Rural Business
Rural RoundUp – AECS, Future Farming Investment Scheme & Water Scarcity
Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson talk about the upcoming AECS deadline, news on the release of the new Future Farming Investment Scheme and the pressing issue of water scarcity. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. FAS Resources Water Scarcity – Farming and…
Business and Policy May 2025 – Sector Focus: US Tariffs
Recent events On the 2nd April, Donald Trump, the US president, announced a new tariff regime on imports to the US, including a baseline 10% on almost all foreign imports, with some countries and goods facing higher rates. The schedule proposed a 20% tariff on EU imports, 25% from Canada and Mexico, and currently 145%…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Sheep
Ramadan Progresses Ramadan ended on the 30th March, with Eid al-Fitr being celebrated the following day to mark the end of the fast. For this celebration, Muslim families tend to visit friends and family to celebrate the end of fasting and invest in large quantities of meat a few days before this. Typically, we see…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Cereals And Oilseeds
Global Markets Spring weather risks remain a significant influence on global grain markets. As fieldwork advances across the Northern Hemisphere, weather patterns will play an increasingly vital role. In Brazil, April rainfall will be a decisive factor in determining the yield potential of the second corn crop. Elsewhere, the threat of drought or late frost…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Policy Brief
Future Farming Investment Scheme The Scottish Government have recently announced their intention to introduce a Future Farming Investment Scheme with an estimated funding budget of ~ £14 million. The aim of the new grant scheme will be to provide flexible capital grants to drive efficiency and to support nature and climate friendly farming practices. Further…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Beef
Up and Up Beef price increases continue with finished cattle prices on the brink of £7/kg/deadweight or close to £3,000 liveweight, with prices expected to surge past £7/kg/dwt at the start of April. Reports are suggesting finished prices could reach £8/kg by the end of this spring. With weekly price increases, beef prices throughout March…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Milk
Milk production data Milk production is increasing at a greater rate than this time last year, with the drier spring allowing earlier turnout in some areas. The latest data from AHDB estimates GB volume for February at 954 million litres. Daily production is currently 35.75 million litres for the week ending 15th March, 1.4% more…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Sustainable Proteins
Background To reduce reliance on imported protein feeds, livestock farmers have long been exploring the use of home-grown alternatives such as pulses, lupins, rapeseed and forage legumes. Currently, the UK ruminant feed industry relies heavily on imported proteins such as soyabean meal which raises concerns about sustainability, food security and the environmental impacts. There has…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Nature Based Solutions In A Chaotic Climate
What’s coming ahead? We are living in a rapidly warming and chaotic climate, with cascading and simultaneous effects of drought, flooding and extreme weather events across Scotland. Climate models predict by 2100, There may be an east : west divide in Scotland, where the west and west coast will experience higher frequency of extreme rainfall…
Agribusiness News April 2025 – Pollinator’s Value To Scottish Agriculture
Insect pollinators: their value to Scottish agriculture Flowering crops are alive with a diversity of insects including hoverflies, bees, beetles and butterflies. These beasties are hard at work collecting nectar and pollen, and in return, they provide a crucial pollination service. They transfer pollen between flowers, contributing to the production of fruits, seeds, and vegetables. …