Latest Press Releases

A partnership between Simpsons Malt Limited and BASF Agricultural Solutions has been announced, marking the start of a unique carbon reduction and certification programme. Simpsons Malt is one of the largest, independent, family-owned malting companies in the world,...

On Shetland’s islands – 16 of which are inhabited - agriculture is a key component of the community and its economy. The livestock mart at Lerwick, run by Shetland Livestock Marketing Group, regularly fills with sheep and cattle from the island’s crofts and hills....

The Middle East could prove a lucrative new market for Scottish sheep producers, with First Minister Humza Yousaf among the delegates being served Scotch Lamb in Dubai to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. In a special COP 28 dinner organised by Scottish Development...

More than 120 attended the recent Monitor Farm Scotland lamb selection event at United Auctions Huntly, including a sizeable young contingent eager to build on their sheep farming skills. The evening began with breakout sessions from Michael Wilson, Livestock Buying...

Having the time to effectively use the information gathered from weighing cattle can be a challenge for farmers in Scotland, says Lorna MacPherson, consultant at SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), but it can make the difference to profit margins...

Over 10,000 visitors and 240 trade stands filled the exhibition halls at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston last week (Wednesday 22 November) for the largest indoor winter farming event, AgriScot. As one of the strongest events yet, and with a record number of...

Preparing for lambing and ensuring it goes well is the focus of the Dumfries Monitor Farm winter meeting. All sheep producers are invited to the afternoon meeting ‘Are EWE ready for lambing?’ which will look at pre-lambing preparation and best practice at lambing for...

More than 100 individuals have now completed the OFC Inspire Programme, supporting their personal and business growth through skills development and networking. The success of the initiative, run by the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), has resulted in career changes,...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) predicts that the organisation’s first ever Christmas TV campaign celebrating Scotch meat, will reach almost 90% of Scotland’s adult population when it runs on STV, Border TV and STV Player from today (Monday 20 November).    Scottish...

Farmer’s daughter Clare Dickson had been dreaming of finding a job that combined the rural sector with helping people once she was ready to return to work after having her young family. She says her appointment as Community Engagement Specialist for Farmstrong...

As the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest, there is firm demand for the available supply levels of beef, lamb and pork products in Scotland. Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), explains that, in early November, cattle,...

Stepping up and getting involved is very much at the heart of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) ethos and, following the retirement of the previous Secretariat, a new organisation has joined the ranks. The British Growers Association (BGA), which has all the skills...

BASF launches a new fungicide, Privest®, at British Potato 2023. Designed to control late blight, Privest® has a unique mode of action with ametoctradin combined with potassium phosphonates which primes the plant's natural defence mechanisms. It gives growers...

High school students throughout Scotland are relishing the challenge to get their teeth into their own recipes with the launch of this year’s Better Burger Challenge. Organised by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) in partnership with Food and Drink Federation Scotland, the...

Huntly Development Trust (HDT), an ambitious not-for-profit community organisation, is looking to recruit two people to join their team to deliver the ‘Huntly 2030’ vision for a greener, more inclusive and prosperous town in the heart of northeast Scotland. HDT Chair,...

Vayo®’s first season proves its value with trials, and on-farm experiences, demonstrating unrivalled efficacy throughout the season. BASF brought its renowned active, Revysol® to the fruit sector earlier this year with the new protectant fungicide, Vayo®. It is...

Scotland’s leading independent agronomy advisory service and farmer-owned cooperative, Scottish Agronomy, is pleased to announce the appointment of Zach Reilly. Zach brings experience as a farm consultant, most recently with SAC Consulting’s Forfar office, assessing...

Levy payers are being given the chance to hear how Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) will deliver its five-year strategy and make the country the choice for premium red meat. A series of regional workshops will let members see how a first levy increase in more than a decade...

A wellbeing initiative for Scottish farmers and crofters has taken a big step forward with the appointment of a key team member. Alix Ritchie, a Perthshire farmer and passionate advocate for the rural community, has been named as the inaugural Programme Director for...

