The Scottish Farmer

SCOTLAND’S DRIVE to plant more trees may be unpopular with farming’s old guard – but the many potential new entrants to our farming sector might feel more open-minded to the idea after this week.

Farm incomes – beware the ‘F-factor’

WHILE SCOTTISH farm income figures issued this week by the Scottish Government paint a picture of positive growth in Scottish farming, the ‘F-factor’ – soaring prices for feed, fuel and fertiliser – are a major concern.

Cameron’s beef income concern

SCOTLAND’S SPECIALIST beef units fared badly in the Farm Business Income figures released this week, with an alarming 14% income drop – so its high time the sector got itself organised to better represent its producers in the political arena.

New hope for EID?

HOPE WAS renewed for the Scottish sheep sector this week as the Scottish Government obtained a commitment from Europe to begin dialogue on EID ‘flexibilities’.

Honour for Turriff’s farming policeman

HUGH DUNCAN, a farmer and Highland Pony breeder from Craignetherty Farm, Netherdale, Turriff, was awarded the Queens’ Police Medal in the recent Honours List, in recognition of his long service as a special constable – only the second time in history a ‘special’ has been given the QPM.

CAP debate opens to the Scottish public

THE POPULATION of Scotland – not just its farmers – can now go online and have their say on the European Commission’s proposals for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Long distance pollution impact

MAN-MADE AIR pollution from as far away as North America causes Europe to lose 1.2 million tonnes of wheat a year, a new study has warned.

Young shepherds return to glory

TWO YOUNG Scots shepherds have just returned from a trip of a lifetime to New Zealand – and will soon be regaling the National Sheep Association’s Scottish region AGM with tales of their travels.

Ready for Schmallenberg!

ANY SUSPECT cases of the Schmallenberg disease found in Scotland will go straight to the country’s livestock disease gurus at the Moredun Research Institute.

Moredun seeks scholars

ANYONE LOOKING for funding for a short term agricultural learning project is being encouraged to apply for a Moredun Scholarship Award before applications closes at the end of February.

Futureproofing the Highland Show

WHEN BAA’s planned expansion of Edinburgh Airport was a very imminent threat to the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society’s Ingliston home, it formulated a ‘plan B’ – buy a chunk of the neighbouring Norton Mains farm, and move the showground lock, stock and barrel across the A8.

Payment system must be flexible

SCOTLAND’S FARMERS need a more flexible payment system for their future support arrangements, to mitigate the likely complicating effects of CAP reform.

SAC officially opens new Ayr campus

AFTER MUCH talk and counter-talk, the Scottish Agricultural College and the University of the West of Scotland have officially launched their new £81 million Riverside Campus in Ayr.

And the winners are...

THE SCOTTISH Farmer’s ‘12 days of Christmas’ competition attracted nearly 6000 entries from all over the country – and this week, we announce the winners.

Top trainee auctioneer

TRAINEE AUCTIONEER Stuart Slesser has won a top award for being the best student in Scotland and the north of England.

Disease alert!

SCOTLAND’S FARMERS have been urged to be on the alert following the news that a new disease – affecting both cattle and sheep – has entered the UK.

Reject this ‘poisoned’ deal

EU PLANS to compensate farmers affected by international trade deals – most pressingly the imminent agreement with South America’s beef-producing Mercosur bloc – are a “poisoned chalice” and should be rejected.

Supermarkets under fire

SUPERMARKETS WERE in the firing line again this week on two fronts – a call for the European Union to recognise the farm safety problems caused by supermarket price pressure, and a demand for more urgency from the UK Government in bringing in a “watchdog’” to rein in their power.

Stirlingshire blaze

STIRLINGSHIRE FARMER John Christie and his family had a lucky escape from this massive blaze at West Carse Farm, Kippen, which ripped through his hay barn coming far too close to the farmhouse for comfort.

Irish in UK milk move

LAST WEEK it was the Germans making a move on the UK dairy sector – this week it is the Irish, with United Dairy Farmers, the Belfast-based dairy farmer-owned co-operative, announcing plans to expand its interests here.

Humble pie for Struan

FEARS OF an EU-wide ban on rat poison have proven entirely unfounded – and the MEP that stoked those fears has been taken to task for his “scaremongering”.

Sheep worrying in the spotlight

A NEW service to record incidents of sheep worrying by dogs has been put in place by the National Sheep Association.

Monsanto’s GM maize retreat

FRANCE HAS held firm in its opposition to Monsanto’s genetically modified MON 810 maize – and the agri-chemical multinational has admitted defeat.

North-east is an e.coli hotspot

RESEARCH INTO the risk of E.coli O157 in the countryside has revealed that some areas have a higher prevalence of the disease – including Grampian, where the risk of falling ill was four times higher than a comparable area in North Wales.

Lanarkshire gamekeeper convicted

A SECOND Lanarkshire gamekeeper has been convicted of possessing the banned pesticide carbofuran.

Tax break countdown

FARMERS HAVE only a few months left before the old tax allowances on capital expenditure are removed – so if a big plant or machinery purchase is needed, now is the time to make it.

