Latest Press Releases

• New award from BASF recognises sustainability efforts of UK & Ireland farmers. • The winner will be announced on 28th July 2022, as part of a 20-year celebration of sustainability activity at Rawcliffe Bridge and The Grange • The range of prizes will support...

A group of young auctioneers from competing businesses across Scotland came together with the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) to discuss how the livestock sector is evolving, selling through the marts and what will secure their future.

On the final day of the UK’s largest regenerative agriculture event, Groundswell, George Eustice, Defra’s Secretary of State revealed details of the first module of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), to be launched on 30th June. Groundswell 2022 was a sold-out...

The prestigious awards have opened for the 2022 round of applications and organisers at AgriScot are hoping for a bumper year of interest, as enthusiasm for the UK’s leading agribusiness event builds. Despite two years of upheaval due to Covid, Scotland’s sheep and...

The search for the Scotch Farm Factor is over and the winner of Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) national social media competition has been announced.

Amidst concerns around food security, new analysis of the red meat industry in Scotland highlights the Scottish livestock sector’s important contribution to the UK’s overall levels of self-sufficiency in red meat, and a rebound in the value of export sales in spite of the challenges caused by leaving the European Union’s single market. 

A new strategy has been launched today (24 June) at the Royal Highland Show, setting the direction for the growth of the beef value chain within Scotland.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Chair, Kate Rowell and Chief Executive, Sarah Millar, spoke at its industry breakfast briefing at the 2022 Royal Highland Show highlighting the significant role of the red meat sector in food security.

Day one of the UK’s largest regenerative agriculture show, Groundswell, got underway today, with many of the field’s leading experts discussing a broad range of topics - from food security, supply chains and big data to soils, grazing systems, water management, carbon...

The first Tayside Bioregioning Learning Journey gave a taste of what rural Tayside could look like if ecology was put at the heart of producing food, the local economy, education and societal wellbeing. What will be on our plate in 2042? - which drew interest from a...

On a mission to return with a bang, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is set to impress at the highly anticipated 200th Royal Highland Show, showcasing the very best of the Scottish red meat industry and its brands.

BASF has received approval in Great Britain for its new active substance, Luximo®, and the product containing this active, Luxinum® Plus, providing a new mode of action against grassweeds and a vital tool for controlling black-grass and Italian ryegrass, Britain’s...

LEAF Open Farm Sunday was back this weekend, making memories and changing perceptions. Over 250 farms across Britain opened their gates to tens of thousands of visitors on Sunday, showcasing British farming and all it delivers on farming’s annual open day.  Across the...

Huntly Development Trust (HDT), a not-for-profit community organisation, is looking for a likeminded partner, with a track-record in food service, to run its café in No30, the former Cruickshank’s department store. The historic building, which fronts Huntly square,...

The UK’s largest regenerative agriculture show takes place on 22nd and 23rd June 2022 at Lannock Manor Farm, Hertfordshire and is hosted by the Cherry family. Groundswell’s programme goes live, revealing the breadth and depth of topics on discussion at this year’s...

R&D manufacturer, BASF, is previewing two new products for the fruit industry, Revysol® and Nemaslug® 2.0, at this year’s Fruit Focus taking place at NIAB EMR, Kent on 13th July 2022. Revysol® is renowned in the cereal sector for offering highly effective...

A global higher-education initiative, the Sustainable Business Challenge, selected the food and fresh produce supply chain as its focus for this year’s challenge. Over 100 students from across the world took part in the award-winning competition, which kicked off in...

As fertiliser prices continue to rise, farmers are encouraged to explore the benefits of spreading digestate on-farm, as a cost-effective and nutritious alternative. SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), has been involved in a six-month project...

The two gardens supported by Perthshire gin business, Highland Boundary, at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show have both won coveted awards. A Rewilding Britain Landscape, designed by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt, won Best in Show at Chelsea and a gold medal. The...

As consumer trends change, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is placing a greater focus on targeted marketing than ever before with its forthcoming campaign, pursuing an insight-driven strategy that is aligning with the core values of the target audience, ensuring that...

The board of Scottish Agronomy is delighted to announce the appointment of its new managing director, Adam Christie. With Scottish Agronomy for over 30 years, Mr Christie is the long-standing Trials Manager for the 260-strong farmer cooperative, which offers...

Next generation, ethical Scottish distillers Highland Boundary showcases its talent for flavour innovation by supporting two gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show 2022. Partnering with Jane Porter designer of the “Still Garden” at the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show, Highland...

By Bruce McConachie, Head of Industry Development at Quality Meat Scotland. I recently saw a picture of a cow on its knees squeezing under a barbed wire fence to get fresh spring grass on the other side, a funny image when you see that 20 feet along the fence, the...

