Politics

The beef scheme battle rages on

Scotland’s suckler cow calving interval set to fall to 400 then 390 days

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Future Farming Investment Scheme

FFIS 2026: The legal checks farmers should make before spending a penny

Cameron Gillies, head of external affairs, Scottish Land & Estates

Cameron Gillies, head of external affairs, Scottish Land & Estates

Scottish Government

Scottish rural businesses gain renewed voice as Holyrood group reconstituted

MSPs will work with rural businesses and communities to raise issues affecting the countryside at Holyrood

MSPs will work with rural businesses and communities to raise issues affecting the countryside at Holyrood

Cross-party group aims to give rural Scotland a stronger voice at Holyrood

NFU Scotland says the industry was not meaningfully consulted before the latest calving interval announcement

NFU Scotland says the industry was not meaningfully consulted before the latest calving interval announcement

Calving interval

Beef farmers challenge government's proposed 400-day calving rule

Proposed UK-EU deal could reopen seed potato exports

Proposed UK-EU deal could reopen seed potato exports

EU deal could reopen vital markets for Scottish seed potatoes

Andrew Connon called for agricultural support to increase to £860 million annually

Andrew Connon called for agricultural support to increase to £860 million annually

NFUS Conference

‘Without profitability, we have nothing’: Connon's call to government

The Scottish Crofting Federation is seeking an extension to the small herd derogation

The Scottish Crofting Federation is seeking an extension to the small herd derogation

Calving interval

Crofters need greater flexibility under suckler beef support scheme, says SCF

The survey aims to capture the differing experiences of Scotland's diverse island communities

The survey aims to capture the differing experiences of Scotland's diverse island communities

Highlands & Islands

Islanders asked to have their say on Scotland’s future

Ministers say the change is aimed at reducing emissions from the Scottish Beef herd

Ministers say the change is aimed at reducing emissions from the Scottish Beef herd

Calving changes

Scottish Government plans 400-day calving interval for beef farmers

Graham Leadbitter said the decision was astonishing

Graham Leadbitter said the decision was astonishing

Scotch whisky dispute

Whisky row deepens after UK Government reveals no Scotch impact assessment

Alistair Carmichael raised the initiative in parliament as a potential model for the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive

Alistair Carmichael raised the initiative in parliament as a potential model for the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive

Alistair Carmichael

Carmichael urges government to follow Aldi’s new beef farming scheme

£1,347,018 has been allocated by the Scottish Government to fund nature recovery projects across Scotland

£1,347,018 has been allocated by the Scottish Government to fund nature recovery projects across Scotland

Nature recovery

Scotland announces £1.3m boost for nature recovery projects

Future Farming scheme returns with fresh rules after row

Land reform plans could hit 1100 holdings

Land reform plans could hit 1100 holdings

Land reform plan

The Political Field

Land reform plans could hit 1100 holdings

Fruit and veg trade fears £300m cost burden

Fruit and veg trade fears £300m cost burden

Fruit and veg trade fears £300m cost burden

Transport rules

NSA warns EU transport rules could hit sheep sector

The £14.25m scheme offers grants of up to £20,000 per farm or croft business Ref:RH280723030 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

The £14.25m scheme offers grants of up to £20,000 per farm or croft business Ref:RH280723030 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Scottish Government

Guidance published for £14.25m Future Farming Investment Scheme

The programme will link with wider efforts to restore native woodlands and improve farmland biodiversity across the National Park

The programme will link with wider efforts to restore native woodlands and improve farmland biodiversity across the National Park

Climate resilience

National Park launches four-year trial to future-proof farming

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said farmers and crofters had shown 'great resilience' in the face of rising costs and extreme weather

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said farmers and crofters had shown 'great resilience' in the face of rising costs and extreme weather

Agricultural census

Scotland’s cattle numbers rise as agricultural workforce continues falling

NFU Scotland is calling for the current 6.48ppl rebated fuel duty rate to remain beyond December 2026

NFU Scotland is calling for the current 6.48ppl rebated fuel duty rate to remain beyond December 2026

Farm fuel costs surge as farmers demand urgent government action

Seamus Logan MP has urged the UK Government to restore full inheritance tax relief for qualifying farms ahead of the Autumn Budget.

Seamus Logan MP has urged the UK Government to restore full inheritance tax relief for qualifying farms ahead of the Autumn Budget.

Inheritance Tax

Fresh call for full inheritance tax relief on farms

Langan says long-term certainty is essential for farmers making investment decisions that can span decades

Langan says long-term certainty is essential for farmers making investment decisions that can span decades

Why Reform’s new rural voice wants farmers leading policy

A Policy Delivery Group chaired by Jim Fairlie will lead work on designing the future system

A Policy Delivery Group chaired by Jim Fairlie will lead work on designing the future system

Farmers urged to engage now with Scotland’s future support

The Conservatives say Natural England and the Environment Agency would be abolished under the plans

The Conservatives say Natural England and the Environment Agency would be abolished under the plans

Tory Conference

Conservative Party

Tories propose radical environmental regulator shake-up

Jonnie Hall, Defra minister Stephen Morgan MP and Andrew Connon

Jonnie Hall, Defra minister Stephen Morgan MP and Andrew Connon

Labour Conference

NFU Scotland takes farmers’ concerns to Labour Conference

Scotland’s Offshore Wind Investment Programme was established to support the infrastructure and manufacturing capacity needed to develop the country’s offshore wind industry

Scotland’s Offshore Wind Investment Programme was established to support the infrastructure and manufacturing capacity needed to develop the country’s offshore wind industry

Renewable energy

£500m offshore wind plan faces warning over slow progress

Scotland’s renewable energy sector is calling for faster and more predictable grid connections as investment in clean energy expands

