Exploring the opportunities in school food for Scottish suppliers
Free online discussion and networking event
Are you a Scottish producer or supplier interested in the business opportunities in public procurement? Or do you work in catering or food procurement for a local authority that’s looking to support local businesses?
Short and local supply chains are good for the economy, the environment and for health. And, as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has shown, they are also more resilient to disruption. The Scottish Government and Scottish local authorities are actively seeking to source more of the food that goes into school meals as locally as possible – making the public sector an excellent route to market for Scottish suppliers.
Join us with ASSIST FM National Chair Jayne Jones and Supplier Development Programme’s Gillian Cameron for this unique opportunity to:
explore how supplying school food can benefit your business
hear first-hand from local authorities and suppliers about how their partnerships work in practice
learn from the experts how to navigate public sector tendering processes
network with Scottish suppliers and local authorities.
Free of charge to Scottish suppliers and producers, and local authority staff working in catering and public procurement. Booking is required.

Online event
The Sheep and Trees grant for small woodlands (up to 50 hectares) is unusual in that it can be used to fund infrastructure too. Sheep and beef farmer Andrew Whiteford used his to create a road leading to woodland on 3500-acre Burnfoot Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Join us with Andrew, woodland creation consultant Peter Atkinson, and Woodland Officer Andrew Kitching of Scottish Forestry, to discuss:
• Benefits of incorporating small woodlands onto your farm
• How to get started: planning and development
• Andrew’s experience and what he learned
• The funding process through the Sheep and Trees grant scheme
• How it could work on your farm.
Free of charge. Booking is required. Book online.
For more information contact Ana on 0793 082 4983 (aallamand@solassociation.org) or Jane on 0131 370 8150 (jdingwall@soilassociation.org)

Wednesday 4 November, 4.30–6pm
Thursday 5 November, 9.30–11am
2x free webinars

Are you a food producer or local food hub member looking to develop direct sales this Christmas?
Renewed interest in local food due to Covid-19 could mean booming business, if you get the infrastructure right.
Join us with operations and marketing specialists from the Open Food Network, as well as markets manager Rosie Black of Bowhouse Fife, to discuss:
Planning and delivering a Christmas marketing campaign, including social media
Preparing your team
Preparing your suppliers/growers/producers
Managing your time: critical dates and timeline
Managing orders, and avoiding under or overselling
Common pitfalls, and how to avoid them
Your questions
Free of charge to farmers, land managers and foresters in Scotland. Booking is required.
Book online

Why do we need to double UK tree cover, and how can we find the land? How can we deliver on climate goals with nature-based solutions? How can we develop new  funding opportunities  for  tree planting?
We’ll be coming together for a special online event with a full day of talks and panel discussions with insights from leaders, experts, activists and government. Hear from Forestry Minister Zac Goldsmith on DEFRA’s England Tree Strategy; The Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change Lord Deben on the importance of trees to meet the UK net zero target;  Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, Darren Moorcroft on meeting tree targets and cutting carbon; Rewilding Britain’s Rebecca Wrigley on natural regeneration plus many more.
You’ll come away inspired by solutions and examples that might help you tackle challenges that you are facing in your role and you’ll get the opportunity to learn from experts and changemakers from a variety of sectors. Your free ticket will include access to the online summit for the whole day.
Places are limited, so please book your free ticket as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

– Ben Woodcock, ASSIST’s Principle Investigator, will talk about the different projects within ASSIST, including the infield project at Hope Farm and 14 other participant farms. ASSIST is a six-year, £12 million research programme that, with support from the farming industry, aims to meet the challenge of feeding growing populations without causing unacceptable environmental damage.
– Georgie Bray, Hope Farm Manager, will be offering up practical experiences of Hope Farm’s participation in the project, including establishment and management of wildflower margins to maximise benefits to the farm wildlife and crop growth, including the use of cover crops.
– Callum Weir, Farm Manager of the Wimpole National Trust’s organic farmed estate, will discuss their biodiversity survey results and how biodiversity supports the system. A big focus is on the holistic view of habits in the fields (soil health) as well as around the edge habitats. This is not just with hedgerows and margins, but feed sources, pond restoration and pollen resources as well.

Rob Field, Senior Conservation Scientist from the RSPB, shares Hope Farm’s findings across 5-years of research into the use of cover crops and compost. This includes the results of looking at changes to bird populations, invertebrate communities, soil health and crop yields.
– Steve Corbett, Agrii Trials Manager, will discuss their organisation’s current research in cover crops, using them to improve soil health and crops in heavy clay soils while increasing profitability. Agrii were one of the key sources of advice at the start of the Hope Farm trials, and this webinar is a chance for participants to draw from their knowledge base.

Farmland covers over 70% of UK land, and much of the biodiversity in the UK relies on farmland to survive. In one way or another, farmland also relies on a healthy ecosystem to function for the long term. By looking after biodiversity on farmland, we can help biodiversity to work for us.

This first webinar of Hope Farm’s 20th Anniversary workshop series, we will explore how effective the provision of key habitats for farmland species using the Farm Wildlife’s 6 point plan can be for wildlife, and how farmers may market wildlife-friendly produce using the Fair to Nature certification scheme.

Farm Wildlife is a coalition of nine different conservation organisations, coming up with a simple recipe to look after nature on a lowland arable farm, for which Hope Farm serves as a key demonstrator. With 1500% increases in winter farmland birds, 130% increases in breeding farmland birds, and over 400% increases in butterflies in the last 20 years, there is no denying that the plan does what it says on the tin.

The Fair to Nature scheme, that is being relaunched in the next year, gives farmers the opportunity to label and market their farms as fair to nature. Hope Farm is a member of the certification scheme, selling produce under the label for five years.

