a transport width of 2.m), 400 x 60 x 15.5 tyres on six-stud rims and LED lights as standard.
“LAMMA was phenomenal for us!” says Neil. “We expected people to be interested in the Tremor, but we didn’t think we would be anywhere near as busy as we were. We didn’t stop for two full days!
NRH introduced the ROLLX-GS in June last year
in response to requests from growers and dealers who were impressed with the build quality and performance of NRH’s ROLLX Cambridge roller. As with the ROLLX Cambridge Roller, the ROLLX-GS uses a 610 x 12mm barrel mounted onto the same heavy-duty frame.
Registration open for data sharing technology
Fendt has thrown the doors of data sharing technology open to all owners of Fendt machinery using both the old and new FendtONE operating systems. Launched in 2020, the FendtONE onboard system has grown to encompass the full range of Fendt tractors. The later addition of FendtONE offboard has enabled data sharing between machines and the ability to export data to other software.
“Fendt now offers free FendtONE offboard registration to all operators of tractors and machinery that use the FendtONE interface. This will enable the machines to send data
to the farm office and for that data to be interpreted and exported to improve farming efficiencies in all areas of agriculture,” explains Fendt’s Ed Dennett.
To help those with older machines Fendt has also enabled FendtONE to take data from S4 tractors or other Fendt machines that run the 10.4” (NT01) terminal.
“This is crucial to broadening the user base for FendtONE as it will enable thousands more operators to take advantage of the free offboard software,” he adds.
Historically, Fendt dealers were tasked with integrating
the on and offboard technology. However, the process of registering a Fendt machine and installing the offboard management system can now be done in minutes by any Fendt customer.
“All customers need are an email address and a Fendt machine that uses the FendtONE onboard interface. The registration process is accessed via Fendt’s website (www.fendt. com/fendt-one-offboard) and, once registered, users are offered a variety of helpful video guides to get started,” he adds.
With both onboard and offboard systems set up, operators will benefit from recording technology, including time and fuel for each job. Machines can also share field maps and boundaries with data from other machinery, such as sprayers, being able to benefit from tractor data.
“Connecting machinery, learning from the data each provides and sharing information across multiple agricultural platforms enables more accurate decisionmaking that can save operators time and money,” concludes Mr Dennett.
AMAZONE Cenius mounted cultivator now with hydraulic overload protection
The Cenius Ultra from AMAZONE is a new model to the mounted cultivator range and comes in working widths of 3.00 m and 3.50 m. The outstanding feature is the C-Mix Ultra tine with its automatic overload protection via a hydraulic
cylinder. This robust tine system offers a high level of reliability and durability, especially under intensive operating conditions.
Flexibility on any soil
The C-Mix Ultra tines really come into their own in variable soil conditions. The release force can
be infinitely adjusted between 500 kg and 800 kg to ensure optimum adaptation to differing soil types.
The tines can move upwards more quickly on light soils with large stones at the lower release force setting of 500 kg. This protects the frame of the mounted cultivator from excessive loads and any stones remain under the surface. Where there is compaction, or on heavy clay soils, the pressure can be increased up to 800 kg. This ensures a consistent, reliable loosening of the soil.
Operational reliability under the toughest conditions
The high lift heights of the individual tines mean that the machine maintains the desired optimum working depth of up to 35 cm, even under the toughest of conditions. The C-Mix Ultra tines offer a high level of operational reliability and effectively protect the mounted cultivator while ensuring optimum soil movement.
Stepless adjustment of the system is easily and conveniently
carried out from the front on the headstock. The pressure gauge is also located there and is easily visible from the tractor cab for convenient monitoring.
In addition, the Ultra overload protection system protects the cultivator in a unique way: The system consists of individual hydraulic cylinders fitted to the tines along with central hydraulic accumulators and this provides a highly damped resetting of the C-Mix Ultra tine to the neutral position after triggering. This feature significantly reduces any wear and tear on the overload protection system, even if it is triggered frequently.
New Vervaet Q-616 beet harvester for 2025/26
J Riley Beet Harvesters, UK importer of Vervaet, is introducing an updated version
of the popular Vervaet Q-616 sugar beet harvester for the 2025/26 harvesting campaign.