Scotland’s renewable energy sector is calling for faster and more predictable grid connections as investment in clean energy expands

Renewable energy

Great British Grid backed as renewables warn over delays

King Charles formally opened Great British Energy's Aberdeen headquarters at Marischal Square

King Charles formally opened Great British Energy's Aberdeen headquarters at Marischal Square

King Charles III

Great British Energy defends jobs promise amid Aberdeen criticism

A 3km Protection Zone has been introduced around the affected premises

A 3km Protection Zone has been introduced around the affected premises

Bird Flu confirmed on Isle Of Lewis as H5N5 detected

Gavin Lane, CLA president

Gavin Lane, CLA president

Inheritance tax fears force farmers to scale back businesses

SAOS chief executive Tim Bailey

SAOS chief executive Tim Bailey

SAOS calls for co-operation at heart of food policy

The Scotland-wide Restricted Zone takes effect on Saturday, October 3

The Scotland-wide Restricted Zone takes effect on Saturday, October 3

Bluetongue virus

Scotland extends bluetongue restriction zone across entire country

The Agriculture Operations Hearing at the DPEA inquiry heard evidence on the practical challenges of farming beneath the proposed 400kV overhead line

The Agriculture Operations Hearing at the DPEA inquiry heard evidence on the practical challenges of farming beneath the proposed 400kV overhead line

Farmers challenge SSEN over safety at major power hearing

The latest SFI26 application window was exhausted in less than six hours, according to the NFU

The latest SFI26 application window was exhausted in less than six hours, according to the NFU

SFI Funding Row

NFU demands early SFI reopening after funding runs out

Jim Fairlie said he has confidence that farmers understand the risks posed by bluetongue

Jim Fairlie said he has confidence that farmers understand the risks posed by bluetongue

Bluetongue virus

Fairlie says farmers know bluetongue risks as campaign rejected

The Scottish Retail Consortium says price controls could create additional costs across the food supply chain

The Scottish Retail Consortium says price controls could create additional costs across the food supply chain

Retailers warn Scottish food price cap would fail shoppers

NFU demands budget support to bolster food security

NFU demands budget support to bolster food security

NFU urges Budget action

National Farmers Union (NFU)

NFU demands budget support to bolster food security

rural relationships

Countryside Alliance

Countryside Alliance urges Burnham to reverse ‘family farm tax’

SFI funding was fully allocated within hours of applications opening

SFI funding was fully allocated within hours of applications opening

SFI funding pot exhausted within hours as farmer demand surges

Edward Mountain looking at the Panel, Al Dargie, Jim Fairlie MSP, Fire Chief Kenny Barbour and Sandy McCook

Edward Mountain looking at the Panel, Al Dargie, Jim Fairlie MSP, Fire Chief Kenny Barbour and Sandy McCook

Calls for an independent review after Strathspey Wildfire

The Scottish Government launched its food price cap consultation on September 1

The Scottish Government launched its food price cap consultation on September 1

Processors put Scottish Government food price cap under pressure

Kate Adams outlined the latest developments in Brussels and their potential impact on UK farmers

Kate Adams outlined the latest developments in Brussels and their potential impact on UK farmers

The Political Field

Brussels livestock strategy could signal major change for British farmers

Jim Fairlie, agriculture minister

Jim Fairlie, agriculture minister

£296m in farming support paid to 81% of eligible Scottish businesses

Industry leaders warn food price caps could shift costs from supermarkets onto farmers and food producers

Industry leaders warn food price caps could shift costs from supermarkets onto farmers and food producers

Industry warning

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Industry leaders warn Scottish food price caps could backfire

Former home secretary Lord Blunkett has called on Labour to rethink its approach to rural Britain

Former home secretary Lord Blunkett has called on Labour to rethink its approach to rural Britain

Countryside Alliance

Blunkett warns Labour as rural anger mounts

Douglas Ross joins AIC Scotland as policy manager

Douglas Ross joins AIC Scotland as policy manager

Douglas Ross joins AIC Scotland as policy manager

The parliamentary dispute centred on vaccination against bluetongue virus serotype 3

The parliamentary dispute centred on vaccination against bluetongue virus serotype 3

Bluetongue news

Bluetongue virus

MSP claims minister ignored farmers’ vaccination cost concerns

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie provided a ministerial statement to parliament this week

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie provided a ministerial statement to parliament this week

Bluetongue news

Bluetongue virus

Lib Dem MSP seeks clarity on Scotland’s bluetongue response

NFU Scotland has submitted its Autumn Budget 2026 priorities to HM Treasury

NFU Scotland has submitted its Autumn Budget 2026 priorities to HM Treasury

‘Warm words’ not enough as farmers press UK Government

Members of the Conservative frontbench wearing wheat badges at PMQs in the Commons on Wednesday

Members of the Conservative frontbench wearing wheat badges at PMQs in the Commons on Wednesday

Why are MPs wearing wheat badges at Prime Minister's Questions today?

The politicians describe the current pressures facing UK agriculture as a 'once-in-a-generation crisis'

The politicians describe the current pressures facing UK agriculture as a 'once-in-a-generation crisis'

More than 100 MPs demand farm inheritance tax u-turn

The Scottish Government plans to establish a ScotWind Wealth Fund by the end of the parliament

The Scottish Government plans to establish a ScotWind Wealth Fund by the end of the parliament

Renewable energy

New Scottish Government plans put communities at heart of renewables

Malcolm Offord, Reform UK Scotland leader

Malcolm Offord, Reform UK Scotland leader

Reform Conference

Reform targets farm tax, bureaucracy and imported food standards