Speakers will include Richard Winspear, head of the RSPB’s Agricultural Advice team, and key collaborator in the Farm Wildlife coalition, plus a speaker from the Fair to Nature certification scheme.

Woodland creation, management and funding
Wednesday 21 October 9.30–11am
Online event, hosted by Richard Lockett from Knockbain Farm, Dingwall
For over 40 years, the Lockett family has been slowly but steadily planting trees on their farm in the Highlands and using them to diversify their activity. Richard Lockett is also a freelance land management adviser and member of the Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisors Group (ScotFWAG). He will discuss how, as well as using the trees for livestock shelter and for wood fuel, they have created a community woodland, wetlands and wildflower meadows and opened holiday accommodation.
Come along to discuss:
Planting trees to diversify your farm
Planting trees for livestock management and farm wildlife
Planning your woodland: the right tree in the right place
Broadleaf woodland management
Q&A with Richard Lockett
Funding information from Scottish Forestry
Free of charge to farmers, land managers and foresters in Scotland.
Book online.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/planting-trees-to-diversify-your-farm-registration-123345225891

We need to talk about nitrogen deposition. Levels of atmospheric nitrogen from air pollution have tripled in Europe in the last century and Scotland is no exception. Current scientific evidence shows clear impacts of nitrogen deposition in low-nutrient ecosystems such as wildflower meadows, ancient woodlands and moorlands. Species loss, change in soil chemistry, and habitat degradation are all exacerbating the decline in Scotland’s biodiversity, caused by emissions from transport, agriculture, industry and other sources.
As part of the review of the Scottish Government’s Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy, this workshop aims to increase understanding of the ecological impacts of air pollution and the contribution of farm ammonia emissions. Participants will discuss practical and policy solutions, make links with action on climate change and public health, and ultimately work together to put these into policy and practice. The day will include presentations from Professor Mark Sutton of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, a Scottish Government representative and other specialists to inform working group discussions. We will translate these ideas into a workshop report and recommendations for action that can be shared and used as a tool to create change.

Competition briefing and consortium building events are being held on 14 November in Stoneleigh Park and 27 November in York.
These events aim to help attendees apply for this new £15m competition and will allow attendees to;
Be informed about the competition scope and consortia eligibility
Focus on end user participation
Be informed about and encouraged to collaborate with different sectors
Gain hints and tips on submitting a successful proposal
Have the opportunity for businesses, academia, RTO to pitch their ideas, skills and partner needs to bid into TFP
Make valuable connections
Please click on the links below to register for these events:
Stoneleigh Park – 14 November 2019
York – 27 November 2019 (Expression of Interest)

Competition briefing and consortium building events are being held on 14 November in Stoneleigh Park and 27 November in York.
These events aim to help attendees apply for this new £15m competition and will allow attendees to;
Be informed about the competition scope and consortia eligibility
Focus on end user participation
Be informed about and encouraged to collaborate with different sectors
Gain hints and tips on submitting a successful proposal
Have the opportunity for businesses, academia, RTO to pitch their ideas, skills and partner needs to bid into TFP
Make valuable connections
Please click on the links below to register for these events:
Stoneleigh Park – 14 November 2019
York – 27 November 2019 (Expression of Interest)

Don’t miss this two-day seminar led by internationally acclaimed nutrition specialist, Graeme Sait. Learn cutting-edge strategies to improve the health of your farm, your garden, your planet and yourself.
Here are some of the lessons shared: 1) You will understand the mechanics of Nutrition Farming® and how your improved management of minerals, microbes and humus can turn around your enterprise. 2) You will discover that humus is the cornerstone of soil fertility. Discover how we lost 2/3 of our humus, and acquire the strategies to rebuild organic matter on your farm. 3) You will recognise the role of mineral balancing in creating disease-resilient soils and crops. Discover how key mineral ratios in the soil, and in plant tissue, can change your cropping outcome. 4) You will learn about the use of specific microbe inoculums to solve problems and boost yield. You will also discover how to support your existing soil life, including earthworms. 5) You will understand why multi-species, cocktail cover crops can be a powerful fertility building tool. 6) You will discover the many benefits of in-field crop monitoring, including leaf analyses. You will also learn how to use hand-held tools like the refractometer, the sap pH meter and K and N meters to provide invaluable instant feedback. 7) You will also learn drought management strategies to improve your resilience amidst increasingly unstable climatic conditions.
Bookings are Essential Register Today
Date: 27th – 28th November, 2019 Time: 8:00am – 5:15pm (both days) Cost: £195 (incl. 140-page manual) Location: Horizon The Enterprise Park Forres IV36 2AB, Scotland
To Register please contact: Peter Thompson Email: twohoots@bordernet.com.au Tel: +44 7405378662 or Andy Heath Email: ember97uk@yahoo.co.uk Tel: +44 7896344448

The aim of the event is to introduce the concept of farming to improve functional agro- biodiversity (FAB) with a focus on one key practice identified by attendees at an initial meeting as being of interest, namely cover crops within primarily arable rotations.
There is an opportunity to set up a group, supported by the FABulous Farmers Programme (funded by Interreg) to look at how best to achieve greater functional agro – biodiversity on farm, whilst maintaining farm profitability. Activities the group could decide to carry out include on farm testing of the various FAB practices, regular discussion sessions and benchmarking to measure the impact of adopting FAB practices.

