FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE (July-August 2025)

Proud to support Scottish farming, and agriculture throughout the five nations

Telehandlers

Trailers

Perth Show

Farming Yesteryear

Border Union

Potatoes In Practice

Tillage

In Focus

Shepherds Boots

Artisan

The Art of David Esson

magazine

Included inside

Shooting Scotland Magazine Packed with features & News

Articles

The Cost of Rural Crime

Nuffield Scholarships for 2026

Butterfly Charity

Sustainability at Scone Estates

Travel Scotland A taste of Edinburgh plus

Flavour of Scotland • Food & Drink

Ffermio Cymru • Northern Isles

Beatha an Eilean • Women in Agriculture including our regular news areas and columns

Tuathanachas Alba

editor's bit

“Here comes the sun”

And other stuff!

One of my favourite songs, and I even perform it at our local folk club every now and then.

But on a more serious ‘note’, I am sure we have all noticed how our weather is changing faster and faster, while some idiot spouts ‘Drill baby drill’, I wonder who that can be?

With our warming atmosphere comes drought, and this is going to be a major problem in the coming years and decades for our farmers unless we take action more quickly to reduce the damage to our planet.

“There is no planet B” I believe is the statement!

Scotland is a water country, and yet we have foreseeable problems too, with infrastructure leakage being a real issue, as can also be seen in England and the rest of the UK.

So here is my thought to our UK Prime Minister – Instead of spending Billions on weapons or war and death, try looking after our pensioners and our water supplies!

Just a simple thought from an old hippy?

Perhaps, but I would rather spend my money of positive things than products that can only bring harm, death and destruction.

Is this utopian dream going to happen in the UK? – No.

But this old hippy can at least dream of days when the sun does shine (Even in Scotland!), and we won’t have to worry about drought for our farmers and our home-grown food chain.

All we need is to elect politicians with real and genuine social vision for the health of its people, and not always finding Billions down the back of a sofa to wage wars we can’t win!

“Give peace a chance”, as one of my heroes once sang. Slàinte, Athole.

arable

Drought danger threatens soil health

The spring of 2025 was the warmest and sunniest on record, with just 128.2mm of rainfall. Despite some early summer rain, the Met Office has predicted Britain is twice as likely to have a hot summer which will cement the impact of drought on many crops.

As soils dry out, so the risk of salinity increases, posing a threat to crop performance but also leaving soil health in tatters.

Soil testing specialist Eurofins Agro Testing suggests many crops, including cereals and grassland, will be affected by drought this year. However, soil data suggests the effect on this year’s crops is only the beginning of the problem and growers should seek to better understand soil health to help the performance of the following crop.

In drought conditions, soil leaching and mineralisation reduces, which leaves important nutrients such as nitrogen and sulphur inactive. It is also likely that soils will have elevated levels of potassium, boron, zinc and manganese because the lack of moisture in the soil makes these elements harder for the crop to take up. Unable to absorb nutrients, the crop will suffer and the dried out, post-harvest soil will be left with elevated levels of salinity.

The key message is that only accurate soil testing will identify the true impact of drought this season and its knock-on effect to next year’s crops. It is, therefore, vital that growers understand what has been lost and what is needed to balance soils for the next crop.

Crops that are sensitive to salt levels in soils include onions, peas, beans, top fruits and root crops such as carrots. If the concentration of plant available salts increases, it can hold back

the crop. For root crops, like carrots, this will be evident because salt in the root will show a burning effect on the carrot. However, the appearance of salt damage will be less obvious in cereal crops, which is why it is important to test soil after harvest to plan a focussed nutrient management strategy.

To mitigate salinisation, growers can look to improve

plant and soil health by adding silicon. Silicon improves the water status of plants under abiotic stress and its concentration in soil helps plants to take up other nutrients more efficiently. Silicon can be identified using Eurofins Agro Testing’s Soil Health Indicator test which also offers detailed information on soil contaminates.

Scientists discover smart ‘switch’ in plants that allows them to redirect roots to find water

Scientists have discovered a rapid molecular switch in plant roots that allows them to detect dry soils and redirect root growth to find water. This discovery could help in developing drought-resilient crops and addressing future food security challenges.

Roots typically branch out in response to moisture in the soil, foraging for water and nutrients. However, when the

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

growing root loses contact with moist soil, it temporarily halts the formation of lateral branches. This smart response helps plants redirect their root growth toward areas with higher water availability.

In this new study, led by scientists at the University of Nottingham in collaboration with Durham University has identified a rapid signalling mechanism that enables plant

roots to detect and respond to dry soil conditions. The study, published in Science, reveals that this adaptive response is triggered by a rapid increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in root tips. ROS act as stress signals, indicating to the roots that it has entered a dry zone.

The team were able to reveal how the ROS interacts with a specific protein and hormone in the plant that regulates growth and development, and how this can be disrupted with the protein serving as a molecular switch, integrating environmental stress signals with hormonal control to shape root architecture.

Dr Poonam Mehra, BBSRC Discovery fellow from the University of Nottingham’s School of Biosciences led the research, she said: “This is a fast, efficient mechanism that allows plants to sense water stress and react almost immediately, allowing them to conserve resources and optimise

root growth in response to their environment.”

Professor Malcolm Bennett from the University of Nottingham added, “This work shows how a single protein can act as a highly responsive sensor, linking the plant’s stress perception to growth decisions. It opens exciting possibilities for engineering crops

that are better adapted to waterlimited environments.”

This breakthrough is not only a step forward in basic plant science, but also holds important implications for global food security As drought becomes more frequent and severe due to climate change, understanding how roots respond to water

stress is vital for developing crops that can survive in harsher environments.

This landmark study was conducted in partnership with seven additional institutions across the UK and Europe, combining expertise in molecular biology, structural biology, and advanced imaging technologies.

The James Hutton Institute announces state-of-the-art genomics technologies

The Hutton leads the world in scientific research and breeding programmes aimed at developing new potato varieties with desirable agronomic characteristics and resilience to external stresses, such as temperature extremes and diseases.

However, breeding potatoes is no simple task. Potato genetics underpins all breeding activities but even when all the desired traits are present in the parent plants, their offspring frequently inherit only a limited number of these traits.

This challenge arises because cultivated potatoes are typically tetraploid, meaning they possess four copies of their genome. These multiple genome copies can recombine freely, complicating the inheritance of specific traits.

This is where molecular markers come into play. These are specific DNA sequences or variations located at specific sites within the genome.

Molecular markers act as beacons within the genome, signalling to breeders whether the segment of DNA responsible for a particular trait is present or absent. Considerable research has been dedicated to identifying the genetic basis of key traits and converting this knowledge into informative molecular markers.

Professor Ingo Hein, Head of Potato Genetics at the Hutton, said, “We have harnessed state-of-the-art genomics technologies that enable researchers to analyse each of the four genome copies individually. This allows us to precisely tag only the beneficial DNA segment— known as a haplotype.

“By using a minimum sequence representation of the entire potato genome (which, at four times 840 million base pairs, is considerable

in size), we can reliably detect the presence or absence of the specific DNA region associated

with valuable traits. Our work has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach for both large

genomic regions of over a million base pairs, and very small ones around 20,000 base pairs.”

XAGRI Announced as New Dealer for

Tong Engineering in Yorkshire

Tong Engineering is proud to announce a new dealership agreement with XAGRI, strengthening its presence and support for vegetable producers across Yorkshire. The partnership marks a significant step in ensuring local customers have access to Tong’s industry-

leading vegetable handling equipment alongside dedicated sales, aftersales, service support and parts.

“We’re delighted to partner with XAGRI, ” said Simon Lee, Sales Director at Tong Engineering. “Their commitment and focus on bringing personal

customer support and service aligns perfectly with our values, and we’re confident that this partnership will bring great benefits to new and existing Tong customers in Yorkshire.”

Josh Cousins of XAGRI expressed his enthusiasm: “We are very proud to have the

opportunity to be an official dealer for Tong Engineering and Tong SwiftLift in our local area. We have already established ourselves as a trusted partner for Tong service and maintenance work, ensuring local customers benefit from onhand knowledge and support for

their Tong machines. Our goal is to strengthen these relationships further by providing a complete sales, after-sales and service offering.”

Through XAGRI, customers will have access to Tong’s full range of advanced vegetable handling solutions, including the Caretaker and FieldLoad PRO post-harvest systems. The latest innovations in box handling, tipping, and washing equipment will also be available, ensuring comprehensive support for all vegetable handling requirements.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

Next issue out September 2025

Upgraded designs on Greencrop

GCEP170w

static engine driven water pump

As rules and regulations change on the emissions of agricultural machinery, Greencrop have adapted with it. The latest model

from the Norfolk based company includes a semi static (non-mobile) engine driven water pump. The shown variant comes with a 6

cylinder, 170 horsepower engine which directly drives an MG100 Caprari 2 stage water pump. Such a combination allows for multiple irrigation reels to be supplied with water at once.

Other improvement on this model includes a full manufactures stainless steel

diesel tank of 1700 litre capacity and a modular construction allowing paint protection to reach all areas of the build, including underneath the sound insulation. Greencrop already use industry leading sound insulation cladding which makes having a conversation in

HORSCH offers ‘spot spraying’ without an expensive camera system

the immediate vicinity of this machine no problem.

All Greencrop pumps come with a large storage compartment, although slightly reduced on this variant due to the larger engine of 6 cylinders, not 4. The electrical primer heads are also upgraded for 2025

by increasing the vane size by 10mm.

Capable of delivering 250 cubic metres per hour of water, the GCEP170W comes standard with a 6” suction inlet and a 5” outlet. These are adaptable to various irrigation fittings depending on customer needs.

Any HORSCH Leeb sprayer with AutoSelect, the well-proven automatic nozzle control system, can ‘spot spray’ with data fed from a drone sweep of the field. This removes the need to have an expensive camera system mounted to the sprayer or tractor.

“We’re seeing some confusion in the industry. HORSCH has been offering this system for the past two years, but it should be noted

this is really ‘patch spraying’ as opposed to true ‘spot spraying’ which targets individual weeds. We are working hard on that too, but nobody can truly offer Green-on-Green spot spraying yet despite the term becoming more encompassing,” says Stephen Burcham, general manager at HORSCH UK.

“AutoSelect has been available to customers since we started selling sprayers, so the vast majority of our customers can take advantage of our proven selective spraying technology. Working with application maps, it offers a significant reduction in chemical use without incurring further prohibitive costs,” adds Mr Burcham.

Using drones to map the weed population ahead of spraying ensures the operator can mix the correct amount of chemical in the sprayer’s tank for the chosen application. This is a major advantage over real-time analysis for spot and patch spraying, which could leave significant levels of chemical in the sprayer at the end of the application.

Precision mapping with drones HORSCH has been working with Agrovista as a supplier of drone mapping and precision services. Richard Dulake, precision services technical manager at Agrovista explains the process.

“During the summer months, our Soil Sampling Team can turn their hands to drone operation. We have 10 sophisticated drones that can map our customers’ fields and create Green-on-Green data maps highlighting areas of weed growth.

“Some manual input is required in identifying the weed areas but once two or three areas have been highlighted, our AI software takes over and identifies all areas with either multiple or single plants. The spraying area is reduced to the smallest possible, but we usually use a minimum of 1m grids.”

Application maps instruct sprayers with nozzle and section control to apply chemical only where necessary. Two types of applications maps are available: point and radius, and polygon.

Sign up now for the Great Scone Palace Challenge 2025

A brand new farming fundraiser is coming to Perthshire this September and teams are being encouraged to sign up now to take part.

The Great Scone Palace Challenge will raise funds for RSABI, the charity supporting people in Scottish agriculture, and will have activities over two days on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace.

The event will kick off with a separate Welcome Party at Perth Racecourse on Friday evening, followed by a full day of activities on Saturday, where teams of five from across the agricultural community will compete in a range of fun and physical challenges including a tractor pull, a round bale obstacle course, and a mystery maze.

Emmerdale cast members will be lending their support across the weekend, including taking part in a charity race around Perth Racecourse during the Welcome Party and a performance from the Emmerdale cast band at the exclusive celebration ball on Saturday evening.

Title sponsor Gillespie Macandrew, a Scottish legal firm offering specialist advice to rural businesses, has backed the event, with additional support from Scone Palace, who have

named RSABI as their Charity of the Year.

Pauline Macmillan, Head of Fundraising at RSABI, said: “We’re very much looking forward to heading to Scone Palace this September and can’t wait to welcome participants for an event which promises to be great fun as well as highly competitive.”

Places are limited, so early entry is encouraged. Tickets for the Welcome Party at Perth Racecourse are £35 and team sign-ups are now open. To enter or find out more, visit www. rsabi.org.uk.

RSABI’s free, confidential support service is available 24/7 on 0808 1234 555 or via webchat at www.rsabi.org.uk.

RSABI provides 24/7 confidential support for farmers through their helpline (0808 1234 555) or webchat at www.rsabi.org.uk.

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Celebrating the berry best of Scottish soft fruit

From juicy strawberries to plump blueberries, Scotland has a long and rich history of producing some of the world’s most succulent soft fruit, with hundreds of farms up and down the country representing a growing and valuable part of our vibrant agricultural landscape.

To champion and strengthen Scotland’s £188 million berry sector, Scotland Food & Drink, supported by the Scottish Government, is launching a brandnew celebration of Scottish-grown berries, encouraging shoppers, chefs, retailers and more to learn about the innovative industry, and add more delicious local fruit to their plates.

Launched in June by Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, at an exclusive event at The Royal Highland Show, the four-month Berries of Scotland campaign spread awareness of the heritage and impact of Scotland’s berry sector, which comprises fruit farms of all shapes and sizes spread out from the Highlands all the way down the east coast.

As well as showcasing tasty recipes and fascinating insights into the life of Scottish growers, Berries of Scotland also brought together a curated map to show berry lovers where they can ‘pick their own’ at local farms around the country.

According to the Scottish Government’s farm census, 1,000 hectares of farmland was dedicated to growing strawberries alone in 2024 – the equivalent of more than 1,200 football pitches – and Scotland has been the home of berry innovation for more than three quarters of a century, thanks to pioneering scientific developments at The James Hutton Institute.

Experts from The James Hutton Institute – who attended the Berries of Scotland launch alongside growers from Castleton Farm and Angus Growers –have been breeding and trialing soft fruit for almost 75 years, including raspberries, blackberries,

blackcurrants, blueberries, currants, gooseberries, tayberries, and honeyberries. Over the decades, Hutton has developed more than 40 soft fruit varieties, including berries that are resilient to climate change or require low input, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides which makes them more sustainable.

With the berry category now worth £197.8m in the Scottish retail market, growing both in value (+14.8%) and volume (+9.8%) in the last 52 weeks to May 2025 versus the previous year, now is the perfect time to celebrate the scientists, farmers and businesses who contribute to Scotland’s rich berry heritage.

Scotch Butcher Club Members Shine on the National Stage

By Gordon Newlands, Brand Development Manager at Quality Meat Scotland

It’s been a great time of celebration for members of the Scotch Butchers Club, with a series of impressive wins across some of Scotland’s most prestigious butchery and product competitions. From award-winning pies and haggis to stand-out performances in Butcher Wars, our members have once again demonstrated the exceptional skill, dedication, and passion that define the craft.

World Scotch Pie Championship

Run by Scottish Bakers, the World Scotch Pie Championship saw two of our very own Scotch Butcher Club members take top honours.

Nigel Ovens, trading under the James Pirrie and Son brand, secured the World Scotch Pie title – the first since he took over the Pirrie name, but an incredible sixth title overall for the brand. Nigel paid tribute to his family and his hard-working team in Wemyss Bay – a wonderful achievement, and one that reflects years of dedication and care.

Runner-up in the same competition was Amos Stark of WF Stark in Buckhaven. Amos was absolutely delighted, and rightly so – his placing further cements the role that Scotch Butcher Club members play in setting the standard for quality pies in Scotland and beyond.

Many other Scotch Butcher Club members were also recognised in various categories throughout the event – a huge well done to all, and thanks to Scottish Bakers for hosting a fantastic competition.

World Haggis Champion

At the Craft Butchers Trade Fair, another huge success for Nigel Ovens and the team at McCaskie Butchers – this time taking home the World Haggis Title.

Nigel’s history with haggis is impressive – with multiple regional, national, and Haggisfest wins – and this new title, coming ten years after his last national haggis victory, is testament to the consistency and quality of the McCaskie ethos. To take both the Scotch Pie and Haggis titles in a single weekend is simply extraordinary. Hats off to Team McCaskie – top of their game. Taking runner-up in the haggis category was Rendalls Butchers of Stirling. Jason Rendall, originally from Orkney, was thrilled with the recognition, especially with the product having proved so popular online. Another fantastic result for the Scotch Butcher Club members

Butcher Wars 2025

We also saw some serious skill on display at Butcher Wars 2025. In the Singles category, Gary Raeburn – a seasoned competitor and former Team GB representative – rolled back the years to take the title back to Huntly, Aberdeenshire. In his 20th year of competition, Gary impressed judges with both his technical skill and visual display.

In the Pairs category, it was a win for the Simon Howie team – a brilliant father-and-son duo, Richard and Ben Megahy. With experience, energy and flair, they worked seamlessly to secure a hard-fought title. A special mention to Ben, representing the next generation of butchery talent – it’s great to see the youth making their mark on the craft.

Honouring the Next Generation of Butchers

It’s also been a brilliant week for the future of the trade, with eight outstanding individuals awarded the Craft Butcher Diploma of Scotland – the highest qualification currently available in Scottish butchery.

Jointly delivered by Scottish Craft Butchers and the Scotch Butchers Club, the Diploma is a mark of professional excellence and a key milestone for those committed to a career in the craft.

These achievements, combined with the remarkable

wins across the weekend, highlight the strength, depth, and future of Scotland’s butchery sector. We’re proud to celebrate both our established champions and our rising stars.

Congratulations All Round

Asda roots for local growers: Pioneering Scottish asparagus farmers extend Asda supply to North England

Leading vegetable production company ESG Drysdale has extended its locally grown asparagus supply to more than 60 Asda stores across the North East of England. The popular summer vegetable will hit the shelves following a successful supply to Scottish stores in 2024.

The business, formed in 2024 following the merger of two of Scotland’s leading fresh produce organisations, East of Scotland Growers (ESG) and R&K Drysdale, then began supplying asparagus to Asda stores across Scotland.

Following the success of its Scottish launch, which was the product’s first season to market, ESG Drysdale was supplying asparagus to Asda through the retailer’s distribution centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear before the end of last year’s season.

ESG Drysdale, which works with a total of 18 different growers, is the only Scottish supplier of asparagus to retail - with the team attributing the quality of the produce to the microclimate of Scotland’s east coast. The asparagus fields sit within farmland of around 40 acres, their warm and sandy soil running right next to the beach on the north shore of the Firth of Forth.

According to the team, the close proximity of the crop to the sea means the ground is always moist and never frosts, while prevailing winds around the coast mean fewer clouds and lots of sunlight - all helpful ingredients in the successful growth of asparagus.

Alex MacArthur, National Account Manager at ESG Drysdale, said:

“People often associate asparagus with warmer climates than the east coast of Scotland, but we’ve got a microclimate that really works. Our asparagus grows

across a site of warm, sandy soil which runs right next to the beach on the north shore of the Firth of Forth.

“Being so close to the shore allows the ground to warm up quickly, giving us an early start in the season. As well as that, being so close to the sea means the ground is always moist and never frosts, while prevailing winds in the area mean fewer clouds and lots of sunlight.

“All of that helps enormously with crop growth, and the fact we can get our product to Asda stores quickly – if it’s picked on a Monday, it’s on the shelves by Wednesday at the latest – means our asparagus is beautifully fresh.”

This year, three lines of ESG Drysdale’s locally grown asparagus will be sold in a total of 91 Asda stores in Scotland, with 66 stores stocking ESG Drysdale’s asparagus in England. The team, which works with two asparagus growers along Scotland’s east coast, is expected to sell at least 25

tonnes of asparagus through Asda this year, with 70% of volume

earmarked for distribution in Scotland and 30% in England.

Survey reveals strong preference for Scottish red meat over imports

New research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), reveals that 90% of Scottish red meat consumers surveyed say they would prefer to buy Scottish beef, lamb, and pork, even if red meat imported from elsewhere was 30% cheaper.

The survey also found that around three quarters (73%) of respondents prefer to purchase red meat produced in Scotland

when faced with a choice in the supermarket or butcher. The top reasons for this preference include a desire to support Scottish farmers (74%) and local economy (72%), and superior quality (54%), freshness (52%), and knowing where your food comes from (traceability) (54%).

At a time when food security, rural jobs, and sustainability of agriculture are under increasing pressure, these strong results confirm that Scottish shoppers remain loyal to buying locally produced red meat.

Despite this clear preference for domestic beef, pork and lamb, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland’s (NFUS’s) ShelfWatch report for 2024 shows a concerning 6% increase in imported red meat on supermarket shelves, sparking fears within the industry about the long-term viability of domestic sourcing. More than 80% of respondents expressed concern over the UK becoming more dependent on imported red meat. The Knowledge Bank – Scottish Provenance Research 2023 highlights that more than half of consumers would like better availability of Scottish produce.

Sarah Millar, QMS Chief Executive, said: “Our independently conducted research clearly shows that people in Scotland want to eat local red meat even if alternatives from outside of the UK are cheaper. This firm commitment includes but goes beyond the high quality, freshness and traceability of our world-renowned produce; with the top reason for this choice being to support our hardworking farmers and the wider Scottish economy.

These new findings follow economic modelling from QMS, which highlights a significant opportunity for Scotland’s beef sector to grow and help meet the UK’s future food needs. By 2030, due to falling local production, the UK will require an additional 278,000 tonnes of beef per year to meet projected domestic demand.

Building resilience and opportunity in Scottish agriculture

What a difference a week makes in farming and crofting.

After weeks of sunshine, much-needed rainfall finally arrived, helping spring barley and grass crops in particular. It’s a reminder that, as farmers, we live at the mercy of the weather, but also that resilience, adaptability and community remain at the heart of everything we do.

As the climate debate continues, we’re witnessing more extreme weather than ever before. Farmers are on the front line of these changes, and that’s why NFU Scotland is working hard to secure grant funding for practical solutions: boreholes and lagoon storage to protect against drought and a sensible approach to river management to prevent devastating flooding. We’ve been pushing hard with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and NatureScot to adopt a collaborative, common-sense approach and we will continue to do so, because farmers can’t bear the burden alone.

But resilience isn’t just about weatherproofing, it’s about policy, too. Recent recommendations from the

Climate Change Committee suggest drastic cuts to cattle and sheep numbers by 2035. These recommendations would have a devastating impact on Scottish Agriculture. Thankfully these are only recommendations to the Scottish Government and hopefully our continued lobbying on the need to maintain, and even increase, numbers will be taken on board.

On a recent visit to Acharacle and then Inverary, the essential need for livestock activity in rural areas and in particular, the economic, grazing and biodiversity benefits of cattle, were clear. Cattle supplies remain tight and this is putting huge pressure on the supply chain. While NFUS continues to highlight issues caused by a lack of throughput, we should also consider where cattle numbers could be today if the supply chain had paid producers a more sustainable price in the last decade. This would have given a sensible return on investment and that much needed long-term confidence which has been lacking for so long.

www.nfus.org.uk

We’re committed to ensuring that Scottish agriculture has the support it needs, not just for this season, but for generations to come. With the First Minister’s pledge of a “year of delivery,” we’ll be holding the government to that promise, pushing for multi-annual support that incentivises sustainable, profitable farming and crofting. Trade deals are currently topical. The UK-US beef agreement might seem small at a reciprocal 13,000t but details matter. We will continue to ensure imports meet our high standards and that our farmers aren’t undermined by cheaper, lower-welfare products.

As we look ahead, NFU Scotland will continue to fight hard for a sustainable long-term future which gives confidence to our current and next generation of farmers and crofters. I’m proud of the resilience and innovation I see in our farming and crofting communities.

Together, we will stand firm, protect our industry and secure a thriving future for Scottish agriculture - now and for generations to come.

Andrew Connon, President, NFU Scotland

food & drink Savour the Flavour

VisitScotland reveals increased interest in fine dining

Visitors to Scotland have a growing appetite for luxury dining according to search engine data by VisitScotland.

The national tourism and events organisation has revealed that interest in eating at upscale establishments is on the rise with online searches for “Michelin star Scotland” having increased by over 50% in the last three years (58%).

Scotland has a total of 13 Michelin star restaurants, with two new Edinburgh restaurants awarded one star earlier this year, Lyla and Avery.

Trying local food and drink is generally a high priority for visitors with it consistently sitting in the top two activities people plan to do on holiday –the other being walking, hiking or rambling.

The latest Domestic Sentiment Tracker*, which is jointly commissioned by VisitScotland, Visit Wales and VisitEngland, revealed that over a third (36%) of people from the UK planning a trip to Scotland put dining on our rich larder at the top of their to-do list this summer.

And tucking into Scottish dishes is most important amongst families, retirees and older independents.

Local restaurants, cafes, delis and farm shops are an integral part of the visitor economy, supporting jobs and enhancing an area’s tourism offering.

The Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 revealed that almost half of visitors (46%) to Scotland took part in at least one food and drink activity (in addition to eating out) during their trip, with nearly a fifth (19%) of long-haul visitors now naming food and drink as a reason for choosing Scotland as a destination.

Check out some of the Michelin starred restaurants Scotland has to offer:

· Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder in Perthshire - a two Michelin star restaurant located in the Gleneagles Hotel combining French and Scottish cooking.

· Cail Bruich, Glasgow - a one Michelin star restaurant offering seasonal menus formed around local, sustainable ingredients.

· Glenturret Lalique, Crieff in Perthshire - a two Michelin star restaurant set within Scotland’s oldest working distillery, offering creative and eclectic dishes on a multi-course tasting menu created by Michelinstar Glasgow-born chef Mark Donald.

· Heron, Leith - a one Michelin star restaurant with a constantly changing menu to showcase Scotland’s best local produce and seasonal ingredients.

· Lyla, Edinburgh - a one Michelin star restaurant specialising in line-caught fish and sustainable shellfish from the Scottish Isles.

· The Peat Inn, St Andrews in Fife - a one Michelin star restaurant exhibiting confident, contemporary cooking of

seasonal dishes with the finest Scottish ingredients.

Jacqui Souter, VisitScotland Acting Head of Insight, said: “Scotland’s landscape, extensive coastline and history have shaped our incredible larder, growing our reputation as a culinary destination.

“Trying our local food and drink is frequently one of the top activities people want to do while in Scotland and we are seeing a particular interest in luxury dining and our traditional breakfast items emerging.

“It is encouraging to see as it is important to engage with local food and drink producers and businesses. Doing so strengthens our traditional skills and food heritage, lessens food miles, and helps boost the economies of the communities in which these kinds of businesses are based.”

John Laurie, Managing Director at Glenturret Lalique, said: “ We have seen firsthand the growing desire from visitors to immerse themselves in truly authentic, luxury dining experiences. Today’s guests seek more than just exceptional food - they want to connect with the landscape, the heritage, and the

people behind the produce, all while discovering something uniquely Scottish.

“At The Glenturret, we are proud to work with Glasgow-born Executive Chef Mark Donald and his exceptional team to position us as a world-class fine dining destination. Our restaurant works hand-in-hand with our renowned distillery production team, delivering award-winning experiences that complement the story we tell on the plate.

“Holding Two Michelin stars, our dining experience is a celebration of Scotland’s rich natural larder — refined, genuine, and deeply rooted in provenance. By working closely with local farmers, fishers, and artisans, we not only honour the integrity of our ingredients but also champion the communities that shape Scotland’s vibrant food and drink landscape.”

Stuart Ralston, Chef-owner at Lyla, said: “Scotland has a wealth of great produce, from both the sea and land, and our dining scene has been benefiting from this for years. Now more than ever, there is an increased number of fine dining restaurants that are building on this and highlighting the abundance of Scottish produce, making Scotland an exciting place to dine.

“Historically, trade increases during the summer months with holidays and the Fringe Festival, but it is important to maintain momentum throughout the year. The current culinary spotlight means that we are seeing more visitors throughout the year, which is important to keep business going. Luxury dining supports hospitality and food production sectors as a whole - it’s about bringing more visitors to Scotland who will then spend money and invest in our economy.”

Lincolnshire farmer diversified into a vineyard rooted in 160 million years of history

Tim Beaver has been a passionate arable farmer for more than 20 years at Church Farm in South Lincolnshire. Proud to play their part in producing food, the family’s enterprise is spread across 550ha, growing wheat, sugar beet, spring barley and now grapes in their new venture - The Rutland Vineyard.

In a bid to bring an extra income stream and something more exciting to their existing acreage, as well as build more of a connection with the local community, the Beaver family planted 20,000 vines across seven acres back in 2021 and have since built a tasting barn and opened for tours.

“I genuinely believe farming is one of the best jobs in the world, although the pressures are quite harsh as the buck does stop with you, but if you stick by your guns and make choices based on research and your gut feeling, then you have to go with it.”

“One of the fun aspects in the vineyard was to produce a cover crop that would feed the vines going forward. We have planted a 10-way mix of clover and red fescue grasses, and the idea is the red and white clover will increase the mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, increasing our organic matter and keeping the vines strong.”

Rutland Vineyard itself might be a new project, but its story is

an historic one. The vines grow in Jurassic limestone soil, with fossils found scattered around the vineyard, visitors, young and old, are encouraged to see what they can find whilst exploring the popular attraction.

Part of the appeal for Tim in the addition of this new enterprise was the opportunity to open up the farm to the general public.

“When it comes to picking grapes, many of the seasonal staff are local retirees who benefit hugely from the social and outdoor environments we work in. Inviting people in also allows us the opportunity to showcase the good work that we are doing for nature, to staff and visitors.

It also helps to build a better understanding of the industry overall.”

The land surrounding the vines is diverse and to see it on the vineyard tours really demonstrates the integral link between all the different operations. The land in front of the vines sits under SFI agri-environmental schemes, with the vineyard overlooking the core cereal crop growing.

Complementing the existing diversification, more recently some land has been developed into a kilometre-long thriving nature trail for visitors, with a dog park also being planned so that four legged friends can become part of the network at Rutland.

WORLD FARMING

FAD issues a second sustainable bond to Bank Al Maghrib to jointly support food security in rural areas

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Bank Al Maghrib have partnered for the second time to increase financing for food security in rural areas around the world.

Today, IFAD issued its 11th sustainable bond, as a private placement, under its Sustainable Development Finance Framework to the Central Bank of Morocco. This issuance of a US$150 million bond with a tenor of 10 years contributes to the Fund’s 2025 funding plan. IFAD had started funding for 2025 already in July 2024, through its first partnership with the Bank Al Maghrib, with a private placement of EUR100 million.

“Having the Bank Al Maghrib as a repeat investor makes us particularly proud. It shows the value of long-term relationships for IFAD’s global mission that is more than ever important to build a better and more stable world, said Natalia Toschi, Head of Funding at IFAD. “This is even more valuable in times of global uncertainty, where markets surprise us every day. The Bank applies a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy that is aligned with IFAD’s values.”

The proceeds will contribute to finance IFAD’s development projects globally, focusing on transforming rural areas to make them more productive and prosperous, ultimately improving the livelihoods, food security and resilience of millions of rural people.

“This renewed collaboration builds on IFAD’s longstanding relationship with Morocco, a cornerstone of its portfolio for over four decades. Morocco stands out not only for the scale of its engagement but also for its visionary leadership in rural development, climate resilience and agricultural transformation,” said Donal Brown, Associate VicePresident of IFAD’s Department for Country Operations. “Our partnership continues to grow stronger each year, driving lasting impact where it’s needed most.”

Together, IFAD and Morocco have invested more than US$1.7 billion since 1979 across 16 projects benefitting more than 700,000 rural households. IFAD’s

current portfolio is strategically aligned with national priorities of the “Génération Green 2020–2030” and includes three active projects totaling US$250 million particularly benefitting women and youth in mountainous areas.

About 3 billion people live in the rural areas of developing countries. While producing at least one third of the world’s food, small-scale farmers often live in poverty and hunger. Eighty percent of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas. Today, about 730 million people are hungry, one out of 11 people in the world. Yet, investments in rural development and small-scale farming can bring significant economic, social and environmental returns,

while contributing to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular No Poverty (SDG1) and Zero Hunger (SDG2). Note to editors: Bank AlMaghrib is the Central Bank of Morrocco. In addition to issuing banknotes and coins into circulation and banking supervision, the bank is responsible for the definition and conduct of monetary policy, with price stability as the core objective. Moreover, it holds and manages foreign exchange reserves of about €39 billion equivalent. Alongside these core functions, the bank is the financial adviser of the Government and the financial agent of the Treasury for its bank operations in Morocco and abroad.

The cost of rural crime in Scotland down by 33%

The cost of rural crime in Scotland fell by 33% to an estimated £1.2m in 2024, highlighting the positive effects of co-ordinated action against organised and serious crime in the countryside, new figures from NFU Mutual reveal.

NFU Mutual’s new report reveals that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £44.1m in 2024, down from £52.8m the previous year.

Quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) remained top targets for thieves in Scotland, mirroring the UK-wide trend which saw an estimated £2.7m worth of ATVs stolen last year. Although this was a fall of 16% from 2023, it can be a highly disruptive crime. Given the distinct characteristics of farmland, especially in upland areas, these vehicles are essential for farmers to navigate their fields and complete tasks efficiently, making their theft particularly disruptive, especially during busy seasons.

Unfortunately, the very advantages that quad bikes and ATVs provide to farmers also makes them prime targets for criminals.

Across the UK, the total claims cost for agricultural vehicle thefts reported to the UK’s leading rural insurer fell 35% to an estimated £7m last year, with global positioning system (GPS) units experiencing the largest cost decline, down 71% to £1.2m following their spike in 2023.

Livestock theft remained high in 2024 at an estimated cost of £3.4m across the UK. A crime that dates back centuries, it has followed the wider trend in rural crime, becoming highly organised and often involving 50 or more sheep taken in a single raid. These incidents not only have a devastating impact on farming businesses but are deeply upsetting for farmers and their families who are left worrying about the welfare of stolen livestock.

UK farm animals worth an estimated £1.8m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2024, down by more than a quarter compared to the previous year.

Katy Townsend, Farming Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “In recent years we’ve seen rural crime becoming increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature, with thieves willing to pull out all the stops to get what they desire, and sadly we saw that trend continue in 2024.

“Although we must stay alert, it’s encouraging to see that Scotland reflected the trend, which saw the cost of rural crime across the UK drop 16.5% to £44.1m, as we continue to collaborate with industry and law enforcement to tackle this urgent issue. But we know there is always work to be done when it comes to rural crime.

“Rural crime goes far beyond disrupting farm work and impacting food production. It has a real impact on the mental

wellbeing of farmers and their families, causing severe stress and sleepless nights as the rural community lives in fear that those responsible might return.

“Co-ordinated efforts from insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police, industry and law makers are crucial in delivering a unified response to the rural crime challenge posed by organised criminals and opportunistic thieves – and we can see from our new report that this unified response can bear real dividends.

“United, we can confront rural crime with strength.”

For over 20 years NFU Mutual has campaigned on the scourge of rural crime, and the far-reaching impact it has on affected communities, and is proud to be a major funder of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) and a member of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC).

Working hand-in-hand with the NRCU, NFU Mutual operates a dedicated team which shares claims data and insight, helps to identify areas at risk and finds theft patterns to assist recoveries. This kind of collaboration saw the National Construction and Agri Theft Team, which sits under the NRCU, seize £4.4m worth of stolen agricultural vehicles and machinery in 2024.

Last year NFU Mutual also funded the UK’s first livestock theft officer within the unit until

at least 2027/28 to tackle this upsetting crime.

To help farmers and rural communities protect their livelihoods from the threat posed by organised crime, NFU Mutual has provided over £400,000 on rural crime fighting initiatives in 2024.

Figures fluctuated across the UK, with Wales the only nation to see a cost increase, up 18% to £2.8m. Northern Ireland and Scotland saw decreases, down 9% and 33% to £1.8m and £1.2m, respectively.

A survey of NFU Mutual Agents, who are often embedded in the local communities they serve, found 92% believed rural crime was disrupting farming activities in their area and 86% knew farmers who had been repeat victims, leaving them feeling vulnerable in both their workplace and home.

Concerningly, 96% of those surveyed stated that rural crime was negatively affecting farmers’ mental wellbeing. Given the numerous challenges the industry already faces, it is imperative that farmers and their families speak up about any concerns they may have and seek support through charities like the Farm Safety Foundation.

For more information on rural crime trends and advice on how to tackle rural crime in your area download NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime Report 2025 at www. nfumutual.co.uk/farming/ruralcrime/.

OptiStone overload protection for LEMKEN ploughs

LEMKEN, the specialist for professional arable farming offer the OptiStone automatic overload protection for its Juwel, Diamant and Titan ploughs. At the heart of the OptiStone is a closed system of highly stable leg plates, which is reliably protected against dirt and foreign objects. A newly designed swivel bracket ensures high lateral tripping forces and optimal plough control in stony soils.

When an obstacle is encountered, the new LEMKEN overload element simultaneously deflects up to 37 centimetres

upwards and 20 centimetres to the side. This provides for a sufficiently large range of deflection to ensure consistently disruption-free work, even with deep ploughing. The tripping forces can be continuously adjusted from the comfort of the driver’s seat to adapt to changing soil conditions. If the system catches below a slab of stone or roots, it is additionally protected by a double-cut shear bolt to prevent damage to the plough.

The OptiStone overload protection features high-strength radial spherical plain bearings to keep the plough bodies stable as the system deflects. The plough

bodies are firmly connected to the three-dimensional bearing points

and therefore cannot unhitch – a clear advantage compared to the overload protection systems with four-point suspension commonly found on the market. The radial spherical plain bearing is durable, reliable, and easily accessible for convenient maintenance.

Paul Creasy LEMKEN UK’s General Manager commented ‘the OptiStone autoreset system has been well received in the UK and Ireland. The tolerances it can work to suit the areas where auto-reset machines are a must’.

KUHN launches new series of Espro drills

KUHN Farm Machinery has updated its popular Espro trailed drills featuring a redesigned operator platform, a new straight disc option, and a lighter version of the 6m model.

The updates focus on the 3-6m models with the 3002 (3m), 4002 (4m) fixed, and 4002 R and 6002 R (6m) folding units, introduced as upgrades to the existing 3000, 4000 and 6000 drills. The new models will begin production in spring 2025, and Edd Fanshawe, KUHN’s arable specialist, says the upgrades will be welcomed by new and existing users.

“The Espro is growing in popularity and has many features to improve seed placement and consistency in tricky conditions. Wheel design and layout, headland turn customisation, and Vistaflow valves, are all qualities that highlight how versatile and accurate the drill is.”

Hopper access and operator safety has been improved with a new mid-height platform, that spans the full length of the hopper and automatically folds when the drill returns to transport mode. This prevents overreaching to split bags and

allows full visibility into the hopper. A half open mode – one side of the drill folded while the other remaining in work position – improves loader access to the hopper for filling. A new hopper cover has an automatic winding and locking system.

A straight disc option, suited to users reducing soil disturbance across each pass, can replace the standard 460mm concave notched discs. The straight disc ensures soil is only moved in the narrow band where the disc runs, helping to reduce power requirements of the drill along

with preserving soil moisture. Furthermore, the Espro 6m 6002 R is 700kg lighter than the outgoing Espro 6000 model it replaces. This will help to reduce soil compaction and fuel consumption, making a highoutput drill easier to pull.

Edd concludes: “The new series of Espro is safer, lighter and more compatible with different establishment systems. It offers agronomic benefits, with accurate seed placement and even soil consolidation, alongside operational ease through easy filling and setup.”

E-Services for TopDown and Opus

The TopDown and Opus cultivators have entered a new generation with the introduction of Väderstad E-Control, an iPad-based control system, along with the ability to apply prescription map tillage via ISOBUS Task Control.

With E-Services, machine control moves entirely into the tractor cab. Operators can take full command of the cultivator either through the Väderstad

E-Control app or directly via the tractor’s ISOBUS terminal. This digital integration enhances both precision and convenience in the field.

From adjusting individual working depths to fine-tuning the intensity of discs, tines, levellers, or packers, the system makes complex setups intuitive. Operators can also store and recall different machine configurations

tailored to specific field conditions. With four programmable pre-set buttons, switching between modes becomes seamless—streamlining operations and increasing efficiency.

A standout feature of Väderstad E-Services is its compatibility with prescription maps, a key tool in precision agriculture. By using these maps, the machine can automatically

adjust its settings based on realtime field data—such as soil type, moisture, or topography. This smart adaptability helps optimise crop performance, reduce input costs, minimise environmental impact, and improve long-term soil health.

Väderstad TopDown 400–700 and Opus 400–700 can now be ordered with E-Services as an optional upgrade.

Potatoes in Practice announces sponsors for 2025

The James Hutton Institute, along with its partners, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Agrii, is delighted to announce that it has secured sponsorship for Potatoes in Practice, the UK’s largest fieldbased potato event that will take place on 7th August at the Hutton’s Balruddery Farm.

GB Potatoes serves as the collective voice of the British potato industry, uniting growers, packers, processors, and other supply chain partners to tackle shared challenges and work towards a sustainable future for potato production in Great Britain.

CEO, Scott Walker, said, “GB Potatoes is proud to sponsor Potatoes in Practice. It is a fantastic opportunity to connect with growers, researchers, and supply chain partners, all working to drive innovation and tackle industry challenges. Supporting this event reflects our commitment to championing the sector and securing a strong future for British potatoes.”

Restrain has pioneered excellence in crop storage with ethylene solutions for over 20 years, developing innovative, natural solutions for post-harvest crop management. Its unique generator converts ethanol into ethylene gas, offering eco-friendly sprout control for potatoes and onions. It also offers Accumulator+, a proprietary

seed potato treatment that increases stem numbers and results in more tubers initiated per plant, uniform tuber size distribution and increased marketable yield.

Managing Director, Dan Hewitt, said, “Scotland’s Potatoes in Practice is a must-attend event for anyone serious about the future of potato farming. It’s where the industry comes together to share knowledge, showcase innovation, and build the resilient best practices that will define the next generation of potato production.

“Restrain is delighted to support this event and demonstrate how Accumulator+ and our industry leading ethylene solutions are helping growers achieve quality, yield and meet their sustainability goals.”

The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is a memberbased organisation that provides a link between the Hutton and farmers, processors and interested bodies.

Its potato sub-committee supports and sponsors Potatoes in Practice, recognising the value the event brings to the potato industry. It acknowledges Potatoes in Practice as a major event in the potato industry calendar, bringing the latest research, new varieties and agronomy methods to the notice of SSCR members as well as the wider industry.