Livestock productivity and environmental delivery can go hand in hand, and a brand-new project enlisting the support of Scottish farmers, is going to prove just that. Sheep and beef specialists from SAC Consulting, Poppy Frater and Lesley Wylie, will be leading a...

Scotland’s leading Farm Business event, AgriScot, has appointed a new agency to manage their marketing, PR and communications, following an extensive review. Agricultural and rural communications specialists, Jane Craigie Marketing (JCM), was unanimously selected to...

According to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), the final week of April saw R4L steer prices in Scotland reach a new record high of 447.5p/kg.  This placed them 3.5% higher than in the same week of 2021 when the highest price of the year...

With over 120 speakers taking to the stages, 15 manufacturers demonstrating direct drills, mob grazing demonstrations, a dung beetle safari and 175 exhibitors, this year’s Groundswell is not to be missed. The UK’s largest regenerative agriculture show takes place on...

With soaring input costs threatening the bottom line of many businesses, farmers are reminded that every cow in the milking herd must be able to justify her position. SAC Consulting is encouraging farmers to take a targeted approach to rising fertiliser and feed costs...

Lanarkshire-based butcher S Collins & Son, has been crowned Butcher Shop of the Year, fending off stiff competition from across the UK, to take home the prestigious national title. The Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards took place at the Farm Shop and Deli Show in...

This spring, the Health and Education Team at Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) will be back out on the road for the first time in two years, attending and supporting a series of educational events across Scotland to inform the next generation on the red meat food journey,...

Since being crowned Scottish Junior Chef of the Year 2021 almost six months ago, Fraser Cameron, of The Globe Inn in Dumfries, has been busy sharpening his skills in the kitchens of some of London’s finest dining establishments. Back in October 2021, the best of...

In celebration of spring, the Ballater Business Association (BBA) and Braemar Tourism Group (BTG) have launched the East Cairngorms Wildlife and Nature Trail as part of their Imagine More campaign to encourage visitors to immerse themselves in nature and nurture their...

A collaborative project involving two Scottish farming co-operatives is seeking to mitigate the spread of plant parasitic nematodes in daffodils and potatoes. Backed in Scotland by Grampian Growers and Scottish Agronomy alongside the James Hutton Institute, Harper...

As travellers look for nature-based, sustainable holidays again this year, Scotland’s customised travel experts, Spirit Journeys, introduce three self-guided cycling holidays on some of Scotland’s less biked routes. Spirit Journeys Worldwide has a strong focus on...

After the 2021 season, when following xarvio’s disease and spray window alerts would have further optimised the fungicide programme, Yorkshire grower, Pat Thornton, is turning to the decision support tool to help optimise his 2022 T1 timings. “Last year, I walked the...

In line with changing consumer trends and building upon recent and highly successful digital marketing campaigns, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)’s ‘Farm Kid Diaries’ are set to return for a third season after an exciting new makeover. Relaunched as ‘The Scotch Farm...

After slipping back in February at Scottish auctions, finished hogg prices recovered through March and opened April at their highest level since the festive period, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). In the week to April 6th,...

Velcourt Group Ltd has invested in Oakbank Game & Conservation Ltd and will own 50% of the company. The regenerative farming, habitat and woodland management consultancy and seed company, founded by Directors Ian Gould (pictured above) and Tim Furbank, is...

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal yesterday (31 March 2022) officially opened Dunbia Highland Meats’ upgraded abattoir and cutting facility in Saltcoats. The visit provided the rare opportunity for The Princess Royal to see first-hand the high standards,...

Show revellers will be welcomed through the gates for the return of Turriff Show, on Sunday 30th July and Monday 1st August 2022. The event has become renowned throughout the UK as a vibrant show that celebrates the best of the region’s farming, food and heritage....

Congress community came together for a second day of science, experience and discussion. While there were many highlights throughout the day, organisers had to use an overflow room at Manchester Central to accommodate the volume of delegates wanting to watch pain...

British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) welcomed veterinary professionals from across the UK and beyond when it threw open the doors at Manchester Central this morning. The organisation’s commitment to its community permeated the event, with wellbeing...

The enterprising potato farming family behind Stirfresh has created a range of fresh no-fuss mash available to buy direct from their farm on Scotland's East Coast. This spring, the Stirlings at Upper Dysart Farm near Montrose are launching a series of nourishing,...

Organisers of LEAF Open Farm Sunday, Linking Environment And Farming, are encouraging farmers to plant their cotton ‘pants’ now to demonstrate to visitors in June the importance of soil management in agriculture, and the role of microorganisms in maintaining its...