Description
Please join us at Gibside for the final meeting of the UK Agroforestry Network. This practical workshop will focus on the theme of planting and managing trees for healthy soils. We will be joined for the day by soil expert Julia Cooper from Newcastle University to give us insights in how to monitor and best look after soils and the positive impact that trees can have. The day will include a tour of Gibside community farm’s newly planted agroforestry system with fruits trees, hazel and willow coppice and substantial mixed shelterbelt.
Draft agenda:
10.00: Arrival and coffee (meet in the National Trust café)
10.30: Welcome and introductions (Mick Wilkes, General Manager, Gibside Group, National Trust; Jo Smith, Organic Research centre)
10.45:Gibside Community Farm: agroforestry, orchard and shelterbelt, progress to date (Garry Jenkins, Gibside Community Farm)
11.00: Transfer to community farm in shared vehicles – tour of agroforestry planting led by Garry Jenkins and Mick Marston, Gibside Community Farm
13.15: Lunch Supplied by Harissa http://www.harissakitchen.co.uk…with local produce from the Farm
14.00: Video tutorial: Agroforestry for soil conservation (Stephen Briggs, Abacus Agri)
14.15: Agroforestry for healthy soils, how to monitor your soil health and the impact of trees (Julia Cooper, Newcastle University)
14.45: On-farm production of ramial woodchip for soil health (Sally Westaway, Organic Research Centre)
15.00: The time is now for agroforestry: WT support and involvement locally and nationally (Sian Atkinson, Woodland Trust)
15.20: UK Agroforestry Network – what we have achieved and where next? (Sally Westaway and Ian Knight, Abacus Agri)
15.45: Questions and wrap up

Find out about arable plants in Cornwall and how farmland can be managed for them.
Arable plants are the fastest declining group of plants in the countryside, but they can have enormous benefits for farmland wildlife. This afternoon workshop focuses on how to identify some of the plants and what management can be put in place. There will be a walk around the National Trust owned Pentire Head to see the rare, and common, arable plants,and to discuss management and strategies for dealing with weeds that may become problems.
This workshop is for farmers, land managers,farm contractors, farm advisers and agronomists.
These workshops are being run by Dr Phil Wilson and Pete Thompson from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Join us to learn about arable plants and how management for these species can fit into modern agriculture. This workshop is for agronomists, farm advisors, farmers and land managers.
This Colour in the Margins workshop run by Tim Clarke (FWAG) focuses on how to identify some arable plants and how to implement management to benefit these species. We will visit some areas under suitable management to view arable plant species and explore strategies for dealing with problem weed species.

Find out about arable plants in Devon and how farmland can be managed for them.
Arable plants are the fastest declining group of plants in the countryside, but they can have enormous benefits for farmland wildlife. This afternoon workshop focuses on how to identify some of the plants and what management can be put in place. There will be a walk around South Down Farm to see the rare, and common, arable plants,and to discuss management and strategies for dealing with weeds that may become problems.
This workshop is for farmers, land managers,farm contractors, farm advisers and agronomists and will be run by by Dr Phil Wilson and Pete Thompson from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Find out about arable plants in Worcestershire and how farmland can be managed for them.
Arable plants are the fastest declining group of plants in the countryside, but they can have enormous benefits for farmland wildlife. This afternoon workshop focuses on how to identify some of the plants and what management can be put in place. There will be a walk around Lower Smite Farm to see the rare, and common, arable plants, and to discuss management and strategies for dealing with weeds that may become problems.
This workshop is for farmers, land managers, farm contractors, farm advisers and agronomists.
This event is being run as part of the Back from the Brink partnership by Plantlife in collaboration with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust / Wild Pollinator Facilitation Fund and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Find out about arable plants in the Wessex and how farmland can be managed for them.
Arable plants are the fastest declining group of plants in the countryside, but they can have enormous benefits for farmland wildlife. Please arrive at 1:45 for a prompt 2 pm start. This afternoon workshop focuses on how to identify some of the plants and what management can be put in place.
We will meet at Matrimony Farm Barn, Salisbury for a prompt start at 2pm, followed by a walk to look at the plants there and to discuss their management, aiming to finish at 5pm.
This workshop is for farmers, land managers, farm contractors, farm advisers and agronomists.

Find out about arable plants in the Wessex and how farmland can be managed for them.
Arable plants are the fastest declining group of plants in the countryside, but they can have enormous benefits for farmland wildlife. This afternoon workshop focuses on how to identify some of the plants and what management can be put in place.
We will meet at Upper Clatford Village Hall at 1:45 for a prompt 2pm start, with the indoor workshop to finish by 3pm. We will then visit Westover Farm for a walk until 5pm looking at the arable plants and discussing their management.
This workshop is for farmers, land managers, farm contractors, farm advisers and agronomists.

Join us to learn about arable plants and how management for these species can fit into modern agriculture.
Arable plants are the fastest declining group of plants in the countryside. They are intrinsically linked to cultivated land meaning there are opportunities for farmers to conserve these species through adjustments to land management. Management for arable plants also enormously benefits a wide range of other farmland wildlife including insects, birds and mammals.
This morning/afternoon workshop, run by Tim Clarke focuses on how to identify some arable plants and how to implement management to benefit these species. There will be a discussion followed by a walk to view some arable plants in suitable management. We will also explore strategies for dealing with problem weed species.
This workshop is for farmers, land managers, farm advisers and agronomists.
The meeting location will be provided upon booking, please do not go to the farm steading.

