Sustainable Systems
Natural Capital – Reflections from the Nature Friendly Farming Summit
In this episode of Natural Capital, Harry Fisher and Alex Pirie reflect on their time at Scotland’s first Nature Friendly Farming Summit. The summit explored how to scale nature-friendly farming…
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Increased Acorn Toxicity Risk To Livestock
Oak trees have produced many more acorns this year and there have been reports of acorn toxicity cases this autumn. Acorns can be attractive to livestock after a period of…
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Water Security in Scottish Dairying
In recent years, Scotland’s weather has grown more unpredictable, and even the famously wet Scottish climate is beginning to show signs of strain with shifting weather patterns. For farmers, one…
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Bio-acoustic Monitoring Solutions for Land Managers
Bio-acoustic monitoring is the recording and automated identification of animal calls (most commonly birds or bats but can also include insects and frogs) to provide information on the species using…
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Monitoring Flock Performance Case Study (Central)
John & Alix Ritchie, Montalt Farm, Forgandenny, Perthshire Keeping performance monitoring simple in a grass-based system For the Ritchies at Montalt monitoring body condition of their flock is essential to…
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Farming in a rapidly changing and chaotic climate
Lower yields, earlier harvest dates, crop establishment difficulties and higher cost for additional supplementary livestock feed are some of the impacts affecting the farming community as a result of climate…
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Red Clover as a home-grown protein in sustainable sheep systems
Increasing the amount of forage-based protein that can be grown on farm is a key way to address the UK’s protein deficit and reduce reliance on imported protein sources. Forage…
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Agribusiness News Audio March 2025: A spotlight on the potato sector, New Zealand, fertiliser use in Scotland and Wills and Power of Attorney
Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we are also bringing you an overview on the potato sector, New Zealand, fertiliser use in Scotland and Wills and Power of Attorney.
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Diversification on a Shoestring
As of 2022, 58% of Scottish farms have diversified beyond traditional agriculture. Notably, diversified farms earned an average of £24,200 more than their non-diversified counterparts. Diversification not only boosts income…
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National Minimum Wage and Employment Taxes
National Living Wage (NLW)/National Minimum Wage (NMW) The table below shows the increase in National Living Wage/National Minimum Wages proposed in the Autumn Budget National Minimum wage paid to Apprentices,…
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