Sheep producers in the North and North-East are invited to a lamb selection and butchery demo as part of the Monitor Farm programme. The free meeting will bring together all three North Monitor Farms – Strathspey, Deeside and Buchan. Open to all, the event at Huntly...

As the input balance moves from home grown forages to systems requiring bought-in concentrates over the winter, sheep farmers should take a closer look at the growth of their lambs to protect both margins and next year’s crop, says Kirsten Williams, a senior sheep and...

Last night (Thursday 26th October), the inaugural Scottish Agriculture Awards took place welcoming over 450 people to celebrate some of the most innovative and progressive agricultural business and individuals within the sector. Hosted by three leading organisations...

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), the UK’s leading agricultural, business and food event, has announced three new Directors will join their board. NIAB CEO Professor Mario Caccamo, Farm Estate Manager David Hill, and Food and Drink Consultant and Coordinator Sheena...

Adapting quickly is the key to farms unlocking a successful future, according to the director of a major player in British agriculture. John Barrett, Director of Sentry, says: “The next few years are crucial for British agriculture; there will be winners and losers....

The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) has released its 2022 throughput figures gathered from its members, who operate auction markets in Scotland. Alan Hutcheon, IAAS President, said: “Markets recorded total throughput of 2.76m head of...

Journalist Sarah Todd is to join the ranks of agrifood and rural sector communications agency Jane Craigie Marketing (JCM), whose clients include BASF, ABP, QMS and the Oxford Farming Conference. Sarah has been an award-winning writer for over 30 years; learning her...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) honoured three prominent European importers for their unwavering support of the Scottish red meat industry at Anuga 2023. The awards were presented by Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, QMS Chief Executive, Sarah Millar, and Chair,...

ABP Food Group has announced that it has joined the Harper Adams School of Sustainable Food and Farming Delivery Partner Network. The school is at the forefront of the development of sustainable farming methods and also in exploring methods to help British farmers...

ABP’s PRISM 2030 (Programme for the Improvement in Sustainability of (red) Meat) initiative brought beef and lamb farmers and technical experts together, for a grazing and knowledge transfer event on a suckler beef farm in Cheshire, offering a first look at initial...

Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) ‘Tasty Little Weeks’ initiative is back, with schools receiving £180 worth of vouchers to spend with their local Scotch-assured butchers, as well as a bank of resources packed with ideas and tools to inspire children and teachers. In...

As Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) prepares to go to Germany for Anuga - the world’s leading food and beverage trade fair - a new report reveals Scottish exports of red meat and offal rocketed to a new record high of over £93 million in the year from August 2022 to July...

Sheep farmers are invited to the Stirlingshire Monitor Farm next week to hear about managing OPA (Jaagsiekte), the benefits of blood-testing pre-tupping for mineral status and iceberg diseases, plus new business funding opportunities. The evening meeting at the Duncan...

Tickets have gone on sale for the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) and a list of headline speakers has been released, including environmentalist and financier Ben Goldsmith, chef, broadcaster and writer Romy Gill MBE, farmer and musician Andy Cato, and Chair of...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is aiming to expand global trade opportunities for Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork at the world’s leading food and drink trade fair. A team is heading to Anuga 2023 in Germany next week to champion Scotland’s...

The new President of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers (IAAS) met with Under Secretary of State for Scotland, John Lamont MP, at ANM marts at Thainstone to demonstrate how high frequency EID electronic tagging could revolutionise the livestock industry.  ...

Entries have opened for the 22nd annual AgriScot Silage Competition. The competition which has attracted more than 3000 entries since it began, is the longest running silage competition in Scotland. It is a reflection of the high regard the contest is held in, that...

More than 40 high-level executives from France’s agricultural, agro-industrial and agro-food sectors gained an insight into Scotland’s agricultural and meat processing systems on a visit to a Tayside farm. The chief executives, presidents and others are members of...