Scottish Agronomy, Scotland’s leading independent agronomy advisory service, has announced the appointment of two new members to its board. Amy Geddes is a fourth-generation farmer at Wester Braikie Farms near Arbroath. With 320ha of potatoes, barley, winter oilseed...

From seeds to baguettes, breeding, growing, milling and exports, 25 growers will have the chance to win a trip to France this November to learn more about the nation’s wheat production, R&D and plant breeding. The trip will commence in Paris where the group will...

The Scottish red meat industry will be showcasing Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork at one of Europe’s leading fine food fairs, Tavola, next week (20th-22nd March). Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) will also be attending SIAL America 2022 in Las...

The Health and Education Team at Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has built a new toolkit to inspire greater consumer understanding of red meat production in Scotland. This hub of over fifteen teaching resources has been instigated in part by discussions with schools,...

QMS' Chief Economist, Stuart Ashworth, will retire from Scotland’s red meat levy board at the end of March 2022. For nearly 20 years, Stuart has led QMS’ economics team, analysing markets and policy impacts - from developments in agricultural policy to world trade and...

After two years of market volatility caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, some may have hoped for a quieter 2022, characterised by greater certainty.  However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February has led to renewed market turbulence across the red...

Attracting submissions from across the industry, BSAVA’s Abstract Sessions at Congress, puts the very latest research centre stage. Over 50 abstracts have been shortlisted and presentations will take place across the three event days of 24th – 26th March 2022. Prizes...

Sheep farmers are being urged to prioritise nutrition ahead of lambing, to increase flock productivity and reduce lamb losses. SAC Consulting held three webinars in the run up to the lambing season, featuring advice and experiences from farmers, specialists, and vets...

The Royal Agricultural Society of England’s report Farm of the Future: Journey to Net Zero was launched today, 8th March, at the Low Carbon Agricultural Show. The report follows a COP26 policy brief that was published by the organisation in October 2021. The Farm of...

As series six of the hot time-travel drama, Outlander, hits our screens this month, Scotland’s bespoke travel operator, Spirit Journeys, celebrates with five Outlander tours around Scotland.The popular guided trips, which have been running for five years, combine...

Two successful young Scottish butchers are fronting a campaign to encourage young people across the nation to join the profession and learn a craft that blends traditional skills with cutting-edge technologies and business know-how. As part of Scottish Apprenticeship...

The review of the Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Cattle & Sheep Scheme Standards has been completed and the updated 2022 Standards, which have been approved by the QMS Board, become effective from 1 April 2022. Key changes include a new environmental section,...

As travellers look for nature-based, sustainable holidays again this year, Scotland’s customised travel experts, Spirit Journeys, introduce three self-guided cycling holidays on some of Scotland’s less biked routes. Spirit Journeys Worldwide has a strong focus on...

Popular Netflix series, The Crown, has boosted visitor numbers to Scotland’s East Cairngorms, the home to the royal family’s Scottish seat, Balmoral Castle, according to local tourism guides. Ballater Business Association (BBA) and Braemar Tourism Group (BTG) has...

A very special ‘hot tent’ experience with Highland ponies is being introduced in Scotland’s Cairngorms by mountain experts, Scot Mountain Holidays. The 4-night, 4-day wild camping trip brings a hike through remote landscapes together with the comfort of a ‘hot’ Nordic...

Ex-forces and career changers are being targeted in a bold new programme to skill up the fresh produce sector. Kickstarted by a £450,000 Government grant for flexi-apprenticeships, the renowned food supply chain training provider, MDS, is using the funding to create a...

The recipient of the prestigious AgriScot Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year award was announced on Wednesday 9 February. The accolade, which is managed by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and sponsored by Thorntons Solicitors, was awarded to Saughland farm, run by Farm...

The recipient of the prestigious AgriScot Scotch Beef Farm of the Year award was announced on Wednesday 9 February. The accolade, which is managed by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and sponsored by Thorntons Solicitors, was awarded to Drumbreddan Farm in Ardwell,...

A new cooking guide has been launched by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, to support customers to confidently choose and cook with different cuts of Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork. The 2022 edition of...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) welcomes the announcement that Quality Pork Processers Ltd has been acquired by Browns Food Group.  The acquisition will provide the platform to build a stronger future for the Scottish pig industry. The meat manufacturer, Browns, which...

The profound and lasting impact of the Monitor Farm programme on farm businesses and communities has been celebrated with the launch of the ‘Legacy Project Impact Report’. The report provides a snapshot of each of the legacy farms and highlights the key changes they...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has appointed Sarah Millar as its new Chief Executive. Sarah is currently Director of Market Intelligence and External Affairs at QMS and with immediate effect becomes Chief Executive Designate and will take over the reins as Chief...