This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss and explore the management techniques and common practices to successfully establish the next rotation of woodland following clear-felling. It will also look at funding options available through the Forestry Grant Scheme and what standards and specifications must be met in order to be eligible for funding.
At this meeting we will cover site management, the pros and cons of restocking versus natural regeneration, the option of alternative restocking and look at what funding options are available to achieve the goal of restocking.
A site visit will be carried out, the woodland site is less than a mile away from the venue. This site contains areas of restocking, natural regeneration and new planting and is a good chance to show the benefits and disadvantages of each system.
Topics covered:
Forestry Cycle
Restocking following felling
Natural regeneration in place of restocking
New planting (alternative restock)
Environmental factors related to clear-felling
On site visit to restock/regeneration and woodland creation site
Speakers:
Douglas Priest – SAC Consulting
Gillian McKnight – SAC Consulting
As there is an outdoor session please ensure that you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Come along to our evening meeting looking into making tax digital, with guest speaker from Johnston and Carmichael, explaining the requirements of Making Tax Digital and what it will mean for your business. With Making Tax Digital coming in with the new tax year in April this is a brilliant opportunity to get a further understanding of it and ask questions regarding what it will mean for your own business.
There will also be a chance to have a look at the NFUS Joint Venture Hub and how this can be used to either advertise yourself looking for possible opportunities or to identify possible opportunities which exist currently.

Does your croft have rush infested grassland?
Do you have waterlogged, acid soils?
This event is targeted at crofters who are looking of ways to improve long-term grazing of rush infested land. The day will cover what is needed to address waterlogged, acid soil conditions including:
Soil type and analysis
Reseeding
Liming
Drainage
Rush management
Grazing management
The timing of these operations.
There will also be discussion on grants and Agri-Environment options with a range of speakers and experts, looking at practical issues in the field.
Speakers:
Siobhan Macdonald, SAC Consulting
Willie Budge, SAC Consulting
Gillian McKnight, SAC Consulting Conservation Specialist
Lunch will be provided at the hall.
Free transport available from Assynt to Achiltibuie.

Practical morning visit, including lunch, to two crofts at Waterloo, where Cheryl McIntyre has been trying to increase the agricultural productivity of her rushy grassland. On the day you will:
Learn how rushes grow with expert Ian Cairns of 5Agri in order to tackle them
Get a template rush control plan for the year ahead
Discover how to combine rush control with livestock grazing
Find out how cutting can work better than herbicides
See how the farm’s AECS scheme for corncrakes and wader grassland is working out
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

The next Borders FAS New Entrant meeting will be held on Thursday 7th March, 1.30pm at Kaimflat, Kelso, TD5 7QN.
Collaborative farming can offer alternative income sources and help build business resilience as we prepare for the uncertainties around future trade and farm support post Brexit.
This meeting will provide a platform to discuss how we can improve collaboration between farmers in the Borders, with a focus on including livestock in arable rotations.
The benefits and barriers to doing this will be discussed at Kaimflat, where a working example of collaboration between arable and livestock farmers will be demonstrated.
This is a free event open to all with refreshments provided.

Practical morning visit, including lunch, to the Croick Estate, where farmer James Hall has been trying to increase the agricultural productivity of his rushy grassland. On the day you will:
• Learn how rushes grow with expert Ian Cairns of 5Agri in order to tackle them
• Get a template rush control plan for the year ahead
• See how rush control can be combined with livestock grazing and deer management
• Find out how cutting can be more effective than herbicides and safeguard fisheries
• Discover how rushes can benefit farm wildlife
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

Beekeeping is about sharing knowledge. (Fully Booked)
This event will bring together the commercial bee farmers in Scotland for a meeting with guest speakers in the bee farming industry.
Hear from Keld Brandstrap on ’35 Years with Buckfast queens’
Ged Marshall, chair of the Beekeepers Association, will give us an insight into a ‘Year in the Life of the Bee farm’
The event will cover
Stock selection to increase honey production
Tools and technologies used to achieve increased production

At this meeting we will discuss transporting livestock, and the regulations surrounding the transport of cattle and sheep. This will include looking at the animals themselves before transporting, considerations while animals are in transit, journey planning and also transporter authorisations.
By the end of the meeting you will have an understanding of livestock transport which can be put into practical use, while also giving you the knowledge to put towards achieving a Type 1 animal transport certificate, should you wish to go forward to sit the exam.
The meeting will be an informative meeting of interest to anyone (not just new entrants!) transporting livestock.
Please book to secure your place.

Food Glorious Food’ is the next event for the Skye New Entrants Groups diary. Livestock nutrition is a very interesting subject, and the evening will focus on livestocks feeding needs, and how best to achieve this.
It is very important to review your feeding policy on a yearly basis, especially with the rise in feed prices this year. This event is targeted at New Entrants and Young Farmers/Crofters on Skye where we will discuss feed analysing and rations including Draff at a local level.

With the rising cost of imported feed, increasing quality and quantity of homegrown forage production can deliver many benefits to your business such as improved livestock performance, higher profits, increased biodiversity and reduce Carbon Footprint. Forward planning is key to ensure the balance is struck between a forage crop rotation that improves business efficiency and environmental sustainability – this workshop will work through the impact of crop choice, field selection, cultivation methods and management on achieving all round performance.
The first part of the meeting will be at Ballaird Farm, Wigtown by kind permission of Ross McKie. We will be taking a walk over the forage crops Ross is currently feeding to ewes and hear about how he is using forage crops to create more grass in early spring.
This session will then be followed up at Whauphill Village Hall for an in-depth discussion into the where, what, when and how of making forage crops a successful part of your business.

Do you farm within the Stonehaven & Forfar areas of the Strathmore, Fife and Angus NVZ?
NVZ rules have been in place within the Stonehaven and Forfar area for many years now but there are still issues arising from inspections.
This meeting will remind you of the NVZ rules to help you avoid cross compliance breaches and potential penalties and we have guest speaker Stuart Lorimer, SGRPID to answer any of your queries. A session will follow on the nutritive values of organic manures and how to deal with them for NVZ compliance.
Topics for discussion
A reminder of the NVZ regulations in the Stonehaven and Forfar area
What records you need to keep to be compliant
Common errors found on inspections
Nutrient Budgeting: maximising efficiency and reducing fertiliser costs

Please book to secure your place.

