Apprenticeships

Students from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are set to take part in the country’s first agricultural shared apprenticeship scheme.

SRUC is collaborating with Ringlink (Scotland) on the scheme which launched earlier this week.

The project provides the opportunity for more than 30 students to take up placements at various host farms across Aberdeenshire.

SRUC will assess the apprentices from its Aberdeen campus, while Ringlink will employ them.

Liver fluke

Farmers are being urged to seek advice on current situations of liver fluke in their area.

Sustainable Control of Parasites (SCOPS) and Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) are working together to remind farmers of the high risk warning from the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) to both sheep and cattle.

Farmers are encouraged to speak to vets or advisors for information relevant for their own farm.

LEADER funding

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has written to the UK Government to call for guarantees and clear timelines to be provided on plans to replace EU LEADER funding post-Brexit.

The letter to Michael Gove reads: “LEADER has injected over £93m in 11 years into the rural economy in Scotland. A further £130m of match-funding has been attracted over that period. That’s a total of £223m, including around 140% of match-funding, which will be lost to our rural communities.

“This important support has helped businesses and communities to kick-start new projects, to develop, innovate, provide new facilities and local infrastructure.”

Women in Agriculture

The Farm Advisory Service and SRUC have teamed up to organise free Women in Agriculture talks across Scotland, covering accounts, mental health, diversification opportunities and the role of social media.

Places must be booked in advance via www.fas.scot/news/wia/ or by calling 0300-3230161

Event programme:

  • 13 March (11am): Carfraemill Hotel, Borders – Understanding accounts and business planning.
  • 14 March (11am): New Lanark Hotel, Lanark – Understanding accounts and business planning
  • 15 March (7.30pm): Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall, Orkney – Mental health and IACS topics.
  • 16 March (10.30am): Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall, Orkney – mental health and IACS topics.
  • 20 March (11am): The Craigellachie Hotel, Craigellachie, Morayshire – Food and drink diversification opportunities.
  • 21 March (11am): Banchory Lodge, Banchory, Aberdeenshire – Diversification opportunities
  • 23 March (1.45pm): Inveraray Inn, Argyll – Livestock records and accounts.
  • 26 March: Inverness (venue TBC) – IACS and grants and social media in farming.
  • 27 March (11am): Ulbster Arms Hotel, Halkirk, Caithness – Diversification Opportunities.
  • 28 March (11am): Northern Hotel, Brechin – Diversification opportunities.