ORGANIC farmers and would-be organics farmers across the north-east of Scotland are invited to the first meeting of a new discussion group established specifically for them.

Organised as part of the Scottish Government’s new Farm Advisory Service programme, the meeting will be delivered by SAC consulting division, on Wednesday, March 8, in the Ferguson Building on the Aberdeen campus of Scotland’s Rural College at Craibstone.

Senior SAC consultant Aileen Buchanan, who is organising the meeting, explained: “We are planning four events each year. We thought it best to start at Craibstone where potential members can meet each other and learn about the organic research being carried out by SRUC in Aberdeen, as well as hearing the latest on Scotland’s Organic Action Plan and an organic market outlook.

"But in future though it will be on farms, like Wester Manbeen, the organic dairy farm run by the Hendry’s who are presently installing a new computerised robotic milking system.”

It is hoped that the discussion group will offer support, and will be a source of information and will focus on new developments in the sector.

“Colleagues from the Soil Association and the Scottish Organic Producers Association will be contributing to the meetings,” she said. “The Scottish Government actively supports organic farming but producers spread across Aberdeenshire and Moray can sometimes be isolated and a chance to share ideas and gain the most recent knowledge will be invaluable.”

“Recent political events mean business information is at a premium as farmers prepare formulate their plans post Brexit,” she added. “We expect a series of busy meetings, starting with the first in Aberdeen.”

While the meeting is free it would help arrangements if those planning to attend booked in advance through the new FAS website www.fas.scot/events or by contacting the SAC consulting office in Elgin on 01343 548787 or email frbselgin@sac.co.uk