Forage crops can provide business resilience against variable fodder supplies, low cost out-wintering and opportunities to expand farm output. Forward planning is key in ensuring their success and this meeting will cover the impact of crop choice, field selection, cultivation methods and management on achieving all round performance.
Local farmers Kevin Stewart, Giles Henry and Robert Neill regularly grow forage crops and they will share their experience of doing so to help inform decision-making for those thinking of growing and utilising forage crops in the year ahead.
This is a free event open to all with a pie and refreshments provided.

An informative day looking at the planning, design and construction of slurry lagoons
This meeting will highlight the main considerations for farmers who are thinking about building new slurry stores.
Key Speakers
Wull Dryburgh – SEPA
Seamus Donnelly – SAC Consulting
The meeting will provide information on:
Using a farm waste management plan to create the right size of lagoon
Design and construction of slurry lagoons
Current rules and regulations for slurry storage
Making use of available grant funding
Planning permission & building warrants
There will also be a visit to see the lagoon at a local farm. Farming & Water Scotland will also be in attendance for any other diffuse pollution questions you may have.
As this event includes lunch, you are asked to use the booking form below to secure your place and help us organise catering. Out of courtesy to our host farmer, please ensure footwear is clean and suitable for disinfection.

This is the final meeting in a series of events being run across the south west. The other events will be held on the dates below:
21 February -Lanark
22 February – Ayrshire
25 February – Dumfries
28 February – Campbeltown
1 March – Stranraer

Practical morning visit, including lunch, to Threepwood Farm where Colin Strang-Steel has been trying to increase the agricultural productivity of his rushy grassland. On the day you will:
Learn how rushes grow with expert Ian Cairns of 5Agri in order to tackle them
Get a template rush control plan for the year ahead
See how rush control can be combined with livestock grazing
Find out how cutting can be more effective than herbicides
Discover how rushes can benefit farm wildlife such as waders
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

An informative day looking at the planning, design and construction of slurry lagoons
This meeting will highlight the main considerations for farmers who are thinking about building new slurry stores.
Key Speakers
Jim Campbell – SAC Consulting
Jackie McColm & Bruce McCleary – SEPA
Seamus Donnelly – SAC Consulting
The meeting will provide information on:
Using a farm waste management plan to create the right size of lagoon
Design and construction of slurry lagoons
Current rules and regulations for slurry storage
Making use of available grant funding
Planning permission & building warrants
Efficient movement of slurry into and out of storage
We will hear from local farmers who have already invested in a slurry lagoon to hear their experience of the whole process and to answer your questions.

Farming & Water Scotland will also be in attendance for any other diffuse pollution queries you may have.
As this event includes lunch, you are asked to use the booking form below to secure your place and help us to organise catering.
This is the fifth meeting in a series of events being run across the south west. The other events will be held on the dates below:
21 February -Lanark
22 February – Ayrshire
25 February – Dumfries
28 February – Campbeltown
5 March – Stirling

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

An informative day looking at the planning, design and construction of slurry lagoons
This meeting will highlight the main considerations for farmers who are thinking about building new slurry stores.
Key Speakers
Adrian Jones – A & M Jones Consulting Ltd
John Forster – SAC Consulting
A representative from SGRPID
A representative from SEPA
The meeting will provide information on:
Using a farm waste management plan to create the right size of lagoon
Design and construction of slurry lagoons
Current rules and regulations for slurry storage
Making use of available grant funding
Planning permission & building warrants
Farming & Water Scotland will also be in attendance for any other diffuse pollution questions you may have.
As this event includes lunch, you are asked to use the booking form below to secure your place and help us to organise catering.

This is the fourth meeting in a series of events being run across the south west. The other events will be held on the dates below:
21 February -Lanark
22 February – Ayrshire
25 February – Dumfries
1 March – Stranraer
5 March – Stirling

Reducing diffuse pollution can have many benefits to your business such as reducing your fertiliser costs by applying fertiliser at the right time and the correct amounts. It can improve the condition of your soil if slurry or manure is applied in the right conditions then it can hold more organic matter, increasing its fertility. It can also safeguard human and animal health by keeping water quality within acceptable water quality standards. Minimising diffuse pollution also reduces the risk of costly penalties and cross compliance breaches.
Speakers
Peter Wright, SEPA
Rose Norman, SEPA
David McCorkell, SEPA
Simon Stephen, Meikle Geddes Farm
Topics for discussion
Diffuse Pollution
Silage effluent Management
Cattle Court Run-Offs
Livestock Access to Burns
Field Middens
Practical on-farm Visit
We will start the day off with a presentation from SEPA Officers regarding diffused pollution issues and how to implement different things on the farm to help resolve them. They will cover such things as; field middens, keeping dirty water separate at the steading and livestock access to burns.
The day will continue with an afternoon session at Meikle Geddes Farm courtesy of W. D. Stephen & Co where we will be looking at the issues that were found and the ways in which these issues have been addressed. We will hear from Simon Stephen about what changes were implemented on the farm and the plans for future changes to help resolve outstanding issues identified.
As the afternoon session is outside please ensure you wear warm clothing and clean boots. Please book to secure your place and to help us organise catering.

