– In 1980 The Scottish Farmer organised a three-day trip to the Paris Agricultural Show, which amazed farmers with the size of machinery and the size of the show.

– The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research at Aberdeen celebrated their 50th anniversary of the institute's foundation. It was set up by TB Macaulay, who emigrated to Canada and was president of the Sun Life Assurance Company. In memory of his father, Mr Macaulay decided to set up laboratories on the mainland for research related to peat land. He met the capital cost of the laboratories and the 50 acres at Craigiebuckler. It cost him about £50,000.

– In 1981 there was a battle over the NFUS presidency, John Cameron beat Mike Burnett, who occupied the top place in 1978 and 1979.

– A £1m fish farm was introduced in Argyll at Sir William Lithgow's 6677 acre estate, where 6m gallons of water was used in a hydro-power scheme. It was planned that 3-4m smolts and 500 tonnes of finished salmon would be produced a year.

– A new Scotland Seed Potato Association was formed to oversee the £40m seed potato industry and promote its activity at home and abroad.

– In 1982 Scotland's first permanent agricultural museum was opened at Ingliston. It's aim was to show the history of the Scottish countryside through the life and work of the people, through their tools, social habits, housing and dress. It took years to raise £175,000 that was required to equip the museum.

– In 1984, Robert F Gregor retired after 35 years of leadership in the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs.

– The first Sunday opening of the RH and ASS marked its bicentenary and was visited by HM The Queen, with 43,000 visitors to the show.