The eastern side of the Cairngorms National Park— home to Ballater, Braemar and Royal Deeside — is attracting a wave of creative chefs, chocolatiers, and micro-brewers whose fresh and landscape-inspired ideas have transformed this historic area into a dynamic dining...

Pressure to optimise crop nutrition is growing.  Rising prices makes nutrient losses through run off, volatisation and nitrate leaching not just harmful to the environment, but increasingly damaging to the bottom line. Richard Orr, Monitor Farmer in Northern Ireland,...

Tickets to Europe’s largest small animal veterinary event have gone on sale, with early bird discounts for those that register before 17th February 2022. With a new structure to the programme, free practicals for onsite delegates, immersive “a day in the life of…”...

The finalists for the AgriScot Scotch Beef and Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year were announced today, 18 January, with all sharing a common enthusiasm to improve productivity and efficiency. The awards, sponsored by Thorntons Solicitors and supported by Quality Meat...

Known as the record-beating sailor who solo-circumnavigated the world, Dame Ellen MacArthur is now making waves with her charitable work centred on the circular economy. Speaking to delegates on the final day of the 2022 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), Dame Ellen...

On the opening day of the Oxford Farming Conference, agricultural ministers from England, Northern Ireland and Wales shared their different visions for future agricultural policy and how new support payments can help achieve climate targets. Secretary of State for...

In a bid to tackle Scotland’s obesity epidemic and educate the next generation of consumers, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has delivered 322 ‘meat vouchers’ to schools across Scotland, a figure which tops that of previous years. The QMS Meat Voucher Scheme is an...

Two timely reports focused on quantifying, qualifying and ensuring good governance in the trading of natural capital and carbon, were launched today, 5 January, at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC). The two-part report, commissioned and funded by the WWF and Tesco...

As details of the new programme, including the five Learning Zones, module titles and sessions, go online, BSAVA reveals the full extent of the programme’s shakeup. Manchester Central, the event’s new venue, facilitated the move away from long format lectures. ...

To raise industry confidence in the lead up to January, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), has released the second edition of its toolkit ‘Having positive conversations about red meat’ in collaboration with AHDB and HCC. The pack of materials, which includes downloadable...

A focus on adventure tourism is making the East Cairngorms one of the most popular destinations in the UK for mountain biking. The adventure tourism community’s best-kept secret, the area has seen a surge in people of all abilities, due to the surge in e-bike sales,...

Unusually there was agreement between an AHDB Monitor Farmer, an agribusiness consultant and the Defra Deputy Director of Policy, Engagement and Strategy Jonathan Baker, Countryside Stewardship Schemes can hedge against the loss of BPS. The Northampton Monitor Farm...

The Scottish Machinery Rings Association (SMRA) has once again supported thousands of farmers and rural businesses through a successful harvest season, despite energy and labour hardships. The nine-strong rings that make up SMRA collectively represent over 7250 member...

Agrifood technology start-ups involved in the Farm491 incubation hub are beginning to think very differently about the products and service models for the future of agriculture as a result of input from a highly disruptive entrepreneur. Ben Jones and a close-knit...

By Michelle Nuttall, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager Given soaring fertiliser prices and tightening regulations, it was timely to host a practical webinar on how to make the most of muck. At £451/ha in saved fertiliser cost for every 40t of cattle muck applied, the...

After nearly 40 years of trading in a small corner shop in Fraserburgh, I.J McIntosh Butcher has made the move to a new custom-built eco-friendly premises in a bid to expand and future proof the business. The new shop, which was opened on Friday 12 November and will...

Hacks for showstopping cooking with Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork will be at the heart of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)’s 2021 Christmas campaign which is set to reach over 75% of the UK population through TV, digital and billboard...

Capitalising on the messages from COP26, Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) Health & Education team has launched Mission Sustain, a game designed to encourage young people to engage in discussion around sustainability in Scottish farming. The free interactive resource...

Scotch Lamb PGI is set to take centre stage this St Andrew’s Day with the red meat industry coming together to promote the consumption of lamb during the patron saint’s day.  Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), alongside the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), the...

Eighteen progressive people from the agrifood industry have been awarded fully funded places to attend the Oxford Farming Conference which runs from 5 - 7 January 2022. The ‘Inspire’ programme targeted at 30 - 45 year olds replaces the Emerging Leaders initiative...

Join BASF and KWS in Britain’s first farming bake off BASF and KWS have accepted a grower’s challenge and so the first British Farming Bake Off begins on 1st November with the two companies donating to Fareshare.  Fareshare, fights hunger and poverty in the UK and...