Dr Jennie Brierley of the Hutton and Secretary of the SSCR Potato sub-committee, said, “Attending Potatoes in Practice is an annual highlight, a perfect opportunity to engage directly with those involved in the potato industry.

“One of SSCR’s key aims is to facilitate the link between researchers and the potato industry and being involved in Potatoes in Practice is an important part of that process.”

Potatoes in Practice is also supported by its media partners, British Potato Review (BPR) and PotatoPro.

Stephanie Cornwall, editor of BPR, said, “British Potato Review is proud to be a partner of Potatoes in Practice, which we’ve supported for a number of

years. It’s a great opportunity for the industry to come together at a field-based event to see variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits.”

Paul van Eijck, President and Founder of Food Innovation Online Corp said, on behalf of PotatoPro, “Potatoes in Practice is a cornerstone event for the UK potato industry. It fosters collaboration, showcases innovation, and delivers the research-driven insights growers and supply chain partners need to stay competitive. As the team behind PotatoPro, we’re proud to support this event and help share its impact with a global audience.”

Potatoes in Practice, hosted by the Hutton through the National Potato Innovation Centre, will take place on 7th August.

Newydd i Ffermwyr: Gweithdy

Rheoli Teirw Bridio gyda Cyswllt Ffermio

Mae Cyswllt Ffermio yn cynnig gweithdy hyfforddiant iechyd a lles anifeiliaid wedi’i ariannu’n llawn, ag achrediad Lantra - sef ‘Rheoli Teirw Bridio’. Bydd yn cael ei ddarparu gan bractisau milfeddygol lleol cymeradwy ledled Cymru, ac mae wedi’i gynllunio i gynorthwyo ffermwyr i wella perfformiad eu buches a sicrhau lles eu teirw ar y fferm.

Bydd mynychwyr yn cael dealltwriaeth ddyfnach o bwysigrwydd dewis y tarw cywir ar gyfer perfformiad a chynhyrchiant eich buches. Bydd y gweithdy hefyd yn rhoi mewnwelediad i’r ffactorau allweddol i’w hystyried wrth asesu addasrwydd tarw ar gyfer bridio, gan gynnwys Sgôr Cyflwr Corff.

Bydd yn rhoi cyfle i ddysgu am y gwahanol resymau dros anffrwythlondeb teirw a darganfod strategaethau effeithiol ar gyfer ei atal a’i reoli. Bydd rôl hanfodol profion ffrwythlondeb cynfridio wrth sicrhau tymor bridio llwyddiannus hefyd yn cael ei archwilio.

Bydd y gweithdy yn eich helpu i ddod yn ymwybodol o’r triniaethau arferol a’r ystyriaethau maeth sydd eu hangen ar gyfer paratoi teirw cyn bridio, yn ogystal â dysgu sut i nodi a rheoli’r risgiau bioddiogelwch sy’n gysylltiedig â chyflwyno teirw newydd o fuchesi eraill.

Yn olaf, bydd y gweithdy yn edrych ar rai o’r nodweddion y gellir eu hasesu trwy Werthoedd Bridio Tybiedig (EBVs) a sut i’w defnyddio i helpu i ddewis y teirw gorau ar gyfer eich buches.

Mae’r gweithdy hwn wedi’i gynllunio i roi gwybodaeth ymarferol i chi er mwyn eich galluogi i wella iechyd a chynhyrchiant eich buches.

Dywed Clara Valderamma o Farm First Vets, sy’n un o’r milfeddygon cymeradwy a fydd yn cyflwyno’r gweithdy hyfforddiant

newydd, ‘Mae’r tarw yn chwarae rhan ganolog yn ffrwythlondeb buchesi, ac mae gwneud pethau’n iawn/yn anghywir yn cael effaith sylweddol ar gynhyrchiant yn y flwyddyn sydd i ddod. Mae gwneud yn siŵr bod teirw yn addas i’r diben yn un o’r camau cyntaf i sicrhau tymor bridio a lloia llwyddiannus.’

Caiff presenoldeb ei gofnodi ar gofnod DPP ‘Storfa Sgiliau’ y rhai sy’n mynychu’r gweithdy, ynghyd â ‘thystysgrif presenoldeb’ Gwobrau Lantra.

Mae’r gweithdai hyfforddiant wedi’u hariannu’n llawn, ond er mwyn bod yn gymwys ar gyfer y cyllid hwnnw, rhaid i bob mynychwr fod wedi cofrestru gyda Cyswllt Ffermio a chwblhau Cynllun Datblygu Personol (PDP).

I weld dyddiadau a manylion y gweithdai sydd ar y gweill, ewch i wefan Cyswllt Ffermio https://businesswales.gov.wales/ farmingconnect/cy neu cysylltwch â’ch swyddog datblygu lleol i ddysgu mwy.

Beth am edrych ar dwf llysiau a dyfir yng Nghymru gyda rhaglen

Bwyd

o’r Tir - Tyfu ar gyfer y Dyfodol

Ffermwyr Ifanc Cymru: Edrychwch yn fanwl ar Arallgyfeirio a Meithrin Cyfleoedd Newydd mewn Garddwriaeth!

Dyma alwad i bob ffermwr ifanc brwdfrydig yng Nghymru sy’n awyddus i archwilio potensial eu defnydd tir y tu hwnt i’w mentrau ffermio presennol. Darganfyddwch y posibiliadau cyffrous y gall tyfu cynnyrch ffres eu cynnig a chael y wybodaeth i’w gwneud yn fenter lwyddiannus.

Mae’r rhaglen ‘Bwyd o’r Tir’Tyfu ar gyfer y Dyfodol yn cynnig

cyfle i ffermwyr ifanc dros 16 oed edrych ar gynhyrchu ffrwythau a llysiau proffidiol trwy ymweliadau astudio â gwahanol ffermydd sy’n arddangos gwahanol gnydau a modelau busnes.

A yw hyn o ddiddordeb i chi? Byddwch yn barod i gael eich ysbrydoli gan dyfwyr blaenllaw o bob cwr o Gymru a siroedd y gororau! Byddwch yn cael profiad uniongyrchol ar eu ffermydd llewyrchus a thrwy sesiynau ystafell ddosbarth craff.

Mae’r rhaglen yn cynnwys ymweliadau ag amrywiaeth

eang o fusnesau garddwriaeth, gan gynnwys gweithrediadau yn y cae ar raddfa fawr, mentrau ffrwythau meddal llwyddiannus, a chynhyrchwyr cnydau arbenigol ac arloesol. Hefyd, bydd arbenigwyr yn y diwydiant yn rhannu cyngor busnes ac ariannol hanfodol i helpu i feithrin eich menter arddwriaethol lwyddiannus eich hun.

Bydd ymweliadau â ffermydd Cymru yn cynnwys Troed y Rhiw Organics yn Llwyndafydd, fferm organig sydd wedi’i

Ffermio Cymru

Cymru

hardystio gan Gymdeithas y Pridd sy’n cael ei rhedeg gan y teulu ac sydd wedi ymrwymo i gynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy a chyfannol. Maent yn tyfu gwahanol lysiau, perlysiau, ffrwythau meddal a blodau, a werthir yn lleol er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn ffres iawn. Mae eu gwartheg yr Ucheldir, eu moch Cymreig a’u hieir yn gwella ffrwythlondeb y fferm ac yn cyflenwi cig i’w cymuned.

‘Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at archwilio cnydau garddwriaeth posibl y gellir eu tyfu’n llwyddiannus yng Nghymru ac i weld pa gyfleoedd busnes a allai fod i ffermwyr ifanc yn y dyfodol.’ meddai Jacqui Banks, Arweinydd Agrisgôp ar gyfer Cyswllt Ffermio.

Byddwch yn trafod modelau busnes garddwriaeth, cyllid a phroffidioldeb ac yn dysgu gan arbenigwyr yn y diwydiant. Bydd y grŵp yn cyfrannu at greu cystadleuaeth garddwriaeth CFfI ar gyfer 2026 gyda’r cyfarfod cyntaf yn cael ei gynnal yn Sioe Frenhinol Cymru ar 21 Gorffennaf 2025.

Mae cymorth parhaus gan fusnesau lleol Cymru i’r sector hwn yn rhoi cyfle i dyfu! ‘Mae’n wych cael Castell Howell yn cefnogi’r grŵp hwn, maen nhw’n gwneud cymaint o waith diddorol gyda chynhyrchwyr llysiau o Gymru, gan gael llysiau o Gymru ar gyfer ysgolion er enghraifft. Bydd yn wych dod i ddeall y cyfleoedd y mae hyn yn eu rhoi i ffermwyr ifanc Cymru yn y dyfodol.’

i

Gwyddonwyr i fynd i’r afael â bygythiad

clwy tatws – ymchwil newydd

Bydd gwyddonwyr yn gweithio ar ffyrdd newydd o fynd i’r afael â chlefyd sy’n achosi colledion sylweddol i gnydau ledled y byd, gan gynnwys clwy tatws, diolch i grant ymchwil newydd.

Mae Athrofa’r Gwyddorau

Biolegol, Amgylcheddol a Gwledig ac Adran y Gwyddorau

Bywyd ym Mhrifysgol

Aberystwyth ymhlith derbynwyr Cronfa’r Gynghrair Ymchwil newydd o fri, a gyhoeddwyd gan lywodraethau Cymru ac Iwerddon. Bydd y fenter gwerth €584,378 yn cefnogi wyth prosiect ymchwil trawsffiniol, gyda Phrifysgol Aberystwyth yn chwarae rhan allweddol mewn prosiect sy’n mynd i’r afael ag un o fygythiadau mwyaf cyson amaethyddiaeth.

Gan weithio ochr yn ochr â Choleg Prifysgol Cork, bydd ymchwilwyr Aberystwyth yn arwain cynghrair wyddonol newydd i fynd i’r afael â bygythiad Phytophthora infestans,

a elwir hefyd yn ‘Dinistrydd Planhigion’. Mae’r clefyd, sydd â goblygiadau mawr i’r economi a diogelwch bwyd, yn gyfrifol am ddinistrio cnydau ledled y byd, gan gynnwys clwy hwyr mewn tatws.

Dywedodd yr Athro John Doonan, Cyfarwyddwr y Ganolfan Genedlaethol Ffenomeg Planhigion yn IBERS a Chyd-arweinydd y prosiect:

“Mae’r dyfarniad hwn yn cydnabod grym cydweithio rhyngwladol wrth ddatrys heriau amaethyddol byd-eang. Mae Phytophthora infestans yn parhau i fygwth systemau cynhyrchu bwyd ledled Ewrop. Drwy gyfuno ein harbenigedd mewn Deallusrwydd Artiffisial, arbenigedd yr Athro Luis Mur mewn metabolomeg ag ymchwilwyr patholeg planhigion yn Cork, ein nod yw adeiladu’r sylfeini ar gyfer partneriaeth ymchwil hirdymor a all ddatblygu atebion chynaliadwy

sy’n lleihau’r angen am reolaeth heintiau gemegol.”

Mae’r partneriaeth IwerddonCymru wedi’i hariannu gan Rwydwaith Arloesi Cymru a Taighde Éireann – Ymchwil Iwerddon, fel rhan o ymdrech strategol i ddyfnhau cydweithio academaidd a gwella mynediad at Horizon Ewrop, rhaglen ariannu flaenllaw’r Undeb Ewropeaidd ar gyfer ymchwil ac arloesi.

Wrth gyhoeddi’r dyfarniadau, dywedodd Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch, Ymchwil, Arloesi a Gwyddoniaeth Iwerddon, James Lawless TD: “Mae Dyraniad y Gynghrair Ymchwil yn tynnu sylw at y cysylltiadau cryf rhwng Iwerddon a Chymru a photensial aruthrol ein cymunedau academaidd yn cydweithio. Trwy fuddsoddi yn y prosiectau arloesol hyn, rydym yn paratoi’r

Ffermio

Y cyfnod cofrestru ar gyfer y rhaglen Bwyd o’r Tir yw 5-27

Mehefin, 2025. Peidiwch â cholli’r cyfle hwn

fod yn rhan ohono!

ffordd ar gyfer darganfyddiadau a datrysiadau arloesol a fydd o fudd i’n gwledydd a’r gymuned Ewropeaidd ehangach. Edrychwn ymlaen at weld sut mae’r trefniadau cydweithredol hyn yn datblygu’n fentrau ar raddfa fwy sy’n cyflawni effaith yn y byd go iawn.”

Ychwanegodd Ysgrifennydd Cabinet Cymru dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, Rebecca Evans MS:

“Rydym am greu dyfodol deinamig i ni ein hunain,

gan hyrwyddo arloesedd a thechnolegau newydd i gefnogi Cymru fwy gwyrdd, gyda gwell iechyd, gwell swyddi a ffyniant i bawb. Mae cyllido yn sgil Dyraniad y Gynghrair Ymchwil yn gyfle gwych i sefydliadau academaidd yng Nghymru ac Iwerddon greu partneriaethau newydd mewn ymgais i fynd i’r afael â heriau cymhleth gyda chefnogaeth y llywodraeth – yn unol ag uchelgeisiau’r Datganiad a Rennir a’r Cynllun Gweithredu ar y Cyd 2021 i 2025 rhwng

Iwerddon a Chymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld y fenter hon yn adeiladu ymhellach ar enw da Cymru fel magnet ar gyfer cydweithio a rhagoriaeth mewn arloesedd.”

Bydd y cyllid sbarduno yn cefnogi gweithgareddau prosiect am hyd at 12 mis, gan gynnwys cyfnewidiadau ymchwilwyr, gweithdai ar y cyd, a gwaith paratoi ar gyfer ceisiadau am gyllid Ewropeaidd yn y dyfodol. Mae prosiectau eraill a ariennir o dan y cynllun yn

cwmpasu meysydd fel clefydau niwroddirywiol, deallusrwydd artiffisial ar gyfer canfod ffitiau, glanhau dŵr croyw, a batris y genhedlaeth nesaf.

Mae Prifysgol Aberystwyth yn un o bedwar sefydliad yng Nghymru sy’n cymryd rhan yn y rhaglen, ochr yn ochr â phrifysgolion Caerdydd, Abertawe, a Bangor. Y prifysgolion partner yn Iwerddon yw Coleg Prifysgol Dulyn, Prifysgol Limerick, Coleg Prifysgol Cork, a Phrifysgol Dinas Dulyn.

Amser tyfu mwy o de cartref?

Gallai rhesi o blanhigion te ddod yn olygfa fwy cyfarwydd ar fryniau Cymru a rhannau eraill o’r Deyrnas Gyfunol yn y dyfodol.

Mae gwyddonwyr ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth wedi bod yn defnyddio technegau dysgu peirianyddol i ddadansoddi cyfansoddiad cemegol te a dyfir mewn ardaloedd anhraddodiadol, gan gynnwys Powys yng Nghymru a Dartmoor yn ne orllewin Lloegr.

Maen nhw’n gobeithio y bydd eu canfyddiadau’n helpu egin dyfwyr te yn y Deyrnas Gyfunol i ddatblygu strategaethau bridio, arferion amaethu a dulliau prosesu sy’n addas ar gyfer amodau hinsawdd y rhan yma o’r byd.

Mae’r tîm ymchwil yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd gyda chwmni Te Ystâd Dartmoor yn Nyfnaint sy’n adnabyddus am ei microhinsawdd unigryw ac amrywiaeth ei phridd.

Mae’r astudiaeth yn canolbwyntio ar chwe math o de sydd wedi’u dethol gan yr ystâd oherwydd eu gallu i addasu i amodau amgylcheddol amrywiol a’u potensial ar gyfer amrywiaeth gemegol.

Wrth siarad ar Ddiwrnod Te Rhyngwladol 2025, dywedodd Dr Amanda J Lloyd, uwch

ymchwilydd mewn bwyd, diet ac iechyd yn Adran Gwyddorau

Bywyd Prifysgol Aberystwyth:

“Mae’r astudiaeth hon yn cyfrannu at faes cynyddol metabolomeg trwy ddarparu proffil cemegol cynhwysfawr o de sy’n cael ei dyfu mewn rhanbarthau llai traddodiadol.

Mae’n canfyddiadau’n cynnig mewnwelediad newydd i addasrwydd planhigion te a’u potensial ar gyfer eu tyfu mewn rhanbarthau newydd, gan gyfrannu at ddiogelwch bwyd byd-eang ac arallgyfeirio amaethyddol. Bydd angen cynnal ymchwil bellach nawr ac fe ddylai hyn gynnwys samplu dros sawl tymor, cymariaethau â rhanbarthau traddodiadol tyfu te, a dadansoddiad mwy cynhwysfawr o de wedi’i brosesu er mwyn cael dealltwriaeth mwy cynhwysfawr o gyfansoddiad cemegol te.”

Mae canfyddiadau’r astudiaeth wedi’u rhannu mewn papur academaidd a gyhoeddwyd yn Metabolites, cyfnodolyn mynediad agored rhyngwladol a adolygir gan gymheiriaid.

Mae Dr Lloyd a’i thîm hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Fferm Buckhall ger Trefyclo ym Mhowys sy’n torri tir newydd drwy dyfu te o dan amodau ucheldiroedd Cymru. Roedd y

prosiect yn rhan o gam cyntaf Her Technoleg Bwyd-Amaeth SBRI, a arianwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru.

Mae’r gwaith yn adeiladu ar bortffolio arloesol o ymchwil ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth sy’n canolbwyntio ar fuddion iechyd te, amaethu cynaliadwy ac ymddygiad defnyddwyr.

Ymhlith astudiaethau eraill sydd ar waith mae prosiect Better Brain, a ariennir gan Innovate UK. Maen nhw wrthi’n recriwtio ar gyfer treial yn ymchwilio i effeithiau atchwanegiad sy’n cynnwys echdyniad te gwyrdd, ginseng ac omega-3 ar weithrediad yr ymennydd mewn oedolion canol oed a hŷn.

Arweinir yr astudiaeth gan Uned Ymchwil Asesu Lles ac

Iechyd (WARU) y Brifysgol, mewn cydweithrediad â’r Adran Seicoleg a chan ddefnyddio uwchdechnoleg electroenseffalogram (EEG) i asesu gwybyddiaeth a lles.

Dywedodd yr Athro Nigel Holt o’r Adran Seicoleg a Dirprwy Is-Ganghellor Cysylltiol, Rhyngwladol, y Brifysgol:

“Mae te nid yn unig yn gysur ond mae’n dod yn fwyfwy amlwg ei fod hefyd yn gyfaill i’n gwybyddiaeth ni. Mae’n hymchwil yn helpu ni i ddeall y cysylltiad biocemegol dwfn rhwng cyfansoddion te a sut mae’n hymennydd yn gweithio. MaeBetter Brain yn arbennig o gyffrous am ei fod yn pontio meysydd maeth, seicoleg a niwroffisioleg.”

Ffermio Cymru

environment

NFU Scotland responds to carbon budget advice: ‘farmers ready to lead, not carry the burden’

NFU Scotland has responded to the Committee on Climate Change’s new advice on Scottish carbon budgets with a clear message: farmers are ready to lead on climate action, but arbitrary reductions but arbitrary reductions in livestock and in meat and dairy consumption are not the answer.

The Union welcomed a more balanced tone in the CCC report, including recognition of the role that low-carbon technologies, peatland restoration and soil management can play in driving down emissions. However, the proposed 26% reduction in cattle and sheep numbers by 2035 remains deeply concerning and, according to NFUS, would devastate hill and upland farms that operate on already narrow margins.

NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon said:

“There’s progress in recognising the contribution farmers and land managers can make to reaching Net Zero, but we must be crystal clear: slashing livestock numbers is not the solution. Scottish agriculture is already among the most climateefficient in the world with many farmers already adopting new technologies, renewable energy and nature-friendly practices. With the right backing, we can go further but that journey must be fair, practical and properly supported.”

The Union emphasised that Net Zero doesn’t mean zero

emissions, and that Scotland’s farming sector is uniquely placed to balance emissions through both reductions and natural carbon sequestration including in grasslands, hedgerows, soils, peatlands, and well-managed woodlands.

“We need policy that rewards sequestration as well as efficiency,” Mr Connon added. “Farmers are ready to lead on both fronts, but that contribution must be properly valued. Sequestration is not a loophole, it’s a key part of the solution.”

NFUS also warned against using Scotland’s land to offset emissions from other parts of the UK, calling instead for locally grounded, sector-specific pathways to Net Zero.

“Scotland must not become the carbon sink for the rest of the UK,” said Mr Connon. “We want to play our part but not carry the burden for others.”

Beyond emissions reduction, NFU Scotland highlighted the growing urgency of supporting climate adaptation, with farmers already facing acute pressures from water scarcity, extreme weather and supply chain disruption.

“Adaptation is no longer a future issue – it’s a now issue,” Mr Connon said. “We need meaningful investment in resilience to safeguard Scotland’s food security while continuing to deliver on climate and nature targets.”

NFU Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to give farmers the certainty and longterm policy direction they need to invest, adapt and lead the transition to Net Zero. Clear signals on future support, consistent messaging, and timely decisions are essential to

unlock the sector’s full potential. Without that, ambition will stall. The Union will continue to work with government over the summer to ensure the updated Climate Change Plan empowers, rather than penalises, Scottish agriculture.

NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon

SEPA announce changes to regulation of wasteto-land activities

The regulation of activities involving the spreading of waste and treated sewage sludge to land in Scotland is changing.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are informing businesses across Scotland of important changes to the regulation of the use of waste on land for soil improvement. This includes changes to how you apply for an authorisation.

From 1 November 2025, the spreading of waste and treated sewage sludge to land for soil improvement activities will be regulated under the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). Applications for the new authorisations are now open.

The new regulatory regime consolidates and replaces the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 and Paragraph 7 and 8 exemptions under the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (WML). This creates a single regulatory framework for the application of waste to land, offering greater fairness and environmental safeguards.

Scott Crawford, Senior Permitting Manager at SEPA, said: “Our new approach to regulating this activity will provide better environmental protection, while providing consistency, clarity, and a level playing field for operators across the sector.

“As part of the application process, operators must demonstrate they are suitable to undertake this activity and can meet the conditions of the authorisation. This includes

conditions on the type and quantity of material spread to land to minimise the impact on the environment, and requires the operator to carry out monitoring and reporting.”

What this means for businesses Businesses can apply now for a new EASR authorisation for the application of waste to land, including treated sewage sludge. Any authorisations granted during this period will not come into effect until 1 November 2025.

Everyone that carries out the application of waste to land for the purpose of soil improvement activities will have to apply for a new EASR authorisation. When they apply will depend on their current arrangements.

Operators planning new waste-to-land activities prior to 1 November will have the option to either apply for a new EASR authorisation or register a new exemption. Any new exemption will be valid for 12 months from date of issue but cannot be renewed once expired. Operators will have to apply for an EASR authorisation before the expiry date.

Those that already carry out activity under an exemption that is due to expire before the 1 November have the option to either apply for a new EASR authorisation or renew their existing exemption. Renewed exemptions will be valid for 12 months from date of renewal but cannot be renewed beyond this. Operators will have to apply for an EASR authorisation before the expiry date.

Crofting in Scotland

Crofting is a central part of the identity and cultural heritage of Scotland and lies at the heart of many rural and island communities.

Across the Highlands and Islands, there are approximately 15,000 crofters who tenant or own over 21,600 crofts, and there are over 750,000 hectares of land in crofting tenure.

All of this represents a significant opportunity to encourage traditional crofting practices and to tackle the key challenges we face with respect to sustainable food production, and combatting climate change and biodiversity loss

But I think it is fair to say that most would agree that the existing crofting legislation is complex and difficult to navigate.

On 3 June the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill was published with the aim of simplifying the legislation to make crofting regulation less onerous and to better support crofters and the Crofting Commission.

Crofting also plays a vital role in maintaining the population in our rural areas, including the retention of young people and families. That sense of community and place was one of the strongest messages I took away from my tour of crofting counties, when speaking to crofters and their families in preparation for the laying of this bill, they were very keen to make sure I understood just how important crofting is in keeping folk in the crofting communities.

We consulted extensively on the proposals and I am glad to say that the proposals

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity

in the Bill were shown to have a lot of support.

We want to see the administration of crofting streamlined and to bolster the role of grazings committees, giving them and individual shareholders more options for proposing and taking forward environmental initiatives on common grazings.

This Bill should encourage crofters and their communities to have a greater say in how land in their area is used.

The Bill also sets out the amalgamation of the Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland – which both currently have the same judicial head – to create one cohesive body to deal with land issues, an expanded Scottish Land Court.

This will resolve some statutory anomalies and complexities where, at present, both bodies have a role to play in the same or similar processes.

We are firmly committed to securing the future of crofting and the role it plays in sustaining rural and island communities and I really look forward to continuing to work with crofting communities as this Bill goes through its Parliamentary journey.

renewable energy

More than 47,000 jobs supported by Scotland’s renewable energy industry, new report finds

Scotland’s renewable energy industry and its supply chain supported more than 47,000 jobs and supported £15.5 billion of output in 2022, new figures released recently show.

Using the latest data available, Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute reports that offshore wind continues to be the renewable energy technology supporting the most employment across the Scottish economy with 19,580 full time equivalent (FTE) roles while onshore wind supports 16,865 roles and renewable heat supports 4,095 roles.

Offshore wind also powered the most activity across the Scottish economy, generating more than £6.8 billion of output, followed by onshore wind with £6.4 billion and hydropower with £1.4 billion.

The Fraser of Allander Institute’s report assessed the economic impact of the renewable energy industry and its wider benefits in terms of supply chain activity and spending within the Scottish economy.

A measure of the industry has been estimated using data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) due to the lack of detailed information available through official UK or Scottish Government data. The 2022 results should be viewed as a standalone snapshot of activity rather than part of a continuous trend but nonetheless demonstrate the continued strong economic performance of the renewable energy industry in Scotland.

Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:

“This report from the Fraser of Allander Institute offers

an important snapshot of the economic value our members are creating as we move toward a future powered by clean, homegrown renewable energy. It reflects what we know about the activity in the industry through the development, construction and operation of major projects such as the Moray East offshore and Viking onshore windfarms.

“We know that the energy crisis, marked by sharp rises in wholesale costs, has had widereaching effects on industry and households. And while it became clear that accelerating the deployment of clean energy projects is the only way to reduce our exposure to the volatility of international gas prices, it also brought serious challenges with supply chain disruptions and rising input costs making projects more expensive to deliver.

“Our industry is working closely with government to tackle these challenges in order to build more projects and build our future jobs. Scotland is set to play a key role in achieving

the UK’s clean power goal for 2030 meaning that Scotland’s renewable energy industry will continue to drive growth and employment across the Scottish and UK economy.

“We urge the UK and Scottish governments to enable more robust data collection so we can continue to track performance of the renewable energy industry and our contribution to growth across the UK.”

Scottish Renewables and the Fraser of Allander Institute have published two previous editions of this report on the economic impact of renewable energy in Scotland.

In 2022, the global energy crisis accelerated demand for renewable energy while industry also faced significant challenges, including supply chain disruptions and rising input costs, which made projects more expensive to deliver. Whilst this has boosted turnover and output across the industry, rising operational and material costs have meant constrained growth in gross value added (GVA) and the creation of full-time jobs.

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of Fraser of Allander Institute, said

“We have seen a significant shift in economic activity associated with the renewable energy industry in 2022, as more capacity comes online and moves from construction to generation. These shifts change the nature of the supply chains supported, which is likely to continue as the industry becomes more established.

“The economics of the industry are changing and becoming more challenging, which can be seen in the squeezed GVA for the industry in 2022. Policymakers must continue to focus on creating competitive conditions for renewable energy to ensure we reap the economic benefits of the energy transition.

“We will be working in partnership with Scottish renewables over 2025 and 2026 to produce improved outputs from the data available, including a consistent time series – look out for our next update in early 2026.”

renewable energy

Increasing offshore wind ambition

Views sought on up to 40GW new energy by 2040 by the Scottish Government

Views are being sought on proposals which would see Scotland’s offshore wind ambition increased to up to 40 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity by 2040 – enough to power the equivalent of around 45 million homes a year.

Scotland’s current offshore wind capacity ambition is between 8 – 11 GW by 2030 and the new figure seeks to reaffirm the Scottish Government’s

commitment to growing the offshore wind sector - giving certainty to investors.

As well as supporting national climate targets, the increase being consulted upon reflects significant private sector interest in the ScotWind and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) seabed leasing rounds.

The success of these leasing rounds symbolises the enormous

economic potential of offshore wind and puts Scotland at the forefront of development globally.

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin announced the opening of the consultation at the Global Offshore Wind Forum in London.

Ms Martin said: “Scotland’s offshore wind sector is already creating significant

opportunities, delivering jobs and attracting major investment across the country.

“As a result we need to update our ambition for offshore wind to reflect and firmly underline our commitment to economic growth and investment offered by the sector.

“I would urge everyone with an interest in offshore wind to have a say in the consultation.”

Gen-C restores control to Green Circle Renewables’ biogas engine

Gas engine support experts Gen-C have helped Northern Irish on-farm AD operators Green Circle Renewables improve the performance of their CHP engine and futureproof their biogas operation. A full engine upgrade project, which included replacing the TPEM controls on a new 600 kW MWM CHP, now allows automatic and remote restarting and monitoring, significantly improving operation and cutting downtime on site.

Taking back control

After several upgrades to the AD plant over the years, the Green Circle facility in Armagh now has the capacity to produce enough gas to generate over 2 MW of heat and electricity. As a result, the site has one 500 kW MWM and one 1 MW Jenbacher CHP engine, as well as the most recent model – an MWM 3016V12 600 kW.

Having previously used Gen-C’s services to upgrade previous engines, Green Circle’s

Jason Rolston was keen to engage them again, as GenC’s Managing Director, James Thompson, explains: “When we upgraded Jason’s older engines, we enabled automatic restarts, which absolutely transformed the running of the plant. Giving Jason and his team full control over their own asset – meaning they weren’t locked into expensive service contracts, had no lengthy engineer call-out waits, and could restart their own engine within seconds – made a massive difference to the site’s overall smooth running. Unfortunately, when Jason upgraded to the new 600 kW engine, the TPEM controls didn’t offer him the same level of open access that he required, so he had no hesitation in contacting us again to upgrade the control panel.”

Performance enhancement

As well as providing remote monitoring and restarting capabilities to the new engine, this latest installation saw Gen-C upgrade the control panels with

a new SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system with intuitive 22-inch touchscreen controls, linked to the very latest ComAp IS Gas 2000 controller and an IPPC industrial computer. Gen-C also upgraded the engine itself with the latest ignition system, speed control, detonation control and fuel mixer technologies from Motortech, making the engine run smoother and more reliably.

“Within just nine days, the upgraded engine was up and running, and it was fully completed and signed off after 13 days,” explains James. “The work we carried out also allows us to have constant remote access and monitoring, so we can dial in and resolve many local issues remotely. All the parts have two year’s warranty and we hold all of them in stock, so they can be despatched the same day if required.”

Country’s finest livestock line up as Perth Show comes to town

For generations Perth Show has been showcasing the local agricultural scene – right in the heart of the city.

Now in its 163rd year, the annual two-day event at the city’s South Inch is set to put the best of the county’s livestock once again on parade as the spotlight focusses on the area’s vital farming industry.

By Maureen Young

On Friday and Saturday, August 1st and 2nd, the city will echo to the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the braying of donkeys and the clatter of horses’ hooves as over 1,000 head of livestock compete in more than 350 classes.

Recognised as one of the finest line-ups of would-be champion horses, donkeys, goats, cattle and

sheep of any Scottish county show, Perth’s showcase will see return champions vying with young pretenders to claim the silverware.

And this year, Perth Show is delighted to be hosting the Scottish National Simmental Show which will attract around 100 examples of the finest in the breed from all over Scotland and north of England along with respected breed judge Garrett Behan from County Laois in Ireland.

A challenging spring

Perth Show Chairman Philip Murrie highlighted the particularly

challenging spring that farmers have faced with drought, inheritance tax and meat imports all impacting on the agricultural sector.

“We all need a pick-me-up and our county shows are always a great way to bring both the farming community and the general public together in an event to celebrate and acknowledge the work of those who help put our food on our plate,” he said.

“Perth Show has been providing that annual get-together for 163 years and we’re looking forward to opening the gates on 1st

and 2nd of August to welcome all comers.

Philip also said the Perth Show acted as a catalyst for the agricultural community to air their grievances and opinions to local politicians and sector leaders who attend during the two days.

“The First Minister takes a great interest on the Show – as do other local politicians – and we’ll be sure to have their ear on a wide range of matters affecting the industry this year.

“For two days every year, Perth rolls out the green carpet as country comes to town and Perth Show welcomes thousands of visitors – both farming community and general public –to view the field to fork story at its most exciting,” he said.

“Backed by our main sponsor Binn Group and key supporters Morris Leslie Group, Netherton Equestrian and EQ Chartered Accountants, we are able to deliver an event that competes with the best in Scotland.

“While it’s traditionally two days where the farming community comes together for their annual gathering, Perth Show offers something for everyone, and it offers a rare insight into rural life for townsfolk without having to leave Perth.

“There’s something magical about watching a child pet a baby goat for the first time or learning how to milk a cow or climbing aboard a massive tractor whose wheels are twice the height they are. Perth Show makes memories that last a lifetime.”

Hoping for a memorable day will be competitors in the light horse classes on the Friday, with both affiliated and unaffiliated classes attracting a strong field in a series of jumping, ridden and haltered classes.

Equestrian showcase Show secretary Jen Leslie explained that the Perth gathering had been awarded practically every British Show Horse Association London International Rising Star qualifier available. This will allow winners in each class to compete at the London International Horse Show in December.

“We’ve always secured one or two qualifiers for Perth,” said Jen, “but to be awarded 12 for hunters, cobs and side-saddle is a tremendous coup and will help attract the best in the country for top showring entertainment.

“We also have eight classes which are British Show Pony Society qualifiers,” she added, “making Perth Show second only to the Royal Highland Show for securing qualifying classes. This is testament to the standard of horse and rider that we traditionally attract to Perth and our Friday line-up should be something really special this year.”

Side-saddle classes make their first ever appearance at Perth this year. Enjoying a real resurgence nationwide, the riding style showcases a tremendous skill and elegance.

Livestock line-up

Perth Show is recognised as a centre of excellence for rare sheep breeds and Jen is estimating they will form the majority of around 600 sheep on show.

Vying for rosettes will be Border Leicester, Suffolk, Black Face, Cheviot, Blue Faced Leicester, Texel, Llyn, Beltex, Dutch Spotted, Valais Blacknose, Blue Texel, Jacob and cross.

“It’s quite a line-up,” said Jen, “and will pit some of the best rare breed breeders in the country against one another.”

Although Simmental are in the spotlight this year, expect to see Aberdeen-Angus, Shorthorn, Charolais, Limousin, Commercial, as well as Young Handlers and Any Other Breed Native and Continental on show - along with the enchanting attraction of donkeys, goats and Highland and Shetland ponies.

Heavy horses in all their harnesses and finery always draw a crowd and Perth Showgoers will see breeds such as Clydesdales, Suffolk Punches and Shires looking their very best. And the fantastic spectacle of ridden Clydesdales will see the winners go on to compete at Scone International Horse Trials later this year.

Something for everyone Outwith the stock pens, man’s

best friend gets his own “show within a show” as the popular Dog Show returns for its fifth year with lots of classes, entertainments and dedicated merchandise stalls.

Similarly popular are the annual Perthshire On A Plate food festival with produce stalls, local and celebrity chefs and popup restaurants. A wide variety of food and refreshment offerings will also feature throughout the showground.

And competition will be fierce in the Farmhouse Kitchen where men, women and children will all compete with entries ranging from mocktail in a glass and floral arrangement in a teacup to tablet and apple chutney.

Retail heaven will be offered at a sell-out craft marquee where over 35 producers will be selling everything from ceramics and jewellery to soaps and textiles.

Other entertainments to thrill the crowds this year include Auchingarrich Wildlife Park’s dog and duck herding; pedal

tractors on a hay bale track; tossing the sheaf; sheep shearing and farrier demonstrations; vintage tractors; children’s races; sheepdog trial demonstrations: Perth and District Pipe Band; children’s adventure play area; presentation of Long Service Awards and the much-anticipated Grand Parade of Champions as the section winners strut their stuff in front of an appreciative crowd.

Perth Show has always focussed on teaching the young about the farming world and this year the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) will be on site with interactive educational experiences including a lambing simulater, Daisy the milking cow, smoothie bikes and amazing video reality headsets which allow children to look around a working farm and learn about the different animals and tasks involved.

Find out details about this year’s Perth Show by visiting: www.perthshow.co.uk

science & technology

SPOT, the robot dog, demonstrates its skills at The James Hutton Institute

Following the successful Tay5G ‘5G Future Farming: Robotics’ project testing 5G integrated robotics; a workshop was recently held at The James Hutton Institute’s Invergowrie campus for stakeholders, demonstrating autosurvey and monitoring activity by The National Robotarium’s dog robot, SPOT.

James Hutton Scientific Services (previously, James Hutton Ltd) the commercial arm of the Hutton was awarded £150,000 from the Scottish Government for the project (on top of c.£90,000 awarded last year for the preceding project which led on to this one) as part of the Tay Cities Region Deal (TCRD).

The TCRD has also funded two innovation centres – the Advanced Plant Growth Centre and the International Barley Hub at the Hutton’s Invergowrie campus as part of a £62m investment by the UK and Scottish Governments.

The project has successfully tested three robots on 5G and proved that the new technology can be integrated onto existing platforms, and the same principle can be replicated on different platforms. It has provided 3 new use-cases for robots: 3D image collection for phenotyping of breeding trial plots using LiDAR, On-land ploughing with AgXeed 5.115.T2 machine and connecting first Boston Dynamics SPOT robot to N77 band 5G private network.

Robots, like tractors in the past, have the potential to address some of the challenges currently facing the agriculture sector, such as labour shortages, fluctuating prices and the need for climate adaptation, all while maintaining

business viability. As an evolution of precision farming practices and in the correct setting they improve efficiency by reducing labour and inputs while minimising negative environmental impacts through a data-driven approach.

Agricultural robots can be utilised within a system incorporating old and new equipment to assist human effort rather than replace it.

Project lead for the Hutton, Andrew Christie, said, “Agricultural robots are now appearing on the market, but we need successful use cases to provide farmers with the confidence in their ability to perform in challenging field conditions and evidence to justify the cost. This project was also able to evaluate the enhanced capability for robotics offered by 5G.”

Ruth Plant, Project Manager at The National Robotarium, said, “We’re pleased to partner with The James Hutton Institute on testing the efficacy of 5G-empowered robots for the agriculture sector.

“If successful, farmers could utilise these cutting-edge technologies to gather and analyse acres of crop data at once, identifying issues and improving yield in a fraction of the time it currently takes.

“Working with industry experts allows us to trial robotics systems in real-life test cases, ensuring effective and practical solutions are developed collaboratively for the benefit of UK farming.”

The Hutton is at the cuttingedge of science, offering worldclass research, technical expertise and scientific solutions across a broad range of scientific fields,

including agriculture, environment and food security. It is committed to fostering innovation in both public and private sectors, advancing knowledge and driving impactful solutions for a sustainable future.

This project, which was supported by Soil Essentials and The National Robotarium, located on Heriot Watt University’s Edinburgh campus, integrated robotic platforms with 5G capabilities at the Hutton’s Mylnefield Farm for complex, repeatable tasks. Such collaborative work is instrumental in fostering innovation, facilitating knowledge exchange and contributing to a vibrant community within the Hutton.

In this real-world use case for robotics in research applications and agricultural settings, the robotic platforms provided a multifunctional base for a host of sensors and cameras for objective measurements to be taken, a valuable resource for crop breeding programmes.

High data transfer rates allowed real time streaming of the data, reducing the need for manually uploading, as well as allowing a much larger volume of information to be collected. By adding the 5G data capability to SPOT and the other two robots involved, the AgXeed 5.115. T2 and the (former) Small Robot Company’s TomV4, the project was able to study the feasibility for the use of these robots as precision research tools, capable of capturing and visualising field effects and conditions at a greater level of precision and to a higher resolution than could be possible through manual techniques or observation. The value of this data collection is in its potential as a precision tool for researchers and plant breeders. Combining this with high-powered computing clusters, machine learning, image recognition and AI analytical models provides as an opportunity to harness big data for future breakthroughs in both fundamental and applied science.

Workhorses with a long reach

A look at some of the latest telehandlers available today

Bobcat Launches New ‘V-Drive’

Telehandlers for Agriculture

Bobcat has completed the company’s agricultural telehandler range with three new machines. The new large high flow models - the TL34.65HF V-Drive, TL38.70HF V-Drive and TL43.80HF V-Drive - all utilise the ‘V-Drive’ continuous transmission system. They are designed to offer more comfort and productivity while improving operators’ peace of mind and reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of equipment during its lifecycle.

Florian Hilbert, Product Manager for Telehandlers, Bobcat EMEA, said: “With the V-Drive models added to the existing range, Bobcat still offers the current gearbox transmission for the high flow models, so customers can choose between the existing gearbox system or the new V-Drive continuous transmission. The innovative and smart functions on the new V-Drive models provide an excellent solution for customers requiring a highperformance alternative for their applications.”

Using dual hydraulic motors in series, Bobcat has been able to maintain the same performance as the current gearbox transmission.

Contrary to the current transmission, the V-Drive transmission allows the operator to drive from 0 to 40 km/h without the need to stop the machine or think about changing the gear before starting. As a result, the simplicity and efficiency of the V-Drive transmission offers the highest comfort and peace-of-

mind for the operator. It also removes any jolts that might happen when moving from one speed range to another.

The hydraulic tank has also been redesigned resulting in a higher capacity (70 l instead of 59 l in the current transmission).

In the new V-Drive models, the Turtle and Rabbit hydrostatic speed ranges are still available and are always selectable through the joystick. Both hydraulic speed ranges have been optimized with specific curves according to the requirements of the application:

• Turtle speed = Loader mode, from 0 to 20 kph

• Rabbit speed = Drive mode, from 0 to 40 kph

Noise Improvements

The new V-Drive models also offer noise reduction, following work with external acoustic experts to significantly reduce the noise (inside and outside the cab). Among the main changes made, the hydraulic motor has

been suspended with four rubber mounts, resulting in a decrease of 60% in vibrations, and the whistle sound of the transmission has been fully eliminated. Coupled with Smart functions like Cruise control or ECO-Ride, operator comfort is optimal.