The UK’s premier agricultural business event, AgriScot, has announced a new partnership, enabling delegates to benefit from express, free entry. CLAAS Financial Services, the asset finance division of one of the leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery and a...

Over 24,000 school children are signed up to Lamb for St Andrew’s Day, the initiative from the industry that aims to encourage more people to cook, eat and enjoy lamb as part of the Patron Saint’s celebrations.   To inspire the next generation, Scotland’s Institute...

As part of its bid to increase the integrity of its assurance scheme, Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) is moving from an annual scheme to a product certification model. This means that audits can take place throughout the year and grain passports can be issued earlier in...

After a summer of challenging weather for silage making, beef and dairy farmers are looking for alternatives for winter feed to ensure optimal performance. Adding liquid molasses to straw and homegrown cereals will be a cost-effective and productive solution this...

Scotland’s pork industry will be celebrated, in a month-long focus with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) supporting Scottish Craft Butchers’ ‘Porktober’ campaign, to promote the nutritional value of Specially Selected Pork to consumers. The consumer-facing campaign will...

According to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), a reduced supply of finished lambs across GB, rising export volumes and lower imports from abroad have been supporting the lamb price in Scotland.  Given indications of a smaller lamb crop...

Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) growers are benefiting from streamlined auditing following the appointment of new certification body, Food Integrity Assurance (FIA).   FIA, which was set up by the cooperative support hub, SAOS, in 2022 to offer devolved, Scotland-centric...

Despite last year’s challenging autumn, Luximo® gave growers more black-grass control in comparison to the market standard and will be a key building block in herbicide programmes for the season ahead. Reviewing Luximo®’s first year in a recent webinar, BASF revealed...

The AgriScot Business Skills, sponsored by NFU Mutual and supported by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), looks to support aspiring young professionals by encouraging them to think about the skills required to manage an agricultural business, whilst also connecting them...

When BASF Agronomy Manager, Colin Mountford-Smith heard about the ryegrass challenge Rob and Peter Barlow were facing, he wanted to help. The father and son team had recently taken on 160ha infested with the weed and while they had made great progress with two years...

Today, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) released an assessment of the vital economic contribution of Scotland’s red meat supply chain to the Scottish economy; the last time a similar assessment was undertaken was in 2016. Red meat production contributed between 36 per cent...

Early pregnancy diagnosis (PD) in cattle has huge potential to improve business efficiency, reduce emissions and maximise profitability, says Robert Ramsay, Agriculture Specialist at SAC Consulting. As part of research work for clients and its Farming for a Better...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has today announced the results of a restructure to its senior team as it builds its delivery plan for the new five-year strategy launched at the Royal Highland Show in June. The restructure supports the highly-focused strategy, Scotland;...

Award winning convenience store, Pinkie Farm in Musselburgh, has partnered with Scotch Butchers Club member, The Butchery, based in Lockerbie to bring locally born, reared and processed meat to its customers. Built in 2014 on the site of the original farm, Pinkie Farm...

A dry start to the summer followed by a wet July means farmers in the North-East need to take a close look at calf nutrition in the next few months, says Steven Eddie, Ruminant Nutritionist at East Coast Viners.   “With an exceptionally dry start to the summer, grass...

Beef and lamb farmers are invited to a series of Scottish Meat the Market workshops, with the first event focusing on beef.    These events, organised by Quality Meat Scotland, aim to guide beef and lamb producers, offering industry knowledge about target...

A new president has been elected to the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS). Alan Hutcheon, who has over 40 years’ experience in the industry as an auctioneer and in livestock market management, assumes the role from Donald Young at the end of...

A cutting-edge new digital forecasting tool to maximise planning and profitability for soft fruit growers will launch to market in 2024 thanks to £2.8m capital raised from private investors, Ceres Agritech and Innovate UK through its investor partnership programme.  ...