This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss and explore the management techniques and common practices to maximise the income upon clear fell of commercial forests will also be covered. We will then look at income available through the Forestry Grant Scheme and how this is structured.
At this meeting we will cover site selection. Choosing the right site for commercial forestry including;
species choice
protection
access
scheme and grant funding available for woodland creation
Speakers include;
Douglas Priest, SAC Consulting
Ian Allsopp, Forestry Commission
Thinning and clear-felling will also be covered both in a practical sense as well as the theory behind the work. We will look into tender options and how to get the best return for your timber as well as looking for what to be aware of during harvesting operations.
There will be a presentation of the do’s and don’ts of re-stocking in order to streamline the process of harvesting and subsequent restocking.
We will also cover site management to ensure the next rotation establishes well and allows for the next productive crop with a focus on brash recovery.

As there is an outdoor session please ensure that you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

What are the opportunities for getting into farming? There are many barriers to buying land or taking on a tenancy, but what are the other options. This meeting will focus on share and contract farming agreements, the opportunities available and the fundamentals of setting up and running an agreement.
This meeting is open to New Entrants who would like to know more and landowners who may be interested in entering into such an agreement. Come along and hear what Sandy Ramsay has to say on the topic.

At this smallholders discussion group meeting attendees will learn about the statutory requirements when keeping poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle. This includes keeping movement records, medicine records, and keeping a record of the animals you keep on your smallholding (e.g. sheep holding register).
Topics covered:
Statutory requirements when keeping poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle .

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

On our second visit to Dunadd (read about the first meeting here), Dr Bill Crooks will give an overview of the soils at Dunadd/Drumvore. On the back of analysis will discuss the importance of soil testing, getting the acidity and nutrients correct, take time to look at soil structure, and in addition, will look at how important it is to keep up with drainage maintenance. He will also touch on rush management in relation to the above.
Peter Jones will update on forestry grants, the benefits of shelter belt planting making sure they are strategically sited on farms, and how, with thought, land areas which are not productive can be utilised as an aid to management and environmental benefit, especially carbon capture.
Speakers
Dr Bill Crooks PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons) , Soil & Water Consultant, SAC Environmental
Peter Jones, Senior Forestry Consultant, SAC Consulting
Topics covered
Soil Testing, getting acidity and nutrients right; Soil Structure; Drainage; Rushes
Forestry Grants; Shelter Belt Planting; Utilising Unproductive Areas
Booking is essential for catering purposes

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

The sixth annual gathering for the FAS New Entrants to Farming will be held to inform and inspire people entering the agricultural industry. This is a free event open to all with an interest in the future of Scottish Agriculture. The agenda includes successful new entrants, businesses who have added value, those who have found alternative routes into the industry, as well as industry professionals.
To book your place please contact Val Angus at SAC Consulting, St Boswells 01835 823322 or email Val.Angus@sac.co.uk
Lunch will be provided

There is a new plant producing digestate at Port Gordon.
It is producing a PAS110 product and they are actively offering it to farmers in the area. It is a by-product and this recycling has the potential to improve farm efficiency while producing environmental benefits which should be maximised.
There is a lot of interest in the product amongst farmers but they have a lot of questions too. We have also been made aware there have been a number of complaints from the public over the smell. The objective of this meeting is to explain the product and its use to the farmers. We will be highlighting the savings it can make to purchased non-organic fertiliser and how you can make the best use of it while also minimising smell and any diffuse pollution risks.
The area around Port Gordon is in the Moray, Aberdeenshire, Banff and Buchan NVZ and we will discuss how digestate it fits into the rules to minimise cross-compliance breaches.
Key speaker Gavin Elrick will discuss the following topics:
Distillery digestate – its value as a fertiliser
What savings on non-organic fertiliser can be made
When and how should it be applied to make the best use and minimise the risk of pollution
What NVZ rules apply and how to avoid cross compliance issues
Please book to secure your place at this event.

An informative day looking at the planning, design and construction of slurry lagoons
This meeting will highlight the main considerations for farmers who are thinking about building new slurry stores.
Key Speakers
Adrian Jones – A & M Jones Consulting Ltd
Jackie McColm & Bruce McCleary – SEPA
Alastair Beattie – SAC Consulting
The meeting will provide information on:
Using a farm waste management plan to create the right size of lagoon
Design and construction of slurry lagoons
Current rules and regulations for slurry storage
Making use of available grant funding
Planning permission & building warrants
Efficient movement of slurry into and out of storage
There will also be a visit to see the lagoons at Hurkledale Farm, courtesy of local farmer, John Forrest. Farming & Water Scotland will also be in attendance for any other diffuse pollution questions you may have.
As this event includes lunch, you are asked to booking to secure your place and help us to organise catering. Out of courtesy to our host farmer, please ensure footwear is clean and suitable for disinfection.

This meeting will help crofters understand the record keeping and crofting processes required to help them keep their crofting enterprises sustainable now and in the future.
Topics to be discussed include:-
Guidance on Livestock Record Keeping & Legislation
Overview of the Basic Payment System (IACS)
Applying for Crofting Grants (CAGS)
Questions & Answers
Opportunity to speak to SAC Consulting Crofting & Livestock Records Administrators
Speakers
Cat MacGregor
Kathleen Gunn
Willie Budge

A practical day event exploring the benefits of planting and managing trees on your land, including the chance to have a go at planting. Includes:
Visit to Tulluch Tea croft (225) to look at planting trees and hedges for better land management
Visit to Migdale Woods to find out how to get more out of the trees you have
Hands-on planting demonstration
Funding information from Forestry Commission Scotland and the Woodland Trust Scotland
FREE of charge to farmers, crofters, foresters and land managers. Includes lunch. Booking is essential.