New 3- and 4-tonne SCORPION from Claas UK

Five new 3- and 4-tonne capacity telehandlers are the latest additions tot he CLAAS SCORPION telescopic handler range. The SCORPION 733, 1033, 638, 738 and 742 feature significant improvements in comfort and convenience, as well as improved stability and more lift capacity. In addition there is also the option of the new VARIPOWER 3 drive with boosted tractive force on the SCORPION 738 and 742.

TELEHANDLERS

Cleverer, stronger and more stable

Thanks to higher hydraulic pressure, the new SCORPION telehandlers deliver up to 300 kg more lift capacity – 3.3 t in the 1033 and 733 entry models and 4.2 t in the SCORPION 742. At the same time, to ensure the customary balance and stability, the wheelbase has been increased by 100 mm, with corresponding modifications to the counterweight at the rear.

They also benefit from new SMART LOADING functions too, thanks to new hydraulic controls with electronic pilot control. The following automatic functions and assistance systems are now available:

• Automatic bucket return to the previously saved position: saving significant time and effort when performing repetitive tasks close to the ground.

• Automatic bucket shake function: the tilt rams ensure reliable emptying of clumping materials and even distribution of loose materials.

• Automatic retraction of the telescopic arm (not for SCORPION 1033): the mast automatically retracts as the telescopic arm is lowered – significantly reducing the operator’s workload.

Power comes from a 143 hp, 550 Nm Liebherr 4-cylinder diesel engine with a hydraulic output 160 l/m at a quiet and fuel-efficient 1,600 rpm. During loading, DYNAMIC POWER automatically adjusts the engine speed to the joystick angle and so to the desired lift and loading speed. This unique feature ensures faster, even more efficient load cycles.

New more powerful VARIPOWER 3 transmission

In place of the standard VARIPOWER 2 transmission, on the SCORPION 738 and 742 models there is the option of the new VARIPOWER 3. Thanks to its larger dual hydraulic motor, this transfers up to 68 kN tractive force to the wheels – an increase of around 20 per cent compared with the 57kN generated by the VARIPOWER 2.

Focus on the operator

The height and angle of the redesigned steering column is fully adjustable to perfectly accommodate the operator’s needs. The display is now positioned above the steering wheel, making it easier to read. To the right of the steering wheel is a 3.5-inch colour screen (optional 7-inch screen). In front is a handy smart phone shelf and to the left, the new control unit for the heating and air conditioning system. The temperature and now the fan too

can be adjusted continuously instead of incrementally in three stages and there is a new, larger air conditioning unit.

The joystick and other key controls such as the controller for the speed ranges now move with the operator’s seat, allowing the right arm to remain comfortably on the armrest during load cycles. In addition there is an extra LED headlight on the left-hand A pillar with Coming Home function.

Another new feature is the pressure relief button on the left of the rear light bracket to depressurise the rear connections. Models fitted with air brakes have a connection for an air blow gun by the cab step and, a brush and shovel holder can be factory-fitted at the rear on the left-hand side for carrying up to two items. On the opposite side, there is room for a removable 5 l water tank for quick on-site hand-washing.

Kubota adds flagship pivot steer telescopic loader to RT range

Kubota (UK) Ltd has revealed its largest pivot-steer telescopic loader to-date, as it moves deeper into the materials handling sector to provide a wider range of solutions for agriculture.

Called the RT305T-2, this new pivot-steer telescopic loader sits at the top of Kubota’s 10-model RT range, and boasts a 1.2 tonne capacity up to its maximum lift height of 4.3 metres thanks to its centrally-mounted, two-stage telescopic boom.

A maximum horizontal reach of 3m can be achieved with a 750kg load, and for those seeking additional stability, the RT’s four-tonne operating weight can be increased by 200kg through the use of a bolt-on, additional counterweight. Complimenting the telescopic loader’s powerful lift and reach is a low overall height of 2.27m and an overall width of 1.34m.

Manoeuvrability is provided by a maintenance-free centrepivot joint with 45 degrees of

steering articulation, creating an outside turning radius of 3.15m. Four degrees of joint oscillation contributes to keeping all four wheels on the ground, when negotiating uneven terrain.

Hydraulic performance extends to 70 litres/min through an auxiliary circuit, with the option of up to three doubleacting services for powered attachments. The telescopic loader features a proportional joystick with two double acting hydraulic services, and a hydraulic locking headstock is fitted as standard.

Hose burst check-valves and load-moment control for forward over-turn protection meeting EN15000 certification, is also part of the standard specification.

Power for the range-topping RT305T-2 comes from an EU Stage V compliant, fourcylinder turbocharged Kubota V2403 diesel engine producing 66hp. Its DPF offers a 6,000hour maintenance interval,

contributing to a low cost of ownership.

Like other models in the RT range, the driveline is

hydrostatic. A Bosch Rexroth hydraulic motor drives both Carraro axles through mechanical driveshafts, and

TELEHANDLERS

offers two speed ranges – 0-15 and 0-30kph. The powertrain includes multidisc brakes and permanent four-wheel drive, with differential locks on both axles to further boost traction.

Pro Inching control enables engine rpm to be preset on a dial, with the foot-operated throttle

pedal then used as a travel pedal, to precisely manage forward and reverse speeds.

Four versions of the RT305T-2 telescopic loader are available; two are canopyequipped models in standard and high-specifications, and two use fully glazed cabs with a

one-piece door and a right-hand opening window – again, in standard and high-specification derivatives. Specification differences see the standard versions shod on 480/45-17 tyres, with high-specification models gaining 500/45-20 tyres, along with a combination towing

pack that comprises a jaw hitch and 50mm tow ball.

All four RT305T-2 derivatives benefit from an airsuspended seat, while cabbed versions can be equipped with an optional air conditioning system. Boom float and boom suspension can also be specified.

Merlo Agricultural Range 2025: Strength, Versatility, and Smart Farming

Following a successful showing at the Royal Highland Show Merlo’s Turbofarmer range continues to deliver class-leading comfort, visibility, and intelligent technology with its award-winning range of agricultural telehandlers, designed to meet the evolving demands of modern farming. With models tailored to every task— from tight yard work to heavy lifting in the field.

At the cutting edge, the RHASS Gold-Award-forinnovation-winning, 100% electric e-Worker delivers zero emissions, zero noise, and zero fuel bills. With a 2.5-tonne lift, 5m reach, and full-shift 8-hour runtime, it offers an environmentally friendly solution for indoor use, lowemission zones, and forwardthinking farms - without compromising on performance.

Compact and capable, Merlo’s three-model compact lineup is ideal for livestock and mixed farms where manoeuvrability is key. The TF30.7 offers a full-size cab in a sub-2m height and width format—perfect for low buildings and narrow passages. Powered by a 100hp Stage V Deutz engine, it lifts 3 tonnes to7 metres without compromising on space or comfort. Other compact machines include TF27.6 (2.7 tonne, 6m lift height) and TF33.7 (3.3 tonne and 7m lift height).

At the core of the range, Merlo’s medium-capacity models (3.5 tonne to 4.2 tonnes) offer a versatile solution for highfrequency jobs like mucking out, loading grain or stacking

bales. Unique to Merlo is the cab suspension system, optional across the medium and high capacity range, providing enhanced comfort during long hours on uneven ground. The popular TF42.7 features a 136hp engine and a responsive 139 l/min load-sensing hydraulic pump. For greater stacking height and precision, the TF38.10 TT offers a 10m lift height, boom side shift, and frame levelling—ideal for stacking bales and the straw contractor’s favourite.

For high demand environments, Merlo’s heavyduty Turbofarmers raise the bar. With lift capacities up to 6.5 tonnes and heights to 9m, the TF50.8 and TF65.9 bring serious muscle to silage clamps and bulk handling. Both models feature high-flow hydraulics, Merlo’s ASCS (Adaptive Stability Control System) with load chart visualisation, attachment recognition and optional cab suspension for road and field comfort.

The Multifarmer remains a standout in the sector - combining the strength and lifting performance of a telehandler with the utility of a tractor. Featuring rear three-point linkage, 2-speed PTO, and 24-ton towing capacity, it’s an invaluable extra workhorse during seasonal peaks.

Whatever your operation, Merlo’s agricultural range combines strength, innovation, and flexibility—keeping your farm running smarter, faster, and more efficiently than ever.

Schäffer Raises the Bar Again with Next-Gen Telehandlers

Schäffer continues to prove why it holds the title of world market leader for articulated loaders, an accolade awarded by the local Chambers of Industry and Commerce. In 2025, the German telehandler manufacturer has once again demonstrated its leadership with the launch of two groundbreaking models: the 8620 T-3 and the 9640 T-3.

At the core of these new machines is the Comfort Cabin Plus—a redesigned operator environment that’s 8% more spacious and packed with smart features. A 10-inch touchscreen centralises control and monitoring, offering intuitive access to machine settings, performance data, and camera views. Add to that a soft-touch panel with large buttons, an adjustable steering column, and improved cabin access, and you have a workspace tailored for productivity and comfort.

The 8620 T-3 can lift up to 4.2ton to a height of 5.20 m, while the 9640 T-3 offers a slightly higher reach of 5.40 m. Both models combine compact dimensions with high performance and versatility, making them ideal for a wide range of agricultural and industrial applications.

Beyond these new models, Schäffer offers a comprehensive portfolio of compact wheeled and telescopic wheeled loaders, serving the needs of agriculture, landscaping, construction, and industry. From ultra low-profile yard loaders to powerful artic-steer machines with operating weights of up to 12 tonnes, Schäffer is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of pivot-steer loaders.

Venieri launches in the UK, with Conagri at the wheel

Venieri, the global manufacturers of innovative earth moving equipment, are officially launched in the UK by agricultural and construction equipment dealer group Conagri.

Schäffer places strong emphasis on customer service and long-term support. Schäffer UK operates a large and wellestablished dealer network that prioritises customer satisfaction through expert advice, dependable after-sales service, and responsive support.

Schäffer UK is currently looking to expand its dealer network in areas of Scotland and Southern England. Interested parties are encouraged to get in touch.

It is 77 years since Italian brothers Ferdinando and Carlo Venieri built their first crawler tractor, the 40hp Cingoletta, from a “carioca“, a military vehicle abandoned by the allies that was adapted for agricultural use. That ability to produce a bespoke machine for both agriculture and construction remains one of the manufacturer’s differentiators to this day but all of the standard range will be available in the UK through Conagri.

The Venieri portfolio has now evolved to include construction equipment such as loaders and telescopic wheeled loaders, multi-functional machines and backhoe loaders (an articulated version of which is unique globally) ranging in operational weight between compact 3.6 and 22 tonnes.

Conagri’s Devon depot will showcase Venieri’s new articulated backhoe loader, the VF 823E, which claims to be the only such machine on the market which is hydrostatic and multi-functional.

As with all its machines, the backhoe has hydrostatic transmission, which enables it to

advance by minute amounts, so the operator has complete control of the machine – a feature not available with a common gear box or power shift.

This is particularly useful for an attachment such as a milling machine where the machine is required to advance at 5/6kph so the correct depth of asphalt is removed from the road.

The hydrostatic transmission also means the machine can be truly multi-functional, exploiting its oil capacity to power the tools, so a further benefit is that it has lower fuel consumption.

Venieri’s recently-launched VF 1.63D TL compact articulated wheel loader (pictured) will also be available for demonstration with Conagri. With an operating weight of up to 3.6 tonnes and a maximum tipping load of a creditable 2.3 tonnes, despite its diminutive dimensions, it can muster a top speed of 40kph on the road.

Farming Yesteryear and Vintage Rally at Scone Palace Parklands on 14th September 2025

by kind permission of The Earl of Mansfield

The 46th Farming Yesteryear Rally takes place at Scone Palace Parklands on Sunday 14th September 2025, with a preview day (a quiet day, without main ring attractions) on Saturday 13th September.

The organising committee of The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club has been making plans since last year’s Rally for this year’s event.

Alongside 1,400 entries of tractors, stationary engines,

military vehicles, cars, motorbikes, commercial vehicles, buses, steam engines and horticultural machinery on display from vintage and classic enthusiasts will be Clydesdale horses, Highland cattle, alpacas, pipe band, Highland dancing, children’s entertainment and more.

On Preview Day (Saturday 13th September) the Gillespie McAndrew Great Scone Palace Challenge raising funds for RSABI and featuring cast members from

Emmerdale will be taking place at Scone Palace.

The agricultural exhibits include Ferguson, Fordson, Allis Chalmers, David Brown, Case, County and International, amongst others.

The main day on Sunday features a full day of main ring entertainment, which kicks off at 9.30 am with the City of St Andrews Pipe Band, followed by displays of the different types of vehicles and drive rounds by the clubs in attendance. Tay 4 x 4 club’s display is full of action and excitement. The Farming Yesteryear Rally is fortunate to have Peter Small as commentator on the day. Pete has a wealth of knowledge, which he readily imparts.

The main ring is stirred into action on Sunday morning by the swirling pipes and drums of the Blairgowrie, Rattray & District Pipe Band. Sunday also features Highland dancers from the Jeanette Shearer School of Dancing.

The ever popular auto jumble stalls are raked through with a fine toothcomb over the weekend, by the collector seeking that elusive

part. Alongside the essential catering and ice cream units is a range of food and drink stalls to delight the taste buds, including the ever popular, locally made Cairn o’ Mohr wine and cider.

Shoppers can browse the stands which include garden furniture, tools, towing accessories, trailer parts, bags, candles, crafts, bird feeders, leather goods, trailers, jams, training companies, country wear, wood pellets and stove.

This year’s charity cheque presentation is being made to RSABI Supporting People in Scottish Agriculture. The donation is made from the monies raised at the annual Vintage tractor Charity Road Run held in and around Perth in May.

The 2025 Tractors of the Year celebrate 80 years of the Fordson 27N and 100 years of the Caterpillar. The engine of the year is stationary engine over 5 HP.

At the end of the main ring entertainment in the afternoon, the trophies are awarded, after the all-important draw of the raffle. The main raffle prize is an Allis Chalmers B vintage tractor which is a restoration project. Second

Display of tractors at palace

prize is a stationary engine and third prize is a child’s pedal tractor.

Before the fields have cleared and all the equipment has been put away, notes have been made, suggestions received and plans are being made for the next Farming Yesteryear.

The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club was formed in 1976 as the Tayside Group of the National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club. The aims of the club - to preserve and display ageing and historic agricultural vehicles and machinery - remain the same today - almost fifty years since inception.

Membership is spread across the UK but the base is now at Ardgilzean Farm, Scone, after thirty-seven years at Balboughty, and prior to that, a couple of years at Innerbuist Farm. The club is indebted to Scone Palace estate for the lease of the sheds, and venue for Farming Yesteryear.

Club members work on their machines at Ardgilzean and enjoy the camaraderie and banter. Members also repair and maintain the agricultural machinery owned by the Club.

The group held their first Rally at Boyne Farm, Inchture, on 18th September 1977. There were forty-five entries.

In 1979 the club broke away from the National Club and became known as the now familiar Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club. Two Rallies were held at West Inchmichael Farm, Errol, but unfortunately the 1980 Rally became known as the “Year of the Mud”.

The hunt was on for an alternative venue and between 1981 and 1984 the Rally was held at Lochlands Farm, Forfar. This sadly came to an end when the Forfar bypass was routed through the field used for the Rally.

In addition to the Rally, SVTEC also organised auctions, which were held at Hays Mart, Perth.

During the search for a new venue for the Rally, a suggestion was received to ask Scone Palace. The Earl of Mansfield kindly agreed for the Rally to be held on the parklands. The first Farming Yesteryear was held at Scone Palace in 1985. The Rally has been made very welcome by the Palace and the Club is indebted to the Estate.

The Club holds monthly talks during the winter months, on a wide variety of topics. There is a cup ploughing match in October and a charity ploughing match in February. The annual open day is in May, along with the Vintage Tractor Road Run. Several engine days - or crank ups - are held throughout the year. The popular Christmas Crank Up is held between Christmas and New Year.

The Club continues to grow and is always keen to welcome new members. If you have an interest in agricultural machinery and enjoy attending vintage rallies, you may wish to join the Club.

More details on the website at svtec.org. Up to date information on club events and Farming Yesteryear is on the Facebook page: SVTEC - The Scottish Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.

Entries for the 2025 rally close on 31st July (or when spaces fully booked). More information on the website at www.svtec.org or to book online: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ scottishvintagetractorandengineclub/ We look forward to seeing you on 13th and 14th September at Scone Palace Parklands, Perth, PH2 6BB. Admission is £15 for adults, £10 for concessions (65+) and children 12 - 16 years. Under 12s free. Car parking free. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Enquiries: secretary@svtec.org Website: svtec.org

Farrier demonstration

Balmalcolm Clydesdales - Charity Cheque Presentation

Davidson Irongray

Border Union Showtime

The Scottish Borders have long been home to exceptional produce and gifted chefs, not to mention spectacular scenery, steeped in history. From Sir Walter Scott to the Border Reivers... I am sure all would love the Border Union Show! The highlight of the year in Southern Scotland, it has an

excellent reputation growing year on year, its popularity extending into Northumberland and beyond. Already wellestablished as a successful and innovative food and farming event, it showcases crafts and livestock, rural knowledge and skills; hosting an incredible range of competitions from dog

shows to equestrian, breeds of cattle and sheep, to carriage driving. This is absolutely not to be missed.

A mecca for foodies, this year the Food Hall promises to be bigger and better than ever, with Kelso’s thriving Farmers’ Market collaborating with the Show organisers, and guest presenter Wendy Barrie. In addition to organising the

Cookery Theatre presentations within the Food Hall, for the first time there will be Border Bread and Dairy Competitions. All four bread classes follow the criteria from the Scottish Bread Championship, conforming to the Real Bread Campaign, and the three cheese classes and two dairy ice cream classes also focus on wholesome artisan production. The expert teams of

Billy Hamilton

Wendy Barrie

judges will be in action the first morning of the Show.

The Food Hall is a celebration of artisan producers with ever-popular favourites, new additions, and food and drink sectors in perfect balance. Bridgelands Farm is one such producer, with premium pastureraised eggs, using regenerative practices that prioritise soil health, animal welfare, and transparency. Doddington Dairy is a regular at the Show with their fabulous ice creams. There are wines from Clyde Valley and Cairn O’Mohr; artisan loaves from Twelve Triangles, awardwinning cheese from Errington Barn, sizzling jellies and sauces from Allan’s Chilli, and sweet sensations from Jack and Jills Jam to name but a few. The Tuke family of Hardiesmill, stalwarts of the Kelso Farmers’ Market, will also be present in the Food Hall with their world-famous Native Aberdeen Angus Ethical Beef.

Over in the theatre, nonstop shows provide allday entertainment from the enthusiastic team of cooks and chefs onstage, all keen to share their skills – and their creationswith the audiences.

CJ Jackson is a renowned seafood chef, educator and food writer who trained at Leith’s School of Food & Wine, later becoming Vice Principal, before going on to lead the Billingsgate Seafood School in London. CJ has written several books, including Leith’s Fish Bible and The Billingsgate Market Cookbook, She is widely travelled, bringing hands-on experience in fishing to her culinary expertise.

Graham Turton MCGB is a highly regarded Executive Chef. Passionate for the craft and dedicated to industry, earning prestigious titles over the years, most recently being awarded membership of Master Chefs

Of Great Britain. Graham loves nothing more than mentoring and supporting rising talent and championing the best of Scottish cuisine from growers to suppliers.

Morven Hastie owned and ran the popular Wishingwell Restaurant near Drymen for twenty years before she went freelance, demonstrating at events across the country. She lives by her family farm, in Killearn. She is incredibly passionate about showcasing produce from every corner of Scotland and can’t wait to explore this year’s Food Hall.

Emily Cuddeford and Rachel Morgan run Twelve Triangles, a highly respected artisan bakery with shops in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. They recently published their debut cookbook, “Kitchen Table, simple things made well,” on sale at their stand.

Katrina Reynolds of The Allanton Inn is a local lady with farming heritage and a deep knowledge of Border Country, its folk and its produce. She loves to share her stories and tastes of produce – where to find it and what to do with it. Using their local know-how and connections, their new business, Borderland Food Tours, continues their agritourism ethos, with tastes and tales of the Borderlands on a culinary and cultural journey.

Billy Hamilton of Buccleuch Arms is a ken-speckled face at the Border Union and comes with his wealth of wisdom about game and its accompaniments. Highly entertaining and full of energy, he will inspire the most reluctant cook to immerse themselves in the kitchen! With a few more surprises, the Awards Ceremony and artisan cheese tasting, visitors are guaranteed a grand day out – and that’s only the Food Hall. Wait until you see the rest of the Showground, so be sure not to miss it.

The Border Union Show takes place on Friday and Saturday, July 25th – 26th https://borderunion.co.uk/border-union-show/

Katrina Reynolds

Tukes of Hardiesmill

Trailers

A glance at five current models available on the market, plus new ‘air free’ trailer tyres to save

downtime

Making every second count with Bailey Trailers

Bailey Trailers are very aware that every second counts for farmers, growers and contractors, their trailers have to work hard. Therefore, Bailey Bailey’s aim is straightforward, to supply robust and reliable trailers that keep on going whatever the load, to rain or conditions.

Available as an option across the range of Bale and Pallet trailers from Bailey Trailers, Hydraulic Bale Clamps provide the perfect solution for moving high volume round or square bales more easily, quickly and safely.

Bailey has designed each side to lower below the height of the trailer bed, which provides easy access for forklifts. Additionally, because both sides are powered independently you can select either nearside or offside loading to fit your needs. The simple press of a button raises the clamps and the load is totally secured in just a matter of seconds, then you’re ready for safe transit across field and road.

Double the difference

Need more height? Not a problem. Bailey’s Twin Hydraulic Bale Clamps provides the option to load bales at a height of three

Hesston‘s. This innovation offers the ideal solution for contractors and large-scale farm businesses looking to further reduce the number of loads and save valuable time, plus save on fuel costs.

From bales to boxes

The 850 mm Single Hydraulic Bale Clamps offer the perfect solution to farmers and

contractors carting potato boxes, fertiliser bags or seed bags. All Bailey Bale and Pallet trailers in the range are 2500 mm/8’2” overall and are fitted with a 4.5 mm checker plate floor with 60 x 40 RHS floor runners at 300 mm centres. Bale trailers feature heavy-duty 8 mm side rails and a 600 mm high headboard for safe and secure loading of pallets, bags and boxes.

Making the job even easier

A wide range of optional extras are available for Bale and Pallet trailers including: a Hydraulic Working Platform to aid filling of potato boxes; a Box Pusher for safe transportation of loads and a Rollover Sheet for protection against adverse weather conditions. For more information on Hydraulic Bale Clamps visit: baileytrailers.co.uk

Trailers form Harry West (Prees) Ltd

Harry West (Prees) ltd are one of the UK’s premium trailer manufacturers producing along side their award winning muck spreader range.

The West flatbed/bale trailer as two models available, FB26 & the FB 32, these are the 26’ & 32’ long units both with a 14T capacity. The use of 250 x 150 box section in the construction and fitted with full commercial parabolic springs with ADR 10 stud hubs give the trailers a very strong and durable construction.

A similar construction is also used in the West C27 trailers which are made up of both 14T & 16T capacity grain trailers and silage trailers. These trailers are built to the same excellent quality expected in any West product. A

short compact design these trailers give good manoeuvrability in and out of gateways and around tight lanes.

Both the FB & C27 ranges have numerous options with tyre choice, air brakes, ABS systems and our ESP information unit. The ESP unit is incorporated in the ABS control block and gives the operator an accurate record of miles/km travelled, speeds travelled and weights carried. This can give contractors simple details when costing any work carried out.

At the other end of the spectrum we at West still give the option of a “classic” built trailer in the 10T & 12T capacity grain/ utility & silage trailers. These units have been tried and tested over the years and run on the rocking beam design. These are both road friendly and come into their own when used on undulating fields, heavily rutted lanes and gateways.

These units are available with spring system axles and this give us a wide and varied line up.

For further information please visit www.harrywest.co.uk or call our sales department on 01948 840465.

Hi-Spec Engineering, so simple yet incredibly safe

Simplicity, safety and cost efficiency are all key aspects of the new Hi-Spec PD20 Push-off Dump Trailer for Andrew Moore who, having been involved in its development, now runs four trailers as part of his nationwide plant hire business,

Commercial & Leisure Land Services Ltd (Calls Ltd)

The only trailer of its type, the new Hi-Spec PD20 Push-off Dump Trailer is unique in that unlike conventional tipping dump trailers, the PD20 is offloaded using a hydraulically operated moving floor type headboard that cleanly and efficiently clears the load from the body of the trailer once the tailgate has been raised. The PD20 has a heaped load volume of 14.5m3, giving it a carrying capacity of around 20 tonnes, depending on material, with a load height of just 2.39 metres.

This has the considerable benefit that the trailer can be safely used and offloaded on slopes or uneven ground where there would be a risk of a

conventional trailer tipping over. In addition, the PD20 can be used in situations where there are height restrictions, such as low buildings, or near power cables. Operating throughout the UK, Calls Ltd offer tractor and equipment hire into the agricultural, construction and civil engineering sectors, and within their hire fleet they have 30 Hi-Spec vacuum tankers, mainly used for dust suppression. It was on a visit to Hi-Spec Engineering’s factory in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow in Ireland that Andrew was first shown the PD20 and asked for his opinion.

“There is nothing else like the PD20 on the market. The biggest aspect of the PD20 is that it is so simple and incredibly safe,” says Andrew. “The benefits are considerable. Most importantly it avoids the risk of the trailer tipping over, and so on site avoids the requirement to have an exclusion zone you would normally need to have in place around a trailer when raised. Secondly, because the driver

does not have to wait for the trailer to lower before moving off, turn-around time is reduced, making it more cost efficient. And thirdly when offloading the trailer, if necessary it is very easy to spread the load out gradually, making it far easier and quicker to subsequently level or, for instance when back filling around pipes, to just metre out what you need, so saving time.

“It was really by accident that I got involved and was really impressed with the concept and design of the prototype trailer that they showed me. I was more

than happy to help and provide suggestions to the Hi-Spec development team to make the trailer even better suited to the kind of work it would be doing.”

Features that Andrew suggested and that have been included in the final design include having sloping edges on the top of the trailer body, so material falls off easily and does not collect to subsequently fall off later when moving. Other suggestions included having flexible mounts for the running lights to avoid them being damaged and having bolt-on mudguards so these can be

easily changed if damaged. He also provided advise on the reflective chevron markings required on the rear of the trailer to ensure that the PD20 meets Chapter 8 regulations for highway use.

“The key aspect for me of the PD20 is its efficiency. Yes, it’s more expensive than a conventional dump trailer, but that is more than justified by the safety aspects, quicker turnaround time and greater productivity, especially on longer hauls, the fact you don’t need to set-up an exclusion zone around it, again saving time, plus its versatility and ability to work in

confined or restricted zones. It is just so simple and yet so incredibly safe.”

The Hi-Spec PD20 PushOff Dump Trailer is unloaded using a unique moving floor type headboard. This avoids any risk of the trailer tipping over, resulting in a faster turnaround between loads and also enables loads to be spread out gradually.

Load height for the PD20 is just 2.39m, making it easy to see into and over the body from the tractor seat. The nominal heaped load capacity is about 20 tonnes, depending on mate

Logic Trailers and the introduction of the Michelin ‘Tweel’

Logic ATV & UTV Trailers were the first products to become the ‘Trademark’ of the company. The design continues to stand the test of time using innovative manufacturing techniques which embody a unique balance of strength with minimum unladen weight.

Trailers, especially our ATV trailers, are highly useful for a variety of tasks. Whether for agricultural, equestrian, forestry, or groundcare purposes, trailers from Logic Manufacturing offer robust and versatile solutions. These trailers are designed with features such as all-welded monocoque construction, galvanisation for long-term protection, and swivel hitches for safety compliance.

The range of Logic ATV & UTV Trailers includes off-road, roadlegal, tipping, and drop-side trailers, catering to different needs.

Our long-standing experience (since 1970) and British-built, high-quality products make Logic trailers a reliable choice for various applications.

Logic have just showcased an industry first at this year’s Royal Highland Show with the Michelin ‘Tweel’, an interesting concept of a polymer spoked assembly and a bonded tyre that has no requirement for air… No air, No punctures and No downtime.

Visit our website for more details www.logictoday.co.uk

Nugent – A trailer for every application

Nugent is the largest trailer manufacturer, up to 3,500kg gross weight in Ireland. Starting from humble beginnings in 1985, Nugent design and manufacture all trailers in County Tyrone.

Best known for trailers, Nugent’s extensive range includes Livestock, Commercial, Small Domestic and recently launched Box trailers. Nugent’s patented Dual Drive™ suspension is standard across the trailer range, enhancing the towing experience by reducing vibrations and minimising stress on the chassis and towing vehicle, bringing trailer suspension to new levels.

Nugent Livestock trailers are built to last and manufactured to a high specification, recently relaunched with numerous new features as standard. Features include additional folded sides

for extra strength, surrounded LED rear lights and modernised front markers to enhance visibility and safety. The new model comes standard with a fully open inspection door for ease of use and accessibility. The revamp is finished with an updated slam shut multipositioned dividing gate with multiple hold locations. The Livestock range is available in 8 – 14ft, both cattle and sheep trailers options.

Nugent’s extensive Commercial trailer range has been engineered to meet the demands of professional use. The comprehensive range of trailers can be used in a variety of industries where flexibility and reliability are key.

Small in size, big in capacity – Nugent have a range of small domestic trailers including the Nugent General Purpose,

General Flatbed, Utility and Quad. These trailers are easily towed, manoeuvred and adaptable for multi-purpose use.

The new Nugent Box trailer is designed using 25mm anodised aluminium planking sides and a bespoke aerodynamic

GRP nose and roof, offering lightweight strength and style for your business. With an 11˚ loading angle, it’s also ideal for equipment with low ground clearance. The Box trailer range is available in 8 – 12ft, single and twin axle models.

Nugent also manufacture a range of cattle handling and agricultural machinery.

For further information visit www.nugentengineering.com or email info@ nugentengineering.com.

Applications for life-changing Scholarship closing soon!

Applications for 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships will close on the 31st July 2025

A Nuffield Farming Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity which allows Scholars to travel internationally studying a topic of their choice while developing their leadership skills and creating positive change in agriculture.

“My Nuffield Scholarship journey has been incredible,” says Somerset dairy farmer and 2024 Scholar Sophie Gregory. “Visiting farms around the world and meeting passionate people has completely shifted my perspective. It’s made me even more committed to our sector and proud to be part of this industry.

International travel to learn from experts around the world is a core part of a Nuffield Scholarship: “I’m only partway through my Nuffield experience but already feel I have gained so much through meeting inspirational people and going to some incredible places,” says 2025 Scholar Mollie Gupta, who

is researching British seaweed farming and based in Surrey.

“Mustering cattle across 40 thousand hectares in a helicopter, getting a free bespoke distillery tour, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, milking 750 goats on a rotary, being national news in more than one country, and experiencing rural Brazil’s best medical centre, a Nuffield Scholarship really does offer it all!” adds Scottish knowledge exchange manager and podcaster Wallace Currie NSch 2024.

However, for many Scholars, travel also creates the opportunity for personal growth: “I was supposed to be in Vietnam learning about farming around the Mekong delta,” says 2024 Scholar and Cambridgeshire arable farmer Jamie Stokes.

“I ended up in Thailand teaching ‘food production techniques for limited space’ to an elephant sanctuary. Nuffield will give you the platform to become a technical specialist, life

will give you the opportunities to do something memorable with it.”

As part of their Scholarship, Scholars also attend the global Contemporary Scholars Conference with other Nuffield Scholars from across the world.

“The global conference in New Zealand was mindblowing,” says first generation beef farmer Alex Crawley NSch 2025 of Gloucestershire. “Being amongst 100 scholars from around the world looking for solutions to some serious global problems was intoxicating. Similar problems, different context, different scales, different experiences but same attitude – we WILL find a way to solve this.”

Scholarships are open to those aged 25 to 45 years who are working within the farming, food, horticulture, rural and

associated industries or are in a position to influence these industries in the UK. While there is no requirement for academic qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a passion for their topic and sector, as well as the ability to create change. All Scholarships are funded thanks to support for the Nuffield Farming’s generous sponsors.

“’The busiest people make the best scholars’ – if I hadn’t heard that before applying, I don’t think I would have taken the leap,” says 2025 Scholar and farm vet Laura Eden. “I’ve already made so many inspirational contacts across the world who share my passion. I’m getting comfortable with being out of my comfort zone!”

“If you’re thinking about applying, just go for it—you won’t regret it!” concludes Sophie Gregory.

Sophie Gregory, Nuffield Scholarship 2024 in Tasmania

Mollie Gupta, Nuffield Scholarship 2025 in New Zealand

Prospective applicants can find out more about the application process and start their application by visiting https://www. nuffieldscholar.org/scholarships/how-apply. Support from the Nuffield Farming Team, including regular virtual application drop-in sessions, will also be available throughout the application process.

crofting

By Donna Smith

June saw the new Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill published. This Bill has been many years in the making, originally discussed back in 2017 as a quick fix to address known issues with the existing legislation but various things have delayed it along the way.

SCF has worked hard with the Scottish Government, including meeting with Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture, to ensure the views of our members and the wider crofting community were considered in the earlier stages of the Bill. The Scottish Government consultation over summer 2024 contained some proposals that generated quite a bit of concern and it is a great relief that these have been dropped, in particular the issue of removing all scrutiny of croft assignations.

On face value, the Bill contains various changes which strengthen the ability of the Commission to manage breach of duties and decroftings, as well as steps to stop grazings shares

being accidentally separated from the croft during conveyancing.

Over the coming weeks and months SCF will be examining the detail of the Bill and continuing to work with Scottish Government to ensure the best interests of active crofters are held in mind.

We are also continuing discussions with the Scottish Government about the impact of the introduction of the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) and beef calving interval condition on crofters. This year’s SAF applications will reveal the first figures regarding how many people managed to comply with the WFP requirements and indeed, if we see a reduction in the number of BPS claimants due to the extra burdens.

SCF will continue to pressure for a proportionate, workable approach for crofters and if you have been impacted by the beef calving interval this year, we would love to hear from you, particularly about the circumstances which created the problem.

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Alex Crawley, Nuffield Scholarship 2025 in New Zealand

Jamie Stokes, Nuffield Scholarship 2024 in Thailand

NORTHERN ISLES News

NATURESCOT is working on a new approach to licences for shooting ravens in Orkney

The Tankerness farmer has been at the forefront of efforts this year to have more done to tackle the problem of juvenile ravens attacking livestock.

After a recent discussion, Mr Paterson said it was “all very positive”, but added that the possibility of putting ravens on an area licence to allow for shooting them in Orkney might be “more empty promises.”

The problem reared its head at the end of March, as brutal attacks from ravens saw newborn lambs and pregnant sheep being “torn to shreds.”

In April, following calls from Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur, NatureScot announced that it would launch a survey to understand the scale of the raven problem.

Mr Paterson says that he has lost thousands of pounds in income from raven attacks this year alone, and tens of thousands over the past four years.

“We’ve got mega issues with ravens here. They’ve cost us an absolute fortune this year again, as they have done over previous years,” he said after the meeting on Friday.

One of those present at the meeting, Orkney Islands councillor David Dawson, told The Orcadian that it was quite positive.

“I do think NatureScot did engage well the other day. They did listen, and I think they took on board what was said.”

Councillor Dawson wasn’t sure that NatureScot could put in place a licence for shooting ravens across Orkney, but he did think they will take a pragmatic view and be “more sympathetic” to issuing a greater number of licences.

He added: “The farmers know full well, and NatureScot knows full well, that its feet will be held to the fire on this one. Things must happen.”

Councillor Dawson was critical of the RSPB which, he said, was invited to the meeting but did not respond or turn up for it.

He believes this “shows a lack of willingness to engage” on the part of the bird protection charity.

“They seem to want to call the shots and when there’s a challenge like that, they bury their heads

in the sand,” the Kirkwall East elected member added.

The Orcadian put Councillor Dawson’s points to the RSPB, and a spokesman for the charity responded: “We know that ravens can cause serious agricultural damage to livestock at certain times of year, and that this can result in emotional distress to those affected.

“While we are not responsible for licensing of lethal control, we have never objected to the use of specific licences to deal with ravens, when substantiated, and would support NatureScot’s proposals to fund a local population survey.”

Robbie Kernahan, one of the directors of NatureScot, said that the Friday meeting — which saw

a dead lamb placed on the table in front of him and his colleagues — was “constructive.”

He added: “Predation is a nationwide problem and the issues of ravens present across the county but, certainly, today hearing first hand some of the issues that local farmers are suffering from ravens, suggests that, actually, we do need to bring a bit of time and energy to thinking about how best to deal with the issue in Orkney.”

Ravens — a species of corvid — are protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, and licences to shoot them can only be issued by NatureScot as a last resort.

Mr Kernahan said the current system was “working okay but could work better,” adding that the

Farmers meeting re ravens

meeting had given him some food for thought over how licensing could be made more flexible.

One of the calls from farmers was to have a general licence for the shooting of ravens in Orkney, but the NatureScot director explained how this could only be applied nationally.

He added: “I think we can probably design something which provides a similar

approach but it’s tailored specifically for Orkney.”

Farmers were told that NatureScot would hope to have a new system in place by the “back end” of the year.

Giving his message to Orkney’s agricultural community, Mr Kernahan said: “We need to work closely together.

“We’re in this together and we all want to see a nature-rich future,

and we want to see a positive future for agriculture in Orkney. “Lets work together to make that happen.”

On Monday, a NatureScot spokeswoman added: “We agreed to progress data and information gathering to better understand the impact of juvenile raven populations on Orkney, and to develop a licensing approach for the area that better balances

effective management of ravens causing damage with essential species conservation.

“We will meet with stakeholders again in August to discuss progress, with similar discussions to take place on Shetland.

“Not everyone affected by these issues was able to attend the meetings and we will continue to engage with the relevant views and experiences of local people.”

Wild flowers on Shetland

Wild flowers have been making an early appearance this year, providing a possible indicator of climate change.

Among the flowers growing earlier than expected are bob cotton, which was spotted during a nature walk at Hams of Muckle Roe.

The ethereal flower, typically seen growing from peat bogs, was spotted during the walk led by SAC ecologist Martin Nicolson.

The walk aimed to examine good examples of coastal heath, and low stocking densities in the area meant many of the plants on the ecologist’s list proved easy enough to find.

Among them was a groundhugging creeping willow.

But the walkers were surprised by some of their other findings.

“The bob cotton is out now, and that would normally be the end of July,” said SAC’s Osla Jamwal-Fraser, who was taking part in the nature walk.

“Orchids – we found orchids when we were out on the walk, that’s really early for orchids.

“It was an interesting event just to think about what climate change is going to mean for us.”

Other plants, meanwhile, were less prevalent than they may normally have been.

“Bird’s foot trefoil is not maybe having a great year,” added Mrs Jamwal-Fraser.

“The seapinks aren’t as amazing as they have been in other years.”

She added recent dry weather was the likely cause, although the lily-like plant squill was relatively unaffected.

“That is probably because squill is a bulb, and it actually produces all of the cells it needs over winter for the following year. So what we’re seeing with squill is the expression of the previous year’s weather.”

Also taking part in the walk was Joana Ferreira, a PhD student who was up looking for crofters’ opinions and ideas on halting the decline in invertebrates

She was keen to find ways for crofters and farmers to encourage earthworms, spiders, insects, beetles and, of course, pollinators.

Cotton flower

Butterfly charity pilot aims to help farmers profit from helping wildlife

A new ambassador for the UK’s national butterfly charity is on a mission to help farmers in Scotland make money from helping wildlife.

Apithanny Bourne is inviting land owners and managers in the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway to take part in a study to see if they could benefit from ‘green finance’ schemes.

She has been appointed by Butterfly Conservation which received £727,000 funding from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal to deliver the six-year pilot with Scottish Borders Council. The pilot is part of the Borderlands Natural Capital Scotland Programme.

Apithanny, who grew up in the Borders, said: “This project has come at a perfect time: there is a growing recognition of the carbon storage and biodiversity value of grassland habitat, which could create new opportunities to help both farmers and wildlife.

“It’s a privilege to work collaboratively with farmers to protect nature. I absolutely love walking around a Borders farm and hearing all about its history and wildlife.”

One of the most popular green finance initiatives in Scotland currently is afforestation, where landowners can receive grants and ‘carbon credits’ for planting non-native trees.

However, many plantations are threatening a valuable and vanishing wildlife habitatspecies-rich grassland.

This meadowland provides a home to a huge range of species, including the threatened Northern Brown Argus - a beautiful butterfly whose UK distribution plummeted 56% from 1990 to 2018 largely because of habitat loss.

Apithanny’s aim is to save the Northern Brown Argus by making grassland as valuable to farmers as trees.

One way could be to show that grassland is a valuable store of carbon, like trees – and science is providing more evidence for this every year. Another method would be to tap into the growing market of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), where organisations such as housing developers pay landowners to create or improve wildlife habitat to offset the environmental impact of a development.

Butterfly Conservation is also hoping to help farmers make more money directly from their products by awarding endorsements such as ‘butterfly-friendly beef’.

One of the farmers she is already working with is Matt Griffin, farm manager at Benson Wemyss Farms near Peebles. Matt is passionate about soil health and has already been trialling mob grazing techniques using NoFence cattle collars. He has several Northern Brown Argus colonies on his land, so Apithanny hopes to continue working with Matt to manage the species-rich grasslands for butterflies and his pasture-fed beef.

Apithanny is perfectly placed to lead the study: she previously worked as an ecologist for NatureScot mapping species-rich grassland, and is writing up her PhD on species-rich grasslands of the Scottish Borders.

She has also been a Butterfly Conservation volunteer for 10 years - six of those as chairman of the East Scotland branch helping look after local species including the Northern Brown Argus.

She said: “We’re calling on farmers and landowners across the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway to join in our pilot. We want to help make farming profitable and sustainable just like it was for hundreds of years, in harmony with the natural world – so come and tell us about your grasslands.”

Apithanny will start her work in the coming months by launching trials of experimental techniques to convert scrubby hillsides into flower-rich grassland using machinery, grazing and volunteer groups.

She’s also planning to use high-tech gear including remotecontrolled robotic mowers and drones to do habitat surveys.

She will keep detailed accounts of the cost and effectiveness of the different techniques, and Butterfly Conservation will submit its findings to the Scottish government in the hope it could influence future funding farmers receive for helping the environment.

Figures released by Butterfly Conservation in April revealed

that 2024 was the fifth-worst year on record for butterfly abundance across the UK, with more than half of species in decline for the first time.

Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Conservation for Scotland, Dr Tom Prescott, said: “This project is all about restoring the flower-rich habitats that we are losing at an alarming rate. The best way to manage this habitat just so happens to be by grazing, so we’re working with farmers by making their businesses more financially viable and helping the environment at the same time. Win-win.”