This latest Q-616 features a new cab, a range of technical improvements, updated styling
and numerous new options. This facelift continues the progression of the Q-Series harvester design in line with Vervaet’s policy of ongoing development.
“Since its launch in 2016, the Q-Series has been a huge success,” says Jonathan Hoekman, commercial director at Frans Vervaet BV. “Thanks to its modular design, manoeuvrability, and straightforward layout this machine has proven itself across various markets and countries. With this latest update we aim to continue and strengthen this success. As a family-owned company now in its third generation, we feel we have built a robust machine for the immediate future.”
The Q-616 is Britain’s favourite sugar beet harvester, outselling both its siblings in the Vervaet range and machines from competitor manufacturers by a considerable margin. With almost a decade of proven
performance now under its belt there is also a strong demand for refurbished used machines, of which Rileys supply a considerable number to new owners annually.
“The Q-616 has proven itself in the UK as a worthy successor to the legendary Vervaet 17-T and Beet Eater 617,” points out J Riley’s managing director Matt Carse. “Its versatility makes it well-suited to both farmers and contractors lifting across the full range of soil types, it has consistently outsold the competition since
its introduction. The large UK population means we can also offer good-quality refurbished
machines. Plus first-class backup, which is all as part of the package.”
Ancroft tractors celebrates 30
years as a Merlo dealer
North-East-based agricultural machinery specialists, Ancroft Tractors Ltd, recently marked a
significant milestone - 30 years as a Merlo dealer. The achievement was celebrated with a long service
award presented to Managing Director, Tom Brown, at LAMMA Show last week.
Founded in 1979, Ancroft Tractors is a family-run business with a proud tradition of serving the agricultural community. With head office in Berwickupon-Tweed, along with a depot selling and servicing Merlo’s in Kelso, Ancroft Tractors ensure comprehensive coverage across Northumberland, the Scottish Borders, and Mid/East Lothian. Specialising in new and secondhand machinery sales and service, the company has built a solid reputation for reliability and customer service.
Reflecting on the partnership, Shaun Groom, General Manager of Merlo UK, said: “Ancroft Tractors have been selling Merlo products and supporting their customers since 1994. Only a year after Merlo UK was established in 1993, and two years before Merlo’s Turbofarmer range was launched. Ancroft Tractors were one of the first dealers in the UK to sell Merlo machines to the agricultural industry and over the
past 30 years and they’ve witnessed Merlo’s continuous innovation and evolution—from the introduction of the Multifarmer in 2000 to the launch of Merlo’s Generation Zero electric telehandlers in 2021. Merlo owes Ancroft Tractors a debt of gratitude for their loyalty and support, and we are proud to count them as a valued Merlo dealer.”
Tom Brown, Managing Director at Ancroft Tractors added, “As a friendly, family owned-business, backed by the best parts, service and sales teams we have embraced new products and technologies and introduced them to our customers. It has been a privilege to work with Merlo for the past 30 years and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership in the future.”
This milestone celebrates a decades-long partnership built on shared values of innovation, quality, and commitment to customer success.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Andrew Connon
The Scottish Crofting Federation congratulates Mr Connon on his election as the new president of the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS).
This is a challenging time for crofting, with so many changes ahead in terms of agricultural policy. As a key stakeholder in determining where the journey goes, NFUS has great responsibility for the challenges and opportunities crofters will face under the new agricultural support system. Getting the details of the new policy right will be crucial for the future direction and resilience of crofting.
Jonathan Hedges, Chair of the SCF, says “We congratulate Andrew Connon on his election. Throughout the debate on what now has become the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act, the NFUS has played a central role. The Government has repeatedly reassured crofters that the policy delivered through this piece of legislation will be proportionate and adequately support crofters and other small producers. Together, we can hold the government to its promise.”
Paul Raincy
The British Limousin Cattle Society is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Rainey as its new CEO. Owner of the Claragh pedigree herd in Co. Derry, Northern Ireland, Mr Rainey brings a wealth of business and breeding experience to the organisation.