An informative day looking at the planning, design and construction of slurry lagoons
This FAS meeting will highlight the main considerations for farmers who are thinking about building new slurry stores.
Key Speakers
Adrian Jones – A & M Jones Consulting Ltd
Gillian McMillan & Alexander Pirie – SAC Consulting
A representative from SGRPID
A representative from SEPA
The meeting will provide information on:
Using a farm waste management plan to create the right size of lagoon
Design and construction of slurry lagoons
Current rules and regulations for slurry storage
Making use of available grant funding
Planning permission & building warrants
Efficient movement of slurry into and out of storage
Farming & Water Scotland will also be in attendance for any other diffuse pollution questions you may have.
This is an on-farm meeting being held at Knockrivoch Farm with the kind permission of Douglas Hogarth. Out of courtesy to our host farmer, please ensure footwear is clean and suitable for disinfection.
As this event includes lunch, you are asked to book to secure your place and help us to organise catering.

Ring 2, Thainstone Centre, Inverurie
Year 2 gross margin results from the focus farms.
Live demo – Successfully calving a cow with Vet Andrew Smith.
FREE TO ATTEND
For more information email: farmprofit@anmgroup.co.uk or call Declan or Robert on 07393234935 | 07393234934

Come along to our practical workshop with Mr Bill MacKinnon of ScotBeef who will explain, in depth, how grading is executed, the presentation of fat cattle to the abattoir and discussion on breeds of cattle which suit the retailer, the supermarkets. He will also examine the fat lamb market.
Robert Logan of SAC Consulting will give an extensive update on the beef and sheep industry, in addition to changes and threats post March 2019. He will show the importance of benchmarking your business to improve output.
As this is an on farm meeting in February please ensure you wear warm, waterproof clothing, and suitable waterproof footwear.
Booking is essential for catering purposes.

An informative day looking at the planning, design and construction of slurry lagoons
This FAS meeting will highlight the main considerations for farmers who are thinking about building new slurry stores.
Key Speakers
Jim Campbell – SAC Consulting
Alasdair Scott – SAC Consulting
A SEPA representative
A local building contractor
The meeting will provide information on:
Using a farm waste management plan to create the right size of lagoon
Design and construction of slurry lagoons
Current rules and regulations for slurry storage
Making use of available grant funding
Planning permission & building warrants
There will also be a visit to see the lagoon at Roadhead Farms, with the kind permission of Geoff Hewitt. Farming & Water Scotland will also be in attendance for any other diffuse pollution questions you may have.
As this event includes lunch, you are asked to use the booking form below to secure your place and help us to organise catering. Out of courtesy to our host farmer, please ensure footwear is clean and suitable for disinfection.

This is the first in a series of events being run across the south west. The other events will be held on the dates below:
22 February – Ayrshire
25 February – Dumfries
28 February – Campbeltown
1 March – Stranraer
5 March – Stirling

In one form or another Brexit will be upon us in less than two months. The more we understand the more we may be able to reduce the impacts on our businesses.
This meeting is your opportunity to discuss the range of options with experts in farm business planning
Speakers:
Julian Bell, Senior Rural Business Consultant, SAC Consulting
Kev Bevan, Senior Consultant, Head of Scottish Farm Business Survey, SAC Consulting
Topics covered:
No deal Brexit – what does that mean
Soft or hard Brexit – what does that mean
Tariffs – how do they work
Inputs – which ones will be affected
Cash flow – how will it be affected
Labour – how will this be affected

Research shows that successful farmers are likely to be good at using figures to plan and control their performance. SAC Consulting’s Kev Bevan will explain how to better use figures in farming, including an overview of key physical figures applied to varying farming systems, budgeting tools and techniques that will help you succeed in farming.
This event will give New Entrants the necessary tools to look business opportunities from an objective viewpoint. This meeting is being run in response to a training need which has been identified by new entrants and young farmers in the area.

Pre-lambing is one of the most important periods in the sheep calendar.
Ensuring ewes achieve key targets in terms of nutrition and condition can set the footing for the coming year. This meeting is aimed at crofters, small farmers and sheep keepers. We’ll discuss nutrition and body condition score targets. We’ll also look at basic ration formulation to ensure your flock is getting the nutrition it needs to ensure the ewes are ready for the upcoming hard work.
We’ll also have a practical session where we will have a go at condition scoring, discussing what to look for, optimal condition scores to aim for and what nutrition is needed to make changes in the run up to and after lambing.
This will be a really interesting and informative day for anyone interested in keeping their sheep flocks in good condition.

Please use the booking form below to secure your place. As this is an on-farm event, and out of courtesy to the host farmer, please wear footwear suitable for disinfecting; warm clothing is recommended.

At this smallholders discussion group meeting attendees will learn about the statutory requirements when keeping poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle. This includes keeping movement records, medicine records, and keeping a record of the animals you keep on your smallholding (e.g. sheep holding register).
Topics covered:
Statutory requirements when keeping poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle .

Don’t underestimate the value of home-produced nutrients
This is the second of a series of three meetings to be held by the Ayrshire Soil & Nutrient Network. Building on the information about soil structure and pH from the first event held at Dormieston, during this meeting, we will focus on calculating the nutrient requirements of growing crops. By taking full consideration of the nutrient value of home produced organic fertilisers such as slurry and manure, a functional farm nutrient budget can be created. Using this we can apply nutrients to match but not exceed the crop need, therefore, reducing the need for purchased fertilisers, helping farm profitability and the carbon footprint.
To ensure we explore this in context, reference will be made to the crops being grown at Dormieston, to the volume of slurry and quantities of farmyard manure available for application.
As this event will include lunch, you are asked to use the booking form below to secure your place & to help us arrange catering.
Dormieston Farm is one of twelve host farms for the Soil & Nutrient Network located across Scotland. Attendance at all of the Soil & Nutrient Network events is open to all and free to attend and previous attendance at earlier group meetings is not required. You can read more about what the other groups in the network have discussed from our webpage.