SAC signs deal to do agri-research with Brazil

PLANS TO increase the international reach of the Scottish Agricultural College have taken a step forward with the signing of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ between it and Brazil’s agricultural research corporation, EMBRAPA.

Müller corners Wiseman

THE TAKE-OVER of Scotland’s biggest milk processor Robert Wiseman Dairies by German yoghurt giant Müller in a £280million deal is a real shake-up for the UK dairy industry.

Should we stay or should we go?

FARMING HAS this week been marked out as a key battleground in the imminent political war over Scottish independence.

Farm support vital for Scotland

THE WHOLE of Scotland – not just its farming industry – would go down the swanny without the support provided by the Common Agricultural Policy, according to Rural Affairs CabSec Richard Lochhead, writes Douglas MacSkimming.

Let’s change dairy direction

DESPITE THE burgeoning market of food and drink exports, that grew last year by almost 11% to £16n, the dairy industry recorded a trade deficit of £1.3bn – now, the only manoeuvre to progress forwards is a ‘hand-brake turn’ which will enable the UK to get to ‘a better place’.

There’s no ‘plan B’ for TB

CULLING BADGERS is the only route to controlling England’s runaway bovine TB epidemic – there is no ‘plan B.

Meat report row

FOOD SAFETY audit reports of meat plants throughout Scotland, England and Wales have this week been made available to the public, under a new drive for “transparency” in the UK’s hygiene regime.

Countess becomes Royal patron for Border Union

AS IT counts down to its bicentenary celebrations in 2013, the Border Union Agricultural Society has announced that HRH The Countess of Wessex has agreed to be its patron for the year.

Make EU welfare rules work

EUROPE MUST learn lessons from the debacle surrounding battery caged hens – and ensure that its animal welfare rules get taken seriously in every member state.

UK egg embarrassment

UK OUTRAGE at the widespread flouting of the battery cage ban on mainland Europe has been somewhat muted by the revelation that a minority of UK egg producers also missed the ban deadline.

Counterfeit pesticide warning

COUNTERFEIT PESTICIDES could account for as much as 25% of supplies in some European countries, the European Union law enforcement agency, Europol, has warned.

Crop science to the fore

A PROJECT aimed at improving the transfer of plant science from research laboratories to commercial markets has been given a £2.7m grant by the European Regional Development Fund.

Haulage hike will hurt isles economy

THE SCOTTISH Crofting Federation has warned the government to rethink plans to scrap the Road Equivalent Tariff for commercial vehicles travelling to the Western Isles – or risk an economic landslide in the islands.

Road closure boosts abattoir argument

CROFTERS LEADERS lobbying for the creation of a new abattoir for Skye and Lochalsh have had their argument bolstered by a serious landslip that blocked the route to Dingwall abattoir.

Tenancy kick-about!

SCOTLAND’S LANDOWNERS have rejected claims that they are presiding over the meltdown of the country’s tenanted farm sector – and accused a “minority” of turning the agricultural holdings issue into a political football.

Pack is back!

BRIAN PACK is to lead a campaign to cut the ‘needless bureaucracy’ afflicting Scottish farmers.

Grain firm loses out in court case

A DISPUTE over the existence of a barley contract has ended with a Midlothian farm manager exonerated, and a leading grain buyer humbled.

Anti-microbials off the hook?

ANTIBIOTIC USE in farming has long been blamed for the rise in antibiotic-resistant bugs afflicting the human population – but new research by Scottish scientists is now casting serious doubt on that link.

Wacky races?!

Is this the wacky races...?

EU egg cheats investigated

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS have been instigated by the European Commission against the 14 member states that have failed to fully enforce the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive.

Kintyre creamery to stay where it is

FIRST MILK will not be building a new creamery in Campbeltown – but it will be setting up a new cheese-making facility on its existing site in the town.

It’s a grey day for Jamie!

JAMIE YOUNGER of Baro Farm, near Gifford, has received the 2011 Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Dodseed Grey Partridge Trophy in recognition of the farm’s activities in support of the wild grey partridge.

New livestock virus alert

A NEW virus that causes foetal malformations in cattle, sheep and goats has been detected in mainland Europe – and Scottish vets and farmers have been put on alert for any sign that it might have reached these shores.

New tree-planting grant

A NEW grant to help promote the creation of productive woodlands in Scotland is set to be piloted throughout this year.

Bob gets the top job

ANIMAL SCIENTIST Professor Bob Webb has been announced as the new chief executive and principal of the Scottish Agricultural College.

AgriScot scores top marks

A SURVEY of visitors to AgriScot 2011 has delivered a ringing endorsement to the event and its organisers, with almost everyone interviewed declaring themselves either satisfied or more than satisfied with the activities on offer.

Get tag trained

WITH SHEEP farmers everywhere recognizing the increasing importance of getting sheep tagging and record keeping right, SAC is launching a Scotland-wide programme of short workshops to provide a simple but comprehensive guide to all aspects of sheep tagging, recording and record keeping.

New Year blast

SCOTLAND’S FARMERS and rural home owners were this week counting the cost of clearing up after the latest spell of violent storms and near hurricane force winds.

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