To find out more about the scheme email abourne@ butterfly-conservation.org

Apithanny Bourne, right, with farmer Matt Griffin. Photo: Kieran Playfair.

Rock-rose meadow. Photo: Tom Prescott.

Northern Brown Argus in Scotland. Photo: Iain Cowe.

Rock-rose. Photo Daniel Ballmer.

A Family Affair and Wartime Challenges

Just after the First World War, a Yorkshireman, Mr. John Peel — sharing his name with the famous huntsman from Caldbeck, Cumbria — purchased a small building in Low Lane, Horsforth, Leeds. With only a few staff, he began manufacturing flat lasted work boots under the brand name Jumbo Boots.

In later years, his son Jack Peel joined the business as a sales representative. Trading in very difficult post-war conditions, with scarce materials and little money, the business began to grow. However, when the Second World War broke out in 1939, the government took over the factory. After the war ended in 1945, Mr. Peel was unable to continue. Another old-school Yorkshireman, Mr. A.L. White, remortgaged his house, took over the business, and kept Jack Peel on as sales representative.

Growth Through Grit and Innovation

Over the years, the business grew steadily despite tough trading conditions and tight budgets. As the government encouraged farming to feed the nation, Mr. White began

producing a few half-sprung Shepherd Boots and Hill Shoes. With the country recovering and better-quality materials becoming available—like kip, horsehide, beaver, and zug leather from Martins Tannery in Bridge of Weir and J.T. Scott of Carlisle—the factory expanded and hired more staff.

A Family-Run Enterprise Expands

Mr. White had two daughters, Mollie and Marjorie. His sonin-law, Mr. Wilson, who lived in Horsforth, joined the business, followed later by Marjorie, who managed the accounts. In the 1960s, another son-in-law, Mr. Pitcher, who married Mollie and lived in Torbay, joined as sales representative for the South West and Wales, while Jack Peel continued to cover the rest of the UK.

A Game-Changing Meeting in Cumbria

In the early 1960s, Jack Peel retired and Mr. Ken Storey, founder and owner of K&T Footwear, was employed as the new sales representative. Based in Northamptonshire, Ken was staying overnight at the Pennine Hotel in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, when

Leadership Changes and Difficult Decisions

The factory ran on overtime to meet demand. But change loomed again: in the early 1970s, Mr. White passed away, and Mr. Wilson became Managing Director. Production of the flat lasted Jumbo Boots was moved to a small manufacturer in Northamptonshire exclusively for A L White, while Shepherds Boot production stayed in Yorkshire.

he met Mr. Stan Davies, the owner of an agricultural supply business. Over a drink, Stan asked for a fully sprung, 10-eyelet Shepherds Boot with a commando sole and a further boot with hobnails, toe plate, and heel plate.

The Birth of the Cumbrian Fell Boot

When Ken returned to the office and proposed the idea, Mr. White was sceptical due to the costs of creating new patterns and lasts. But Ken persisted, and Mr. White eventually agreed to make a sample of the X10R and X10D. Ken took the boots to Scotland— and returned with a full order book.

That moment marked the true birth of the Shepherds Boots, now known as the Cumbrian Fell Boot.

Tragedy and Transition

As time passed, older staff retired and new recruitment proved difficult. Tragedy struck when Mr. Wilson’s wife, Marjorie, was killed in a car accident over Ilkley Moor. Facing personal loss and staffing challenges in the North, Mr. Wilson decided to sell the business.

The Legacy Continues

Today, Shepherds Boots are manufactured by a small, skilled boot factory in the Midlands, with Ken still serving as the primary sales representative continues the legacy he helped shape decades ago.

For more information about Shepherds Boots or to enquire about purchasing, contact Ken on 0771 503 5131.

X10R LACE TO TOE SHEPHERDS FELL BOOTS £248.95

Moy Country Fair Preview

The Game Birds of Nepal

Working for Waders

By Patrick Laurie, SACS

Deer To Me

By Hugh Webster,

SCOTLAND:

The Big Picture

The Value of Guns

By Simon Reinhold, Holts Auctioneers

Deer Management

Achievements to be proud of

Habitat & Species Protection

GWCT Auction success August 2025 Scotland's

Scottish Country Life with Jake Swindells

Gun dogs with Stuart Dunn

The Ghillie with Bob Whyte

Cooking with Game

Wendy Barrie’s Pike Terrine plus Country Store

Scottish Gamekeepers Association Gamekeepers Welfare Trust

Water of life

My headline has no bearing on Uisge Beatha (The water of life - whisky), but fresh water is a subject of great concern for all of

Without water, nothing grows, habitats die off and animals suffer, as do we humans too, that much is obvious.

The planet is warming up at an alarming rate, and with recent

to over 50c within the next

– this is scary

Water is a lifeline for all living things and needs

Our reservoir levels are low before the summer heat arrives, and our pipelines are too old and badly maintained.

In Scotland at least, the water is in public hands, and not shareholders.

It sickens me to hear about water companies in the rest of the UK losing £Billions, posting losses, and then paying massive dividends to their self-serving greedy shareholders – instead of investing in better infrastructure.

Water leakage is a massive problem, and not something that should be rewarded by paying out huge bonuses – This is Corporate Theft pure and simple.

Slàinte, Athole.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture welcomes new CEO

Rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture (SBP), has welcomed a new CEO, as Lisa Chilton joins to head up the 20-strong team working to make rewilding happen across Scotland, in response to the growing climate and biodiversity crises.

With 30 years’ hands-on and leadership experience in ecology, conservation, stakeholder engagement and organisational development, Lisa’s career spans senior roles in charities, government advisory bodies and academia. She brings expertise in marine conservation, environmental policy, public engagement and strategic fundraising.

‘I’m thrilled to be taking on this role at SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, an organisation I’ve long admired for its direct approach to nature recovery and high impact storytelling,’ she explains. ‘Rewilding is one of the most important developments in the environmental sector in recent decades, and I’m particularly inspired by SBP’s collaborative approach to making rewilding happen across Scotland, through partnerships such as the Northwoods Rewilding Network and Loch Abar Mòr.’

As Chief Executive at the National Biodiversity Network Trust, Lisa spent the last four years immersed in the world of biodiversity information and technology, making wildlife data more accessible to support nature’s recovery. ‘It’s been a fascinating journey, and one I intend to continue at SBP, as I champion the value of shared data and citizen science within the rewilding community. It’s a real honour to have been chosen to lead this charity at such a critical time for nature and the climate, and I can’t wait to get started.’

‘We’re delighted to welcome Lisa to SCOTLAND: The Big Picture,’ adds Hayley Gray, SBP’s Head of Operations. ‘With

her experience of leading multisector stakeholder processes, shaping national strategies and advocating for nature at both grassroots and governmental levels, she brings an invaluable blend of scientific rigour and strategic vision. Her passion for biodiversity and thoughtful, collaborative approach make her the ideal candidate to lead SBP through its next phase of impact and influence, and we’re excited to have her on board.’

Lisa takes up the baton from the charity’s founding Executive Director, Peter Cairns, who stepped down from his leadership role to focus on some of SBP’s established and developing rewilding partnerships.

‘Pete’s vision, passion and drive were central to the creation of SBP, and he has played a pivotal role in elevating rewilding from a fringe concept to a widely embraced movement across Scotland and beyond,’ continues Hayley. ‘We’re delighted that Pete continues to work with us as an advisor and consultant, with a specific focus on further growth and development of Loch Abar Mòr, our landscape-scale nature restoration partnership in the West Highlands.’

GWCT winds down Auchnerran

tenancy after a decade of conservation success

After ten years of conservation success the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has taken the difficult decision not to renew its lease on Auchnerran Farm in Scotland when it expires later this year.

GWCT took on the lease at Auchnerran Farm, in

Aberdeenshire, in 2014 with the principal aim of demonstrating that a productive hill-edge farm could successfully coexist with a thriving population of breeding waders.

Our goal was to transform a formerly neglected yet biodiverse landscape into a

profitable and sustainable farming operation. Over the last decade this vision has been realised. The farm now supports 1,850 breeding Blackface ewes, alongside a wide range of waders, other ground-nesting birds and wildlife, as well as a small-scale shoot, proving that

Lisa Chilton

productivity and biodiversity can work hand in hand.

However, with continuing uncertainty around future agricultural subsidies in Scotland and a growing need to broaden our research to encompass a wider range of farming systems beyond hill-edge sheep farming, we have taken the decision not to extend the lease beyond 2025.

We are confident that, through our work at Auchnerran, we have been able to show that you can change farming practices over time to increase productivity and sustain a profitmaking farming business, while also keeping measures in place that benefit wildlife and support biodiversity. A productive farm where wildlife has a central place is the legacy we are proud to hand over to our successors.

Oystercatcher, curlew, lapwing and skylark are some of the species that have continued to thrive through the agricultural changes that have taken place at Auchnerran through the past ten years.

Barbet allocated to gundog sub-group

The Kennel Club Board has approved the decision to include the Barbet in the Spaniel subgroup, meaning the breed can compete in Any Variety Spaniel [Excluding Spaniel (Cocker)] field trials and gundog working tests.

This decision was taken following an assessment at the Packington Estate, near Coventry in September 2024, during which dogs from the breed proved their ability to use the wind to hunt and quarter naturally, retrieve dummies, and act responsively to commands given by voice or whistle.

The assessors were of the view that the most suitable sub-group was the Spaniel sub-group as neither the Hunt, Point, Retrieve (HPR) or Retriever groups were considered appropriate. The breed has been allocated to this subgroup for a three-year period after which the position will be reviewed.

The Barbet is a French retriever and water dog whose

origins can be traced back to at least the 1700s. Intelligent and loyal, traditionally the Barbet was used to flush and retrieve waterfowl in the marshes and lakes of France, and it is thought that the breed was used in the development of other breeds like the Poodle and the Curly Coated Retriever.

The Kennel Club Board noted that in previous years two other import breeds - the Lagotto Romagnolo and the Spanish Water Dog - had been added to the Spaniel sub-group and it was agreed that the Barbet would be a competitive addition when entering Any Variety Spaniel except for Spaniel [Cocker] and Spaniel [English Springer] trials, also referred to as the ‘Minor Breeds Spaniel’ field trials.

The classification will take place with immediate effect and Barbets will be eligible to compete in working tests and field trials in the 2025/26 season.

Further information about the allocation of the Barbet can be obtained by emailing gundogs@thekennelclub.org.uk.

Catch and release record- but worries for wild Salmon

A total of 46,978 Salmon were caught by rod in Scotland in 2024, according to new fisheries stats published in May by Scottish Government Marine officials.

While increased catches in some rivers compared to 2023 papered over cracks, the total rod catch was still the 8th lowest since records began in 1952.

To add context, the 2010 rod catch was 111,405; demonstrating a general pattern of decline.

Highlighting the responsibility being taken for the species, by anglers and ghillies, a new record was set for catch and release.

A total of 99% of all Spring fish were returned to the rivers while 98% of all fish were put back, overall.

Would

you like to learn more about practical gamekeeping?

The GWCT’s Part-Time Gamekeepers Course has been running in one form or another for over 40 years, and has adapted in that time to ensure that the most current thinking regarding best practice game and shoot management is always at the forefront; helping keepers across the country improve their practices and get the best out of their birds and the shoot they work on.

Who are the courses open to?

Although called our parttime gamekeepers course, professionals have also come on and benefitted from this course previously and it’s open to all. Whether you’re a part-time keeper, single handed keeper, shoot captain, keen syndicate member or enthusiast wanting to learn more, this course will help you to improve your knowledge,

your shoot and help you get the most out of it.

Testimonial from previous course attendee:

“I greatly enjoyed the Parttime keepers course and I learnt a number of useful things. The advice was excellent, clear to understand and applicable to many shoots.”

What is involved in the training?

The course covers gamebird releasing, woodland management, cover crop placement and establishment, predation management, wildlife conservation and shoot economics. You’ll also benefit from having an experienced GWCT advisor on hand to help with any questions specific to your shoot and you’ll spend the day with like-minded people who share your passion.

Sounds great! How do I take part?

Booking is essential as places are limited. The £160+VAT fee covers the course, refreshments, and lunch.

For more information contact lherring@gwct.org.uk.

Deer Management Groups can be proud of what they continue to achieve

Tom Turnbull, Chair, Association of Deer Management Groups

ADMG has been working hard on behalf of its members to ensure that their voices and concerns are heard as the Natural Environment Bill is discussed by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee and as it progresses through the Parliamentary process. I gave evidence to the Committee on 30 April having previously participated earlier in the year

as part of a Committee panel discussion, and we continue to liaise with the Committee and MSPs in respect of the Bill. As I have written before we do have some significant concerns around the Bill and in particular the use of restoration and enhancement as triggers for intervention by NatureScot. We have requested that NatureScot provides case

studies, showing how this new trigger might be implemented as well as various scenarios as to how it applies in differing landscapes. It would be easy to have fears about the future, but I am inclined to consider instead some of the positives that we have seen develop over the last few years in deer management. I believe we are already delivering

much of what is being asked of us by Scottish Government. Considerable woodland creation is being undertaken and peatland restoration continues to be carried out all over the Highlands, we are collaborating, delivering culls and monitoring habitat.

Deer Management Groups are working hard to ensure that their members work together to deliver

deer management

sustainable deer management with deer welfare to the fore. Despite a more diverse set of land management objectives DMGs are finding ways to continue to discuss deer management. The Common Ground Forum has continued to grow and has helped difficult discussions, but perhaps most importantly it has helped bring deer managers together. The three stalkers’ events at Glen Quoich, Fealar and Glenfalloch have been particularly helpful, allowing the upland stalkers’ voices to be heard by MSPs and Civil Servants. The CGF Stalkers committee should be commended for all its hard work on these events. I would also like to encourage all DMGs to sign the Common Ground Accord and urge

them to contact Helen MacIntyre who writes an article in this publication and is the new DMG Support Rep for ADMG.

We have held two meetings for DMG Chairs in the last year to discuss the challenges of enabling collaborative deer management and to provide ADMG with feedback on how we can better represent and support our members. We continue to support Scottish Venison which is gaining cross sector support from producers and some processors and continues to raise awareness for venison and represent the venison sector with some significant steps forward.

We have heard from members that they would like

to see us more on the front foot when it comes to messaging, and with this in mind ADMG will be expanding its social media presence to Instagram and LinkedIn. We hope that this will enable us to get some more positive messaging across to our members on the work that we undertake for them and also to a wider audience to promote and educate about the work that deer managers undertake in the public interest. There is so much positive work that is undertaken by DMGs and deer managers that goes unnoticed and we will be engaging with all our member Groups for their positive news and images which we can then promote far and wide.

Despite the discussions and debates that continue at Holyrood around the Natural Environment Bill, it remains absolutely clear to me that we are a forward-thinking sector that has pioneered collaborative land management. We are delivering on targets for Scottish Government whilst not losing sight of the importance of the people and heritage within our deer management community. As a sector, deer managers and in particular Deer Management Groups can be very proud of what they continue to achieve.

This article was first published in the ADMG Newsletter SCOPE Summer 2025

Pipe Up for Pipar’s Nepali Gamebirds

We shoot gamebirds for sport, for the table and with a camera. But how often do we ask ourselves where these ring neck pheasants running around the fields, scrub and woodlands of the British Isles actually originated?

In simple terms the Caucuses, around 1AD and later introductions from China of the ring necked pheasant which then hybridised with initial stock. Added to the melee was the introduction of the Japanese Green and subsequent subspecies (mainly from China). But what are these other game birds in these photos?

Across the globe there are 52 pheasant species (with their various subspecies, as with our game pheasants just referred to) within the family of Galliformes (gamebirds), which extends to include the grouse, francolin, partridge, quail, cracids from South America, megapodes from Australasia and guineafowl from Africa - The World Pheasant Association is working to protect them all. For now this article starts with 5 of the 6 Himalayan Pheasants of Nepal found at Pipar in Northern Central Nepal.

There is a big difference though between Nepal’s pheasants and ours in UK. Ours are hybrid and the Nepali pheasants are pure bred. This means they are important carriers of their gene pool. As mankind continues to breed from the Galliformes (gamebirds) which includes the red junglefowl, (from which all our domestic chickens originate), Guineafowl, Turkeys or Quail for desirable characteristics like an enhanced turkey breast for the table, or egg laying capabilities, we loose other important characteristics.

Such characteristics as the birds ability to be broody and sit on eggs, rear chicks and importantly a resilience to disease.

So protecting your original gene pool so you have the capacity to breed back and start again is vital in a world where Newcastle’s disease or various strains of Bird flu can wipe out whole commercial enterprises.

How are pheasants across the globe protected? Firstly there is a classification of vulnerability by the IUCN red list of the worlds threatened species. 12% of the worlds bird species are threatened

Kalij pheasant

with extinction, and within this group the Galliformes are at 25% threat of extinction. Keeping this up to date with research on pheasant numbers is essential and the World Pheasant Association holds symposia around the world every four years to bring field scientists together. Secondly the recognition that habitat loss is a world wide problem and although most of the planets problems stem from human contact, it is humans that are the stake holders and able to resolve this too.

The World Pheasant Association has worked for 45 years in one of Nepals most incredible and stunning national parks called the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), unique because unlike many Game Reserves with a Core Area and buffer zone keeping local villagers out, the Annapurna Conservation Area, about half the size of Northern Ireland, has villages right at its core.

Hunting within the ACA is forbidden, but still happens. At a local level this could be overlooked as not only are these birds a tasty meal, but like us, hunting is also part of tradition in some villages. Being sensitive to this the World Pheasant Association when it first started working in Nepal, suggested only trapping and shooting out of season, like in the UK. This way during the breeding season the population could double itself. Today though poaching has reached epidemic proportions and old traditional traps are a thing of the past. Now there is wire, nylon and lead lines to draw the birds toward the traps, designed either as a neck noose or to catch a leg. These are set up around springs and water holes on the mountain sides and the ‘wild meat’ sold down in the main city of Pokhara or even as far as Kathmandu. The trappers are from outside areas, they stay up in the remote mountains for several days and take basket loads of game out of the park to outside markets. What is being done about this? Within the ACA the World Pheasant Association has been working on community conservation through nine of the local schools, 30 miles north of Pokhara in the stunning Seti Khola valley, which

extends North to Pipar. Pipar in the centre of ACA is a biodiversity hotspot on the shoulder of the sacred mountain, never climbed, called Machhapucharre (fish tail mountain). The habitat extends up through bamboo, into serious Himalayan pheasants country with Rhododendron forests and ‘alpine’ grasslands. Here are found 5 of the 6 Himalayan pheasants, one of which is the Danfe - ‘the bird of nine colours’.- Nepal’s national bird. This (known as the Monal in UK) and along with the Red Monal (known as the Satyr Tragopan in UK) are protected species, (as is the Cheer pheasant, the 6th one, located west of Pipar on the west of the Kali Ghandaki River).

Originally WPA helped the local schools with benches, building projects, posters, games equipment in return for not hunting the pheasants during the breeding season. Today help is a programme of teaching the teachers, nature books in Nepali and English, involving the community in the anti poaching programme, getting help with clearing snares, working with the camera traps (which the children love seeing!) and ensuring everyone in the community can benefit in the long term from protecting the wildlife.

But how is this success of investment in the community evaluated? Back in 1979 when the World Pheasant Association first heard of Pipar, they arranged for a base line vegetation survey and pheasant count to be implemented. This has been continued by Nepali NGO’s and volunteers every 3 or 4 years for the last 45 years making it possibly one of the longest known continuing conservation studies in South Asia funded by WPA. It involves a team ascending up the shoulder of Machhapuchhre to 12,000 ft and camping up at Pipar. At dawn and dusk, team members are at designated stations to listen for the number of pheasants calling. The direction and time they are calling from is noted to avoid duplication. The best time for recording data is done in late March to early April when the male birds are territorial and calling and the females thinking

of nesting. It also happens to be the easiest time to trap birds.

Recent surveys have shown the increased level of trapping is having a detrimental effect. A large hydro-electric project has resulted in a road up to the base of the ascent to Pipar. To drive from the city of Pokhara now takes an hour and a half - it used to be a 3 day walk into the study area and now it is only too easy to get illegal pheasant meat to market.

WPA has linked up with BIOCOS (Biodiversity Conservation Society Nepal) who have been involved with the pheasant counts over the years and they now run the school training programme in community conservation. In the last two years they, working along side the Annapurna Conservation Area authorities have extended the area surveyed to include the whole mountain range between the Seti Khola and Mardi Khola valleys. The anti poaching programme last year cleared 169 snares and the

photo blew is a lucky young male Satyr Tragopan found in time. A SMART system which is a recording tool for where traps are found, along with water holes and routes followed is utilised. Where traps have previously been found, and removed, can then be revisited and checked.

The poachers are the very people in the old adage ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’ who need to be incentivised to help instead of being the problem. It is a delicate dance of carrot and stick which only the Nepalis, villagers and Nepali NGO’s are best placed to navigate.

How can you support this project? Visit it!

We are running bird tours to the study area and also the Terai in the plains famous for Tiger and Rhino. These are run by local tour operator Namaste Manang at cost so that proceeds can go into the anti poaching programme. We are running 10 day tours either as bespoke (if you have a group of

Monal pheasant

10 people who would like to travel together) or if wanting to join a tour we have one in April 2026 so please contact the WPA office if you would like to join this and connect through our website on www.pheasant.org.uk and you will be sent a booking form. By visiting the study area you encourage the villagers to see that an income can be earned from tourism and protecting the birds and animals. These incredible birds, who are just as important a headline species as the snow leopard, carry on doing what they do best, dispersing seeds, grubbing up soil with their spurs digging for tubers, giving dormant seeds light to germinate, and a leopard their dinner, rather than leopards coming to the outskirts of a village and picking off the villagers sheep. A comment made to us by the local Mayor for one of the Wards of the Seti Khola valley was he wants to see the Tragopan and Monal back in the numbers they had 20 years ago. We very much want to facilitate this.

If you would like to get involved with the World Pheasant Association, either this project or any of the other projects we are involved in please get in touch through our website. www.pheasant.org.uk

Danfe school with WPA tour group in October

Spring trap

Moy Country Fair: Celebrating 45 Years of Field Sports and

Highland Country Life

Set against the scenic beauty of Moy Estate near Inverness, the Moy Country Fair returns on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th August 2025, marking 45 years as one of Scotland’s leading events for lovers of field sports, country pursuits, and outdoor family fun.

Field Sports and Angling Front and Centre

Since its beginnings in 1977, the Fair has become a fixture in the Scottish sporting calendar, offering competitions, demonstrations, exhibitors, and entertainment in a relaxed and welcoming Highland setting. Whether you’re a keen shot, an avid angler, or simply enjoy rural life, Moy has something to offer.

This year’s line-up puts field sports where they belong—at the heart of the Fair. The Junior Macnab Challenge, run by BASC, remains a key attraction. This popular triathlon-style competition invites young participants to test their skills in clay pigeon shooting, flycasting, and air rifle shooting, encouraging confidence and sportsmanship in the next generation.

Adding to the family-friendly atmosphere, Strathallan School sponsors a companion event that encourages grandparents and grandchildren to compete together—an ideal way to pass on country traditions and skills. Clay shooting and .22 rifle target competitions will run across both days, with a mix of open entry contests, expert demonstrations, and coaching

opportunities. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your technique or simply try your hand, there’s a warm welcome for all skill levels.

Gundog displays and competitions are another major draw. The Moray Firth Retrievers will be hosting Gundog Trials, testing obedience and working instincts, while the Black Isle Wildfowlers return with the ever-popular Gundog Scurry—a thrilling mix of speed, control, and teamwork.

Anglers should head for Angling Corner, where local associations will host casting clinics and light-hearted challenges. One of the standout attractions this year is a live demonstration from Andrew Toft, former world champion and internationally respected casting instructor. His insights into technique, form, and

performance will appeal to beginners and seasoned fly fishers alike.

Main Ring Attractions

The Main Ring is always a highlight at Moy, and 2025 promises another packed programme. Elite Falconry returns with a spellbinding aerial display of birds of prey, while the thrilling Savage Skills BMX stunt team keeps adrenaline levels high with their gravitydefying performances.

Other favourites include gundog handling demonstrations, farriery by Sarah Logie, and the lively terrier racing, where competitors range from lightningfast to hilariously distracted. The foxhound parade and performances by the Cheryl Heggie School of Dance bring tradition and community spirit to the fore.

Food, Drink and Quality Retail

Beyond the field, visitors can enjoy a wealth of Scottish food, drink and artisan shopping. The Food Hall is a celebration of local flavour, with everything from Highland cheeses and preserves to small-batch gins, whiskies, and craft beers. Nearby, the Food Theatre—hosted by Bonk & Co.—offers live demonstrations from local chefs. This year, look out for a guest session from Na at AGA, known for her hearty and inventive dishes cooked in traditional AGA ovens.

For those after something more casual, the Highland Food & Drink Trail delivers topnotch street food and live music, bringing a festival atmosphere to the grounds. Expect everything from gourmet burgers and venison wraps to world-inspired dishes, all served up from colourful trucks and trailers.

Shopping at Moy isn’t just for foodies. The expanded Craft Tents feature over 30 artisan makers, offering everything from handmade pottery and jewellery to shepherd’s crooks, pet accessories, and gifts.

Serious shoppers and outdoor enthusiasts will also find highend country clothing, sporting accessories, and equipment from a range of exhibitors. Whether

you’re after a new pair of boots, a top-quality gun slip, or the latest in fly-fishing kit, Moy’s retail offering brings together trusted names from across the UK.

Children’s Activities and Family Fun

Moy has long been a familyfriendly event, and the Children’s Corner offers an inclusive programme of fun. Younger visitors can enjoy live shows from Bubbles the Clown, music sessions with Moo Music Highland, storytelling and circus fun from Trapeze Entertainment, and hands-on activities led by local groups including CALA (Care and Learning Alliance) and Strathdearn Primary School.

Charity and Community

This year’s charity partner is CHAS – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, which provides essential support for children with life-shortening conditions and their families. Their presence at the Fair will help raise both awareness and funds for this vital cause.

In addition, a number of local charities and organisations will be in attendance, showcasing the Fair’s commitment to community and countryside causes. Maggie’s Highlands will once again provide a handy Shopping Crèche— perfect for dropping off purchases before heading back to the ring or food stalls.

Plan Your Visit

With over 160 exhibitors and a jampacked two-day programme, Moy Country Fair is a true celebration of Scottish country life. It’s a chance

to compete, learn, shop, eat, and enjoy the best of the Highlands in one friendly, accessible location.

Early bird tickets are available now for £17 (+£1 booking fee) per adult online, with under 16s free— making it great value for families and field sports enthusiasts alike. Tickets are available online until Thursday 7th August, with gate tickets priced at £20.

Whether you’re there for the gundogs, the fly-casting, the food, or the thrill of the competitions, Moy Country Fair is where country life comes alive.

Working for Waders and the Nest Camera Project

By Patrick Laurie

Patrick Laurie handles conservation policy for SACS, which has been heavily involved in Working for Waders and the Nest Camera Project.

Everybody’s worried about waders nowadays. Away from their strongholds on grouse moors and land managed for shooting, groundnesting birds like curlews and lapwings have suffered dramatic declines across Scotland over the last thirty

years. Lapwing numbers have halved, and curlews are down by more than two thirds since the mid-1990s.

This trend is obvious to anyone in the countryside, but the drivers of decline are much harder to detect. In some

places, waders suffer because management of grassland means that fields are cut earlier and more often throughout the summer, and eggs are often lost to the mowers. Elsewhere, a massive expansion of commercial forest cover has made vast areas of

countryside unsuitable for waders. There’s no single reason for wader decline, but the actual mechanics of failure are often being driven by predation. We can hardly call that “news”, but it’s clear that generalist predators like crows and foxes are causing real trouble when the birds return to their breeding grounds each spring.

Many of us understand the importance of predator control as part of wader conservation, but it can be hard to win arguments about conservation without data and hard evidence to back it up. That’s why Working for Waders has been focussing on gathering that data over the last seven years. With no formal affiliation or party line, Working for Waders represents the shared interests of everybody involved in wader conservation across Scotland. A meeting-point for a diverse range of individuals and organisations (from NFU Scotland to RSPB and Scottish Association for Country Sports), Working for Waders focuses on collaboration. There is a growing consensus that predator control is an important part of wader conservation – but in gathering data about that specific issue, all kinds of other details have sprung up too.

Working for Waders launched the Nest Camera project in 2022, sending out trail cameras to farmers and gamekeepers who wanted to

monitor the nests of five key species – curlews, lapwings, oystercatchers, redshank and golden plover. The project hoped that this might help people with an interest in wader conservation to make a direct contribution to our understanding of the problems these birds face, and to have confidence in the findings. This trial has now been running for four years and Working for Waders and BTO have just published a report on the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Hatching success of waders in the project was relatively high, with an average of 59% of nests in 2022 producing at least one chick, and 85% of nests doing so in 2023. This is great for the waders being studied and probably reflects the hard work on the ground of the participants in those areas. On the flip-side, it’s fair to say that if people are willing to help a wader conservation project, they’re probably doing other things to

All About Deer WWW.MORAYOUTFITTING.CO.UK MORAY OUTFITTING

Deer Management Training specialising in DSC1 & 2 courses at our facilities, Morayshire or Alness

Approved Training Providers for the Cairngorm National Park Authority, we are dedicated to providing a professional, open and friendly service –‘run by stalkers, for stalkers’ Contact John Allan 07833 535060 j.allan121@btinternet.com

WADERS

help waders too. It’s a more realistic picture to imagine that most nests fail and those failures are never even noticed, let alone recorded.

Despite initial concerns that setting cameras at nests would attract predators and thereby increase predation, the Working for Waders project hasn’t seen any evidence to show this. There are even theories that while cameras may increase the risk that certain predators will harm a nest, other predator species might be frightened off by cameras. As much as crows or ravens may be curious about cameras, there is some suggestion that foxes have seen or smelled cameras and actively avoided them.

Of those nests that failed, most were predated. The range of predators recorded was again similar to that reported in research elsewhere (another encouraging finding), with badger, fox, pine marten, hedgehog, raven and sheep all recorded. A surprising finding was the frequency of sheep predation on eggs, with 30% of predated nests across the two years down to sheep. Other studies have suggested this is more often below 1%. It may be that this is more commonly experienced by waders breeding in Scotland (relative to many studies carried out elsewhere), or it may simply reflect the small number of participants in the Nest Camera project to date: five of the seven incidents of sheep predation in the report occurred on just one farm. Hopefully future monitoring will help elucidate this issue, but it’s

certainly important to keep an eye on this without drawing too many short-term conclusions.

It is worth noting that interactions between waders and sheep are usually regarded as negative – and indeed sheep trampling and predation can cause significant problems, but we have to remember that sheep farming systems are also crucial in many cases for providing appropriate habitat for breeding waders. The nuances of sheep management become very important in determining the level of negative impacts they may have on breeding waders (timing of movements, stocking density during nesting periods, etc.).

So, what next for the Nest Camera project? On the back of experience to date with the trial project, Working for Waders will press forward with plans to expand the project. More funding is needed to ensure the project can supply more cameras and provide the appropriate support for participants, as well as continuing the proper analyses of the data so that lessons can be learnt from the findings each year and report to participants and wider audiences. Working for Waders also hopes to reach out to other projects that may also be using trail cameras in the same way, or perhaps encourage like-minded groups to start doing so, all of whom could feed into the central database that BTO maintain to give us a better picture of what breeding waders are experiencing each year over a greater number of sites.

If you have Nest Camera data from this year tucked away somewhere, please share it with us via one of the options available (check out our website: https:// www.workingforwaders.com/nest-cameraproject), and if you would like to get involved next year, please check out our website or get in touch (https://www. workingforwaders.com/contact), we’d love to hear from you to help this impressive project go from strength to strength.

How we can avoid a ‘boorach’

By Kenneth Stephen, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association

Politics can bring about admirable societal change but when it attempts to ‘fix’ a complex land management issue, the consequences can become a guddle, to revert to Scots.

Muirburn is one of those issues.

For months, stakeholders and government have been trying to come to position on a beefed up Muirburn Code that will introduce new sanctions as the spine of a Muirburn licensing approach.

However, all difficulties surrounding whether muirburn legislation was necessary in the first place have resurfaced whilst wildfires have raged on land where no interventions have taken place to reduce combustible surface fuel.

It is as if these fires were a warning to governments on both sides of the border but, when it comes to burning vegetation in a controlled manner, both administrations appear to have fingers permanently in ears.

Yes, there is some sense to the Scottish Government’s thinking: we need peatlands in good conditions because we

have set our Net Zero stall out on peatland restoration and tree planting. If we, therefore, allow people to burn on peatlands, the public will ask questions about whether we are protecting our investment.

There is a logic to this, albeit a highly simplistic take on a subject which requires deeper inquiry, and this has been the crux all along. Too little credence was given to research such as that being conducted by Dr Andreas Heinemeyer. Too few (who knew much less) listened to evidence from the likes of Professor Ian Newton, who told them, succinctly, that cool burning surface vegetation prevented large-scale wildfires that have been damaging our peatlands more.

In the rush to apply a simple political fix, goaded on by NGOs who have always disliked the idea of setting fire to things, parliamentarians have created an even more intractable mess or, to use another Scots word: a boorach.

Sticking plaster policy makers take note. There is a lesson- but only if fingers can be extracted from ears.

www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk

GUNDOGS

Gundog trials and tribulations

By Stuart Dunn Chairperson Caledonian Retriever Club

So, you’ve decided to get yourself a gundog puppy, what next! A raft of decisions quickly follows, the easy bits done, you’ve now got your pup, very quickly you realise this may take up a huge amount of your time, your money, and your lifestyle.

Owing and training a gundog can be exhilarating, exasperating and excruciating all at the same time. From the time its about 8 weeks old the new family addition brings with it a multitude of emotions, from the cutest looking thing you’ve ever seen, to

something that just wants to ignore you and push every boundary to the maximum

So, what does it take to train and compete with a gundog? For many gundog owners, competitions are not something they may wish to be involved in,

and training a biddable, shooting/ picking up working dog is the desired objective.

Whatever the desired criteria is, either one demands a lot of time, patience, and understanding. Dogs like humans come with a vast array of emotions, from introverted

shy natured animals to almost untrainable dogs that will test your resolve to the limit. So, where do we start?

As soon as you can receive your pup, get it use to its surroundings, weather that’s indoors, if it’s a house dog, or in a kennel if it’s an outdoor dog. Socialising is hugely important both with other dogs around the house or with humans. Try to ensure the new dog is comfortable around both and remember if you’re bringing the new pup into an environment where you have existing pets or gundogs, it can take a long time for older dogs to accept the new addition.

As the days, weeks and months go by introduce the dog to as many new situations, and noises as you can, the more it accepts this the quicker you can introduce “training” situations, whether it be sitting and staying, heel and lead work, etc.

Dogs like humans have various capabilities, and its up to the owner/trainer to help bring the capability to the forefront.

Gundogs require many abilities to carry out its “job” effectively whether it’s a picking up dog or a

competition dog. Here are some of the qualities it must possess, it must be biddable and quiet around your feet, it must be able to “mark” game or “dummies” at distances around 100 yards or longer, it must be able to stop/hunt on command, it must collect its quarry and return it to the handler as quick as possible, in an undamaged condition, and it must enter water freely.

Training your dog can start from the time you get it, now, that obviously doesn’t mean giving it 100-yard retrieves, over a fence, but it does include socialising, house training, getting it use to your nature, your demeanour, your voice etc. All of this helps build trust and will help you when more advanced training starts later in its life.

For those of you who want to try competing with your chosen breed, competitions are basically held over 2 types of events. One is trialling which is held on live game, and one is working tests which is held on “dummies” (canvas bags basically), which simulates “live” game. Either one may not suit everybody, but both can provide great sense of achievement if you and your dog are successful at it.

Working tests are currently attracting a great number of competitors with most events held attracting increased numbers. These events are run generally over 4 of 5 exercises, where your day will be tested and judged on its ability to enter water and retrieve to hand, mark its quarry at distance, find its quarry where it doesn’t know where it is, all of which to the uninitiated can seem a bit daunting, but with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of hard work, and some good guidance, your dog can be “trained” to do it.

One thing that’s been noticeable over the last few years is the number of female handlers that are now on the competition circuit, in fact at the most recent working test held, at Craigies Farm, Queensferry by the Caledonian Retriever Club, over half the handlers were female, and it’s not that long ago when female handlers were few and far between. So come on, get involved!, there’s never been a better time to do it.

Competition, as I’ve said previously is not for everyone, but does offer a great hobby for young or old, male or female, and does take place in some fantastic locations all around Scotland and further afield. Recently the Caledonian Retriever Club held its latest working test, but this event was a bit different and was based on a “pairs competition” which included one novice dog, and one open dog as a team. As you can see from some of the pictures, the event was a huge success with the overall “team” of Ally. Kennedy and Mark Noble coming out on top, and receiving some fantastic prises from out sponsors Tuffies, Acme Whistles, Lindors Distillery, Essentials Dogfood, Muntjak Trading.

The event was held by kind permission of George Sinclair and his family. And was run in conjunction with “Farmfest Agricultural Show”, now on its second year.

Thanks also go to David Crabb, and John Penny who judged the event, and Caitlynn Neil Photography for some fantastic photos of the event.

So if you have an inkling that you would possibly like to take up the sport, or simply be involved in some way, there are numerous

clubs in Scotland along with the Caledonian Retriever Club who would be only to happy to help and offer advice, which may just set

you on the road to creating some fantastic memories for you and your dog!! Good luck.

Before the turn of the Millennium gun auctions were a different place. There was no Internet. You could not use Google to search for known problems with particular models of guns. You could not price check the last 10 years’ worth of trading to find out what represented good value; and you could not bid online at the touch of a button. All that has changed. There are still pitfalls to

The changing value of guns in modern times

By Simon Reinhold, Head of Operations for Holts Auctioneers; A specialist

game shooting coach, and a former English Open Side by Side Champion

watch out for, but as the public has grown more confident with their free access to knowledge that was previously only the purview of specialists, the makeup of the sale room changed. Where once it was 80% trade buyers and 20% public, it is now completely the reverse. This has not only given the public a broader choice, but with no retail middleman looking for a percentage markup, auctions

have become the place to buy and sell. As buyers bought with more confidence, prices increased for vendors and yet were still under tag price on the retail rack.

Lately the change in habit of the gun-buying public has been mirrored by radical shifts in game shooting in the UK. There appears to be two streams emerging: one that favours fine vintage guns, some of the best guns ever

made, and one favouring much beefier, more modern stock. If you want to shoot high performance steel cartridges at equally high performing pheasants, then you will undoubtedly need a heavyweight steel proofed over and under of modern manufacture. These are the only guns capable of delivering a lighter weight pellet with the necessary velocity to effect a clean kill on such a heavyweight

Lot 1752 sale code A1123 a Alexander Henry 12-bore 3rd Quality boxlock non-ejector (Est £300-£500)

Lot 1758 sale code A1122 a 12-bore Charles Boswell Boxlock non-ejector. (Est £700 – 900)

Simon Reinhold

bird. For those of you still doubting that steel is effective you should know it is vastly improved compared to the offerings we had 20 years ago and now the better, more knowledgeable shots of my acquaintance have no problem using it.

The other (far more gentle) stream developing is one that has always existed but never got much coverage. There is a growing unease amongst the cognoscenti of shooting about standing ankle deep in empty shells at the end of a drive with an ever increasing headache. Instead they prefer vintage side by sides by good makers with all the refined handling characteristics that only best gun making can give you. From both a buyers and sellers perspective at auction, this development is interesting. Simply put, the British retail trade is not interested in your side by side as the conversation over the counter is about high performance steel most of the time.

Much of the concern regarding vintage side by sides and their

continued use has centred around the higher cost of non-lead cartridges suitable for vintage gun barrels, but this is a false narrative. Like the majority of the shooting public I have little interest in big bag days. If I fire 80 cartridges on a day’s game shooting, I’ve had a busy day. If using Bismuth for my Damascus barrelled hammer guns at £1.50 / shot, my total outlay on ammunition is less than the cost of three pheasants on the cart. It is possible that once the wider shooting public wake up to the financial reality of the costs associated with game shooting, the interest in (and therefore value of) good quality vintage guns may well start to tick up. They are currently at an historic low and represent excellent value for money. This is particularly true of good quality boxlock non-ejectors which can be bought for less than £500 at auction. Using a non ejector is considered by many as a backward step, but ask yourself ‘do you really need an ejector on a shoot day’? For walked up game

shooting in pursuit of wild game the answer is most definitely ‘no’. You can pick your spent shells up off the ground and put them in your pocket or you can pick them directly out of the chamber and put them in your pocket; either way, for litter conscious sportsmen and women, the destination for the empty case is the same.

Those vintage guns were some of the best guns ever made. They were designed and built to last a lifetime and in many cases have lasted three. They were built by gun makers who had no understanding of the concept of a warranty. They did not need one: they were made as well as they could make them by men to whom reputation was everything. In stark contrast we are now in the age of the consumable gun. Modern manufacturers have no interest in the longevity of their guns beyond a stated warranty. They do not want you buying a secondhand gun, they want you to buy another new gun as you trade up in your shooting career. Just as your car

THE VALUE OF GUNS

and your washing machine are designed with a shell-life in mind, so modern mass produced guns have a built in obsolescence.

Therefore that side by side at the back of your gun cabinet that you haven’t picked up since you moved to an over and under may still have some appeal in a new era of game shooting. Over and unders are easier to shoot than side by sides, If you doubt that you can perform a simple test - ask a friend or relative when sitting down at the dinner table to pick up a table knife and point with. I would bet all the money in my pocket on the result. A modern over and under may well be the only tool for the job if high-performance steel is required on your day in the field. But I suggest there might be a different path, one less concerned with the ego boost of a high hen falling from the gods, and more concerned with the quality of the overall experience part of which is using what is at its zenith, functional art: a best quality British side by side.

habitat and species protection

GWCT Scottish Auction – a lifeline for Scottish research

The GWCT Scottish Auction raised more than £110,000 for vital research and conservation work aimed at preserving and enhancing the rural way of life in Scotland.

Held at Edinburgh’s prestigious Prestonfield House on 1 May, the GWCT Scottish Auction is now in its 37th year and support and enthusiasm for it remains high.

A firm favourite in Edinburgh’s social diary, the GWCT Scottish Auction gives shooting, game management and conservation enthusiasts a chance to catch up with friends and make new friends, while raising awareness and funds to support the ongoing research that GWCT is carrying out in Scotland.