Come and find out what’s out there to help you make the most of your hill farm business, at a time when the future seems uncertain. Hear from:
– David and Barbara Girvan of Corrimony Farm, Glenurquhuart
– Jim Simmons of Ruthven Farm, Tomnitoul
– Davy McCracken of SRUC
– The Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS)
– Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Discuss your ideas and next steps.
Includes lunch.
FREE to attend, booking essential.
Book online, call Analy 0131 370 8146 or email.

Save money with effective nutrient budgeting
Can you make better use of organic manures on your farm? Can your use of fertiliser be targeted better in order to improve efficiency and reduce wastage?
In this meeting, the second of the Banffshire Soil and Nutrient Network, the group will focus on understanding the nutrients required by different crops and the nutrients supplied by different manures and fertilisers. With Alan Bruce & Gavin Elrick as our key speakers, the meeting will cover topics including:
Soil analysis – what to ask for and what the results mean
How to rectify deficiencies – when, how, what crops will be affected
Know the value in both fertiliser and financial terms of the different manures, slurries, and composts and where they can be used to best effect in farm rotations
Use this information to optimise fertiliser inputs and target nutrients where they are required in a farm rotation allowing efficient use of fertiliser and efficient production.
Please book to secure your place at this event. Catch up on what was discussed during the first meeting of the group here. Newmills of Boyne is one of 12 Soil & Nutrient Network host farms located across Scotland; find out more about what the other groups are discussing from our Soil & Nutrient Network webpage.

Practical morning visit, including lunch, to two crofts at Waterloo, where Cheryl McIntyre has been trying to increase the agricultural productivity of her rushy grassland. On the day you will:
Learn how rushes grow with expert Ian Cairns of 5Agri in order to tackle them
Get a template rush control plan for the year ahead
Discover how to combine rush control with livestock grazing
Find out how cutting can work better than herbicides
See how the farm’s AECS scheme for corncrakes and wader grassland is working out
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

Practical morning visit, including lunch, to the Croick Estate, where farmer James Hall has been trying to increase the agricultural productivity of his rushy grassland. On the day you will:
• Learn how rushes grow with expert Ian Cairns of 5Agri in order to tackle them
• Get a template rush control plan for the year ahead
• See how rush control can be combined with livestock grazing and deer management
• Find out how cutting can be more effective than herbicides and safeguard fisheries
• Discover how rushes can benefit farm wildlife
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

A practical afternoon event exploring the benefits of planting and managing trees on your land. Includes:
Visit to Wester Auchentroig Farm, where farmer Euan Duff has planted seven hectares of broadleaf hardwoods on unproductive, wet ground
Discussion on what to plant, where and why
Funding information from Forestry Commission Scotland and the Woodland Trust Scotland
A look at how to manage existing woodland
FREE of charge to farmers, foresters and land managers. Booking is essential.

Practical morning visit, including lunch, to Threepwood Farm where Colin Strang-Steel has been trying to increase the agricultural productivity of his rushy grassland. On the day you will:
Learn how rushes grow with expert Ian Cairns of 5Agri in order to tackle them
Get a template rush control plan for the year ahead
See how rush control can be combined with livestock grazing
Find out how cutting can be more effective than herbicides
Discover how rushes can benefit farm wildlife such as waders
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

With the combination of snow and drought last year, it’s likely that by the end of February your feed stocks will be getting low. But how can you get your animals out early if your grass hasn’t grown enough?
Join us and pasture expert Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy to find out how to make practical decisions about if, when and how to apply nitrogen.
Learn how to consider the soil, grazing and livestock on your farm together.
Find out what combination of slurry, muck and nitrogen fertiliser will get grass green and growing.
Come along and find how you can get more from your grazing season.
Free of charge to farmers and land managers. Booking is required.

A practical day event exploring the benefits of planting and managing trees on your land, including the chance to have a go at planting. Includes:
Visit to Tulluch Tea croft (225) to look at planting trees and hedges for better land management
Visit to Migdale Woods to find out how to get more out of the trees you have
Hands-on planting demonstration
Funding information from Forestry Commission Scotland and the Woodland Trust Scotland
FREE of charge to farmers, crofters, foresters and land managers. Includes lunch. Booking is essential.

Making more out of what you’ve got
Dingwall Mart, Tuesday 19 Feburary, 10.30am–3pm
Come and find out what’s out there to help you make the most of your hill farm business, at a time when the future seems uncertain. Hear from:
– David and Barbara Girvan of Corrimony Farm, Glenurquhuart
– Jim Simmons of Ruthven Farm, Tomnitoul
– Davy McCracken of SRUC
– The Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS)
– Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Discuss your ideas and next steps.
Includes lunch.
FREE to attend, booking essential.
Book online, call Analy 0131 370 8146 or email.

Celebrating its 179th year, The Royal Highland Show is one of Scotland’s most iconic events, showcasing the very best of farming food and rural life. A great day out for everyone of all ages, get up close to the country’s top quality livestock, taste exceptional food & drink and experience rural living at its most vibrant.

Join us for an evening celebration of small scale farming and food production at the Garth Hotel, Grantown on Spey on Thursday 21st February at 6:45pm.
We will be screening the fantastic film In our Hands by the Landworkers’ Alliance which tells the story of the challenges of small scale food production in the UK today. Afterwards we’ll be doing a short presentation alongside the brilliant Tap o’Noth, a small farm nearby who sell seasonal veg boxes and free range eggs before a short panel Q and A.
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All profits from the evening will go to the Landworkers’ Alliance and donations are welcome for the Nature Friendly Farming Network.