FAS Conference 2026

Cultivating Change: Tech-Driven Futures for Farmers and Crofters

Discover how technology is transforming life on the land!

Farmers and crofters have always been quick to embrace new ideas, and today’s innovations are opening up exciting possibilities for the future of food and farming. From drones that map fields to smart collars that monitor livestock health, technology is helping rural businesses work smarter, save time, and boost profits — all while caring for the environment.

Join us to explore how early adopters are leading the way, why technology matters more than ever, and what the next wave of innovation could mean for communities across the countryside. Including a session especially for new entrants to the industry, exploring the abundance of FAS resources. A fabulous line up of interesting speakers, interactive displays, a chance to meet up, and a good lunch.

Don’t miss this chance to see how the future of farming is already taking shape.  Booking is essential!

Agenda

09.45am  – Tea/Coffee arrival

10.15am – Welcome from the chair – Willie Budge

10.30am – Headline Speaker – Nicola Wordie

11.00am – Inheritance Tax and Succession – Robert Young, EQ Accountants

11.30 – Break

11.45am – Quickfire Technology Updates

• Heat and disease detection bolus
• Virtual Fencing
• New Castration methods
• Variable rate Nitrogen application
• Cattle sensors

12.35pm – Lunch

1.20pm – Workshops – choose 2 from:

• EID Cattle Tagging – David Kerr
• Easy biodiversity wins – Patrick Laurie
• Metabolic profiling for sheep – Lorna Shaw & Kythe MacKenzie
• Where to turn when new to Agriculture – Laura Henderson with RPID, SLMS, APHA, SRUC, CC
• Spot sprayer – Jim Wilson

2.15pm – Policy update – Steven Thomson

2.50pm – Questions for the Panel – Nicola Wordie, Robert Young, Patrick Laurie, Steven Thomson

3.15pm – Closing & Tea/Coffee

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS –    you will be sent a form to book your preferred workshops after you book a ticket to the conference

EID Cattle Tagging with David Kerr

Scotland is adopting UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) EID by 2026.  UHF EID tags for cattle provide 100% read rates. Benefits will be felt on farms – improving health and safety, and make for easier inspections, on farm, in transport and in markets, with the potential to phase out paper passports, reducing costs to the industry.

Easy Biodiversity Wins with Patrick Laurie

This session will explore how farms and crofts in Scotland can play a vital role in conserving key species, with a particular focus on wading birds. It will look at how cattle grazing helps manage and maintain important habitats that these species depend on. Patrick will also demonstrate how technology can be used to identify and record the wildlife present on your farm, helping you better understand and support biodiversity on your land.

Metabolic Profiling for Sheep with Lorna Shaw and Kythe MacKenzie

Join Kythe and Lorna as they look at how metabolic profiling can be used as a practical way to understand nutritional status in herds and flocks. Using blood results as a starting point, they will explain what these tests can tell us about nutrition and mineral balance, and how problems in these areas can affect performance, fertility, and overall health.

The session will also highlight the types of health issues that can be identified early through metabolic profiling, often before obvious signs appear. The focus will be on how this information can be used alongside everyday farm management to support better decision-making, improve animal health, and maintain productivity in both cattle and sheep systems.

Where to Turn When New to Agriculture with Laura Henderson and RPID, SLMS, APHA, SRUC and Crofting Commission

New to agriculture or wishing to pass on your croft or farm? FAS can help! Our wheel is full of options depending on your needs.  If you are interested in Crofting, 3 Commissioners are on hand from the Crofting Commission to answer questions.  Looking for land? The Scottish Land Matching Service can match up outgoing and incoming farmers and crofters.  Interested in developing farming skills? SRUC are on hand with apprenticeship information. Keeping livestock for the first time? Vets from the Animal Plant Health Agency will keep you right.  Registering your farm business or interested in support schemes?  Staff from the Inverness Rural Payments office are on hand.  Wondering about finance? DH….

Spot Sprayer with Jim Wilson

Developed by SoilEssentials, SKAi is an advanced spot-spraying system powered by artificial intelligence. SKAi identifies and targets individual weeds in real-time offering maximum precision so that treatments are only applied where needed. Targeted treatments reduce quantity of herbicide used, maintains soil microbial health and structure, which supports carbon sequestration and reduces soil disturbance, slows the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, helps pollinators and natural pest predators, and saves money.