Throughout this year, farmers have battled with the weather. Depending on the location, autumn was either too dry and grass weeds didn’t chit, or too wet to travel. In spring, wet weather dominated the early part of the season, only to turn dry when crops needed a...

Issues caused by cover crops and sheep, weeds and agri-environment schemes were big topics of discussion at the latest Monitor Farm meeting at Castleton Farm in East Lothian. The 164ha arable unit near North Berwick is farmed by Stuart McNicol alongside his father...

A content and communications agency specialising in agriculture and environmental science has this week become B Corp certified in recognition of its commitment to people and the environment.   The Ad Plain (TAP) predominantly works in digital communications for a...

Interest in a landmark sustainability programme for beef and sheep farmers demonstrates the farming industry's determination to reduce farm-originating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). All 350 places on offer for ABP’s PRISM 2030 (Programme for the Improvement in...

Sustainable parasite control in sheep and cattle, selecting the best type of suckler cow and making the most of grass were key topics at the summer meeting of the Argyllshire Monitor Farm on Islay. One of nine Monitor Farms across Scotland, Craig and Petra Archibald...

Honesty®, the new liquid tuber treatment from BASF is approved for use on all potato crops and provides strong broad spectrum disease control. Luke Pollard (BASF Campaign Manager Speciality Crops) said, “Honesty contains Xemium (fluxapyroxad) an SDHI fungicide which...

After graduating as an accountant, Claire Pollock returned to the family farm to support her family and future development of their business.  The Pollock family always enjoyed farming and plans to keep the business viable led to changes in production methods, aiming...

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), the UK’s leading agricultural, business and food event, is calling for three new individuals to help shape the future of the organisation. OFC is run by a group of voluntary Directors who identify the theme, speakers, sessions and...

According to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). In July, the USDA updated its global beef and pork market forecasts, which pointed to slightly tighter market balances in both sectors. However, the domestic beef market is no longer...

Animal nutrition and grain business, East Coast Viners, have become the first company in Scotland to operate a fully automated Tornum grain dryer. The family-run feed milling business which operates from Stonehaven, grows and dries their own grain, as well as sourcing...

Stock health plans, managing ewes for a successful 2024 lambing, soils, rotational grazing and water shortages were key points discussed at an information-packed Dumfriesshire Monitor Farm summer meeting. More than 80 visitors heard how Monitor Farmer Richard...

With the ongoing success of the Lamb for St Andrew’s Day campaign run by the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), auctioneers are once again calling on farmers to support the project that has seen over 65,000 school children cook and eat Scotch...

LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2023 results: 257 farms opened welcoming 170,900 visitors 89% said that visiting a farm has encouraged them to buy more British food 87% said it has increased their trust in British farming 88% reported they learnt something new about farming 72%...

Just days after the world’s hottest day on record, BASF revealed interim results  for Project Fortress – an on-farm five-year trial exploring strategies to increase resilience to the impacts and challenges of climate change. Project Fortress is hosted at The Grange...

Doddie Weir’s legacy as a campaigner for a better understanding of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) put the disease and fundraising into vital research firmly into the spotlight. Doddie founded the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation charity – the five coming for the number of his...

A recent BASF survey of break crop growers across the UK  demonstrated that growers continue to appreciate the impact these crops have on their rotations and are willing to invest in them. Oilseed rape, the most widely grown break crop Oilseed rape (OSR) was the most...

Ringlink’s pre-apprenticeship for 16–21-year-olds has been remarkably successful at attracting new recruits, with almost half of the trainees having no previous agricultural background. The Land-based Pre-apprenticeship is a vocational pathway for school leavers or...

On Friday 26th May, former Turriff Show President and farmer, Graeme Mackie, from Little Hilton Farm, visited Monquhitter Primary School and met pupils from the school’s Friday Eco-group to plant potatoes, locally known in the Doric as tatties, in time to harvest at...