With generous support from sponsors Saffery, Pentland Land Rover and Invenergy, as well as McInroy & Wood and Bonhams, guests this year feasted on wonderful roe deer loin generously supplied by Highland Game and washed down with fabulous wines from Inverarity Morton.

The Live Auction lots included golf at Muirfield, shooting in the Lammermuirs and Glenrinnes in Speyside, as well as this year’s auction catalogue cover painting of a black grouse by Clare Brownlow. The Silent Auction featured an extensive range of lots, with everything from fishing, holiday houses, stalking, experiences and getaways, wines and more. There was also a raffle

and a lively game of heads or tails enjoyed by all!

Nick Hesford, Director of GWCT Scotland, said: “I must extend a huge thank you to all the donors who supplied auction lots so generously, and to those who spent so enthusiastically.”

Commenting on how important the event is to the continued work of the Trust, he added: “Over the best part of the last century the GWCT has carried out a lot of invaluable research that clearly demonstrates the benefits of game bird releasing and game bird management to biodiversity, but a lot of this has been focused on East Anglia and the south of England.

“We know that through the Wildlife Management and

Muirburn Act there is a very real prospect that the releasing of gamebirds will become licensed.

“To be ready to inform policy makers when the time comes to introduce licencing, we need more research that reflects our unique Scottish landscapes and our unique ecosystems. In other words we need Scottish data or we’ll be on the back foot.

“GWCT Scotland is already in the process of designing and implementing some of the research that’s most desperately needed to answer these questions.

“That is why events like this matter so much. The funds raised at the Scottish Auction will allow us to continue this vital work.”

BASC welcomes government announcement on sound moderators

Following years of lobbying, BASC has welcomed the Government’s decision to remove the licensing requirement for sound moderators.

Dame Diana Johnson MP, the Home Office Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, this morning made a written ministerial statement to announce the publication of the government response to a Home Office consultation on sound moderators, which took place during the term of the previous government.

The response confirms that the Government has decided to remove sound moderators from firearms licensing controls, although in order to lawfully possess a sound moderator you will still be required to hold a valid firearms certificate.

A sound moderator is a shooting accessory, such as a sling or gun slip, which is fitted to the barrel of a rifle to protect the hearing of the person firing it. Essentially a metal tube containing baffles, they help to reduce noise pollution for anyone else in the area. BASC has been lobbying for the removal of sound moderators from firearms licensing controls for many years.

The Home Office consultation sought views on proposals to amend the definition of a firearm in section 57(1) (d) of the Firearms Act 1968, removing the reference to sound moderators. The wording of the consultation stated that “sound moderators are not dangerous as firearms, and removing them from firearms licensing controls

does not have any implications for public safety”.

The Government’s view is that the change should be made through primary legislation, as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Christopher Graffius, BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, said: “The issue of sound moderators was raised with Dame Diana at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on shooting and conservation last week and at a meeting with BASC and the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC) earlier this year.

“The announcement comes off the back of years of lobbying work and we are glad the government has listened to the reasoned arguments put forward.

BASC would like to thank the APPG, BSSC and Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP, who is chair of the APPG and BASC vice president, for all of their work on the issue.”

Bill Harriman, BASC’s director of firearms, added: “We welcome the decision to remove sound moderators from firearms licensing controls. This will bring benefits not only for the shooting community, but also reduce the police’s workload in licensing firearms by 32 per cent.

“BASC will seek clarity on the meaning of the sentence ‘….although it will be a requirement for a person to be in possession of a valid certificate in order to lawfully possess a sound moderator.’ to ensure that this does not become licensing by the back door.”

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE

Are animal rights extremists above the law?

By Jake Swindells

When I think of our heritage and our countryside, I picture swathes of heather stretching across open hill. I picture vibrant green arable fields with cattle and sheep grazing. I picture forestry filled with deer, foxes, pine martens and capercaillie, though the latter may soon become just a memory. Activities, such as deer stalking, fishing and game shooting are all such a huge part of what makes Scotland the envy of many countries throughout the world, and the money spent by countryfolk who come to experience these

phenomenal activities quite literally keeps our rural sector afloat. Whilst this remains a crucial part of our economy, it is also part of our broader wildlife management plan to ensure that species that are less common or endangered are given the best chance possible of survival, or even an option to recover. The control of predators, such as foxes, has been conducted for hundreds of years. They are opportunists and will travel great distances just to seek out an easy meal. Should a fox find its way into a chicken coop, instincts

will take over and it will inevitably kill every chicken in there just for fun. The fox will then take two or three chickens and leave the rest for the owner to find the next morning. Foxes will take any free meal, including rabbits, chicks and eggs from ground nesting birds and are also drawn to areas that provide drive-through type newborn lambs in the Spring. They may take a lamb or two per night or even eat the back out of the Ewe following the birth, particularly if there have been complications during the birth and the Ewe is unwell.

Jake Swindells

For these reasons it is imperative that we have options open to us to enable us to protect our red-listed species and our livestock. Many foxes are successfully shot over the course of the year, but many cannot be owing to the inability to see into thick vegetation, or it may be unsafe to discharge a rifle in a particular area. In these scenarios, we need to be able to use dogs to flush the fox out of cover towards waiting guns so it can be dispatched quickly and humanely. Using more than two dogs (which is the current, maximum unlicenced number) can legitimately be utilised under licence in Scotland.

When the licensing process was enabled in 2023, animal rights extremists celebrated and boasted publicly. They had won and had managed to get a crucial and key method of controlling foxes severely restricted. They were ecstatic about this because they have a completely bias and unrealistic view of what actually happens when predators, such as foxes, are controlled humanely. Less than two years later, these same extremists are campaigning for change after already getting precisely what they asked for in 2023. Their lack of understanding of what happens when controlling foxes on the ground often transitions into spurious allegations, anti-

Hounds looking for treats

social behaviour, harassment and violent crime against practitioners. They regularly disrupt licenced activities that have been approved by The Scottish Government’s wildlife authority NatureScot and are more often the ones breaking the law than those undertaking vital and perfectly legal predator control on the ground. It is acknowledged, though, that an extremely small minority of practitioners have crossed legal boundaries, and have quite rightly been prosecuted, but rarely are prosecutions brought against these disruptive protesters, and the ones to suffer are those trying to make a difference by tirelessly protecting our vulnerable species.

One of these extreme organisations recently released a report that was almost entirely based on opinion rather than evidence. In the report it named several practitioner groups and went on to describe how they were acting illegally. In most cases, no official reporting was recorded, no police involvement requested, and there was no evidence published in the report to support the claims. The extent was such that a number of practitioners are now seeking legal advice to put an end to the spreading of misinformation and the disruption of a service that is paramount to the survival of livestock and species at risk of extinction in Scotland. All

the activities that are under fire are conducted under licence, which is extremely difficult to achieve. Many have Inspectors from The Scottish Government in attendance to ensure compliance and all must report back to the Scottish Government on activities undertaken. If the law is broken at any point, a loss of licence and likely prosecution would follow, so it is extremely unlikely that those with licences would stray outside of the bounds set by NatureScot.

Some organisations are just against any kind of wildlife management full stop. These organisations often abuse their connections in certain political parties, and have foundation-free amendments

put forward by sympathetic MSP’s and Ministers when new legislation is being created. Our rural sector, which has stewardship of our land and the wildlife in it, presents evidence-based and sustainable proposals, yet it is often opinion that is accepted over science in parliament. There is little wonder why our biodiversity is decreasing and that some of our iconic species are dying out. In future, give a little thought as to whether you do pop your spare change into that “animal welfare” collection box that’s rattled under your nose at the entrance to the supermarket. A little due diligence as to how your money is spent may just be an eye opener.

Both hill and lowland carry large fox populations

Deer To Me

By Hugh Webster, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture

‘I’d rather forget my knife or binoculars than not have Ruadh with me,’ says Jack. Ruadh, as her name suggests, is a reddish-brown dog; a German short-haired pointer crossed with a border collie. And Jack Ward is one of the deer stalkers working in the Cairngorms Connect landscape. It’s his job to control deer numbers here, to allow forests to expand and restore huge tracts of peatland and woodland across the rugged terrain of Geal Carn, Bynack Mor and the slopes of Beinn Mac Dui.

‘I couldn’t do the job without Ruadh,’ says Jack, explaining that he and his dog work as a

team. ‘At times I may ask her to wait or go in front, and at other times I’m literally just going where she tells me - with looks and body language.’

Ruadh is an expert at finding deer, her sense of smell giving her a ‘sort of superpower.’ This is especially useful in the woodlands springing up here, but she’s a valued companion in the montane environments too. ‘We’re always together,’ says Jack. ‘So, I’m never alone. Sometimes, when it’s cold and you’re sitting tucked into the heather together, it’s just nice to have someone to chat to.’ It’s a reminder that the work of a deer stalker can be uncomfortable,

but for Jack the occasional discomfort is more than made up for by the job’s many perks.

‘We see eagles and all these other things that people are desperate to see, because we’re out at unsociable hours and we’re being discreet, moving quietly through the landscape.’

Often starting at 3am in the summer months, a large part of Jack’s job is simply to monitor the deer. ‘We watch more deer than anyone,’ says Jack, whose job gives him an intimate insight into the lives of the deer in these hills. ‘To see stags rutting and doing their thing is incredible, but I’ve also seen hinds giving birth. How many people have

seen that? And then to be able to sneak out and they never even know you’ve been there; those are the kinds of things that stay with you.’

Jack’s affection for the deer he must occasionally kill might seem incongruous, but the hunter’s affection for his quarry isn’t strange to him. ‘If we’re on holiday somewhere, the first thing I want to do is see what deer they’ve got,’ says Jack. His enthusiasm for deer is born out of a passion for the wider ecology of the landscape. ‘I think deer are some of the most important ecosystem engineers we have,’ says Jack. ‘Almost everything you can see will have been

Jack and Ruadh

shaped by deer; they browse certain trees or open certain glades out, and they move seeds around… they have a really vital impact.’

Understanding all this, Jack knows that it is necessary to manage the deer population. If there are too many deer, or if the deer are in the same place all the time, the habitat can suffer.

‘People talk about ecological restoration,’ he says, ‘And they might mean peatland work, planting trees, or restoring rivers and riparian woodland, but deer management underpins all of that. If you’re in the National Park, you will not get peatland restoration funding if your deer levels are more than 10 deer per square kilometre, because the trampling and grazing pressure will just undo all your hard work.’

I ask Jack about the air of controversy that has accompanied some deer culls. ‘I don’t think anyone can

disagree that it works, because there’s so much evidence,’ says Jack. ‘People might say it feels unfair or it’s not very sporting, like when we’re using lamps to

SERVICE WORK NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN

Poultry/game crates, drinkers & incubators available.

tel: 01473 823598 day, evenings and weekends mob: 07879 496970

email: storeypoultrysupplies@btopenworld.com www.storeypoultrysupplies.co.uk

shoot deer at night, and that’s exactly right, because we’re not doing this for sport. Or they might prefer to have a more open landscape, but that’s not our

objective. It’s just one of those things where we have to work together.’

And what about the suggestion that this model of

DEER TO ME

deer management could threaten traditional deer stalking jobs? ‘I don’t think it’s a threat at all actually,’ says Jack. ‘To fulfil this type of deer management you generally need more deer stalkers on the ground. The objectives might change but the skills of maintaining and using the equipment, getting out on the hill, being safe and being able to drag a deer without exhausting yourself, those skills are all still really key.’

‘It’s never going to be something that we just walk away from. The deer population may come down for a while, and then one day we expect it will come back up, but either way, stalkers will always be important, because we understand the deer and the impacts they can have, both positive and negative.’

Jack firmly believes the deer management he is undertaking is benefiting the deer too. ‘We know our calving and fecundity rates are way above the national average

because the deer are healthier. I think it’s always good to ask the question: are we doing the right thing? And I do think about it, but

we’ve just got so much evidence that our approach is working.’

‘I think people often feel separate from the landscape,’

reflects Jack. ‘But stalking immerses you in all the little details, so that you become part of the environment. You see the

land in a different way. I know where the dry patches are, where I can place my feet to make less noise, which rock will catch the wind and things like that. I think it’s just because you’re out with the deer all the time, you’re using the same elements, it becomes a subconscious thing.’

Jack clearly loves his job. He believes what he is doing is worthwhile and gets to see

the results of his hard work unfolding before him. For him, the future is exciting and full of promise, both for the landscape and the deer. ‘Two nights ago, I was out in the evening and saw three hinds. I got to within 30 metres of them and enjoyed beautiful views of these animals which I wasn’t going to disturb. I was just happy to see three big healthy deer moving through this

regenerating woodland – you can’t really beat that.’

Hugh Webster works for SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and wrote this article as part of their Fiadh project. Inspired by the Gaelic word ‘fiadh’, which refers to both ‘deer’ and ‘the wild’, the Fiadh project seeks to inspire fresh conversations around deer management, celebrating the sector’s growing emphasis on the

recovery of more diverse, more resilient landscapes.

Cairngorms Connect is a partnership of neighbouring land managers (WildLand Limited, Forestry and Land Scotland, RSPB Scotland and NatureScot) working towards a 200-year vision to enhance habitat, species and ecological processes across a vast 600 square kilometre area within the Cairngorms National Park.

The Ghillie

By Bob Whyte Ghillie on Catholes, Pitlochrie, Benchil

and Luncarty on the River Tay

Cold, clean water is what is required due to the influence of Climate change

“Collaboration is the wicked solution for salmon”

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.

returning. It was alarming, to say the least.

In addition, anglers were voting with their feet and not

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

The Ghillie

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

The work of the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust goes on 365 days a year, available at any time for anyone who needs support or a listening ear. Reaching those who may need support is an ongoing challenge, especially in remote areas, with a stoical and independent people who are reluctant to seek support but who are sometimes more vulnerable due to tied housing and the demands of the job which can take its toll on families and health.

It is not all serious though and sometimes there is an opportunity to combine a challenge with either fundraising or raising awareness and this year the latter is our focus during the first weeks of June.

For gamekeepers, stalkers, ghillies (deer and river) and their families it is not always apparent to those whose livelihood is on the rivers that GWT is there for

anyone involved just as it is for keepers and stalkers.

So we are embarking on an adventure on 1st June which incorporates all the major salmon rivers in Scotland, meeting ghillies and boatmen, casting our special GWT fly (a competition was held two years ago and won by Mick Charlton on the Oykel) and explaining the work we do but also listening to what is happening on the water, both fish stocks, at estuary level, the difficulty in protecting the salmon from and spawning to return. During increasing floods or drought periods and many more challenges facing those who live and work in the most beautiful places but whose concerns are very often overlooked.

Anyone who wishes to follow this adventure can access on facebook (Helen’s GWT Scottish River Tour) following the rivers, meeting the ghillies and casting the salmon fly!

The Ghillie

towards new technology and practices like closed containment.

Our Scottish Government should be taking notice of this. 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 catchmentwide 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.

Scottish Land & Estates welcomes delay to muirburn licensing implementation

A decision to postpone the introduction of muirburn licensing has been welcomed as a ‘pragmatic and necessary step’.

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, commented after the Scottish Government confirmed that it would delay the start date for licensing until January, 1, 2026 – just over three months later than the previous intended start date of September 15, 2025.

When commenced, the provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 will require a licence to be in place for all muirburn activity, including on non-peatland. However, the

complexity of mapping peat depth, establishing survey data and preparing licence applications had raised serious concerns among rural stakeholders, who warned that rushing the system into place before the start of the 2025–2026 muirburn season would have created unworkable conditions and significantly increased wildfire risk.

Scottish Land & Estates has worked closely with NFU Scotland, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups and BASC to

make the case to Ministers for a more realistic timescale.

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to delay the introduction of muirburn licensing until January 2026. This is a pragmatic and necessary step that reflects the serious technical and logistical challenges raised by stakeholders across the rural sector.

“There is broad consensus that muirburn, when conducted responsibly and in line with

best practice, is an essential land management tool – not least in helping to reduce fuel loads and mitigate the growing threat of wildfires. However, introducing a licensing system without giving land managers sufficient time to comply would have been counterproductive and potentially dangerous.

“We are grateful to government and NatureScot for their engagement on this matter, and to our colleagues across the rural sector for their collaborative efforts in making the case for this postponement.

game cooking with

Don’t tell him Pike!

By Wendy Barrie

If you are of a certain age, this title will make you smile! The other day in Småland, my husband met our neighbour who was off to fish in the nearby lake. With a cheery smile, he said if he caught something he’d drop it in. That evening there was a knock at the door and there he stood holding a 10kg pike. As I was part of the Jury Visit for the evaluation of Central Dalmatia’s candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2027, it was left to Bosse to gut the monster and prepare it for the freezer which he valiantly did. Pike is a delicious and under-rated fish – a great catch but quite bony which is why a terrine is the perfect solution.

Pike terrine with lemon hollandaise

300g skinless deboned pike (raw)

2 egg whites

150mls double cream

Isle of Skye sea salt & milled black pepper

Hollandaise sauce:

3 tbsp white wine vinegar

6 peppercorns

1 dried bay leaf

2 egg yolks

100g butter

The juice of half a lemon, salt & pepper to taste

Method:

• Set up processor with the knife blade and feed in the terrine ingredients, starting with the fish, then egg whites, cream and seasoning to create a smooth paste. If you miss a bone, it will be safely ground up in the mixture.

• Generously butter a mould or loaf tin. Pre-heat oven to 180°C and place the mix into the tin. Bake in a bain-marie for 30-40 minutes until set. It will turn out beautifully onto a platter and can be sliced.

• Whilst the terrine is baking, prepare hollandaise and cook any vegetables you wish to serve.

To make hollandaise...

• Place vinegar in a small pan with peppercorns and bay leaf.

• Reduce vinegar until there is only 1tbsp left. Remove peppercorns and bay leaf.

• Place egg yolks in a bowl with the vinegar reduction and whisk together.

• Gently melt butter and allow the butter solids to settle at the bottom of the saucepan.

• Slowly drizzle butter onto the egg yolks, little by little, whisking the yolks all the time with a balloon whisk. Keep going until there are only the butter solids left in pan.

• Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Place hollandaise bowl over a pan of hot water and whisk from time to time to keep it gently warmed.

Serves 4. Serving suggestion: buttered new potatoes and asparagus

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.

Photograph

© Wendy Barrie

Photograph © Wendy Barrie

The Country Store

Protect Against Midges: Hoggs of Fife Midgemaster Jacket & Head

As the midge season ramps up, many people are looking at ways of keeping the midges and other insects at bay. The Midgemaster Jacket and Midgemaster Head Cover from Hoggs of Fife are great solutions, offering farmers and outdoor workers practical and comfortable protection against biting insects.

The Midgemaster Jacket (on sale for £17.95 at Wild & Moor) is crafted from 100 % polyester mesh with 620 holes per square inch, delivering excellent breathability while keeping biting insects at bay. It features elasticated cuffs, an adjustable hem, zipped built-in head cover, and a neat storage pocket that stows the entire jacket for compact storage. Practical and easy to pull on over outer layers, it’s becoming a summer staple.

If you’re looking for just head protection, the Midgemaster Head Cover is the one to go for – on sale for just £6.25. This one-size, drawcordadjustable mesh cover fits over hats or hoods, offering protection without compromising visibility.

The Hoggs of Fife Midgemasters provide effective, lightweight protection perfect for farm tasks like livestock checks, fence repairs, or crop inspections - especially during dawn and dusk when midges swarm. As one Wild & Moor customer noted, “Quality seems good and the price reasonable. Certainly better than my last midge smock” (feefo.com).

Both items are available now from Wild & Moor - visit the website or call 01535 611688.

£17.95 www.wildandmoor.co.uk

Irish Setter 882 12 inch Elk Tracker Boots

A best-selling boot from Footwear Country, sold on recommendation, looks the part & does the job!

Full Grain Cowhide Waterproof

Leather

GORE-TEX Waterproof Lining

600 Gram Thinsulate Ultra

Insulation - want a warmer boot

try style 860 - 1000gram

Moisture Wicking Fabric Lining

Comfort Cork EVA with Memory

Foam

ScentBan Odor Inhibitor Footbed

Cork PU Midsole

Bulls-Eye Air Bob Aggressive Dual Density Sole

Premium Leather Flex Welt Construction

£289.90

Telephone: 01460 221720

www.footwearcountry.co.uk

Rigby’s new Cigar Pouch is a cut above for hunters on the move

London gunmaker John Rigby & Co. proudly introduces the Rigby Leather Cigar Pouch, an elegant and practical accessory designed for the discerning cigar enthusiast who enjoys nothing more than unwinding with a fine cigar and good company at the close of a rewarding hunt. It features a secure flip-over tongue embossed with the iconic Rigby ‘double R’ logo, which holds two cigars firmly inside. Designed to fit comfortably in your pocket, it’s ideal for carrying wherever your adventures take you.

Made from 3mm thick bovine leather with a distinctive ostrich leather tongue holder, each pouch is hand-stitched with sera braid waxed string for exceptional strength and resilience. Proudly handcrafted in South Africa by Uvami, a company renowned for its artisanal leatherwork, each pouch is cut and stitched to achieve an antique look and feel. Uvami’s commitment to quality ensures each piece will last for generations.

Rigby Leather Cigar Pouch: £99, plus postage and packaging. www.johnrigbyandco.com

J Boult Designs unveils fly fishing inspired leather gifts for summer 2025

The Country Store Pixfra Launches Volans: A 24/7 4K Digital Day Night Riflescope with LRF

J Boult Designs is delighted to introduce two new additions to its range of handmade leather goods: the FishMhor Salmon Leather Card Wallet and the FishMhor Salmon Leather-Bound Hip Flask Gift Set. Designed for those with a passion for flyfishing and the great outdoors, these distinctive gifts bring together British craftsmanship, rugged elegance, and a deep appreciation for nature.

Each item is handmade in the J Boult Designs workshop using sustainable, dyed-through vegetable-tanned leather from traditional Italian tanneries. The card wallet is hand saddle-stitched for strength and detail, while the hip flask features a leather wrap with a zip edge finish, adding a tactile and stylish touch.

Both pieces are stamped with the signature FishMhor leaping salmon—celebrating the rod, reel, and the joy of being outside. Available in rich shades of tan, olive, and blue, they come beautifully packaged, making them ideal presents for fly fishing enthusiasts and countryside explorers alike.

“We’re excited to launch this new collection of fly-fishing inspired leather goods,” said Jamie Boult, designer and maker at J Boult Designs. “These products blend traditional leatherworking skills with design elements that speak to our love of the wild, making them special pieces for both town and country.”

In keeping with the brand’s ethos of sustainability and slow craftsmanship, these gifts are built to last.

The card wallet is priced at £45, and the hipflask gift set is £65. Both are now available to order via www.jboultdesigns.com, with free UK delivery included.

Pixfra Outdoor has officially released the Volans series, marking the company’s step into all day digital optics that seamlessly shift from daylight to night vision settings.

At its core, the Volans V850 models feature a 4K starlight CMOS sensor delivering ultra high definition 3840×2160 resolution paired with a 50 mm objective lens and 4.9× base magnification. The adjustable aperture (F1.2–F3.0) enables rapid adaptation to changing light—preventing glare in daylight and enhancing clarity after dusk.

Visually, Volans introduces a unique circular 1.25 inch display with a large 70 mm eye relief—offering a viewing experience close to a traditional scope and improved comfort under pressure. Its robust all metal housing is IP67 rated and withstands recoil shocks up to 6000 J, ensuring reliable performance in extreme environments from –30 °C to +65 °C.

For precision, the V850 LRF variant includes an integrated 1000 m laser rangefinder (±1 m accuracy) and smart ballistics computation, enabling data driven long range shots. Built in Wi Fi and the Pixfra Outdoor App support zeroing and control via a smartphone, while on board video/audio recording and a 64 GB gallery allow hunters to capture and review shots in the field.

Volans arrives as a competitively priced alternative to rival scopes, offering thermal like versatility without the high cost.

Volans V850 4K Digital Day & Night Vision Scope: £639.95

Buy from: Night Master, Tel: 01535 611688, www.nightmaster.co.uk

The ATX, STX and BTX objective modules offer you unparalleled modularity and unimagined application possibilities.

Four objective sizes are available for intensive nature observations: 65 mm, 85 mm, 95 mm or 115 mm.

The photo shows the 65mm version.

£820.00 www.swarovskioptik.com

Night Master Stocks

ZEISS Secacam 3, 5 & 7 Trail

Cameras

Night Master, a trusted name in night vision and outdoor imaging technology, is proud to announce it now stocks the full ZEISS Secacam trail camera range — including the Secacam 3, 5, and the latest model, the Secacam 7.

Renowned for their reliability, image quality, and ease of use, ZEISS Secacam trail cameras are ideal for wildlife monitoring, estate security, and remote site surveillance. Each model is designed to deliver sharp images and videos day or night, with seamless 4G connectivity for remote access and instant notifications via the ZEISS Secacam app.

The Secacam 3.offers impressive low-light performance in a compact and affordable format. It features enhanced motion detection, H.265 video compression, and a swivelling screen for fast and easy setup in the field.

The Secacam 5 steps up with 60 invisible black LEDs, delivering crisp IR footage even in total darkness, and is perfect for long-term deployment and high-activity areas.

Now joining the lineup is the Secacam 7 – the flagship model featuring dual SIM 4G connectivity, intuitive menu navigation via a front-facing colour display, and even faster image transmission speeds. Its rugged build and high-spec performance make it ideal for professional-grade wildlife or security applications.

Now available from just £119.95

To browse the full ZEISS Secacam range or get expert advice visit: www.nightmaster.co.uk or call 01535 611688.

Wild & Moor Now Stocking Stoney Creek Clothing for the ladies

Farming and fieldsports retailer

Wild & Moor has increased their stock of Stoney Creek’s premium women’s farming range, which is designed for the demands of life on the land. Built tough and tailored for comfort, this collection is made with female farmers in mind— combining practicality, durability, and smart design.

The Stoney Creek range for women includes popular pieces like the Active Tights, engineered with high-stretch fabric for freedom of movement whether you’re feeding stock or fencing.

The Farm Track Pants offer a rugged alternative with reinforced panels and water-repellent coating, ideal for wet mornings and muddy jobs. For layering up, the Microplus Long Sleeved Top delivers breathable warmth in a lightweight, fast-drying fabric. And when the weather turns a bit nippy, the Hypercore Hoodie has you covered with a cozy fleece lining, and practical pockets.

Wild & Moor specialises in countryside clothing for farming and fieldsports, and the Stoney Creek women’s range reflects their commitment to quality and function. With sizing and fit designed specifically for women, this gear proves that hard work and great kit go hand in hand.

Explore the full range online and get ready for whatever this summer throws at you – rain, wind and maybe a bit of sunshine!

£39.95

10% discount when you use the code: WILD10 www.wildandmoor.co.uk

New Blaser F3 Heritage Game Scene Sporting 12ga. Features factory choke tube 32 inch barrels with flat sporting rib. Side plate game scene engraved receiver featuring Pheasants and Mallards. Highly figured grade 8 right handed Sporting stock with Schnabel forend. Comes in factory leather trim case.

Beatha an eilean

An t-iolaire mhara agus an sgrios anns na h-eileanan

Le Murray MacLeòid

Tha croitearan nan Eilean Siar a’ toiseachadh a’ fàs gu math feargach mun sgrios a tha na h-iolairean mara a’ dèanamh air an cuid uain - le fiu’s feadhainn a tha gu math fallain is làidir gan call.

Ged nach e càil ùr a tha ann a leitheid a chluinntinn, gu seo ‘s ann nas motha anns na h-eileanan a-staigh - àitichean mar Muile is Ratharsaigh is Earra-ghàidheal - a bhatar a’ cluinntinn mu dheidhinn.

Ach, tha e gu math follaiseach gu bheil na h-eoin mòra cumhachdail seo a’ sgapadh fad is farsaing agus iad a-nis bitheanta anns na h-Eileanan Siar.

Bha an croitear Dòmhnall “Cudaig” MacLeòid a’ draibheadh gu obair aon oidhiche bho chionn ghoirid nuair a chunnaic e an sgrios dha fhèin.

“Bha mi anns a’ chàr beagan a-mach à Calanais air mo shlighe a Steòrnabhagh nuair a chunnaic mi an isean mòr a tha seo faisg air an rathaid ann am pàirc far a bheil caoraich. Smaoinich mi rium fhèin: oh chan eil seo math.

“Stad mi ‘s chaidh mi a dh’fhaicinn. ‘S ann dìreach an uairsin a sgeith an isean air falbh. Tha thu bruidhinn mu biastail;

bha sgiathan a’ chreutair cho farsaing ri dorus sabhail.

“Mhothaich mi an uairsin dìreach ri taobh for an robh i na suidhe bha uan air a’ mharbhadh agus air a stialladh às a chèile. Cha b’e sealladh ro mhath a bh’ann ach tha e tachairt tric a-nis.

“Bha beachd agam cò leis a bha an t-uan - croitear à Calanais. Chur mi fon thuige agus dh’innse e dhomh gun robh na h-uain a chur e a-mach an sin cho làidir sa ghabhas agus a’ faighinn na dh’fheumadh iad de bhoinne bhom mathaichean.

“Canaidh luch nan eun rut nach tig an iolaire mhara faisg ach uain bheag, bhochd. Abair sgudail. Cha shaoil na h-eoin seo càil ri uan sam bith.

“Rud a bha cur orm mu dheidhinn seo, ‘s e cho faisg ‘s a bha i air an rathaid mhòr, le càraichean air ais ‘s air adhart, ach cha robh sin a’ cur càil oirre. Cha do ghluais i gun tàinig mi mach

às a’ chàr - bha e ro anmoch an uairsin.

“Tha iad a’ fas gu math pailt agus a’ fàs nas fhaisge agus nas fhaisge air daoine agus air dachaighean dhaoine, chan ann shuas gu fada anns na beanntan mar a bheir cuid a’ chreid ‘s ort.”

Mar gu leòr eile, tha e draghail gu fàs cuisean nas miosa fhathast.

“Tha sinn a’ dol fodha ann an geoidh is fèidh air an eilean seo agus a-nis tha againn ri dèiligeadh ris a sgrios bho iolairean mara. Tha iad a’ sgapadh gun chiall agus chan eil cail ann a chuireas stad orra. Chan urrainn dhut ach smaoineachadh: an dùil dè an ath rud?”

Bho chionn ghoirid bha sgeulachd dhen aon sheòrsa aig croitear Raymond Caimbeul as na Hearadh. Tha caoraich aige a-muigh air Eilean Phabaigh agus aig àm breith nan uan rinn

an t-iolaire mhara sgrios orra-san cuideachd.

“Chunnaic sinn i a’ falbh le uan a bha gu math fallain agus ri taobh a’ mhathair,” thuirt e. “Ach, cha robh càil ann a b’urrainn dhuinn a dhèanamh mu dheidhinn. Leig i sios e ach bha e marbh agus thog i rithist e. Chan eil càil anns is urrainn dhut a dhèanamh, ach tha e deuchainneach”

Ann an Ratharsaigh tha iad air buaidh nan iolaire mhara fhaicinn cho chionn bliadhhnachan.

Tha Iain Uilleam Mac a’ Ghiollsa air a bhith coimhead às dèidh stoc fad a bheatha agus e ag ràdh g’eil sgrios nan iolaire mhara a-mach à rian.

“Tha sinne a’ coimhead às dèidh an ìre mhath Ratharsaigh gu lèir le caoraich dubh cheannachd,” thuirt e. “Tha an iolaire mhara a neadachadh far a bheil sinn. Mus tàinig iad bha sinn a’ faighinn uan às gach uile caora bhon mhonadh, agus ‘s e monadh cruaidh a tha ann. Anduigh, tha sinn fortanach ma gheibh sinn a dharna leth agus ‘s e an ioliare mhara is coireach ris. Tha e uabhasach duilich; tha sinn a’ call ar consnaidh ri linn. Ach, dè math dhut: chan èist duine.”

Tha na h-iolairean mara a’ sgapadh fad is farsaing

NFU Scotland welcomes Scottish Government plan to safeguard smaller suckler herds

NFU Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s intention to protect the country’s smaller suckler herds by exempting them from the new calving interval requirement under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS).

NFU Scotland is clear that a small claim derogation can safeguard support payments for the hundreds of smaller suckler herds across Scotland - upholding the key socio-economic principle behind coupled support for the suckler beef sector since its introduction in 2005.

Critically, a smaller herd derogation will not dilute the policy rationale for the 410-day calving interval - for the vast majority of suckler herds the calving interval will signal improved technical performance that can help reduce emissions. It is also vital that the full implications of the new 410day calving interval are fully assessed and understood before there is any suggestion to reduce it further.

NFU Scotland Director of Policy Jonnie Hall said:

“This is a sensible and proportionate step which we’ve asked the Scottish Government to take. While the emissions impact of these smaller and vulnerable herds is negligible, being less than 2 per cent of the national suckler herd, their value in sustaining rural communities, biodiversity, and active land management is very significant, if not critical. This decision rightly reflects that contribution.”“This is about fairness. The same policy-driven expectations aimed at a herd of 200 suckler cows on a mixed arable and grassland unit simply cannot apply to a crofter or new entrant with five cows on a hillside. We’re pleased to see government recognise that.”

“This move recognises that future support measures cannot

be exclusively about emissions reductions and climate ambitions. It’s also about the socio-economic and nature benefits of keeping small suckler herds in what are mostly remote and fragile areas.”

“As we go through the gears of adding greater conditionality to direct support, such as the Whole Farm Plan and Enhanced Greening, there is a clear need to future-proof scheme requirements for smaller producers to ensure they’re not disproportionately impacted”

“Their contribution to the new objectives of support must be measured as much by the rural

communities and nature they sustain, alongside the food they

produce, as by their contribution to climate targets.”

Logan backs Scotch Beef sector at RNAS Beeftech25 event

SNP Westminster Rural Affairs spokesperson and MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan was at the recently held Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s BeefTech25 event held in his constituency to show his support for the Scotch Beef sector.

Speaking after the event, Seamus Logan MP said:

“I was delighted to attend BeefTech25 and congratulate the Royal Northern Agricultural Society on an impressive event and the Gall family who were farm hosts.

“Scotland produces some of the finest quality beef in the world, to the highest welfare standards, and this event was an excellent showcase for a sector that has long been at the heart of the North-east’s rural communities.

“Scotland’s livestock farmers don’t just deliver top quality produce, they play an important role

in keeping land less suited for arable farming productive, supporting the rural economy and bolstering food security, a view I know is shared by the Scottish Government’s Minister for Agriculture.

“It was good to meet with farmers from a range of interests

at the event and also to catch-up with NFUS President Andrew Connon, where we discussed the UK Government’s trade deals and implications for agriculture, inheritance tax, and also supermarket support for Scotch Beef.”

Jonnie Hall

Left - Seamus Logan

A couple more cows per herd each year would realise Scotland’s economic potential by 2030

Quality Meat Scotland highlights widening domestic beef supply gap is ours for the taking

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) continues to highlight the great potential of Scotland’s beef sector in its latest economic modelling on anticipated future domestic demand. Under the most realistic consumption scenario, the data estimates that by 2030 the UK would collectively need to produce 278,000 tonnes of beef on top of what it is currently projected to produce to achieve full selfsufficiency. This is a significant challenge given that domestic production is projected to decline by 8% from 2023 levels, while the UK population is set to grow by nearly 5% over the same period.

For Scotland to bridge this gap, this equates to around an additional 22,000 tonnes of beef, requiring approximately 79,000 additional cows at the current national average reproduction rate. This economic opportunity in Scotland is around six to eight more cows per herd or two cows a year per herd over the next three to four years, so that calves reaching the market in 2030 will be born in 2028 and 2029. The modelling suggests that achieving this would generate an additional £281 million in output and contribute £76 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Scottish economy.

Small Changes, Big Opportunities for Scottish Beef

By Kate Rowell, Chair, Quality Meat Scotland

Scotland has a huge opportunity right now – and it starts with just a few more cows per herd.

New analysis from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) shows that by adding just a couple of cows per herd each year over the next three to four years, Scotland could help close the growing gap between domestic beef production and demand. This could generate an extra £281 million in output and £76 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) for our economy by 2030.

Demand for home-grown beef is rising from a growing population, and we need to produce an extra 22,000 tonnes of beef by 2030 – the equivalent of 79,000 more breeding cows – to avoid unnecessary reliance on imports.

That’s why QMS has launched the Meating Our Potential online hub for industry packed with practical advice, resources, and real-life stories from farmers growing their herds. It’s a roadmap for sustainable growth, focusing on three key themes: Productivity, Profitability, and Growth.

The first phase, launching in June, helps farmers build a strong foundation for herd growth. It’s about small, meaningful steps – exploring the information, thinking about how it applies to your farm, and considering what changes you could make.

The hub will be updated regularly, offering easyto-digest guides and case studies that show how modest changes can lead

to big results. We know productivity improvements have limits – and the best way forward is a modest increase in herd size, supported by smarter strategies.

This is about small, realistic changes – but with big potential. By working together and everyone playing their part, we can grow Scotland’s beef herd, strengthen our rural economy, and ensure we continue producing topquality Scottish beef for generations to come.

Find out more at qmscotland.co.uk/ industry-development/ meatingourpotential and join the conversation online using #MeatingOurPotential. Let’s secure a bright future for Scottish beef.

Find out more about Quality Meat Scotland at qmscotland.co.uk and follow @qmscotland on social

New 5L Flypor pack delivers convenience for larger herds

Elanco Animal Health has launched a new 5L pack of its leading insecticidal pour-on, Flypor™, delivering greater convenience and better value when treating larger herds.

The permethrin-based pour-on provides long-lasting protection for cattle against biting flies, horn flies, lice and mange in a single application that offers up to eight weeks’ protection from flies.

Carolyn Hogan, Elanco ruminant technical consultant, explains the new larger pack size joins the existing 3L option to meet the needs of a wider range of commercial dairy and beef herds.

“We’re making it easier for those managing bigger herds to treat all animals efficiently with less need to switch bottles midtreatment, as the new pack size can treat up to 125 cattle over 300kg body weight,” she says.

“The larger packs also offer excellent value per dose, which we know is particularly important

at a time when farming is under such enormous pressure.”

Flypor ensures even distribution across the animal’s whole body when applied as detailed on the label.

The product offers effective protection against a range of

ectoparasites, including:

• Controls biting and horn flies, which are major irritants causing stress to grazing cattle and can seriously affect productivity

• Controls sucking and biting lice, which are common pests over the housed period

• Treats sarcoptic and chorioptic mange in the winter months

With a short meat withdrawal period of just three days and a milk withhold time of only six hours, Flypor is ideal for use in both beef cattle and lactating dairy cows.

NFU Scotland welcomes government rejection of the CCC’s recommendation to cut livestock numbers

NFU Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government move to reject advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and commit instead to a climate strategy that reflects the realities of Scottish land use, food production and rural life.

The Union had urged Ministers to reject the CCC’s narrow proposals that feature livestock reduction as a key element of the pathway to net zero and instead commit to a realistic, fully funded plan that supports food production, nature and rural livelihoods in tandem.

The move followed new greenhouse gas statistics showing agriculture emissions in Scotland have already fallen by 13.6% since 1990, alongside publication of the CCC’s latest recommendations on UK and Scottish carbon budgets.

NFU Scotland Vice President Duncan Macalister said:

“Farmers are already cutting emissions and increasing efficiencies - not by reducing output, but by improving how we produce food.

“It’s about net zero, not zero emissions,” said Macalister.

“Grazing livestock are part of the solution, not the problemespecially when managed well in pasture-based systems like ours.

“The government now needs to say clearly: how will future support reflect that reality and where does livestock fit in a climate-smart farming future?”

Earlier this week, NFU Scotland met with the Climate Change Committee to discuss how farming can contribute to climate goals without undermining food production, biodiversity or rural livelihoods. The Union has urged the Scottish Government to:

• Set out a clear policy framework that recognises the essential role of livestock in Scotland’s land use and food systems.

• Ensure future agricultural support enables low-emission production, rather than penalising farmers for producing food.

• Reject any advice that undermines food security or destabilises rural areas, especially in upland and marginal communities

NFU Scotland will continue pressing for a just, practical transition that supports farmers to lead, not carry the burden.

NFU Mutual partners with Livetec to strengthen poultry sector resilience

NFU Mutual has partnered with leading biosecurity solutions provider, Livetec Systems, to help UK poultry producers better prepare for, and recover from, disease outbreaks.

Following a challenging winter of Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks, Livetec is providing accurate, farm-specific costings for cleaning and disinfection (C&D) – crucial data that supports both proactive disease planning and accurate insurance cover.

Adam Williams, NFU Mutual’s animal disease portfolio manager, explains that these insights help producers reduce downtime, return to production faster, and limit the financial impact of an AI outbreak

“As one of the only insurers still offering AI cover in the UK, it’s vital we support poultry producers with the most up-todate, actionable data to manage the financial risks of disease outbreaks,” he says.

Commissioned by NFU Mutual, Livetec’s report draws on its operational data from handling recent AI outbreaks on UK farms, evolving legislation and input from APHA (Animal Plant and Health Agency).

It details the cost of C&D and assumptions across a range of poultry production systemsenabling producers to better plan, meet regulatory requirements, and avoid unnecessary delays during recovery, explains Mr Williams.

“As biosecurity specialists, Livetec’s expertise is invaluable,” he says.

“Their input not only equips our agents with tools better inform producers, but also improves how we assess risk, calculate premiums, and ensure adequate protection.”

While the UK poultry sector benefits from strong biosecurity measures, highly pathogenic strains of AI remain a persistent threat.

“By working closely with Livetec, we’re supporting

the sector’s ability to respond effectively and stay resilient,” Mr Williams adds.

Proactive planning essential

Livetec’s report findings further highlight the financial value of forward planning - not just to mitigate disease risk, but to manage recovery costs effectively.

Dr Paul Talling, biosecurity advisor at Livetec, explains that the report details the cost savings that can be achieved for a variety of UK poultry systems, from modern broiler sheds to older free-range units.

“It offers practical, costeffective solutions to help producers manage the real costs of cleaning and disinfection after an outbreak, and demonstrates the savings that can be achieved through well-designed infrastructure and efficient waste handling,” he explains.

“Newer systems, for example, are not only easier to clean but significantly reduce the time and expense involved in waste removal and water management.”

Looking ahead, both NFU Mutual and Livetec are committed to ensuring poultry

producers have access to expert guidance, tailored insurance solutions, and proactive risk mitigation strategies.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the long-term resilience of the UK poultry sector through education, planning, and knowledge-sharing,” Dr Talling concludes.

For more information on the updated C&D costings, disease preparedness, or NFU Mutual’s Avian Influenza insurance policies, poultry producers can reach out to their local NFU Mutual agents.

Capitalise on store cattle trade

The price of store cattle has been at all time high at markets across the country.