Society chairman, Dyfan James says Mr Rainey is an outstanding addition to the society’s leadership.
“Paul’s financial background as a chartered accountant and experience managing his family business, J Rainey Bookmakers, combined with his Limousin knowledge will really help push the breed forward,” he explains.
Having recently completed the sale of his business; Mr Rainey is eager for the new challenge with a clear vision for the immense potential of the breed and exciting projects on the horizon.
“I’m extremely honoured to be taking up the role of CEO of the British Limousin Cattle Society – the breed has always been a passion of mine,” says Mr Rainey.
“As a Limousin breeder for nearly 20 years, I recognise the challenges we face in today’s market, however, I believe there are many exciting opportunities ahead and we must embrace the journey ahead together.
Alice Wilson
Alice Wilson, Head of Rural for Galbraith in Ayr, has been elected Vice Chair of the South Ayrshire Branch NFUS.
John Kerr, Ayrshire Regional Chair for NFU Scotland, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alice to the Vice Chair role and grateful for her commitment to NFUS over the past few years. Farmers have been let down by successive governments and the current crisis could have been avoided if there had been a better dialogue between politicians and farming communities. What is good to see, however, is the strength of feeling and unity across Scotland in supporting farmers. Alice will be an excellent addition to the team as we face these challenges ahead.
THE BOOK SHELF New Scottish Baking
by Sue Lawrence
Sue Lawrence, food writer and novelist originally from Dundee, has written twenty cookbooks, with her first baking book published in 1996. Nigella Lawson has described her as ‘a leading force in spreading the joy of Scottish food,’ and her latest cookbook, New Scottish Baking, aims to do just that. In the introduction, Sue explores just how much baking in Scotland has changed, as more and more everyday people pick up baking, whether due to the popularity of television programmes like The Great British Bake Off or as their lockdown hobby in recent years. Sue herself won BBC’s MasterChef in 1991, which helped kickstart her career as a prominent cookery writer. This new comprehensive guide to Scottish baking is beginnerfriendly while also offering some new challenges and fresh ideas for more seasoned bakers.
the recipes shared in the rest of the book.
Ultimately, this book is a brilliant celebration of the incredible variety of Scottish baking. Included are 150 easyto-follow recipes organised into clear categories (Bread, Scones, Brownies, Cakes, Biscuits, Savoury tarts, etc), closing with a chapter on baking with children to inspire a new generation in the kitchen. The book is also beautifully illustrated throughout with fine colour photographs by Katie Pryde, which are both aesthetically attractive and useful when trying to determine if your attempt at the recipe has turned out as intended.
Blair Allan G T Bunning & Sons has strengthened its team with the appointment of Blair Allan to area sales manager for Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland.
Blair’s appointment fills a newly created position that highlights Bunning’s commitment to providing high quality service and support to its dealers and customers. Blair’s background is well suited to the role, after growing up on a family dairy farm near Loch Lomond, and he has held several product support and sales positions at dealers and manufacturers in both agriculture and plant.
Most notably, his dealership roles at HRN and James Gordon offered him direct experience with Bunning spreaders, and he explains the quality of Bunning’s products attracted him to the role.
At the start of the book, there is a helpful guide to finding and using common ingredients which will be particularly useful for those getting into baking for the first time. Here, Sue shares some personal tips you might not be able to find elsewhere –such as how to tell when butter is perfectly softened or how best to measure notoriously sticky treacle. These tips come in handy when attempting to bake any of
New Scottish Baking includes an ideal balance of traditional favourites such as Selkirk bannock, Ecclefechan tart and Cloutie dumpling, as well as showcasing exciting contemporary recipes such as Haggis tartlets with red onion marmalade, Roasted rhubarb, orange and ginger blondies, and Lemon curd polenta cake.
With Sue Lawrence’s dedication to sharing classic Scottish recipes as well as introducing some exciting modern twists, New Scottish Baking certainly lives up to its description as ‘the only book on Scottish baking you will ever need.’
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New Scottish Baking by Sue Lawrence was published by Birlinn in August 2024 (£25)