This summer on Sunday 30th and Monday 31st July, The Scottish Ryeland National and The Aberdeen-Angus Society’s Summer National will be hosted by north east’s two-day agricultural event, Turriff Show.   Robert Gilchrist, Chief Executive Officer of The Aberdeen-Angus...

Turriff Show’s wholesome EQ Food and Drink pavilion, sponsored by EQ Chartered Accountants, will be the heart to some of the finest Scottish local food and drink producers in the region. This year the pavilion has been extended to welcome over 40 local exhibitors...

Organisers of Scotland’s largest two-day agricultural event have confirmed high numbers of livestock entries for the Turriff Show’s 1,554 classes which range from best cattle, sheep, and horses, through to dogs, rabbits and cavies.  Turriff Show, which will take place...

Crop rotations have proved critical to improving soil structure and reducing weed burden for five northeast farmers, who have come to the end of a five-year knowledge exchange programme, looking at enhancing farm soils.   The Soil Regenerative Agriculture Group (SRAG)...

Laurence J Betts Ltd (LJ Betts), grower of premium salads since 1930, has been acquired by the Regan family who are the owners of Hugh Lowe Farms Ltd, a neighbouring berry growing business in Kent, and of Blaise Plants Ltd, a plant propagator. Stephen Betts will step...

Matthew and Lloyd Smith from F Smith and Sons, Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire have been announced as the winners of the 2023 Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability. Now in its second year, the accolade celebrates individuals and businesses that deliver on all three...

Joel Johnson has been appointed Agricultural Solutions Business Director for the UK and Ireland. The role was formally managed by Neil Kay, who was promoted to Vice President for Agricultural Solutions for EMEA West earlier this year. Joel joined BASF in 2006 as an...

The UK’s only two-day on-farm regenerative agriculture conference, Groundswell, sold out for another year, attracting over 6500 attendees, with 75% either directly farming or involved in a farming enterprise.    With over 100 sessions and 200 speakers, from across the...

Following a successful showcase at the Royal Highland Show which culminated with a celebration of the RHASS Presidential Initiative’s ‘The Science of food & drink’ series, the team have reflected on the ten brilliant case studies which have been uncovered over the...

When it comes to creating a healthy ecosystem rich in biodiversity with fully functioning soils, nature nails it. So why do we fight her? When I first started farming, I had a ‘low capital approach’. Simply put, I couldn’t afford a to buy a farm and spend lots of...

Last year I headed to Groundswell Festival, searching for tips on how to sustain and regenerate the family farm I’ve been involved in for 40 years. I’d known of this popular regenerative agricultural festival for years but Hertfordshire is a long way from Fife. When I...

Amidst the ongoing debate on future agricultural and land use in Scotland, integrating trees on farms is a topic that is receiving increasing attention. There are many great examples of farmers and crofters who are leading the way, from Fife to Highland Perthshire,...

For one Fife farm, working with AHDB to gather scientific data behind its regenerative farming approaches is set to pay dividends both financially and environmentally.     Balbirnie Home Farms has been working with AHDB over the last three years as its Strategic...

The award-winning farm carbon calculator, Agrecalc, will be launching its state-of-the-art version of the platform – Agrecalc Cloud – at this year’s Royal Highland Show. One of the first carbon calculators to enter the market when it launched in 2007, Agrecalc has...

Family-run animal feed mill and nutrition specialists, East Coast Viners, has pledged to raise £10,000 for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) in the charity’s 10th year. This will kickstart at the agricultural shows throughout the summer, including the Royal...

With fertiliser prices beginning to drop to more manageable levels, farmers are being urged not to fall back into old habits and to think carefully about the ‘why, where and what’ they are spreading on to their fields. During 2022, The Farming For a Better Climate...

A vaccine developed by Scottish scientists which has transformed herd and flock health for farmers across the world over the last 25 years is being brought into focus as part of the RHASS Presidents’ Initiative. The penultimate case study for the RHASS Presidents’...