With positivity in the marketplace, those with spring calving suckler herds are looking to get the most for their stock once suckled calf sales commence.

ForFarmers’ UK beef and sheep commercial manager,

Alister Davies said: “Given the buoyancy of the beef trade in recent months, suckler producers are looking to get calves on to creep earlier than normal, with the financial benefit clearer to see.

“The cost of creep compared to the cost of liveweight was for many years, pound for pound,

but now it pays to feed these animals. If calves are eating 2kg of creep every day, worth £1.20 daily, while converting at 4:1, there is great potential for additional growth at the age when they are most efficient.”

The purpose of creep feeding is to make the most of the animal’s favourable conversion

rate at an early age, while calves get used to hard feed, helping with the transition to weaning.

Alister says: “By feeding calves in this way, animals can get to market sooner, and the money in the bank more quickly.

“Supplementary feeding with a specialist diet for growing and creep feeding systems will encourage frame development, maximise rumen health and improve feed efficiency.

“Feed up to 4kg/head/day or 1kg/100kg liveweight in growing cattle or ad-lib in calf creep feeding systems. We recommend a nut such as Prime Rearer 16 + Levucell SC TITAN.”

When animals are introduced to a rearer diet, it should be a gradual process over seven days with a source of fibre and access to water.

Alister says: “Opt for a high energy and starch nut which is balanced in sugar and fibre to promote growth and good rumen health. The 16% protein encourages muscle growth and frame development.”

Hygiene audits critical to pathogen control in hatcheries

Hatchery managers are being encouraged to carry out regular hygiene audits to support their biosecurity protocols, and ensure external challenges such as bacterial pathogens and AI are unable to gain a foothold inside their hatchery.

Rob Hallewell, hatchery hygiene expert at Kersia UK, says hatcheries present unique hygiene challenges compared to other farm settings, operating more like food factories which require significantly higher cleanliness standards.

“Hatcheries operate on a unique principle where you start with a relatively clean product – the egg – which then hatches and produces all the waste that comes with a living, breathing animal,” he explains.

“This is why the focus

on cleanliness is so critical, particularly in areas like transfer, hatching, and processing.”

He says regular hygiene audits are essential for maintaining effective pathogen control and biosecurity in these settings.

“This includes checking the quality of cleaning in areas that have already been cleaned, conducting microbiological testing through total viable count (TVC) swabbing in both clean and dirty areas, and verifying that products are being applied at the correct strength through titration checks,” adds Mr Hallewell.

With heightened AI concerns, hatcheries in affected areas are implementing more stringent disinfection protocols.

“When a hatchery is located in an AI zone, they must

demonstrate that they meet certain standards of biosecurity set out by Defra and APHA so they can continue to operate.

As part of this designation process, disinfectants will be increased to a general orders rate for application,” Mr Hallewell explains.

“These are higher than standard rates and are specified by Defra, who also independently test our disinfectants for efficacy.”

Basic biosecurity measures recommended for all hatcheries include control of vehicle and personnel movements onto site, disinfectant application to wheels and footwear at all points of entry, good door discipline, segregated clothing, and hand washing protocols. It’s also important to have a robust hygiene regime including ‘clean as you go’ protocols, and to understand egg flow and airflow to prevent cross-contamination.

Mr Hallewell says a manager’s approach to cleaning is fundamental to successful disinfection and pathogen control.

As such, he advises against aggressive cleaning methods that can damage surfaces and provide additional harbourage for microorganisms. Understanding the nature of the debris and applying the correct hygiene products with the appropriate equipment will deliver the best results.”It’s about cleaning sensibly rather than destructively, then applying appropriate disinfectants at the correct concentrations,” he stresses.

Mr Hallewell acknowledges that aging fabrication presents a significant challenge for many hatcheries, withsome older facilities creating pathogen hot spots, which can make cleaning challenging.

He says working with a partner who can support with specialist technical advice is key.

“Our team conducts regular hygiene audits at our customers’ request, checking cleaning quality, conducting microbiological testing, verifying product application, and identifying potential issues with fabrication or pest control.

“A well-trained team is the most important link in this chain.

As such we deliver hygiene training that can be tailored to each hatchery’s requirements” adds Mr Hallewell.

“Regular reviews of hatchery hygiene protocols with a specialist will ensure the highest standards of biosecurity are maintained during any high-risk period.”

Reduction in livestock worrying, but vigilance remains the message

New data indicating a reduction in livestock worrying in Scotland has been welcomed by Scottish Land

& Estates – but the organisation has urged vigilance as recorded incidents remain stubbornly high.

According to statistics from Police Scotland’s National Rural, Acquisitive and Business Prevention team, 216 incidents were recorded for the year ending March 30, 2025, compared to 350 incidents of dog attacks or worrying of livestock in the preceding year – a fall of 38 per cent. In 2022, 290 incidents were recorded.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 introduced much tougher penalties for any individual convicted of such offences, including a fine of up to £40,000 and a prison sentence of up to 12 months. The dog is also highly likely to be destroyed.

SLE in partnership with SPARC has campaigned for many years to help minimise the risks of dog attacks and to raise awareness of the financial impact and the heartbreak caused to farmers.

Nic MacLeod, Acting Policy Adviser, Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We welcome the significant drop in livestock worrying incidents over the past year, which suggests that stronger legislation and public

awareness efforts could be having an impact. However, with over 200 incidents still recorded, it’s clear this remains a serious issue for farmers and land managers across Scotland.

“Dog owners should not take a dog, even if on a lead, into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young animals as there is real risk of causing stress, injury and even death to pregnant animals or young. Farmers are proud of their livestock, and where animals have been killed it is devastating to have to start from scratch and try to build a flock back up. The financial impact is also severe, particularly at a time when many farms are struggling to make ends meet.

“We commend the work of Police Scotland and the rural crime team in focusing on the protection of livestock and dedicating resources to intelligence gathering, practical crime prevention and enforcement.”

Inspector Jordan Low of the National Rural, Acquisitive and Business Prevention team, Police Scotland, commented:

“Tackling dog attacks and livestock worrying remains a key priority for members of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), due to the significant harm it causes— not only to animals, but also to the livelihoods of farmers. It is essential that dog owners take responsibility by keeping their dogs on a lead and under control around livestock. Ignoring this duty could lead to prosecution, with penalties of up to £40,000 or 12 months in prison.

“Through SPARC, Police Scotland is committed to working alongside partners over the coming years to raise awareness of the laws in place to protect livestock. Those who act irresponsibly will face the consequences.”

RUMA Agriculture calls on UK livestock sectors to take part in NEW survey on vaccine availability

RUMA Agriculture wants to gather insights to build a deeper understanding of the impacts vaccine supply issues are having across livestock and aquaculture sectors to help ensure readiness to respond when shortages occur

The Responsible use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance has today launched an online survey designed to gather insights from vets, farmers and SQPs about the vaccines shortages that have been a growing source of concern for UK livestock sectors over recent years.

The RUMA survey is now live and will close on Friday 27 June at 5pm. Vets, farmers and SQPs are all encouraged to share any vaccine supply insights by answering a set of questions that aim to build a picture of what supply challenges each sector has been facing, and the short and long term impacts of these disruption issues. The survey can be accessed via this link: https://forms.office. com/e/D6EYM81Mip.

Vaccines play a key role in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of animals and limited or no supply, which is something that has been reported more frequently over the past few years

by numerous livestock sectors, can have widespread implications on animal wellbeing. This could include an increase in antibiotic use to manage conditions that may otherwise have been prevented with vaccinations.

The vaccine production process is a time-sensitive biological process with potential for delays and variability. The supply chain is vulnerable to many factors which can include batch failures, too little supply being imported or developed to meet demand, sometimes recalls, increased demand to support disease outbreaks, as well as manufacturing challenges, including potential disruptions from Brexit.

Cat McLaughlin, RUMA Agriculture Chair, says: “Vaccine shortages and disruption to supply, is not something that can be solved overnight. We know this is a complex area with many variables at play, and therefore we want to use the insights we gather from this survey to work directly with livestock sectors and the roles that work in the industry, to explore the best way to ‘cope with’ shortages until solutions can be found for the medium and long term.”

Cat continues: “RUMA Agriculture, alongside many other industry stakeholders, has contributed to a number of meetings held recently by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to address the concerns around the shortage of certain vaccines and we look forward to continuing to collaborate on this important issue moving forwards.

“What we do know is that delays in vaccinations can lead to an increased risk of disease outbreaks, and this can be a source of much worry for animal owners, SQPs and veterinary practices who are working hard to maintain the high standards

of animal welfare that the UK is known for. We have listened to the concerns of our members and that’s why we are launching this survey - the insights from which will enable RUMA Agriculture to work directly with affected sectors to explore what management strategies can be developed to help ensure everyone is as prepared as they can be to respond to supply issues when they do occur.”

Responses to the survey are anonymous. In due course RUMA Agriculture will publish anonymised headline findings to help support the ongoing focus on addressing vaccines shortages.

2025 CageFree Egg Commitment Deadline Looms

With just six months remaining until the 2025 cage-free egg commitment deadline, food companies are in the final stretch to transition their remaining egg supply. The pressure is on as the industry works to meet consumer expectations and honour longstanding animal welfare pledges.

As of March 2025, 82% of the UK egg industry had already shifted to cage-free production, highlighting significant progress and aligning with public expectations. Across Europe, legislative momentum has also been building. Austria has banned enriched cages since 2020, with Germany, the Czech Republic, France, and Wallonia (Belgium) all introducing similar bans between 2026 and 2028.

Public support for cage-free farming remains strong. A More in Common poll commissioned by Compassion in World Farming [September 2024] found that 75% of Britons view the use of cages as cruel, and 67% are willing to pay more for cagefree eggs. Meanwhile, the 2023 Eurobarometer revealed that 94% of EU citizens believe farmed animals should have enough space to move freely, and 89% oppose the use of individual cages.

Compassion’s 2024 EggTrack Spotligh highlights encouraging progress in the UK, with 20 out of 39 tracked companies— including prominent names like Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Food, Greggs, McDonald’s, Greene King and Pizza Express—fully cagefree. Others, such as Tesco UK, Aldi UK, and Whitbread PLC are making substantial headway toward fulfilling their commitments but now need to accelerate their efforts to meet the 2025 deadline.

The VET Coccidiosis in Calves

By Balfour S Hay BVMS MRCVS

A familiar challenge to many farmers, coccidiosis is a major production-limiting (and potentially life-threatening) disease affecting calves and youngstock in both suckler and dairy systems.

The disease is caused by single-celled parasites called coccidia which, once ingested, invade the intestinal lining of the calf to reproduce, causing significant damage to the gut. Typically, this results in a dark-coloured diarrhoea which may contain blood and/ or mucus, often accompanied by abdominal straining. Severe cases can result in dehydration and even death without prompt treatment.

Chronically infected calves, however, can show more subtle signs such as pasty scour, dull haircoats, and poor growth rates - this arguably more common presentation can often go overlooked.

Faecal samples are frequently used to diagnose coccidiosis; however, this is not always straightforward. There are many different

species of coccidia which can infect cattle, but only three of these are known to be pathogenic (diseasecausing). For this reason, the presence of coccidia in faecal samples, even in high numbers, does not always correlate with disease. On the other hand, falsely low numbers of coccidia can be found in dung samples of truly infected calves depending on the stage of the disease. Importantly, the coccidial species infecting cattle are different to those infecting sheep, so infection does not spread between these animals.

Treatment is in the form of anticoccidial medication and supportive care as required (e.g. fluid therapy).

In some cases, there will be permanent damage to the gut, so although calves may recover from infection, they may never reach their full growth potential. For this reason, prevention is always better than cure. Exposure to coccidia is almost inevitable

so control measures aim to limit the extent of this exposure whilst natural immunity is established.

• Indoor Hygiene – welldrained, clean bedding, good ventilation, raised troughs, disinfection (although note that coccidial oocysts are resistant to many disinfectants!), isolation of scouring calves

• Pasture Rotation - coccidial oocysts can survive in the environment for over a year, so avoid using the same pasture for calves year after year

• Avoid over-stocking and over-grazing

• Avoid mixing age groups of calves (e.g. utilise an all in / all out approach)

• Where necessary, strategic use of anticoccidial drugs at high-risk periods

As always, if you are concerned about coccidiosis problems in your calves, contact your vet to discuss how best to control this problem on your farm.

Top 5 Shearing Tips with Scottish Shearing Legend Hamish Mitchell

Competition sheep shearer

Hamish Mitchell offers advice on techniques, equipment and what is needed to win at the highest level.

Hamish has represented Scotland in international sheep shearing events for decades. He has won the Scottish National 15 times and over 100 Open events in the UK and globally. Hamish is a British Wool Ambassador, Instructor and Heiniger Ambassador.

We asked Hamish for some tips on what it takes to become a better sheep shearer and compete at the highest level.

1. How do you get started in sheep shearing?

The best way to start is to go on a shearing course, I did every year for 15 years and I am still learning. The British Wool Board offers some very good value courses that teach the correct technique, benefit of using the right equipment to make shearing easier. Most courses will run over two days and everybody who completes the course will be able to shear a sheep unaided afterwards. After that it is all about repetition, improving quality and speed.

2. Can anyone become a competition shearer?

The simple answer is yes, absolutely. It is not necessarily about strength so much as control and technique. Preparing to become a competition shearer will inevitably require attending some gear days to try out equipment and find the right comb suitable to the sheep you are likely to shear at the competition. I have always used Heiniger equipment and found that to be the best in the market. I advise beginners to go to New Zealand to get experience of shearing the same breed of sheep to help them perfect the pattern of how they tackle a sheep. In the UK we have so many breeds that

it is more difficult to learn. If that is not an option, then trying to shear the same breeds in similar conditions will help.

3. How long does it take to reach competition standard?

That depends on what level of competition you aspire to.

Most youngsters will start at junior level with local events and that is a great introduction to competitions. For those who want to put in the hours and sheep numbers, they may make it to Open level where the best shearers compete. At this level you can be selected to represent your country at an international level.

For junior and intermediate shearers that can manage shearing 200 or more sheep cleanly in a day, it is still important to go on training courses and attend as many events as possible to watch and see how other competitors operate. Even after all these years I am still learning.

4. How are competitions judged?

Competitors in events are judged on time, cleanliness and any double cutting of the wool. Points are deducted for every 20 seconds a competitor is behind the fastest time. Point deductions are made if too much wool is left on the sheep and penalties are applied if there are any skin cuts, although this is rare. There are also judges on the board keeping a close eye for any double cutting of the wool, shearers will be penalised for this as it de-values the wool for the producer.

5. Any tips?

There are different styles of shearing. I have quite an aggressive style, not towards the sheep but in my movements. Others are more relaxed and can achieve the same result in the same time. For younger shearers it is important not to think that winning competitions can occur overnight. It takes years of experience, by attending courses

and events each year to accrue more knowledge. Investing in better equipment and shearing as many sheep as possible will help long term and everyone will find their own rhythm and style over time.

Look after your equipment. Make sure your handpieces are

well looked after. Keeping your combs and cutters clean and kept in a dry environment to prevent any rusting. Make sure your gear is cutting properly, learn how to grind correctly. Lastly, wear the right clothing and footwear, purpose made shearing jeans and shearing moccasins.

Fly SeasonBlowfly Risk and How to Reduce It sheep

Changing weather patterns mean that the typical ‘flystrike season’ is starting earlier and lasting longer. It is important to prioritise fly control now and producers should be cautious of flystrike occurring earlier than normal.

Blowfly strike is a major problem in the sheep population causing welfare issues and impacting on loss of productivity. For fly eggs to be laid, a temperature of 9-10oC and rainfall or humidity is required e.g. a dirty backside. It is particularly common in areas such as the tail, back and footrot. It is painful and distressing for the animal. When a sheep has multiple infestations e.g. numerous flies laying eggs, then a wound is created, and the odour is attractive to other flies.

Having a fly control strategy in place is crucial

in managing the risk of blowfly. Avoid flies being attracted to your animals by minimising potential egg laying sites e.g. crutch dirty backends, treat wounds and manage and treat footrot. Also reduce exposure to flies by avoiding grazing near fly breeding sites.

Control of fly strike requires good management, in combination with preventative products. There are various prevention products available. Discuss with your vet which fly control options is best for your flock. Refer to the NADIS blowfly forecast to help predict risk and plan for timely treatment.

For further information on how to reduce and prevent flystrike, please read blowfly control in sheep at www.fas.scot/ article/blowfly-risk-andhow-to-reduce-it

2025 FlockCheck Scheme Uncovers High Levels of Toxoplasma Exposure Across UK Farms

Early results from the 2025 FlockCheck diagnostic scheme, run by MSD Animal Health, reveal that 80% of farms tested so far show exposure to the Toxoplasma gondii parasite1.

Since opening on 1st February for toxoplasmosis testing, 198 flocks have been tested to date. The results reflect trends seen in previous years, with most participating farms recording at least one animal testing positive for the disease.

In 2024, 80% of 382 sheep flocks tested showed exposure to toxoplasmosis, and 26% were found to have been exposed to enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE)2. A further 19.4% of flocks (74 in total) had been exposed to both pathogens.

These findings align with the latest analysis from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which highlights that between 2002 and 2019, toxoplasmosis and EAE were the two most common causes of sheep abortion in the UK3.

Although the lambing season is almost over on most farms, it’s not too late for farmers to get ewes tested for exposure, with blood tests taken after lambing helping identify potential exposure.

Dr Kat Baxter-Smith, veterinary adviser with MSD Animal Health, said: “It may not always be possible to test for the cause of abortion at the time, but when this isn’t an option, arrange to blood test any ewes that have aborted after lambing.”

She advised that farmers should monitor abortion levels, with up to 2% considered within normal limits. Anything above this threshold, especially alongside suspiciously low scanning results, should be investigated.

GB sheep farmers can take advantage of MSD Animal Health’s 2025 FlockCheck scheme, which subsidises blood testing for six to eight aborted, unvaccinated ewes—or for barren ewes or those producing weak lambs—until the end of June 2025.

“This subsidised service provides farmers with valuable insights into potential causes of early lamb losses,” Dr BaxterSmith added.

Dr Baxter-Smith also urges farmers to take a risk-based approach when deciding whether to vaccinate for toxoplasmosis and EAE but strongly recommends vaccination unless they operate a fully closed flock.

“The cost of vaccination for both toxoplasmosis and EAE can easily be offset by reducing future barren rates and abortion losses. Ideally, every ewe should be vaccinated before she breeds, given the widespread disease threat and the significant financial impact of infection.

“Non-pregnant ewes can be vaccinated anytime up until 3 weeks prior to tupping, but there’s no need to wait that late, with the summer providing an ideal opportunity to vaccinate,” she added.

Harnessing Genomics to Improve Sheep Breeding: Key Findings

By Dr. Emma McGowan, QMS Genetics Specialist

As the agricultural industry moves towards more sustainable and efficient practices, genomics is playing a crucial role in transforming sheep breeding. It’s not just about high-tech science— it’s about enabling farmers to breed better animals, reduce waste, and ultimately improve their profits. The Scottish red meat sector is already seeing the benefits of integrating genomics into breeding strategies, and the results are clear.

To further explore the impact of genomics, QMS has launched a new study in partnership with Signet Breeding Services focused on integrating genomic data and CT scanning to improve breeding decisions. This research examines the benefits of using genomic breeding values alongside phenotypic data to refine selection criteria for key traits such as muscle yield, growth rate, and carcass conformation. The study, conducted across several Scottish flocks, highlights how genomics can improve accuracy in genetic predictions and ultimately drive faster genetic gains. It also provides insights into how these technologies are helping farmers make more informed decisions, leading to greater profitability and reduced waste in commercial sheep systems.

Main Findings:

Genomic accuracy is higher than using phenotypic data alone.

Genomic breeding values can be applied even without phenotypic

Highland destocking threatens more than sheep production

says NSA at Highland Sheep 25

information, though they are most accurate when combined with it.

Improved breeding value accuracy can increase profitability and reduce waste in commercial sheep systems.

By increasing the accuracy of genetic predictions, genomics allows for better breeding decisions. This leads to faster finishing times and improved carcass quality, which ultimately boosts margins for farmers. With the ability to track and enhance genetic potential more accurately, the industry is making great strides toward long-term sustainability.

Several Scottish farmers participated in the study and provided valuable insights into how genomics has transformed their breeding practices. Roy Macfarlane of West Lecropt has been using genomic data since 2012, when he began sending Hampshire Down lambs to the CT scanner sponsored by QMS. “C.T. Scanning massively increases our accuracy values on our Tup lambs, giving us confidence in our selection of rams. We aim to sell rams that produce fast finishing lambs with excellent grades, and we’ve had great feedback from producers that we are doing just that,” Roy shared. His focus on improving muscle yield and carcass shape, particularly in the hind quarter of his rams, has helped drive the success of his breeding programme.

Wholesale flock removal from Highland Glens for carbon offsetting poses risks that extend beyond falling lamb production and declining sheep sales, warns NSA Scotland.

According to an exploratory survey of 51 Highland estates by NSA Scotland, many flocks have been completely removed, for either regenerative projects or forestry creation.

More than 50,000 breeding ewes have vanished, largely in the past decade, says NSA Scotland chairman Peter Myles.

Mr Myles said: “The figures are a stark reminder that money talks, and the rent upland sheep farming businesses can pay is insignificant compared to carbon offsetting income and cash for biodiversity net gain. It is worth noting that one flock on Skye gave up because of Sea Eagle predation.”

“We cannot blame the estate for wanting to diversify income and future-proof itself, it is government policy nationally and internationally that we question.”

On the positive side, Mr Myles noted that 12 of the estates had reduced sheep numbers, but had maintained a small flock, for example dropping from 1,000 ewes to 200.

“A smaller flock can deliver ecosystem services and keep farming skills alive, while fitting around a mosaic of upland habitats. It’s important to strike a balance, and running a smaller flock that can still help sequester carbon in grassland, create habitat for groundnesting birds and produce maternal genetics, nutritious food and sustainable fibre is far better than no livestock at all.”

Shrinking national flock Scotland’s national breeding flock contracted 3.7% last year to sit at 2.45 million. There were around 3 million breeding ewes in 1900, and one million fewer Scottish people to feed, we are at a record low said Mr Myles.

“Questions are being asked, as a sheep industry. How long will this decline continue? At what point will the trends to put sheep off and reduce flock numbers cease?”

For further information, please visit https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/webinars/

pigs

Scotland’s Pig Sector Drives Forward with National

PRRS Control and Biosecurity

Scotland’s pig industry is making coordinated progress in disease control and biosecurity, with over 160 farms now participating in a national Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) testing initiative and 76 farms undergoing detailed biosecurity assessments. This dual effort, funded by the Scottish Government and supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), forms part of the PRRS Control and Elimination of Swine Disease (PCES) project, managed by Wholesome Pigs (Scotland).

The initiative marks a major step forward in improving herd health, strengthening disease resilience, and building a clearer national picture of on-farm biosecurity strengths and risks. The PRRS work is creating the most robust dataset yet on disease prevalence and status, while the BioCheck. Urgent audits are offering timely insights into current practices and areas for improvement – both indoor and outdoor.

Dr David Strachan, PCES Veterinary Manager, said:

“This project shows what’s possible when industry and Government align around shared goals. We now have a solid foundation to tackle PRRS strategically, backed by science and shaped by farmers and vets on the ground.”

A new herd categorisation system has been introduced to reflect both vaccination and infection status, allowing for clearer planning and benchmarking at both farm and regional levels. Alongside this, three regional producer meetings held in March 2025 confirmed strong interest from pig farmers in creating local forums to guide future control strategies. These forums, once the PRRS mapping data is fully

analysed, will be producer-chaired and help tailor approaches to different risk regions.

Looking ahead, the remaining PRRS testing and BioCheck.ugent audits will be completed as part of the next project phase. Annual vet-led reviews will then help monitor progress and embed long-term improvements. To support onfarm teams, simple and practical resources – including posters – are also being developed to promote awareness and encourage behaviour change.

Andy McGowan, QMS Board member and Director of Wholesome Pigs (Scotland), added:

“At a time when threats like African Swine Fever remain just across the water, these individual farm assessments and data-driven insights are vital to protecting our national herd. It’s about giving

Programme

high-health areas and driving coordinated improvement where risk is higher.

Early findings show that Scottish farms compare well to European counterparts, though common risk areas have been identified that mirror trends seen internationally. The PCES team is also exploring a potential voluntary zoning scheme for PRRS, with the aim of protecting

Dr Strachan concluded: “We’re already seeing the benefits of this collaboration – practical vet-led work, Government backing and strong QMS coordination. Together, we’re setting Scotland’s pig sector on a clear path to stronger disease control, better biosecurity and future industry growth.”

Farm Management Key to Antibiotic Use Following Zinc Oxide Ban, Danish Study Finds

A sharp rise in antibiotic use on Danish pig farms following the ban on zinc oxide (ZnO) in 2022 is highlighting the crucial role of onfarm management in maintaining piglet health, according to new research1.

The study by the National Food Institute, due to be published in the July issue of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, tracked antimicrobial use (AMU) across Danish pig units in the months after ZnO was withdrawn. It found that AMU in weaners increased by 17% on farms that had previously

used ZnO, and even farms that hadn’t used ZnO saw a 19% rise—suggesting wider challenges linked to increased post-weaning diarrhoea and pathogen pressure.

The study covered between 45% and 70% of all Danish weaner pig farms annually, and up to 94% of finishing units. While some farms reported major issues with piglet health, others experienced little to no disruption—pointing to the importance of factors such as hygiene, housing, feeding, and weaning management.

Nigel Bennet, Livestock Area Manager for Northern Europe at biosecurity and hygiene specialists Roam Technology, says the impact of the ZnO ban is now being felt across many parts of Europe, including the UK.

“Zinc oxide almost acted like a sticky plaster—masking deeper issues in piglet health. Now that it’s gone, underlying problems such as post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) are surfacing, and they’re proving difficult to manage,” he explains.

“PWD doesn’t just affect piglet welfare—it has a knock-on effect

farmers and vets the tools to have focused conversations and take meaningful action.”

on growth rates, feed efficiency, and ultimately the economics of pig production. What we’re finding is that controlling it now requires a much more holistic strategy. Hygiene is absolutely central to that—from farrowing accommodation right through to weaning accommodation.”

The research backs this up: farms that moved pigs between sites after weaning saw AMU in finishers increase by 29% on average. Where pigs were transferred between farms owned by different producers, antibiotic use in weaners rose by around 10%. The findings suggest that multisite and fragmented production systems could be amplifying disease risks and treatment needs.

“This increase in AMU when pigs are moved is likely due to variations in biosecurity and hygiene standards between farms,” says Mr Bennet. “Some units will be operating tight all-in/all-out protocols, while others may not. That inconsistency allows disease to creep in—and that’s where

proper cleaning, disinfection, and pathogen reduction become vital tools.”

Interestingly, the study also found that farms with larger numbers of weaners tended to have lower AMU—likely due to greater investment in structured production flows and biosecurity infrastructure.

National Danish surveillance data (DANMAP) supports the study’s findings, noting a rise in the use of aminoglycosides— especially neomycin and apramycin—to treat E. colirelated diarrhoea post-ZnO. With growing resistance to neomycin, the pressure to reduce antibiotic reliance is intensifying. “The situation underscores the urgency of improving non-antibiotic disease control strategies,” adds Mr Bennet.

Mr Bennet believes that the UK could see similar trends to those reported in the study. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)2, antibiotic use in UK pigs rose to 85

mg/PCU in 2023, up from 72 mg/ PCU in 2022, though still lower than 2021 levels.

“We’re speaking to farmers every week who are battling PWD following the ban. There’s no single solution to help the situation—what’s needed is an integrated approach that spans nutrition, management, gut health and, critically, hygiene,” adds Mr Bennet.

From pig crisis to pulled pork pioneers: Oink celebrates 25 years

A MUCH-LOVED Scottish hog roast business famed for the freshly roasted pig visible from its three Edinburgh shop windows is celebrating a quarter century of roasting.

The prominent Oink shops celebrate just one product –the 14 hour slow-roasted pork, which available in three sizes of rolls, or in a box, with optional haggis stuffing, crackling, apple sauce or chilli sauce.

Founded by two Borders’ farming families off the back of the 1999 pig price crash, the brand, which has been copied around the world from China to Argentina, is targeting 2025 as being its record year, with an aim to surpass 250,000 rolls sold.

Adam Marshall, who cofounded Oink with Sandy Pate and farms land near Reston in Berwickshire, said: “When we

started out, we weren’t trying to build an empire — we were just two farmers trying to stay afloat during a tough time for the pig industry.

“We built our own ovens, turned up at farmers markets, and hoped people would give it a try. To still be here 25 years later, serving hundreds of thousands of rolls a year, is something we’re really proud of.

We’ve stuck to what we know, kept it simple, and done it our way. The fact people still queue up for it means a lot to us.”

The collaboration started when Adam Marshall and Sandy Pate founded Reiver Country Farm Foods and began selling produce from their farms and neighbours locally.

Then, inspired by what was believed to be the only hog roaster at the time, a business

in York, the entrepreneurial pair brought a homemade roasting oven and started venturing up to Castle Terrace to take part in the first established Edinburgh Farmers Market.

Their piping hot pulled pork rolls proved an instant crowdpleaser, attracting a growing band of hungry regulars, which paired with the demand from tourists, especially those from Asia and mainland Europe, then inspired the move to bricks and mortar in the Scottish capital.

Sandy Pate, who farms around 12 miles away from Adam in Longformacus, said: “We were just two mates with a passion for great meat and a desire to show city folk what Borders farming could deliver.

“We never imagined that a weekend stall would become something that would draw such

loyal customers from near and around the world.

“At the end of the day, it’s about making people happy with something that tastes brilliant – and diversifying our farming businesses to ensure a viable and prosperous future for our families.”

Rural Business Consultant awarded Controlled Environment Agriculture Fellowship

Anna Sellars, a Senior Rural Business Consultant at SAC Consulting (part of SRUC) has been awarded a fellowship to investigate business models for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in rural and island communities across the Highlands and Islands.

Commissioned by SEFARI Gateway on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Orkney Islands Council (OIC), the fellowship will review recent developments to CEA technologies applicable to the region and collect case studies of existing operations to understand business models, development, and routes to market. A practical business-oriented guide will also be produced to provide guidance on what to consider when setting up a CEA operation.

Controlled Environment Agriculture encompasses food production within structures such as polytunnels to vertical farms, including various smart technologies for monitoring and remote management of systems. They offer the potential to increase the variety and availability of locally produced crops in rural and island locations, as evidenced in

places such as Iceland, Finland, Norway, and North America.

Andrea McColl, Senior Development Manager at HIE said: “It’ll be great to see Anna’s work come to life via a practical guide for communities, social enterprises, and SMEs across the region to explore the potential of CEA, as well as recommending how we can best support businesses in this area.

“We are exploring the scope for CEA to support food security,

create jobs, support local food network development, enhance rural wellbeing, integrate with renewable energy generation, and generally support successful and sustainable economic and community development.

“This work supports HIE’s vision for the Highlands and Islands to be a leading net zero region with a dynamic economy, which benefits its growing population and makes a valued contribution to Scotland.”

Charles Bestwick, SEFARI Director said: “Anna brings a strong track record in rural economic development, with over eight years of experience in the agri-food sector and a deep understanding of sustainable land use and local food systems.

“Her work spans everything from assessing alternative crops to co-leading Scotland’s input to the UK Land Use for Net Zero Hub.

“With this wealth of expertise, and the support of SRUC’s wider team, we’re delighted the fellowship will deliver valuable insights to help rural and island communities harness the potential of CEA.”

Anna Sellars, Senior Rural Business Consultant at SAC Consulting, said: “CEA presents a huge opportunity for rural and island communities to enhance food security, support local economies and strengthen resilience in the face of climate and supply chain challenges.

“Through this fellowship, I will enjoy exploring community and business opportunities across the Highlands and Islands to identify practical, scalable models for CEA that can deliver long-term benefits and align with the region’s net zero and wellbeing ambitions.”

Scottish education charity launches campaign to raise £50k for children’s rural learning

The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) has launched its ambitious fundraising campaign KEEP RHET FREE, aiming to raise £50,000 by December to ensure that children across Scotland continue to access free, unbiased, high-quality rural and food education.

The campaign was launched at a food and farming day at

Bonnington Farm near Peebles last week (15 May), where close to 100 school children, farmers, teachers, and RHET supporters gathered to celebrate the handson learning that RHET has delivered for over 25 years.

The campaign was developed to support RHET to evolve and focus on securing a new rigorous,

long-term fundraising stream alongside Scottish Government funding.

“RHET is free for schools — but it’s not free to run,” said Katrina Barclay, RHET’s Executive Officer. “With rising costs and increasing demand, RHET needs to find new and robust funding streams to

continue its important work.”

Each year, RHET engages children through farm visits, classroom talks, and food education activities, helping young people understand where their food comes from and how the countryside works.

RHET Chairman, Hugh McClymont, says: “Every year,

Anna Sellars, Senior Rural Business Consultant at SAC Consulting

over 80,000 young people across Scotland experience something they’ll never forget thanks to the Royal Highland Education Trust.

“But without new avenues of support, these important experiences for children to learn about food, farming and the countryside could be at risk.

“I’m asking for individuals and businesses to dig deep and support a charity that makes a real and lasting difference in the lives of young people and supports vital storytelling for the agricultural industry.”

RHET’s goal is to give every child in Scotland the chance

to learn about food, farming, and the countryside, to create a wider understanding of the environmental, economic, and social aspects of rural Scotland.

“This is so much more than a school trip,” said Nicki Istephan, a local teacher from Peebles.

“RHET brings the curriculum to life. It helps children see the real world beyond the textbooks. It is important that our curriculum reflects our local community and provides the children with lifelong skills”

Every pound raised via the KEEP RHET FREE campaign goes directly to delivering rural

learning experiences across Scotland’s 12 RHET Countryside Initiatives.

To find out more, donate, or get involved, visit www.rhet.org. uk/keep-rhet-free.

National Lottery Community Fund Strengthens Farmstrong Scotland’s response to recent survey results with new series of events

The wellbeing charity for farmers and crofters, Farmstrong Scotland, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded £20,000 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The award will be used to expand the charity’s social wellbeing activities across the farming and crofting communities of Scotland, including holding more of the popular Walk & Talk events. These informal days are held on a farm or croft with interesting speakers, great food and offer the opportunity for attendees to connect with others in the industry.

Activities directly funded by this lottery award are already being planned, with a Walk & Talk confirmed for Bridgelands Farm in Selkirk on the 20 May, where the Dickie family will host an afternoon visit followed by a social BBQ.

Since they were launched last year, the Walk & Talks have taken place in Morayshire, The Highlands, The Isle of Bute, Dumfriesshire, and Angus, with all ages of the farming community attending to take part in activities such as fitness tutorials, farm tours,

and wild swimming. More are planned for May, June and July in Fife, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire.

Programme Director for Farmstrong, Alix Ritchie explained how important funding awards like this are for Scotland’s farmers and crofters, and the future of the industry overall:

“This funding will enable Farmstrong to expand its community engagement activities, something that is a core priority this year. From our evidence-based approach, Scottish farmers and crofters have consistently told us that having opportunities to get off farm and connect with others is one of the most effective ways of improving their wellbeing.”

“Our latest survey results, published just last month, revealed that 26% of those surveyed - 569 Scottish farmers and crofters - were specifically looking for further support in taking time off the farm or croft, and 36% reported that their balance between work and leisure had got worse over the previous 12 months.

“This timely support will strengthen our capacity to respond to the results of our survey, where there is clearly a

demand for these types of social events.”

The National Lottery Community Fund is designed to support social connections and community activities which it believes are “at the heart of creating healthier, happier lives and a flourishing society.”

“Farmstrong Scotland is a brilliant example of a peer-to-peer led action, designed by and for the people it supports – farmers and crofters,” said The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still. “At The National Lottery Community Fund, we’re proud to back projects like this that empower people to take positive steps towards

improving health and wellbeing in their communities.”

The award will be matchfunded by Movember, as part of their commitment to double all funds raised by and for Farmstrong during 2025 up to the value of £350,000, thus increasing the impact and wellbeing opportunities for farmers and crofters in Scotland.

The upcoming Farmstrong events can all be found at www. farmstrongscotland.org.uk/events

If you are interested in hosting an event for Farmstrong, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Clare Dickson, Community Engagement Specialist, at hello@ farmstrongscotland.org.uk.

Engagement is key at Tardoes Farm, Muirkirk

By Cora Cooper - WiAS Vice Chair

It’s so important to engage out with our circles to highlight the many positives that agriculture can and is already delivering. So far this year I have enjoyed and learned a lot from engaging in different ways about farming. It has been a busy year already!

I am a full-time farmer, mum of 3, Vice Chair of WIAS, NFFN Scotland Steering group member, NFUS ELU committee member and member of QMS Climate and Nature Leadership group.

and how we are key in tackling nature and climate emergency and encourage Scottish Labour to support us to do so.

In February I was part of the panel at RSPB Scotland’s event with NFFN at the Scottish Labour Conference. A very important opportunity to represent farming

In March I had the pleasure of speaking at a QMS event for International Womens Day. QMS had put together a fantastic group of female foodie social media influencers to showcase

the quality of the Make It Scotch brands. I was blown away with how supportive and uplifting the room of women were. It was an amazing opportunity to connect with the women who champion the Make It Scotch brand to consumers. Before having a masterclass from chef Bethany Ferguson, I spoke to the women

Committee meeting

about our farming system and just how interconnected nature and farming are. On our farm there is room for both sheep and nature to thrive. That livestock farming is delivering benefits to the Scottish landscape we all know and love.

In April I attended the RHASS Presidential Initiative at the Scottish Parliament for Solutions to Net Zero. It was fantastic to see the turnout of MSPs who attended and how RHASS have been proactively demonstrating the ways in which agriculture is part of the solution to the challenges of net zero. Having the opportunity to briefly speak about our system at the event as a female in agriculture demonstrates how supportive the industry can be to women.

I also had the opportunity to speak to the Conservative Rural cluster on an online meeting, squeezed in between the nursery drop off and pick up. Online meetings can offer connection from rural locations whilst managing the juggle of the farm and parenting young children.

In April, after an article about sheep farming appeared in The Times, I had the opportunity to speak with the author of the article on the Farmgate podcast. It’s important to have opportunities to discuss different views in a constructive and positive manner. The podcast allowed me to champion the positives that sheep farming can deliver in nature recovery.

In May I represented NFUS and NFFN in a bracken management workshop hosted by the James Hutton Institute. An excellent opportunity for me to communicate the challenges and practical reality of the impact of bracken, which affects so much of Scotland.

Knowledge transfer can be a fantastic way of learning and meeting people. This year we hosted another Pasture for Life farm tour about how we utilise grazing in protected landscapes

to optimise biodiversity and deliver for our business.

Last month we hosted a visit from NatureScot. This was a key opportunity to collaborate and offer insight into our adaptive sheep mob rotational grazing system. We were involved in the NatureScot biodiversity pilot app (Farm Biodiversity Scotland).

To have the people involved in the app coming out on farm to discuss how to make it both effective and easy for farmers shows how keen organisations are to engage.

Recently we had the pleasure of hosting the Director of ARE George Burgess for a farm visit and Minister Jim Fairlie is scheduled to visit this month.

You will not get a more engaged group of people with real practical on the ground experience of the current conditions in Scotland than Scottish farmers. By being proactive we can be positively included in wider nature and climate discussions and policy.

Inviting policy makers out on farm is something that we can all get involved with and provides vital on the ground insight of Scottish farming today. Standing in a field of ewes and lambs with the haunting curlew call echoing over the hills and lapwing’s peewit chattering leaves a lingering positive memory far outliving that of any email.

Upcoming dates for the diary

Teasses Estate, Leven tour and lunch Friday 18th July 2025

Ayrshire event with a floral twist. Date TBC

Walk and talk at Rothiemurchus Estate, Aviemore 28th July 2025

Saughland Farm visit 7th September 2025

To keep up to date or become a member please visit https:// womeninagriculturescotland. com/membership/

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Scotland The Brand

Increased Interest in Scottish Orchards

By Ruth Watson

Orchards are making a return across Tayside, as people realise both the importance of home-grown apples for food security as well as the value of fruit trees for the wide range of qualities they bring to a space. Catherine Drummond-Herdman owns Megginch Castle which is home to the Scottish National Cider Apple, and Scottish National Heritage Apple and Pear Collections, including 33 heritage apples and pears for table use, as well as a staggering 480 varieties of cider apples.

Apple trees live for a few productive decades but pears? These remarkable trees can live for an incredible 400 years. Many ancient trees have been found growing in gardens which once were part of the vast tracts of lands owned by the abbeys. The area around Newburgh, including the Carse of Gowrie, long famous for its fruit production, and Jedburgh are two examples. The grounds were sold off long ago but the trees which grew in those orchards still

can be found in people’s back gardens – many of whom are unaware of the long history behind the tree which has been bearing fruit for generations until a diligent researcher comes to their door.

Now, work is being done to identify and rescue the last of Scotland’s ancient pear trees before they reach the end of their very long lives. Last year, the charity ‘Orchard Revival’ carried out a Scotland-wide survey to map the location and determine the condition of the orchards across the country, with the aim of creating a National Orchard Inventory for Scotland.

There is increasing interest among commercial growers in developing Scottish orchards once more, something which could see added resilience to supply chains, and offer more interesting ranges of fruit if our heritage varieties become popular once more.

Ruth Watson is the founder of the Keep Scotland the Brand campaign.

Ruth Watson is the founder of the Keep Scotland the Brand campaign

Scottish Land & Estates responds to Scottish Land Commission’s 2025 land market report

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has issued the following response to the Scottish Land Commission’s Rural Land Market Insights Report 2025, which explores trends in land sales across Scotland.

Stephen Young, Director of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“This latest report provides a useful snapshot of activity in Scotland’s rural land market, drawing on insight from agents and property professionals.

“However, we remain seriously concerned by the Scottish Land Commission’s continued interpretation of the findings. Year after year, regardless of whether market

activity is rising or falling, the Commission uses the report to argue for further legislative intervention.

“In 2023, then-chair Andrew Thin cited rising demand and prices as evidence of a ‘pressing need for action’, including the measures proposed in the Land Reform Bill.

“Now, despite the 2025 report indicating a continued fall in demand—particularly outside the farmland sector— the same conclusion is drawn. This suggests a pre-determined narrative that risks undermining meaningful understanding of market dynamics.

“According to the Scottish Government’s own data, community ownership continues

to increase steadily, with assets rising from 663 in 2020 to 840 in 2023, now covering more than 200,000 hectares. This growth has occurred without the punitive and frankly unworkable proposals being pursued in the Land Reform Bill, such as lotting and prior notification.

“While interest from forestry and natural capital buyers has undoubtedly cooled, farmland transactions remain steady. It is crucial that policymakers take a long-term view, rather than using temporary fluctuations as a rationale for sweeping reform, particularly when the report itself acknowledges that the Land Reform Bill is already acting as a disincentive in the estate sales market.

“The constant uncertainty created by the relentless pursuit of land reform is now actively hindering transactions at a time when the Scottish Government says its aim is to reduce the concentration of ownership. To be clear, this is also impacting on investment in rural Scotland, something which is desperately needed.

“More broadly, this climate of uncertainty undermines the sustainability of rural businesses and communities already facing serious challenges, including depopulation, limited employment opportunities, and economic fragility. Rather than perpetuating instability, government policy should focus on enabling longterm investment and resilience in rural Scotland.”

Well-Groomed Hedges Now Simpler and More Cost-Effective with Rotary Hedgecutter

Professional contractors, Hatts Group, are enhancing presentation quality while cutting operational costs, thanks to the Major MJ39 Rotary Hedge Cutter.

Handling over 10,000 acres of hedge maintenance annually demands high-performance

equipment. The Hatts Group, managed by Benny Hattersley, son of founder Paul Hattersley, has built a reputation for quality service across high-profile contracts—from highways and military bases to equestrian estates and solar farms.

Client expectations for a cleaner, more professional hedge finish led Benny to seek alternatives to traditional flail heads, which left excessive debris and posed risks, especially near car parks. “There had to be a better solution,”

Benny explained. “When I saw the Major MJ39 Rotary Hedge Cutter, I knew it was exactly what we needed—and we haven’t been disappointed.”

The Hatts Group installed the MJ39-143 model onto their self-propelled Energreen

unit. Its 1.45m hydraulic deck, requiring only 36hp and 80 lpm of oil flow, offers a durable build using Strenx 700MC steel and Hardox® skids. The galvanised finish protects against corrosion, extending the cutter’s service life.

The MJ39 features two counter-rotating rotors with mulching blades that produce a fine residue, leaving a polished hedge in just one pass. With fewer moving parts than flail systems, it’s simpler and cheaper to maintain.

“The quiet operation and clean results are gamechanging,” Benny noted. “Flail heads are noisy, leave a mess and require several passes to get a suitable finish. That’s no longer an issue.”

Fuel efficiency is another major benefit. “We’re saving 250 litres of fuel weekly—around £180-£200—even with our Energreen, which typically uses more fuel than tractors,” Benny said. Maintenance is minimal,

requiring just basic greasing and blade touch-ups twice a week.

The MJ39 also handles twoinch branches with ease, and its blades are durable and easy to replace. Installation through

local dealer Farols took just 30 minutes.

“The performance has been so impressive, we plan to expand our fleet with more MJ39 units,” Benny added. “We highly recommend this machine to councils and contractors aiming to boost efficiency and professionalism. It’s clear that flail heads can’t keep up with what the Major Rotary Hedge Cutter offers.”

NFU Scotland welcomes publication of Crofting Bill

Awaited legislation aimed at simplifying crofting policy introduced to Holyrood

NFU Scotland has welcomed the publication of the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. This was a long-awaited piece of legislation which NFU Scotland hopes will mark an important step forward for the crofting sector.

Introduced to Holyrood on 2nd June, NFU Scotland engaged extensively with the Crofting Bill Group on the lead up to the Bills publication. It was hoped this close dialogue ensured real concerns and experiences of working crofters are reflected in proposals now brought forward. The Bill is in two parts. The first, proposed changes to crofting law, including to the Crofting Commission, common grazing and the Crofting Register. The second, aims to merge Scottish

Land Court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland, in the hope of simplifying the entire process.

Leading on the Union’s engagement on the Bill, Rural Business Policy Manager Rhianna Montgomery, was hopeful this is a positive development for crofting. She said: “Crofting has always been a vital part of Scotland’s rural and cultural fabric, from maintaining biodiversity to supporting resilient rural communities. Any crofting policy should support those who work the land and should be easy to navigate.

“As with any legislation, the detail matters. Over the coming weeks, myself and the wider NFU Scotland team plan to review the Bill and

consult crofting members in the process.”

While close inspection of the Bill has only just commenced, initial reflections welcomed provisions to streamline assignations to family members.

Miss Montgomery added: “Transferring crofts, particularly within families, has been a source of frustration and unnecessary delay, for far too long. Making that process easier is not only fairer, but was also critical to secure the future of crofting through succession planning.

“This publication represents a positive development for crofting law. We look forward to working closely with MSPs and stakeholders in the coming months, ensuring this Bill works for our members.”

Clarity on enhanced greening requirements for farmers welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates

Clarity provided to farmers following the Scottish Government’s confirmation of new Enhanced Greening rules, set to take effect from 2026 as part of its Agricultural Reform Programme, has been welcomed by rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE).

The Enhanced Greening payment, which will supplement the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), is designed to support agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and environment. The changes are a key step in the government’s commitment to delivering a tiered system of support for sustainable farming.

Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser – Agriculture & Climate Change at SLE, said: “We’re pleased that farmers now have clarity on what they will need to do for next year’s greening payments as we transition to the full implementation of the Tier system.

“While the removal of previous exemptions will bring more holdings and land area into greening eligibility – requiring some farmers to make changes to their plans – it also provides a clear direction of travel for this policy. That will help farmers plan for 2026 and gives a strong indication of where things will be from 2027.

“Having committed to agricultural policies that support sustainable and regenerative practices, this is a clear step in that direction. We believe that sustainable farming is the only viable route to achieving a resilient and prosperous future for the sector and the changes being introduced for 2026 are the right place to start.”

The Enhanced Greening payment will remain at around 30% of the full BPS payment, and eligibility will be assessed

at a business level, based on land claimed under a Single Application Form. While inspections will be introduced to ensure compliance, the scheme aims to reward practices that actively contribute to climate and environmental goals.

Ms Kay also emphasised the importance of flexibility in the government’s future support structure.

Eleanor added: “As government continues to develop Tiers 2 and 3 for 2027, we strongly urge that these policies remain flexible and accessible – particularly for farmers already adopting innovative

approaches that don’t always align with rigid requirements. That includes farmers using fence-less collars for adaptive grazing, those monitoring bird activity in hedgerows to adjust management practices, and others using breed selection to outwinter livestock in harmony with nature. These approaches often deliver outcomes that match or exceed expectations, and farmers using them must not be left behind.”

“We also urge government to provide farmers with ample time to prepare for the further changes expected in 2027 and beyond. Early information will be critical for those seeking to take advantage of tools like the Future Farming Investment Fund, to make the most of Whole Farm Plan insights, and to access the Farm Advisory Service for tailored support.”

MSPS urged to rethink Land Reform Bill as they face critical decision point

Parliamentarians called on to embrace Deputy First Minister’s support for rural estates

Rural estates and farming businesses are urging politicians to rethink proposed land reform measures as the Land Reform Bill reaches a critical ‘make-or-break’ stage - warning they will result in lasting damage to Scotland’s rural economy.

As the Bill enters Stage 2 of the parliamentary process, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, called on MSPs to embrace the fulsome support Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes gave to rural estates only last week for their key role in delivering for people, jobs and nature.

SLE says the Bill as it stands is unworkable and will punish businesses across the rural sector.

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The Deputy First Minister could not have been clearer in her recognition of the important contribution of rural estates, stating ‘your success is our success’. She also said it was vital that Government listened to the concerns of these businesses that are providing jobs, housing, food, energy, tourism and leisure as well as tackling climate change. Now is the hour for MSPs to listen and rescue the Land Reform Bill.”

The Bill has previously been subject to significant criticism, with the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport (NZET) Committee stating that Part 1 of the Bill in particular

“risks not delivering, with its approach seen as potentially burdensome and bureaucratic.”

Mrs Laing continued: “The Bill is now entering a critical make-or-break phase where government and politicians either address the fundamental problems with the legislation –or double down and create havoc for Scotland’s rural economy and communities.

“With more than 500 amendments tabled at Stage 2, it’s clear the original Bill was poorly conceived—a view echoed by the parliamentary committee tasked with scrutinising it. Yet alarmingly, some MSPs appear intent on deepening confusion rather than providing clarity, pushing for measures that would only increase the burden on rural businesses.”

A key role for Grouse moorland

Grouse moor management has played a key role in creating and maintaining our upland landscape, preserving and improving heather habitat and peatland, sustaining some of our rarest plants and wildlife, and promoting biodiversity.

Grouse are a wild bird and, unlike pheasants and partridges, their population is not maintained or increased by the release of birds which have been handreared. Living on the moor all year round, red grouse are territorial and travel very little during their lives, and with the right conditions can breed prolifically. However, as ground nesting birds, they are particularly vulnerable to predators, disease, weather, and loss of suitable habitat, which makes the preservation of this unique species both demanding, and of considerable importance.

Heather moorland in the UK is internationally important and it is widely recognised that grouse shooting has helped preserve it. Those calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting need to set out a viable, alternative vision for our uplands. The International

Union for the Conservation of Nature has identified the three dimensions to the core of mainstream sustainability as being environmental, social and economic. All three need to be addressed by anyone wanting to see a change to the status quo, and any alternative land use needs to be at least as beneficial as that currently in place.

It is because of their management for grouse shooting that more than 60 percent of England’s upland Sites of Special Scientific Interest are managed grouse moors, and over 40 percent have also been designated as Special Protection Areas for rare birds and Special Areas of Conservation for rare vegetation under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

The theory and practice of modern gamekeeping is focused on conservation and a respect for biodiversity. Modern gamekeepers are expected to have undertaken formal apprenticeships or college courses, gain practical qualifications, and attend bestpractice courses.

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Nick Hesford appointed Director of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) in Scotland

Dr Nick Hesford has been appointed Director of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) in Scotland

Having started his GWCT journey spending a year as a BSc student in 2010, Nick joined GWCT’s Uplands Research team in 2017 with a PhD in Biodiversity and Community Ecology and has worked on a variety of both English and Scottish projects, including research on red and black grouse, capercaillie and wading birds and most notably has led on GWCT research projects on mountain hares in Scotland.

Having previously worked for both ecological consultancies and rewilding charities, he has helped deliver practical conservation and habitat restoration at landscape scale.

He took over as Interim Director of GWCT Scotland in January this year and was appointed to the post full time on 12 May.

Nick says: “I’m honoured to take on the role of Director for GWCT in Scotland.

“Ever since I first joined the Trust as a placement student in 2010, where I worked on red-legged partridge and pheasants with GWCT’s Dr Rufus Sage and Dr Roger Draycott, I’ve been inspired by GWCT’s commitment to delivering science-based conservation in working landscapes. It’s a real privilege to now be leading such a passionate and knowledgeable team.

“Scotland has a distinct political landscape and its own unique ecosystems, this combination means Scotland’s countryside is facing increasingly complex environmental challenges. I’m thrilled to be in a position to help drive forward our work to support both biodiversity and sustainable land management.”

Nick von Westenholz, CEO of the GWCT, says:

“Nick’s appointment followed a rigorous process open to both internal and external candidates and, following considerable interest in the role, I am delighted that we were able to make an appointment quickly.

“Nick knows the Trust inside out having worked for both our research and our advisory arms and has headed up our Advisory Service in Scotland for the last two years. I very much look forward to working with him as our presence in Scotland develops under his leadership there.”

Nick lives in the Scottish Borders where he enjoys training and working gundogs and other sporting pursuits.

Dr Nick Hesford

land & property

Exceptional farm property with coastal frontage and holiday let business for sale on Sanday, Orkney

Galbraith is pleased to bring to the market Backaskaill Farm, offering a rare opportunity to acquire a diverse farm with significant lifestyle and commercial potential on the picturesque island of Sanday within the Orkney archipelago.

Extending to approximately 311 acres (125.8 hectares), Backaskaill Farm includes a beautifully restored, B-listed traditional farmhouse and an adjoining one-bedroom cottage.

Backaskaill Farmhouse has been tastefully renovated to a luxury standard and currently operates as a 5-star holiday let, offering spacious and elegant accommodation over two storeys. There is a well maintained garden with a summer house which has been adapted for use as a home spa.

Adjoining the farmhouse, the charming one-bedroom cottage is also part of the successful selfcatering business, making this a rare dual-income opportunity in an idyllic location.

The selling agents at Galbraith Aberdeen said:

“Beyond its agricultural and commercial appeal, Backaskaill Farm’s most striking feature is its extraordinary beachfront location. Just steps from the front door, miles of pristine sand and dramatic coastline provide unparalleled access to nature, wildlife and water sports.

“Backaskaill will appeal to a wide range of buyers – those seeking a productive agricultural holding, an established tourism venture, or simply a new way of life immersed in the beauty of Scotland’s northern isles.”

The farm comprises high quality grass and arable land, currently run under a diversified and environmentally conscious farming system.

The land ranges from sea level up to about 40 metres above sea level and according to the James Hutton Institute is primarily classified as Grades 4(2) and Grade 5(2). Ideal for livestock, the land is in good heart having been farmed in a grass rotation with cereal and swede breaks in recent years.

A well equipped range of traditional and modern buildings supports agricultural operations, with potential for further development (subject to consents). For those buyers looking for more land beyond the initial 311 acres, there is

Island of

additional farmland available by separate negotiation.

The Orkney Islands is an archipelago comprising about 70 islands situated some ten miles north of the Scottish mainland. The islands have been inhabited for at least 8,500 years, originally occupied by Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes and then by the Picts. At the heart of Neolithic Orkney is the village of Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Maeshowe passage grave and the Ring of Brodgar which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Orkney also

has an abundance of marian and avian wildlife.

Sanday is the largest of Orkney’s outer islands and is well known for its rich, agricultural land and outstanding livestock as well as its stunning coastal scenery. With a vibrant island community, good transport links, and excellent schooling and amenities, Backaskaill Farm offers a rare opportunity for those seeking a transformative, life enhancing change.

Backaskaill Farm is for sale through Galbraith at a Guide Price of £1,200,000.

dreams. Properties being brought to market

by DM Hall’s rural specialists which can fulfil a wide variety of ambitions

Arran farm properties are a rare opportunity to acquire significant land holdings with potential for income generating assets.

It is not often that properties which could fulfil the dreams of so many different people become available, especially on a stunning

Scottish island to which visitors flock for its unrivalled beauty and dramatic vistas.

That is the countryside gem

which is being brought to market by the rural services division of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors in a spectacular position on the outskirts of Brodick on the attractive and perennially popular Isle of Arran.

Burnbank Farm and West Glensherraig Farm is a rare offering, and is only on offer because the family who have grazed animals and exercised stewardship of the rolling hills and glens for generations are now retiring from the farming sector.

This creates a unique opportunity. Some 400,000 people come off the ferry to visit the island each year, swelling the local population 100-fold.

Burnbank Farm & West Glensherraig Farm are a viable agricultural enterprise, a traditional working farm with additional income from a portfolio of established longterm and previously short-term let properties.

Jennifer Campbell, of DM Hall, who is leading the marketing initiative along with joint agents Watermans, said: “This is a truly a dream location – tranquil rolling countryside, but just five minutes’ drive from the bustling Brodick Ferry Terminal.

“Everything about it is special. There are two farms, wonderful grazing land, and seven established properties in excellent condition.

“There is a reason people are queuing up to find property on Arran. It is a wonderful place to live, work or start a business and Burnbank Farm and West Glensherraig Farm provide the opportunity to realise a myriad of opportunities.”

The property is being offered in three lots or as a whole: Lot 1 is Burnbank Farm, a high amenity property comprising good grazing land in a scenic and tranquil position with a

land & property

principal residence, presented in immaculate order, two twobedroom holiday let cottages, a one-bedroom house, kennels, shed and garden ground, in all approximately 6.79 Ha (16.78 acres). Offers over £825,000.

Lot 2 is West Glensherraig Farm, comprising a three-bedroom farmhouse, a two-bedroom cottage, sheds, steading and land extending in all to approximately

64 Ha (158 acres). Offers over £750,000.

Lot 3 is land to the south of the B880, the country road known as the String, which bisects the island. It is approximately 532.95 Ha (1316.95 acres) and houses a bothy which sleeps two. Offers over £1,200,000.

As a whole, offers over £2,775,000 are invited.

Owner-occupied croft with spectacular views of the Dornoch Firth

Galbraith is launching to the market 9 Ardmore, a charming, owner-occupied croft set in an outstanding coastal location on the edge of Edderton, approximately seven miles northwest of Tain.

Extending to about 52.39 acres (21.2 hectares), this productive unit enjoys sweeping views over the Dornoch Firth and surrounding countryside.

Rod Christie, partner at Galbraith, said: “9 Ardmore is a wonderful package with some excellent quality pasture ground and two useful outbuildings. The land is easily worked and has good road access ensuring it will be of interest to a wide range of buyers.”

Classified as Grade 3.2 by the James Hutton Institute, the land is registered croft land (Register No. R1267) and comprises wellproportioned paddocks of quality grazing pasture.

As owner-occupied croft land, the purchaser would assume

crofting responsibilities under the Crofting Acts, including active land management and residence within 32 kilometres of the croft.

Served by mains-fed water troughs and rising gently from 2m to 8m above sea level, the croft is ideally suited for livestock grazing and small scale agricultural enterprise.

The holding benefits from a practical range of buildings, including a traditional harled stone outbuilding, a Dutch barn, and a livestock handling system, all located within a central yard area.

A modern steel portal-framed shed with mains water sits to the east, with an unconnected underground electricity cable in place. Mains electricity and water are connected to the other buildings.

With easy access from a public road, this croft combines rural seclusion with

convenience, making it highly desirable for those seeking a lifestyle or agricultural venture in the Highlands. The land is IACS registered and offers potential for future agricultural support schemes.

Ross-shire is known for its beautiful coastline, varied countryside, dry climate and fertile farmland and it offers all the benefits of living in a peaceful, unspoilt region.

Tain has a good range of shops and amenities including major supermarkets, a railway station and schooling up to secondary level.

Inverness is less than an hour’s drive and has all the facilities of a modern city as well as an airport with regular flights to the South and Europe.

9 Ardmore is for sale through Galbraith for Offers

Over £285,000.

Five million trees and counting: UK farmers play key role in reaching landmark treeplanting milestone

Farmers and landowners have been key contributors to a groundbreaking initiative that has planted five million trees across Britain’s countryside, helping to combat climate change and transform the landscape.

In January 2020 the Woodland Trust and Lloyds Banking Group embarked on a transformational 10-year partnership to plant 10 million native trees by 2030.

This year marks a significant milestone in this journey, with five million trees now planted—a target achieved with the support of around 3,700 farmers and landowners by the end of 2024.

Ben Makowiecki, agricultural sustainability director at Lloyds Banking Group, says this success reflects farming’s commitment to building a more sustainable future.

“The agricultural sector is in a period of turbulence which will undoubtedly bring a great deal of change.

“However, the need to decarbonise the sector to help mitigate the impact of climate change is not likely to alter, particularly with the NFU’s 2040 carbon neutral target for the industry still in progress,” says Mr Makowiecki.

Tree planting has been supported through the MOREwoods and MOREhedges schemes, which are designed to make planting accessible and cost-effective. Under the partnership, Lloyds Banking Group and the Woodland Trust have provided the trees, funding and expert advice to farmers and landowners nationwide.

“Reaching the halfway mark is a great achievement, but now we’re looking ahead. We want to encourage even more farmers and landowners to consider how integrating trees and hedgerows

can form part of their transition to a lower carbon future,” adds Mr Makowiecki.

The MOREhedges scheme is available to landowners that commit to planting at least 100m of hedging to accompany existing woodland. For those that can make this commitment, the scheme covers up to 75% of the cost. The MOREwoods scheme is open to anyone looking to plant at least 500 trees on at least half a hectare.

“The role of farmers in shaping a greener, more resilient landscape cannot be overstated. “Planting trees and hedgerows delivers benefits beyond climate mitigation, from helping to reduce soil erosion and supporting flood management, to providing habitats for pollinators and other beneficial species, as well as enhancing livestock grazing.

“By participating in these schemes, farmers are not only contributing to national

environmental goals, but also enhancing the long-term productivity and sustainability of their own businesses,” concludes Mr Makowiecki.

For those looking to futureproof their land while making

a meaningful environmental impact, now is the time to act.

To find out how to get involved, check eligibility, and apply for funding and planting support, visit: MOREWoods and MOREHedges.

Forest learning at schools and nurseries shines at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2025

The transformation of a wood near a primary school and learning in a local forest saw success in the Schools and Early Years categories at the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2025.

Hargate Primary School in Haugh of Urr, near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, was the winner of the Crown Estate Scotland Schools’ Trophy.

A pupil-led Eco Committee decided they needed to improve the use of Daniel’s Wood, close

forestry

to the school, and enhance its biodiversity.

With the help of the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands initiative they planted 40 native trees –hazel and hawthorn – which created a windbreak / sitting area which offers increased shelter for their activities, including a fire circle. Work to manage the space, including cutting back canopy is continuing, with parents involved.

There are have been weekly sessions for school classes and Dumfries & Galloway Outdoor & Woodland Learning has delivered four school and one family outdoor maths session in the woods.

Selkirk High School was the runner-up in the Schools award, just a step away from the win they enjoyed last year.

Pupils helped conserve a protected grassland habitat in Selkirk and planted a mile-long hedgerow of native plants, to help create new habitats for wildlife and reduce the risk of soil erosion.

Meanwhile, the winners of the Alba Trees Early Years’ Trophy was West Johnstone ELCC, in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

They use a local forest as a learning space where children are encouraged to immerse themselves in nature.

The nursery fosters a great connection to the wider family network by promoting family forest bags and family forest days. This allows learning, exploring and many other positive impacts of being in local woodlands to extend into evenings and weekends and involve the wider community.

The children are encouraged to play adventurously, tapping into a rich potential for imaginative, creative and stimulating symbolic play. Their forest experiences develop a rich and intimate personal relationship between each individual child and nature.

The aim is for the children to “develop a sense of wonder” for their natural world and value their place in it.

Glenburgh Nursery in Rutherglen, Glasgow, was the runner-up in the Early Years’ category.

Due to limited garden space within their setting, and most of the

children living in flats with little or no garden, the nursery recognised that outdoor learning had to be a strong focus.

They then used a renovated area of derelict land near the nursery to set up a Forest School where children are encouraged to plant, enjoy fires and even view a foxes’ den.

As well as the trophies, there was £500 for each of the winning school and early years entries, and the winners received a magnifying post provided by Caledonia Play. A special Tree Pack for winners and runners-up was also donated by Alba Trees containing trees for planting or tree growing kits. Each winning school and early years entry also received a certificate and a special commemorative wooden display plaque recording their achievement.

Another six categories – New Native Woods, Farm Woodland, Quality Timber, Community Woodlands, Urban Forestry and Climate Change Champion – will be awarded later in the year when we anticipate the main Awards Ceremony will take place during National Tree Week. Winners and guests will be invited nearer the time.

In order for judging and the presentation of awards to take place within the current school year, the Schools and Early Years Awards announcements were made this week.

Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “The range of entries for Schools and Early Years categories was astounding this year and our winners had some tough competition.

“A love of trees, woodland and forestry in children is vital if we are going to win the fight against climate change. The little roots we see in these awards will hopefully grow strong branches as we all approach the future.

“We now look forward to December and the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards at the Scottish Parliament during National Tree Week, when we hope to welcome the Schools and Early Years winners, along with those who have shone in all the other categories.”

Timber transport boost

Five new projects which will reduce the impacts of timber transport on communities and improve the transport infrastructure are being funded by Scottish Forestry.

£900,000 has been allocated to the projects which include upgrades to existing fragile rural roads, creating passing places or building new in-forest routes to take timber traffic away from people’s homes.

A further £1.1 million has already been committed to funding on-going initiatives including the TimberLINK coastal shipping project, a three-year electric timber lorry trial and a network of Regional Timber Transport officers across Scotland.

The new road infrastructure projects, which are all cofunded through partnerships with Council’s or other public or private bodies, are spread across Argyll & Bute, Angus, Barhill and Stirling regions.

The TimberLINK project operates from Argyll using ships instead of timber lorries to move 75,000 tonnes of timber each year to stateof-the-art wood processors in Ayrshire. On average, this service avoids around 4,000 lorry journeys and reduces emissions by 1,700 tonnes per annum.

The three-year electric timber lorry trial (EV Timhaul) is nearing its second year in operation with both companies, James Jones and Sons (Lockerbie) and Scotlog Shipping (Inverness), becoming advocates for fleet electrification.

The network of Regional Timber Transport Groups and the Timber Transport Forum will also continue to be funded. These groups and staff provide a critical liaison between communities, local authorities, the forestry industry, and Scottish Forestry to assist with timber transport issues.

Dr William Clark, Scottish Forestry’s Forest Transport & Innovation Advisor said:

“The Strategic Timber Transport Scheme has been reducing the impacts of timber haulage on Scotland’s communities for 25 years.

“Over 600 projects have been supported in this time, reducing the impacts of over 1 billion tonnes of timber transport on communities and the environment”.

All the projects under the Strategic Timber Transport Fund are co-funded by the local authorities or public and private partnerships.

New chair at Scotland’s Finest Woods to champion people, passion, innovation and success

Scotland’s Finest Woods is pleased to announce Wilma Harper has been selected as its new chair.

A Chartered Forester and Chartered Environmentalist, Wilma has been a trustee of Scotland’s Finest Woods since June 2017 and replaces Guy Watt who has been a Trustee since 2009 and served as chair for three years.

Wilma has held senior positions across the Forestry Commission, and is a former President of both the Institute of Chartered Foresters and the Royal Scottish Forestry Society – a role she will step down from later this year. She has also held non-executive roles with TWIC, the local record centre for

South East and Central Scotland, and the National Biodiversity Network.

Scotland’s Finest Woods runs a prestigious annual Awards ceremony, covering a diverse range of land use. This year, the awards ceremony is planned for the Scottish Parliament during National Tree Week in early December, with a deadline for entries of May 31.

Wilma said: “The diversity of Scotland’s trees, woodlands and forests is something to behold and being chair of Scotland’s Finest Woods allows me to champion the great work going on.

“I am continually impressed by the amazing people who are passionate about all types of woodland and forestry, and make

them places of innovation and success.

“There is a lot we do to promote this fantastic work, not least the annual Awards – currently applications are coming in for this year. If you work in a wood that is one of Scotland’s finest you still have time to apply for the 2025 Awards.

“It has also been very heartening to see the importance of the Awards being increasingly recognised and the financial support that has been provided by the Scottish Government and commercial companies, as well as our supporters. It is very much appreciated.”

Glennon Brothers to sponsor Scotland’s Finest Woods’ New Commercial Woodland Award

Glennon Brothers group has given its backing to the Award in the Quality Timber category as part of their dedication to high standards of forestry practice and the importance of commercial woodlands to the sector, something also championed by Scotland’s Finest Woods.

The respected family firm has been manufacturing high-quality timber products for more than 100 years and is now the premier name in the UK and Irish timber processing industry. With plants in East Lothian, Troon, Irvine, Invergordon, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the company supplies both the UK and Irish markets with construction timber, pallet wood, and fencing materials, as well as manufacturing timber frame homes and producing wood pellets using home grown timber.

With quality softwood timber at the heart of Glennon Brothers’ priorities it has chosen to sponsor the New Commercial Woodland Award – one of 11 competitions at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2025

Alex Murray, Head of Forestry for Glennon Brothers in Scotland said: “We are delighted to sponsor the New Commercial Woodland Award and hope to see some high-quality applications coming forward.

“A stable and secure timber supply is vital to our growth strategy and the expansion of commercial woodlands helps underpin our ongoing investment plans. Having recently invested over £18 million on our new robotic house building line at Alexanders Timber Design in Irvine, the importance of Scottish

Timber for Scottish Homes has never been more important.”

There are 11 competitions at this year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards covering Quality Timber, Farm Woodland, New Native Woods, Community Woodlands, the new category of Urban Forestry, Schools

and Early Years, and Climate Change.

Because of this breadth of awards, anyone with a high-quality project can enter, whether that be a forestry business – small or large – an expert forester, farmer or crofter, or a community group, as well as education settings.

Blending business growth with sustainability at Scone Estates

Nestled in the heart of Perthshire, Scone Estates is a 400-year-old family-run estate spanning more than 7,500ha of arable farmland, forestry, gardens, tourism, residential and commercial properties. Home to the Earls of Mansfield and renowned for its historic palace and mysterious Stone of Scone - the crowning seat of Scottish kings - the estate has long balanced tradition with innovation. Today, this balancing act extends to integrating sustainable land management into its commercial operations.

As Scottish landowners and farmers face increasing pressure to meet climate and biodiversity goals while maintaining financial resilience, Scone Estates is leading by example.

The estate is investing in large-scale woodland creation, renewables, and sustainable visitor attractions using a mix of government grants and private capital, including green finance.

A new approach to land management

One of Scone’s most significant recent projects is a 275ha woodland creation scheme at North Logiealmond — a mixed land-use area to the east of the estate, spanning 2,185ha of arable and pastoral land. The scheme involves planting broadleaf and native species to restore storm-damaged tree cover, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon.

To part-fund and initiate the project, Scone secured a £500,000 loan through Bank of Scotland’s Clean Growth Finance Initiative (CGFI). This offers a zero percent set-up fee for term lending on sustainable farming investments, helping to bridge the initial capital gap between upfront costs while

waiting for grant payments to come in.

“It’s about taking a longterm view,” explains Brian Stevenson, Chief Executive of Scone Estates. “This woodland is a generational investment. The current owners won’t necessarily see the financial benefits, but we want to ensure the estate remains financially and environmentally resilient for future generations and the local community.

“We’re very conscious about sustainability. We try to make sure that we are utilising the land to the best of its capability, managing it more sustainably without reducing our agricultural output, “ he says.

Scone Estates has long taken a responsible approach to land management, balancing productive farming with environmental stewardship across a mix of inhand and tenanted farmland. Pastures west of the River Tay support livestock grazing, while 2,023ha are dedicated to arable cropping - including winter and spring barley, wheat for livestock feed, and a diverse rotation of broccoli, carrots, peas, potatoes, and oilseed rape.

The estate has a storied history with forestry. The new wood will add to the existing 1,570ha of managed woodland, including historic conifers planted in the early 19th century. Scone was once a renowned training ground for foresters and one of its previous head foresters was involved in the establishment of the Forestry Commission. Today, the estate continues to integrate woodland into its farming operations and wider land management strategy, recognising the role of trees in biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and long-term resilience.

“We’re creating multiple land use opportunities. We want

to prove you can integrate land management, address the climate crisis, be productive in agriculture, support community access, and provide biodiversity benefits. They’re not independent - they can all co-exist,” says Brian.

The estate plans to generate Woodland Carbon Code credits from the new planting, which could either be used to offset its own emissions for future commercial developments or be sold. “It gives us flexibility,” says Brian. “We’re accumulating carbon credits and will decide later whether to use them internally or potentially sell them on the market. While we’re primarily focused on sustainability within the estate, it’s also good

business sense to future-proof our assets.”

Navigating the funding landscape

One of the key challenges for landowners and farmers investing in sustainability is the delay between incurring costs and receiving grant funding.

Scone Estates initially intended to fund the woodland creation at North Logiealmond primarily through the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS), which provides an initial planting payment, annual maintenance funding for up to five years, and capital grants for fencing and tree protection. However, the initial

payment did not meet the scale of the upfront costs—prompting the estate to seek additional finance from Bank of Scotland to get the project off the ground.

The FGS supports woodland creation as part of the country’s wider climate strategy, contributing to the government’s target of 18,000 hectares of new woodland annually. The scheme encourages mixed planting of broadleaf, Scots Pine, and native species while restricting afforestation on productive farmland.

By stacking these funding sources - private investment, green finance, and FGS support - Scone Estates was able to move forward without cash flow constraints.

Phil Reid, Relationship Director at Bank of Scotland, explains: “For many estates and farms, the challenge isn’t securing grants but managing the timing of payments.

“Green loans like the Clean Growth Financing Initiative help bridge this gap. With no arrangement fee, they’re a more cost-effective alternative to

overdrafts, enabling estates like Scone to invest in sustainability without financial strain,” he adds.

Sustainability beyond trees

The estate’s commitment to sustainable land management goes beyond forestry. Plans are in place to develop a visitor centre powered by solar, providing an environmentally responsible hub for tourism.

“Diversification is key for estates like ours,” says Brian. “Tourism, hospitality, and events all contribute to the financial sustainability of the business, and ensuring those operations have strong environmental credentials is becoming more and more important.”

As a popular visitor attraction, Scone is also engaging with the local community, ensuring the new woodland area is accessible for recreation and managed in a way that benefits biodiversity.

“Public consultation is central to our forestry strategy. We’re very aware of our position in the community and how important

the land is, whether for recreation or agriculture,” Brian explains.

“There are wider benefits of us doing this scheme. We used lots of local contractors for the planting, the fencing, and the mounting. It’s money getting distributed across the community, supporting local jobs and sustaining the rural economy.”

Lessons for landowners

For other estates and land managers looking to invest in sustainable projects, Phil Reid emphasises the importance of taking a longterm view and ensuring financial viability from the outset.

“Government support schemes are invaluable, but they don’t always align with business cash flow.

“Understanding what funding is available and how to structure investment - whether through grants, finance, or private capitalis essential.

“If you’re thinking of projects around these initiatives, then by all means engage with your bank

because there’s a lot of benefit to no-arrangement financing if you need to plug finance gaps,” he advises.

“We’re seeing increasing demand for sustainable finance in agriculture and land management - particularly in sectors like dairy and potatoes, where supply chain requirements and retailer contracts are already driving change.”

Planning ahead is key, says Phil, with estates like Scone showing how combining different funding sources can unlock opportunities for long-term resilience.

“Those taking a proactive approach now – understanding what’s needed today and what’s coming over the next five years – will be better positioned as expectations and funding evolve.”

As Scotland’s landowners navigate the transition to a lowercarbon future, Scone Estates offers a model for integrating sustainability into business strategy – securing both commercial success and environmental stewardship for generations to come.

Seasonal Contrast

By Robin Noble

Life in the far north of Scotland can be full of contradictions; the winter may be bright, full of light, like the months when I began to study the woods in an organised fashion. But the succeeding summer may be damp and drizzly, with almost permanent low cloud hiding not just the mountains but even the lower hills. Often it may be the other way around, of course; during the winters of endless gales,

I could feel trapped in the house while the wind roared outside and the rain poured incessantly. If the weather improves, and sometimes the change is as swift as the flicking of a switch, the sense of freedom is intoxicating. And there was always the delight that I could just walk out of the door and head in almost any direction I wanted; there were virtually no obstacles, one road you could follow in either

direction, maybe somewhere a fence to cross. The only restriction on where I went, was water; I knew exactly where I could cross my own burn, but otherwise, of course, I had to walk around the many lochs. But they, in any case, added to the beauty of the day. And after a bad winter, I was desperate to get out and walk, and, inevitably, look for signs of the longed-for coming of spring.

One day early on in my time here, around the middle of March, I took the familiar road towards Nedd. I went further than the township, and then took off down to a secluded, relatively low-lying headland, generally just known to me as Duart. This had once been populated, but as it was almost cut off by a long cliff-line and no-one had ever worked out a way to get a road to it, had been at some stage

Quinag and Loch Nedd in early summer

abandoned. It forms the west side of outer Loch Nedd; I had never reached it during my childhood, so it was a new place to explore. I had found the easy ways down to the lower ground, and headed there, going at first right down to the shore. Quinag was shining white with snow, and the waters of the loch were calm, reflecting the grey of the rocks and the purple of the birch. Here I was able to watch some eider duck through my binoculars, enjoying the drake’s beautiful soft peach and sage green. Best of all, I could hear the male’s call, that slightly surprised, melodic cooing which carried clearly across the still water. If ever there was a sound of the Highland spring, this is it.

Feeling very happy, I went over to a ruined house and some sort of outbuilding, across the little burn where there is a cleared ‘dock’ or ‘noust’ to one side. Right down at the shore, the tide was low and the water clear, the bottom sandy; it would have been a good place to have put down our lobster pots! I stopped on a rock, sheltered from the breeze, and sat there, observing

the scene. I was idly thinking of all the different beaches in the parish, which led, rather vaguely, to otters; up to this point I had seen rather few. I said to myself: ‘I have lately only seen one otter, and that was in Lochinver,’ when around the corner and straight at me, there swam a big dog otter. I think it saw me, but I had wonderful views, as, close to me, it fished around the rocks, in and out of the ochre weed.

I then walked round the shallow lagoon into the wood, an incredible tangle of mossy rock and trees, and wandered over the old croft lands; the golden saxifrage had visible buds, and the herb Robert, wood sorrel and celandines were near to blooming in this sheltered spot. In one old garden there is a big elder bush which was growing strongly, with new shoots, and elsewhere there were silver pussy-willows; you could feel the excitement of the new season. I explored the southern edge of this low ground, which faces Loch Nedd and Quinag, where they can be seen through the often impenetrable jungle of hazel (sometimes hazel trees rather than bushes), and

groups of fine aspen stems. I noticed one particularly vast hazel above a narrow sloc leading to the water: this Gaelic word came to my mind the minute I saw it, and I can think of no neat English equivalent; it means ‘throat’ and looked like a ‘geo’ on land.

While I walked around enraptured by this magic place, great and long-tailed tits explored the luxuriant mosses and furry, silver-blue lichens which encrust these old trunks. And then I had to freeze, and remain motionless; ahead of me, on the ground, were no fewer than three woodcock, the complex, scalloped, deep rich browns of their plumage for once standing out well against the green of new grass. I watched for a while, but eventually had to move, when, of course, they flew off at once.

As I was walking around this fascinating area with its abandoned houses and crofts, its shallow lagoon and intricate coast, I was wondering: did the Vikings who named our glen settle here? Did they use the noust that I am sure I see, did they utilise the big hazels and other trees?

Having left Duart, I had to continue up to Drumbeg to collect a few things from the shop; on the dark roadside loch there were two male and two female goldeneye, and against a bank I glimpsed another duck, almost black with dramatic white wing-patches, which might have been a velvet scoter. Clearly, migratory birds were on the move, heading north; soon there might be, as there often are, the whooper swans, brilliant against the peaty water. I frequently marvel at the seasonal contrast which this loch offers the passer-by. In the winter it can appear so bleak and sterile; a few brown leaves move on the sullen surface in the cold wind, under a lowering grey sky. But come back in the summer and the dull waters are transformed; the loch is covered with lily-pads and hundreds of the flowers of the waterlily, exotic, luxuriant, cream-petalled, golden-hearted, unexpected, startling in their richness. Some summers, certainly, need the brilliance of the waterlily blooms.

The cottage in winter 1968

The Art of David Esson

David Esson brings Scottish icons to life, one dot at a time. Using traditional stippling and pointillism techniques, his work combines painstaking detail with a modern twist — from thistles and highland cows to hare’s and Owls. Each piece blends heritage, humour, and storytelling, inviting viewers to step closer, and smile.

Whether you’re looking for a conversation piece, or an artwork with soul, David’s Art offers something quietly bold — made with patience, wit, and a deep love for the detail.

NFU S call for Scottish Government to give multi-annual funding commitment for farmers following UK spending review

NFU Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to act swiftly and commit to a multiannual funding framework for Scottish agriculture, following today’s UK Government Spending Review. The UK Government has confirmed that the devolved governments have the certainty they need to set their own multi-year budgets.

The UK Government’s Spending Review has confirmed that the Scottish Government has been given clear line-of-sight on funding for the next three financial years, clearly stating

that the Scottish Government will continue to receive over 20 per cent more funding per head than the equivalent UK Government spending across the UK, meaning it will be able to spend more on its priorities.

NFU Scotland President, Andrew Connon, said:

“The Spending Review has delivered a line of sight for the Scottish Government by providing a multi-annual funding commitment for the next three years. This provides the Scottish Government with the certainty to fulfil its repeated

New changes to land rules prompt call for farmers to plan ahead

Changes to Greening Rules put farming businesses at risk of losing vital funds, warns Scots firm

SCOTTISH land management experts are urging farmers to act quickly following the release of revised Greening Guidance published this week by the Scottish Government.

FBR Seed, one of Scotland’s leading rural advisory firms, is warning that complacency or inaction now could see both long-standing and newly affected farmers risk penalties or lose out on significant subsidy entitlements.

Set to take effect in January 2026, the changes, require farmers who grow at least 15 Hectares of crops or rotational grassland to dedicate at least five per cent of their arable land to specific, environmentally beneficial practices, known as Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs).

Jenni Douglas, Director at FBR Seed and the firm’s lead on agricultural policy and government schemes said: “We know that EFAs have

commitments to effectively support farming and crofting.

“Not only are we calling on the Scottish Government to provide a three-year commitment but also to deliver a significant real terms increase in the key farm support budgets. As we move through the gears of changing agricultural support, with more conditions attached to deliver new outcomes, farmers and crofters can only do so with additional direct support backing.”

Connon added: “Our farmers and crofters are facing huge

cost pressures, from inflation to climate adaptation to supply chain volatility. A predictable, enhanced multi-annual budget is essential to allow businesses to invest with confidence and secure the food production and environmental benefits that Scottish agriculture delivers for everyone.”

NFU Scotland will continue to work closely with Scottish Government Ministers and officials to ensure Scotland’s farmers and crofters get the multi-annual funding framework they need to thrive and deliver.

finance

been around for a decade, and in that time have been largely unchanged, but farmers need to be aware of the changes coming into force in 2026.

“This matters to two main groups of farmers. First, those already doing EFAs who may not realise that the rules have changed, and their current practices might no longer count.

“Second, farmers who’ve never had to worry about EFAs before, like many in the dairy sector or those with more grassland, but who are now being brought into the scheme for the first time.

“Previous management of EFA’s may no longer count as the rules for existing options are being amended in an attempt to provide a larger benefit to biodiversity and soil health across the country.”

First introduced in 2015, EFAs were designed to ensure a portion of public subsidies supported environmental improvement efforts, such as biodiversity and soil health.

Compliance accounts for roughly a third of a farmer’s total subsidy payment, paid essentially as a top-up to their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) income, equating to an additional £75 per hectare.

A positive take from the revised guidance is the introduction of 4 new EFA options for businesses, such as herb and legume rich grassland or low input grassland, providing options suitable to the wider range of claimants targeted by these rules.

Existing options however have had an overhaul, with fallow ground now requiring a ground cover, minimum field margin widths being increased and the window to cut hedgerows being dramatically reduced.

Jenni continued: “Farmers are being give advance notice of these changes for 2026 to give them the chance to plan ahead – a rarity in Reform guidance to date! We are therefore advising claimants to take advantage of this additional time to act prior to planning their autumn cropping to avoid panic or non-

compliance issues next Spring, at the worst possible time.

“All Scottish claimants are being contacted by letter from the government this week, but this guidance is dense, technical and sometimes contradictory.

“It’s essential that farmers seek advice early and properly assess their land and practices against the updated criteria, and FBRSeed is positioned perfectly to provide this advice and support.”Richard Armitage, Director at FBR Seed, said: “Farmers need to start mapping, planning and choosing compliant habitats soon. Leaving it too late could mean having to tear up growing crops in spring or, worse, not qualifying for their Greening payment altogether.

“With so much critical funding at stake, we see it as our responsibility to make sure farmers don’t leaving planning too late.

“At a time when there’s a real drive to become more selfsufficient and increase food production, we understand that there will be frustration from farmers who will be required to take good land out of production just to meet these new rules.

“Scotland already boasts an abundance of biodiversity and a diverse range of crops, we should be building on that, not compromising it.

“We’re already helping clients interpret the guidance, select viable EFA options, and plan their autumn sowing with compliance in mind. We would urge anyone unsure about the impact on their business to get in touch sooner rather than later.”

Built on a foundation of trust and long-term relationships, FBR Seed delivers honest, straightforward advice rooted in deep sector knowledge and an unwavering commitment to its clients.

With a multi-disciplinary team of land agents, chartered surveyors, and rural specialists, it offers the full spectrum of professional services, from estate and farm sales to outsourced bookkeeping and full-service estate management.

The business draws on generations of farming heritage and a practical understanding of rural life, providing tailored support to landowners, estate managers, and rural businesses.

Based in the Scottish Borders and Lothians, FBR Seed combines local insight with national reach, helping clients navigate a rapidly evolving rural landscape.

Though officially formed in 2019 through the merger of Seed & Company and FBR Ltd., the firm’s roots date back to 1966 and it continues to grow through strategic acquisitions and sustained demand for trusted rural advisory expertise.

New funding available to support snapshot studies within the farming sector

The Farmers Club Charitable Trust (FCCT) is seeking ‘Snapshot study’ applications from anyone in the farming sector seeking funding to study a topic or theme they are deeply interested in exploring.

“Over the past five years of awarding the Snapshot Study grants we have been so impressed by the range of topics, themes and discoveries the recipients have made,” says Nick Green, FCCT Chair. “Since launching the studies in 2022, more than £60,000 has been awarded, enabling recipients to expand their expertise, knowledge and skills.”

The Snapshot Study grants, worth up to £2,000 each, have been awarded to a wide diversity of people from all over the UK exploring pertinent themes like

Forest Schools and their role in food learning, farmer donations of ‘waste’ crops to foodbanks, regenerative farming, attracting the under 30s into agriculture and black soldier fly farming.

“Some studies have had a profound impact,” explains Nick. “For example, Easter Ross farmer John Scott researched farmers’ mental health, his study was one of the catalysts for the launch of a sister charity to Farmstrong New Zealand’s wellbeing and mental health charity in Scotland. Farmstrong Scotland has been supporting the farming community north of the border for over a year now, and the Farmers Club Charitable Trust is glad to have played a small part in the preliminary research.”

In a very different Snapshot, Hannah Buisman utilised her

grant to explore viticulture practices and business models to benefit not only her family’s fledging winery in Hertfordshire, but also the burgeoning UK wine sector.

The application process is simple – just a one-minute video outlining the study concept and its potential impact, contact information and details of a referee to support your submission. Awards made are up to £2,000 and those successful will receive 80% of funding upfront, with the remaining 20% awarded upon satisfactory completion of the study. Mentoring will be provided for snapshot recipients by a FCCT Trustee.

The application form and more details can be found here: https://tfcct.co.uk/snapshotstudies

A Taste of Edinburgh

By Janice Hopper

For centuries, farmers and producers have supplied the finest tables of our capital city. Historically Edinburgh’s Royal Court and aristocracy were considered the top tables, but today we can add first-class hotels and restaurants to the mix. Supplying renowned venues (directly or via a supplier/ butcher) is a mutually beneficial arrangement. The producers gain regular custom in a competitive field, and their name is circulated at the best tables in town. Meanwhile, the eatery secures fresh, seasonal meat and veg from Scotland’s harvest. Here’s our guide to eating your way around Auld Reekie!

The Spence, Gleneagles Townhouse, 39 St Andrew Square, EH2 2AD Head chef, Jonny Wright, heads to Gilmour Butchers in East Lothian for his meat, a thirdgeneration family business, with consistency, passion and experience built up over almost seventy years of trading. On the doorstep is rich arable farming land, excellent cattle producing farms, and chef Jonny has taken time to visit some of the farms and meet the farmers. When it comes to oysters, Gleneagles looks to Cumbrae, working with fishmonger George Campbell & Sons for many years. Two further firm favourites are Company Bakery in Musselburgh for sourdough, and I.J.Mellis for cheese. Look out for a new dish on The Spence’s menu: spicy raw beef, Anster cheddar, egg yolk and beef dripping toast — with meat from Gilmours, cheese from Mellis and eggs from Nith Valley. gleneagles. com/townhouse

Fingal Exterior by Jeremy Rata

The Spence, Gleneagles Townhouse

Travel Scotland

Noto, 47a Thistle St, EH2 1DY

Noto is one of renowned chef, Stuart’s Ralston’s, portfolio of Edinburgh restaurants, that include Aizle, Lyla and Tipo. When it comes to meat, Ralston goes back to his roots, to his hometown of Glenrothes, and John Henderson Butchers. For Wagyu, the restaurateur dips into Northern England, selecting Freedown Hills in Yorkshire, specifically Scurf Dyke Farm. This Wagyu beef is also available to consumers through ‘Meat Me at Home’ allowing guests to experience the same quality at home. And Noto’s fish is sourced from family-run Vallance Fish in Glasgow, which has been operating for over a century. notoedinburgh.co.uk

Fingal, Alexandra Dock, EH6 7DX

When dining aboard a beautiful ship, visitors expect the seafood to be outstanding. The service, food and atmosphere in Fingal’s two AA rosette Lighthouse Restaurant delivers. Look out for Eyemouth crab from The Belhaven Smokehouse in Dunbar, Wester Ross salmon (smoked on board), Isle of Skye langoustines, Shetland mussels and Peterhead hake in Cairn o’ Mohr wine sauce. fingal.co.uk

Prestonfield House, Priestfield Road, EH16 5UT and The Witchery, 352 Castlehill, EH1 2NF

Both the darkly atmospheric Witchery restaurant and the elegant ‘Rhubarb’ at Prestonfield House come under the same ownership and share suppliers. Rhubarb restaurant got its name as it was the first estate in Scotland to propagate the veg in the eighteenth century, and it’s still grown and used in their kitchens today, along with vegetables and herbs grown in Prestonfield’s kitchen gardens. Scottish beef is aged in its own larder, plus the restaurant honey has a rural backstory. Each year, hives are transported from Braemar to Prestonfield House where it’s harvested on site. prestonfield.com // thewitchery. com

Wedgwood, 267 Canongate, EH8 8BQ

Paul and Lisa Wedgwood are passionate about Scottish food. Chef Paul is a keen forager who runs Wild Foraging Experience Days, guiding participants to the shores, bays and forests of East Lothian. The morning ends with a tasting menu back at his Royal Mile restaurant. Paul’s finds make their way onto the menu, from mushrooms and seaweed, to wild garlic oil. One of Wedgwood’s favourite suppliers is Linlithgow’s Castle Game at Trinlaymire Farm,

for fresh wild game and Scottish venison. Wedgwood’s threecourse lunch offers Castle Game pigeon pastrami as a starter, and Paul smokes the pigeon himself. wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk

Ardfern, 10-12 Bonnington Rd, EH6 5JD

For bottle shop and café vibes from morning till night, make it Ardfern. Their poultry comes from St Brides Farm near Strathaven. Plus another shout out for Castle Game at Trinlaymire Farm and Vallance seafood in Glasgow. ardfern.uk

Condita, 15 Salisbury Pl, EH9 1SL

Condita is an intimate six table restaurant in Edinburgh’s south side. The menu is a surprise for diners (who arrive with no idea of the six courses they’ll receive!), created by chef Tyler King and owners Rachel Hayward and Mark Slaney. The trio source food on their doorstep, such as locally foraged rowan buds, gorse and seaweed. But their Norse Noir tea comes from as far afield as Shapinsay in Orkney. Meat is selected from Bowhouse at

Prestonfield hives

Witchery Restaurant

Balcaskie in Fife, and it’s brought in on the bone. Experimental veg is grown in the couple’s allotment, such as sancho pepper trees, Japanese wine berries and ‘Aji de Colorado Alpino’ chillies. A Michelin-star rubber stamps this dining experience. condita.co.uk

Timberyard, 10 Lady Lawson St, EH3 9DS

Timberyard’s supplier list is plentiful, and, occasionally, supports a good cause. Timberyard source Wagyu from the Borders, berries from Border Berries and some of their veg comes from the Cyrenians Charity Market Garden. Mushrooms are either foraged wild, or cultivated by Some Funguys farm, run by Christopher Allan in a bunker just three miles from the restaurant. Meanwhile, Greenheart Growers of Burntisland supply Timberyard with the first ‘snack’ that guests receive, a plate of fresh and preserved vegetables. The restaurant takes what Greenheart Growers have, as opposed to ordering what they want, so the

dish is essentially created in the field rather than the kitchen. timberyard.co

Ragù, 92 George St, EH2 3DF

Popular Italian Ragù relies on a mix of west coast suppliers. Ragù’s fish comes from the family-based supplier The Fish People in Glasgow. Another family company is Rodgers Butchers of Byres Road (with cured meat shipped in from Italy), and its fruit and veg comes from Seasonal Produce at Glasgow Fruit Market. Meanwhile, the pasta is made daily in-house, with chefs demonstrating their skills in the restaurant window. ragupasta. co.uk

Whether restaurants are buying in bulk from big name suppliers, or sourcing individual artisan growers, the message is clear. For all the focus on interiors, location and marketing, a restaurant is nothing without reliable supply chains and farmers working in the background to make a chef’s dream dishes a reality.

Condita Orkney Tea

Wedgwood pork belly

machinery

New generation diet feeder from Hi Spec

This year’s Royal Highland Show saw Hi-Spec Engineering displaying a comprehensive range of machinery from their product range, including a model from their latest generation of vertical diet feeders.

New generation diet feeder Hi-Spec Engineering offer one of the most extensive ranges of diet feeders on the market, and their V(single auger) and T- (twin auger) series feeders are available in sizes ranging from 7m3 up to 32m3.

A particular feature of Hi-Spec diet feeders is the wide range of options available, ensuring they can be adapted to suit all types of building and feeding system.

This will be reflected in the two Hi-Spec V12 diet feeders on display at the Highland. One will be a fairly straight-forward machine, with two doors fitted, while the second will be more advanced, featuring electrohydraulic controls, a cross elevator and a 2-speed gearbox.

This machine is also the first of a new generation of Hi-Spec diet feeders that are designed so that should the need arise, maybe due to an increase in herd size, that they can be easily fitted with extension sections, so making it possible to quickly and easily increase the capacity of the feeder.

Latest specification slurry tankers

Slurry is a valuable commodity and when it comes to handling muck and slurry, Hi-Spec Engineering has the ideal solution in their comprehensive range of machinery, with tankers ranging in size from 800 gallons up to 5,000 gallons, all with numerous filling and other options.

As its name suggests, the 3000 SA-R has a capacity of 3000 gallons and has a single recessed axle to help lower the centre of gravity. It is fitted with 800/65 R32 Alliance tyres, has air brakes and a 9.0m Hi-Spec Dribble Bar.

JCB secures full EU type-approval for pioneering hydrogen engine

JCB has passed another significant milestone on its pioneering hydrogen technology development programme after securing the first full EU type-approval of its hydrogen engine for use in nonroad mobile machinery.

This means that JCB’s hydrogen engine has been

approved for sale and for use in machines and third-party OEM equipment in each of the 27 EU member states, and all other territories recognising EU typeapprovals (e.g. EEA and EFTA territories). The EU type-approval certificate has been issued in accordance with Regulation (EU)

The TS-R is the most recent addition to the Hi-Spec range and available in capacities from 2000 up to 4000 gallons. The tanker body is fully supported and is carried on a commercial tandem axle, fitted with 710/50 R26.5 BKT tyres.

The combination of narrower width, but higher rolling resistance tyres to keep soil compaction to a minimum, in addition to the semirecessed mudguard design, means

that the overall width and height are reduced, making the TS-R a more nimble tanker, so ideal for use where space is restricted.

The TS-R tanker on display is also fitted with a 14,000 Jurop vacuum pump, galvanised mudguards, a central greasing system for the axles and running gear, 6 inch autofill and an additional 360 degree unloading boom, along with a 10.5m Hi-Spec Dribble Bar.

2016/1628 and certifies JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine to prevailing EU Stage V emissions norms. The EU type-approval follows earlier landmark rulings by licensing authorities in nine countries in mainland Europe allowing the engine to be used commercially in machines in those countries under ‘new technology’ provisions.

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has led the company’s hydrogen engine project, said: “This is another very

significant moment for JCB’s hydrogen programme, It was not so long ago that some said that it was ‘game over’ for the internal combustion engine in Europe. For JCB to have secured full EU typeapproval is proof positive that the combustion engine does indeed have a promising future in pursuit of a net zero world if hydrogen, a zero CO2 fuel, is used instead of fossil fuels.”

Lord Bamford added: “I could not be more delighted for the JCB team that put so

much work into getting us to this stage. Now our focus will be on bringing our hydrogen technology to market. JCB’s customers are patiently waiting for our hydrogen-powered equipment to make a difference on their job sites. They won’t have much longer to wait.”

GB approval was granted rapidly, initially for the ‘newtechnology’, and now as full type-approval.

JCB is the first construction equipment company to develop

a fully approved combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen and a team of 150 engineers has been working on the exciting £100 million development for nearly four years.

JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines which are powering backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers and generator sets. Real world pre-launch testing of JCB’s hydrogen equipment is now at an advanced stage and progressing well.

DLG certificate for innovative trailing shoe

The German Agricultural Society (DLG) has awarded the “DLG-ANERKANNT” test rating to the Vogelsang 15-metre BlackBird trailing shoe applicator which features the ExaCut ECQ precision distributor.

The appraisal looked at functionality and quality of work along with handling, operation, and maintenance. The award praised the BlackBird for its high distribution accuracy and a coefficient variation of less than two percent. It also emphasised the easy accessibility of the cutting blades in the precision distributor for quick, simple maintenance.

“This DLG award confirms that our technology ensures precise, low-loss liquid manure application. By choosing a BlackBird, operators have greater control over the application process and can ensure that only the optimum supply of nutrients is applied. This makes better use of natural fertiliser, improves soil health and reduces crop contamination,” says Vogelsang’s Andy Hayhurst.

In all the tests carried out for slurry application and distribution, the BlackBird and ExaCut ECQ achieved the highest possible DLG rating.

“According to the test report, the time it takes for slurry to flow out of all the outlets at the start of spreading is “extremely short” at less than two seconds, which significantly reduces the “V” of uneven distribution,” adds Mr Hayhurst.

Top marks were also awarded for the user-friendliness of the BlackBird. Maintenance work on the ExaCut ECQ can be carried out quickly by one person within 20 minutes thanks to Vogelsang’s QuickService concept. The testers also highlighted that parts can be

replaced in an upright position with no special tools needed.

The BlackBird comes in working widths from 7.5 metres to 30 metres and has been designed to fit all tanker models and has a compact design, making even the largest 30 metre machine easy to transport.

“The space-saving design of the precision distributor is an important factor in meeting the specifications of road traffic regulations for maximum outside widths. It also means that even the largest BlackBird has a legally compliant transport

width of three metres when folded,” says Mr Hayhurst.

The BlackBird gets its name from the nozzle of the trailing shoes, which have a long, beaklike shape that slows down the flow rate of the liquid manure before it reaches the soil.

“This unusual geometry and pointed shape of the BlackBird’s shoe penetrates the soil better to place liquid manure at the base of the plants, which has the added benefit of reducing contamination. The robust design of the trailing shoes also improves service life,” concludes Mr Hayhurst.

SlurryKat launches all new design mobile nurse tank with unique features

AN all-new design Generation 3 range of mobile nurse tanks has been launched by SlurryKat, to compliment it’s already popular range of tanks first introduced in 2015.

This new range continues to use the same size options as the previous generation but now comes with a unique ‘chevron style’ side panel design that adds more strength and efficiency to the machine.

Taking a forensic look at the new machine, starting from the bottom up, SlurryKat has redesigned and improved the chassis making it stronger for those heavy loads.

The company has also fitted new Doda AFI high pressure pumps on the drawbar, available as an option, on all of the new models.

SlurryKat CEO and principal design engineer, Garth Cairns, said: “This new range of nurse tanks really takes a big step into providing stronger machines that are also cleaner emptying.

“We fit the new models, as standard, with a new style sump, which improves suction and flow to the pump. It also gives great protection against stones and debris that may be in the slurry.”

However, it’s the new design sides of these new nurse tanks that really set them apart from others on the market.

Garth said: “Looking at the tank itself, the sides have taken on a new chevron style, very similar to the bellows of an accordion. That type of design, which we have went for, is the very first of its type on the market.

“It’s subtle, yet not very pronounced. We choose to use special high tensile steel to manufacture this new design, and the use of laser cutting, press formed sheet metal gives us that zig-zag design of side.

“The advantages of this type of design, when used as the tank sides, means we no longer have to use bracing from the floor to the sides, and along the sides, to give the structure its strength.

“The sides are now made from 5mm thick steel and the design is registered with the UK Intellectual Property Office.

“The inside of the tank itself is very clean lined with no confined areas for silage, straw or slurry to catch on and build up. This also helps prevent erosion.

“With this design the tank empties clean every time. The high flow passage from behind the wheels to the front of the wheels is enhanced with a pipe that is 500mm diameter.

“It is a common problem on other nurse tanks that use smaller pipes, when sediment, such as sawdust, can gather in this area and block the flow. We have continued using that highflow pipe right through all our nurse tanks from the very first generation models,” he said.

In the new generation 3 range the new models are the same size as in the previous

generation; 45m3, 65m3, 85m3, 100m3, 120m3, 150m3 and the big 200m3 capacity machine.

Optional extras include the integrated umbilical headland management system on the umbilical pump, which allows the slurry flow to the field to be completely halted during headland turns with no time limit, preventing excess application.

Prices of the new machines start with the basic 45m3 model at £25,950 plus VAT. Optional extras surrounding pumps, just like on the previous generation, remain the same.

Merlo appoints Vincents to Cover Cornwall & South Devon

Merlo UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Vincents as an authorised dealer within the Merlo agricultural network, effective 1st June 2025. Operating from two of their strategically located depots in Fraddon (Cornwall) and Smithaleigh (South Devon) the company will represent the Merlo range across South Devon and Cornwall, further strengthening Merlo’s presence in the South West.

A family-run business with a reputation for excellence, Vincents has grown significantly under the direction of Nick and Alec Vincent, offering a comprehensive range of machinery solutions across both the agricultural, construction and ground care sectors.

“We are proud to welcome Vincents to the Merlo network,”

machinery

commented Owen Buttle, National Sales Manager at Merlo UK. “Their multi-depot footprint, highly capable team, and dedication to customer service make them an ideal partner. This appointment further supports Merlo’s aim to ensure customers across the South West have access to industry-leading telehandlers and expert local support.”

With a wide-ranging product portfolio that includes Kverneland, Ktwo, Joskin, Marshall Trailers, and Nugent Trailers across agriculture – and Trimax, Grillo, Trilo, Cramer, and Baroness in the ground care sector – the addition of Merlo telehandlers is a key component in Vincent Tractors’ future strategy.

Nick Vincent, Dealer Principal at Vincent Tractors commented: “Merlo is a key piece of our business plan. We want to be the ‘Dealer of Choice in the South West’, and offering a premium range like Merlo –

backed by our own premium service – allows us to meet the needs of a broad and growing customer base.”

Founded in 1966 and now serving the region from Fraddon as its principal place of business, Vincent Tractors continues to build on its legacy by investing in people, service, and the best equipment on the market.

This new appointment ensures that farmers, contractors, and landowners throughout Devon and Cornwall will have direct access to Merlo’s innovative range of telehandlers, supported by a trusted and locally based dealer.

Vincents will showcase a range of Merlo machines at the Royal Cornwall Show on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of June. Visitors to stand 632 will have the opportunity to see both compact and medium-sized Merlo telehandlers – models ideally suited to the needs of the local agricultural market. The

Vincent’s team will be on hand throughout the show to introduce the range, answer questions, and

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

Next issue out September 2025

discuss the full suite of sales, service, and support available to customers across the South West.

New G500V VariCut headers boost Case IH combines’ performance

Working widths of 6.1-12.5m (20-41ft) / In-line knife drive with dual drive on 10.5m and 12.5m models / Knife speed increase from 660rpm to 735rpm enables higher forward speeds without compromising cutting performance / New click-on side knife

St. Valentin, June 25, 2025

Case IH Axial-Flow® combines can now be equipped with new G500V VariCut variable knife grain headers, with features that enhance performance and ease operator workload. The seven G500V models span 6.1-12.5m (2041ft) working widths, each with a knife that can be moved

across a 575mm fore/aft range to ensure consistent crop flow in all crop types and conditions. Wider models feature new hydraulically-operated gauge wheels that can be switched from the cab between transport and field mode, making it unnecessary to manually raise the wheels before loading the header on its trailer. (De) coupling time is minimized thanks to connections grouped on the left-hand side only, and a single PTO.

New VariCut headers feature inline knife drive, with fullylinear output shaft motion, for smooth operation with minimal vibration. The belt drive has

been replaced by gearboxes and a telescopic PTO, reducing overall driveline maintenance requirements and easing the

operator workload to maximise comfort. The 10.5m/35ft and 12.5m/41ft models feature 100% synchronized dual knife drive,

where the right-hand knife is driven via the intake auger, an upgrade which helps further minimize vibration. A knife speed increase from 660rpm to 735rpm enables higher forward speeds without compromising cutting performance, maximising capacity.

The auger stripper setting can now be altered from the rear of the header, encouraging operators to regularly check for correct adjustment, and to ensure even and consistent crop flow. The new auger height adjustment assembly provides two pre-set positions: a high one primarily for rapeseed/canola and a low one for small grains. This requires simply loosening four bolts and rotating the overcentre cam system, reducing adjustment time on single-span augers by 25%.

A new click-on side knife with aluminium cast frame is one-third lighter than the outgoing design. Over-centre

locking retains the side knife or divider assemblies, cutting knife removal time by 50%, while lighter knives mean easier handling.

“The new G500V VariCut variable knife grain headers are designed specifically to help customers and operators of Case IH Axial-Flow 160 and 260 series combines, and the new AF series combines, to get the best performance from their machines,” explains Andreas Saile, Case IH Crop Harvesting Business Manager for Europe.

“Improvements from the gauge wheels to the couplings, plus the lighter click-on sideknife, mean quicker set-up, enabling operators to get going faster in the field. With the main knife speed increase improving throughput, and the new knife drive cutting maintenance time, these upgrades collectively allow users to exploit the full potential of their combines.”

New grants offer funding for Tramspread kit

A wide range of equipment from slurry and digestate management specialist Tramspread is applicable for grant aid under the recently announced Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2025. Under the scheme, funding of up to 50% is available to eligible farmers and contractors, allowing applicants to invest in the latest market-leading slurry management and application solutions.

Eligible Tramspread products include umbilical and tankermounted dribble bars, with Tramspread’s Suffolk range an excellent match to the grant criteria,

trailing shoe and shallow disc injectors, mounted random wrap and segmented hose reelers, trailed segmented hose reelers, PTOdriven (mobile) slurry chopper pumps, remote control systems for engine driven slurry pumps (applicable to both Tramspread SIL Vision and Teletram 2020 systems), flow meters and NIR sensors, nurse tanks and both static and mobile slurry separators.

The scheme promotes improved slurry management and environmental benefits, both of which are integral to the Tramspread philosophy. The

company can provide advice on applicable products and grant applications.

Tramspread is the UK importer for Stallkamp slurry separators, made in Germany, and keeps a range of parts in-stock. Two basic ranges are offered, the PSS and PSG, both are offered in fixed and mobile versions. Tramspread also supplies pumps, gantries and control panels to complete the installation where necessary.

The industry leading Tramspread Suffolk range of dribble bars have working widths from 6m to 24m and a 25cm interoutlet spacing. All are designed to accommodate flowmeters and NIR sensors with Isobus connectivity for accurate application with full record-keeping. Roelama trailing shoe applicators and disc injectors are also offered.

Tramspread’s mounted random-wrap hose reels have hose

capacities from 600m to 1400m, whilst trailed compartmented hose reels can hold 1600m or 2000m.

All can be supplied with drag hose from Gollmer & Hummel or Mandals.

New 5000 litre HORSCH Leeb PT expands self-propelled sprayer range

The HORSCH Leeb PT selfpropelled sprayer range has been expanded with the introduction of a 5000-litre model. As with the new Leeb

VT, the Leeb 5.230 PT and Leeb 5.300 PT feature a polyethylene tank, and they are powered by either a 230hp or 300hp 6.7-litre six-cylinder FPT Stage

5 compliant engine, along with the new high-comfort cab. A wide range of boom widths, from 24m to 48m, is available on all self-propelled sprayers.

“The 230hp engine suits the 5000-litre model very well and opens up a new segment for HORSCH. We have already seen a lot of interest from

farmers wanting a high capacity, high precision self-propelled sprayer but at lower entry point. The Leeb 5.230 PT offers the renowned quality, reliability and productivity that HORSCH is known for, at a highly competitive price,” said Stephen Burcham, general manager at HORSCH UK.

New cab offers high levels of operator comfort

All self-propelled models feature an all-new cab that offers significantly higher levels of operator comfort. Quieter, more spacious and more intuitively designed controls that have been specifically tailored to crop care, the new cab creates a productive environment that allows operators to work more effectively.

Based on the latest Claas cab, the state-of-the-art cabin features an advanced A-column terminal as standard and new Leeb-designed armrest and joystick control systems specific for crop care applications. Category IV filtration is fitted as standard and pneumatic 4-point cabin suspension is available as an option for those looking for ultimate comfort.

Leeb VT self-propelled sprayer with variable track

The HORSCH Leeb VT was the first sprayer to feature the new cab. It combines variable track adjustment with the well-known performance of a Leeb PT selfpropelled sprayer. The flexible track adjustment is ideal for mixed crop farms and contractors requiring varying row widths between 1.8m and 2.4m, assisting with stability in the field and manoeuvrability on the road.

Kverneland parts go online with Terrako

Kverneland has introduced a digital marketplace for customers, simplifying the ordering of original parts. It is called Terrako, and enables Kverneland parts to be ordered through an online portal (http:// uk.terrako.com) that provides access to dealer parts stock.

“As a digital marketplace, Terrako makes it easy for customers to order parts for their Kverneland equipment, even if they don’t know their local Kverneland dealer,” explains Kevin Waddingham, Kverneland parts marketing manager. “It is a process that saves the customer time, reduces downtime and ensures the right

parts are ordered, and are ready for collection from their nearest Kverneland dealer.”

Access to Terrako requires customers to sign-up, creating an online account which highlights their nearest Kverneland dealers. Doing so gives the customer direct access to dealer stock levels when searching for parts. Payment is made at the time of ordering by credit card, and customers then receive an email confirmation of their order.

“It may be that the closest dealer might be out of stock, but another Kverneland dealer within easy reach may have those parts sat on the shelf,” says Kevin. “Using Terrako will

speed up the process of finding and buying the correct parts.”

Online ordering also offers quick and easy parts identification through Smart Search, Kverneland’s photographic parts identification tool, which can be accessed using a smart phone, tablet or PC. By taking a photograph of the required part, Smart Search ensures you get the correct part number, reducing the risk of incorrect ordering. Any parts showing as out of stock at the point of order will also prompt an estimated delivery date.

“The introduction of the Terrako digital marketplace will make it much easier for customers to buy the correct Kverneland parts without having to take the required items to the dealership,” says Kevin. “It’s a very efficient process that can be accessed 24-7 and it takes the guesswork out of finding original Kverneland parts.”

The Terrako team will be with Kverneland on stand 822 at Cereals, on 11 and 12 June, to support customers with creating a Terrako account and ordering Kverneland spare parts via the platform.

Kverneland parts

go online with Terrako

MLM Engineering at Orphir has taken over sales, service and distribution of Kverneland equipment on Orkney and the Shetland Islands, following a change in the business structure of previous dealer, Kirkwallbased J&W Tait.

“We’ve had a good relationship with J&W Tait over many years and it was a mutual decision that led to us taking over the franchise when the Tait family decided to stop,” explained MLM Engineering’s dealer principal Alan Muir,

pictured with business partner David Linkletter.

With an established team of 11 in total – six of which are workshop-based – MLM Engineering is pleased to have added Kverneland to its portfolio, alongside its main tractor franchise.

“There’s a lot of beef cattle, dairy herds and sheep on the islands, with crops mainly grown for animal feed, and some barley grown for the distilleries. So we’re expecting ploughs and grassland equipment to be our biggest selling implements from the Kverneland range,” said Alan.

¬¬“We’re looking to build on the good work that J&W Tait had achieved with its customers during its 28 years as a Kverneland dealer,” he said.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

Case IH Optum Tractors Now Available with Enhanced Control and Tailored Tech Packages

Case IH Optum tractors, available in three models with rated power outputs from 271hp to 340hp, can now be ordered with new technology packages designed to help customers easily match specification to their key requirements. In addition, the joystick option for precision control of the front linkage has been upgraded to also control the rear linkage, allowing precise tailoring of tractor set-up to the task being performed.

Upgraded joystick now controls both front and rear

linkages

The configurable joystick incorporated into the Multicontroller armrest on Optum tractors has been updated to proportionately control both the front and rear linkages. Joystick functions are configured using the tractor’s Case IH Pro 1200 touchscreen display, making it simple to set up the tractor to suit the operator and the task, whether using a front and rear combination such as a pair of mowers, or a rear implement only – a plough, for example.

New tech packages offer customizable options Following the approach used on Case IH Quadtrac, Steiger, Magnum and Puma 185-260 series tractors, Optum models are now available with tiered technology packages. These allow buyers to tailor their tractor’s features to exactly meet their needs. The tech packages can be combined with the existing Advanced or Professional specification packages, simplifying the ordering process, while also enhancing resale value.

All three packages include the armrest-mounted Pro 1200 touchscreen display, with a readiness package (harness and mount ball) for a second display. Customers can choose to order the second and third level tech pack options if they wish to specify greater levels of automation and higher-accuracy AccuGuide autosteering.

Optum tractors now come standard with Connectivity

Included, enabling owners to unlock their tractor’s full potential. Connected services and FieldOps™ capabilities are provided throughout the life of the machine’s connectivity modem, with no recurring subscription fees. Additionally,

when added to a customer account, new Optum models enable qualifying existing machines to be upgraded to Connectivity Included at no extra cost*.

With FieldOps, the new allin-one data management app and

web platform, customers gain near real-time access to both their machine and agronomic data. This simplifies the monitoring, planning, and evaluation of all operations, streamlines workflows and maximises efficiency on and off the field.

Carr’s Billington Expands Merlo Coverage to Additional Depots

Merlo UK is pleased to announce that Carrs Billington, headquartered in Carlisle, is expanding its Merlo coverage and support to additional depots in Stranraer and Penrith. Building on a successful start and

several high-profile sales, Carrs Billington has reinforced its commitment to the Merlo brand with this expansion marking the next step in delivering premium telehandler solutions to more customers across the region. This growth follows the successful partnership announced in December, representing another exciting milestone for both companies. As a trusted name in the agricultural industry, Carrs Billington

provides a comprehensive range of farming and agricultural solutions, serving customers with dedication and expertise. With a well-earned reputation for customer service and quality, Carrs Billington is an ideal partner to represent Merlo’s innovative range of telehandlers.

Owen Buttle, National Sales Manager at Merlo UK, commented: “Carrs Billington is a trusted supplier of leading agricultural brands, and this expansion reflects both their confidence in the Merlo product and our shared commitment to providing customers across the North of England with exceptional machinery solutions and service.”

Reflecting on the last six months, Tom Jobling, Machinery Director at Carrs Billington, added: “Sales have started well, and we believe now is the right time to expand the Merlo brand into our other depots. The team has been impressed by the quality and performance of Merlo telehandlers, and we are excited to introduce these machines to even more customers.”

This latest development further strengthens Merlo’s dealer network ensuring farmers and agricultural businesses across the region

have access to Merlo’s industryleading telehandlers, backed by the expertise and service of Carrs Billington’s dedicated team.

Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd and Highland Business Services Ring Ltd to merge

Two of Scotland’s machinery rings, Laurencekirk based Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd and Inverness based Highland Business Services Ltd (HBS), have today announced plans to merge their activities.

The merger between the two cooperatives will substantially strengthen the position of both businesses with a combined membership of over 4000 and annual turnover of £100 million serving farmers and crofters in an area from East-Central Scotland to Sutherland in the north, Skye and Argyll.

The new combined operation will retain the Ringlink Scotland Ltd name and 2 directors of HBS will join the Ringlink board. Overall management

will be the responsibility of Ringlink’s managing director, Graham Bruce, with the present HBS team continuing to run operations in HBS’s existing trading area on a day-to-day basis from their present office at Glaikmore, Tore.

Administration will be linked to Ringlink’s main computer at Laurencekirk and Ringlink will retain their existing regional offices at Cupar, Coupar Angus, Oldmeldrum and Elgin.

Members of HBS are to be asked to give formal approval to the merger plans at special general meetings to be held on 24th June and 11th July. The proposals will require the approval of at least two-thirds of members present or voting by proxy, at the first

meeting and half at the second meeting. Subject to the approval of members of HBS it is proposed the merger will take place on 1st August 2025

“Both rings have worked closely together over the last few years and the proposed merger is the next logical step forward in the machinery ring concept in North of Scotland,” said Ringlink chairman, James Porter.

“The combined ring will be able to offer a more comprehensive and efficient service and will allow further development of the core business, along with the labour and training divisions which are an integral part of the business.”

HBS chairperson, Anne Rae Macdonald, said the merger

would provide members with enhanced buying power and services in what she describes as the challenging times which lie ahead for farmers and crofters and in light of support payment reforms.

“The plans are a significant step forward in our development and will allow both rings to pool resources whilst still optimising local centres, contacts and knowledge” said Ms Macdonald. “The merger will enable the joint business to build on existing resources, help find new opportunities for our farming and crofting businesses, provide on-going support for staff and reduce costs in areas such as administration, computer software and professional fees.”

Nuffield Farming and AHDB renew partnership as tickets launch for Aberdeen conference

Tickets are now available for the 2025 Nuffield Farming Conference, to be held at Aberdeen’s P&J Live conference centre on 18-20th November 2025. For the third year running, AHDB will partner with Nuffield Farming as the conference’s main sponsor as part of an ongoing relationship between the two organisations to share knowledge and catalyse positive change across the industry.

“We are delighted to be bringing the Nuffield Farming Conference to Aberdeen this year. The region has a vibrant agricultural heritage, and we are excited to showcase this during the conference,” says Tom Rawson,

Chair of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.

“Our partnership with AHDB continues to grow and their ongoing support allows us to deliver an industry-leading event. Both organisations share a common goal of ensuring a thriving future for the industry, and combining our strengths brings us closer to achieving that.”

A long-term sponsor of Nuffield Farming Scholarships, AHDB has also been the main conference sponsor for the past three years.

“Our relationship with the Nuffield programme goes back more than a decade and during that

time we have sponsored almost 20 scholarships,” says Graham Wilkinson, CEO of AHDB.

“The positive outcomes of doing this include tangible benefits for British agricultural businesses, solutions to challenges derived from sharing real world experiences and personal development of the individuals taking part. Supporting the industry’s future leaders to find and share these

great outcomes aligns closely with the AHDB purpose to unlock the success of British agriculture. We are pleased to play our part.”

Tickets are now available to purchase at a discounted “early bird” price until 25th August.

Full details about the conference, including ticketing information, can be found on the Trust’s website at www.nuffieldscholar.org/ Aberdeen2025.

RSABI Great Scone Palace Challenge 2025

We’re excited to launch our brand new fundraising challenge, taking place at Scone Palace in Perthshire on September 12th & 13th, supported by members of the cast of Emmerdale.

Join us for a jam-packed, fun-filled extravaganza with Emmerdale in association with headline sponsor Gillespie Macandrew LLP. The two days of activities will kick off with a welcome party at Perth Racecourse followed by a challenge day which will see teams of five test their skills in a range of activities.

Welcome Party (Friday 12th September):

Perth Race Course

Party goers will enjoy great food, bar open all evening, greet the stars, enjoy exclusive musical performances from super multitalented Emmerdale cast

and crew and support a fantastic cause, all at a fabulous night out to remember with your friends.

Plus, place your bets on the celebrity ‘runners and well kent faces taking part in the highlight of this year’s racing calendar.

The Great Scone Palace Challenge (Saturday 13th September):

Saturday will see teams of five from across the agricultural community compete for the prestigious Great Scone Palace Cup. Participants will test their skills in four thrilling challenges: The Great Bale Obstacle Course, The Palace Pathfinders Quest, Sugden’s Tractor Pull and Starry Laser Clay Challenge.

Grand Finale: The event will conclude with an exclusive celebration ball at Scone Palace on Saturday evening, hosted by Lord

Stormont. Enjoy performances by the Emmerdale cast band, a charity auction, live music, dancing, and

a chance to celebrate the grand finale of The Great Scone Palace Challenge 2025.

For further information on both events including team entry, ball tickets and sponsorship opportunities visit www.rsabi.org.uk/event/great-scone-palace-challenge/

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Lisa Chilton Rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture (SBP), has welcomed a new CEO, as Lisa Chilton joins to head up the 20-strong team working to make rewilding happen across Scotland, in response to the growing climate and biodiversity crises.

With 30 years’ hands-on and leadership experience in ecology, conservation, stakeholder engagement and organisational development, Lisa’s career spans senior roles in charities, government advisory bodies and academia. She brings expertise in marine conservation, environmental policy, public engagement and strategic fundraising.

Izzy Durrant Elanco has expanded its pig and poultry team with the appointment of Izzy Durrant as a monogastric farm services technician.

Miss Durrant, who has a degree in biology from the University of Bath, joins from the company’s pet health division, where she has worked as a territory business manager for North West England.

She has been part of the team at Elanco since her third year at university when she completed a placement with the company’s pig and poultry marketing team, meaning she is already well versed in the sector. “I’m really looking forward to rejoining the team and bolstering their efforts to support producers in the face of various challenges, including Salmonella and E. coli control,” says Ms Durrant, who is currently based in Lancashire.

“As part of my new role, I’ll be providing on-farm support to both egg producers and pig producers.”

She says her work with layer producers will focus mainly on supporting them with Salmonella control and prevention, using products such as the AviPro™ vaccines, as well as delivering on-farm audits.

“For the pig sector, I’ll mostly be providing on-farm support for E. coli testing and prevention, as well as the use of the Coliprotec™ vaccine,” explains Ms Durrant.

Colin Smith

The James Hutton Institute is delighted to announce that Colin Smith has been appointed Campus Operations Manager.

Mr Smith will be responsible for the development of the Hutton’s campuses at Invergowrie and Aberdeen, as well as its three working farms. He will work closely with campus partners, partner organisations and stakeholders as the Hutton continues to develop and utilise its built environment.

He is a highly experienced operational leader with expertise across a range of sectors including higher education, energy, oil and gas, aviation and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturing.

Commenting on his appointment he said, “I am deeply passionate about continuous improvement and am excited to bring my extensive experience to The James Hutton Institute. I strongly advocate for employ wellbeing and development and I look forward to getting to know my new colleagues and collaborating with them to bring out the best in our team.”

Andrew Mudie

OMEX Agriculture has appointed Andrew Mudie as its new district sales manager for Scotland North. The company recognises the significant growth potential that exists in Scotland for liquid fertiliser, and with its significant capacity 16000t liquid nitrogen and sulphur storage and distribution facility at Port of Dundee, it justifies further investment in a professional sales manager on the ground.

Andrew is well known in Scottish farming circles having cut his teeth at Aberdeen University where he read crop science in the early 90’s followed by a stint at Mylnefield Research Services where he worked on raspberry root rot and strawberry breeding projects.

Switching from soft fruit to potatoes, Andrew then worked for West Cumberland Farmers as potato fieldsman and as crop store sampling controller. Latterly he moved to the independent potato breeder Cygnet PB working on its breeding programme.

THE BOOK SHELF

Blue Scotland: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Scotland’s Wild Waters by Mollie Hughes

Mollie Hughes is an incredibly accomplished writer, speaker, and adventurer. She became the youngest woman to climb both sides of Mount Everest in 2017 and the youngest woman to ski entirely on her own to the geographic South Pole in 2020. She is the director of ethical adventure company, Ocean Vertical, based in Dunbar. As such, she certainly possesses the knowledge and experience required to scope out some of the best locations for water sports all across the country. Her new book Blue Scotland: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Scotland’s Wild Waters, is a wonderfully comprehensive guide to all things water sports – wild swimming, surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more –across every corner of Scotland.

Mollie personally visited over eighty locations throughout the country alongside photographer Rachel Connolly. Blue Scotland is fully illustrated with gorgeous colour photos of every idyllic destination, and it is helpfully divided into sections for each region. Because Mollie had the practical experience of visiting each place herself, she also gives clear instructions on how to reach some of the more off-thebeaten track locations included. Each specific location contains a helpful chart at the start, ranking

the experience level required to access it, if there are public transport options available, how long it may take to hike or walk there from the starting point, and other useful insider knowledge.

The book is not only an excellent practical guide to accessing and enjoying these spaces, but it also explores how spending time in nature, particularly in the seas and lochs, can have tremendous mental and physical health benefits. Mollie writes beautifully in the introduction to the book about the emerging topic of study know as ‘blue health,’ the idea that spending time engaging regularly with outdoor blue spaces, which include the coast, lochs, riverways and canals, can have a huge benefit to people’s health. These tranquil places are often considered to have a psychologically restorative effect on the mind. Mollie is passionate about the beauty and potential for these places to bring peace of mind, describing them as ‘places of sanctuary and places to unwind.’

Blue Scotland is a brilliant read for anyone seeking inspiration on how to get the most out of time spent in nature and reap the many health benefits of outdoor exercise in Scotland’s beautiful blue spaces.

Blue Scotland by Mollie Hughes is published by Birlinn in June 2025 (£20) https://birlinn.co.uk/product/blue-scotland-2/