Latest Press Releases

I am very honoured to have been elected chair of Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) at our AGM on 25th January, and I would like to acknowledge the service that Andrew Moir, our previous chair, has given over the last eight years. I take over at a time of significant change...

East Coast Viners, the north-east livestock nutrition company, and sister company, game feed supplier, Spratt’s, this weekend handed over £11,000 to the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) at its Dyce base. The money has been raised over the last 12 months by the...

“The hogg trade is flying at the moment, about 80p/kg up on the year and there’s potentially good prices for those with hoggs still to finish,” says Calum Littlejohn, livestock nutritionist at East Coast Viners. “With so many farming costs high at the moment, it can...

A leader in the field of carbon calculation has hailed DEFRA’s long-awaited Harmonisation report as an “important catalyst” to improve consistency when it comes to tackling agriculture’s carbon footprint. Farmers first complaint when it comes to taking part in carbon...

A new partnership between The MacRobert Trust and Inclusive Farm will provide people with disabilities, additional needs or difference, a new route into agriculture. Through the provision of land and buildings by The MacRobert Trust in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, a new...

Variability is going to be the cause of much head scratching for growers and agronomists this year. Winter wheat crops are showing variability between fields, crops, and within stands and this coupled with differences in leaf layer emergence, which NIAB have recently...

Beef and sheep farmers across Scotland are now being better equipped to understand and meet market demands through a workshop organised by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). These workshops, the most recent held at Woodhead Brothers in Turriff, aim to provide farmers with...

Generations of shepherds have wondered how to best deal with triplet lambs and research from SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), is taking the trial and error out of rearing them. A healthy turnout from Scotland’s sheep farming community joined a...

Brown’s Food Group – Scotland’s biggest pork producer -  links tradition and innovation to launch new sausage range showcasing Scottish pork Promoting Specially Selected Pork is at the heart of The Kilted Pork Company brand of sausages which has just been rolled out...

The UK’s leading agricultural business event, AgriScot, has changed its date, bringing the event forward by one week to 13 November. The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) and AgriScot have been working in partnership for a number of years....

Routine testing of bull fertility is an essential but often overlooked aspect of suckler herd profitability. Yet with funding available, Beef Specialist, Sarah Balfour, is urging beef farmers to be on the front foot this season. Suckler herd performance relies on...

Following the changes at the start of the year in the reporting and publishing of auction market livestock prices across Great Britain, the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) is pleased to announce that it has extended its relationship with...

Find your match at the Roxburghshire Monitor Farm winter meeting. As part of the Roxburghshire Monitor Farm project, the farming community is invited to a panel discussion evening, about farming agreements, being held at the Buccleuch Arms in St. Boswells on Wednesday...

Farmers are encouraged to book now for a practical meeting on body condition scoring, cattle handling and recording at the Strathspey Monitor Farm. Livestock behaviour expert Professor Simon Turner from SRUC will be the key speaker at the event at Auchernack Farm,...

Team Scotland - Perth-based father and son butchery team Richard and Ben Megahy – have triumphed at the Four Nations Butchers Tournament in Ireland. They saw off hot competition from leading butchers from England, Northern Ireland and Ireland in the contest, with...

John and David Andrew, the South Ayrshire Monitor Farmers are welcoming the Ayrshire farming community to an on-farm event, at their Rowantson Farm, on Thursday 22 February. The meeting will focus on managing sheep lameness, feeding root crops, and the benefits of...

More than 75 farmers attended day of discussions and practical demonstrations at United Auctions in Stirling to find out what farm management software and technology is right for their farming business. Organised by Monitor Farm Scotland in partnership with the...

Consumer spending on fresh red meat in Great Britain surged to a record £656.2 million in the four weeks leading up to Christmas 2023, marking a significant 9.6% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from Nielsen. This remarkable growth defied the...

Technology for managing flock performance is continually evolving and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), in conjunction with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), is offering Scottish sheep breeders an opportunity to increase genetic gain, improving the productivity and...

Five young Scottish auctioneers have graduated with a respected career qualification from Harper Adams University. Jenna Ballantyne, Amy Haddow and Nick Woodmass of Lawrie & Symington and James Scott and Andrew Weir of United Auctions completed their Certificate...

A recent survey conducted as part of a combined ABP and ASDA initiative, highlights the beneficial work that British farmers are accomplishing to boost farmland biodiversity. In total, 250 farmers from a wide geographical spread and farm size responded to the...

Fife arable farmer, John Hutcheson, has been appointed the new Chair of the Board for Scottish Quality Crops (SQC), Scotland’s quality assurance scheme for combinable crops, alongside new Vice Chair Mark McCallum. John farms an extensive arable unit, growing cereals...

Being much more specific about recording lamb losses at one of Scotland’s Monitor Farms has prompted an innovative new lambing health project. With lambing being one of the busiest and intensive periods on a livestock farm, there often isn’t time to take stock of what...

A Perth-based father and son team are set to represent Scotland at the Four Nations Butchers tournament in Ireland this weekend (28 January). The highly competitive battle will see the pair prepare, craft and present a range of 40-50 products and create a retail...

Over the festive period and into the first fortnight of 2024 the beef market has remained relatively stable, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). R4L steer prices have generally been slightly above the £5/kg threshold in recent...

Bruce Irvine, the Banff and Buchan Monitor Farmer is welcoming North East farmers to an on-farm event on Wednesday 31 January. The meeting will focus on how small changes, using readily available farm information, can impact positively on late winter management of...

The growing success of Scotch Lamb for St Andrew’s Day owes to a collaborative approach between farmers, representative organisations, and rural businesses.  The lead up to the globally recognised celebration of Scotland’s patron saint last November saw initiatives to...

Adam Christie, Managing Director of Scottish Agronomy I read recently that the word of the year for 2023 was “hallucinate”. While this is a case of new uses for an established word, at times this year it was entirely appropriate as I thought I glimpsed blue sky...

Last week, Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands visited John and David Andrew on their South Ayrshire Monitor Farm, to hear about the positive work being achieved on Scottish farms through the Monitor Farm Programme. Ms Gougeon...

An online cattle sale that came about as a way of marketing stock during the covid pandemic is preparing for its fourth annual event. Farmers John and Fiona Scott came up with the way of selling their rams when coronavirus cast its shadow on traditional sales. It was...

In recent weeks, levy payers from Orkney to Lauder have been given the chance to hear how QMS plans to deliver its five-year strategy and make the country the choice for premium red meat. Over a dozen workshops have taken place across the country, bringing together...

Ewe lambs are central to profitable flock health, and sheep farmers should be thinking about them before they are even conceived and put them to the top of the flock hierarchy according to Consultant, Lorna Shaw. Her advice is just one of the many recommendations in a...

Making the switch to a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) has delivered significant benefits for flock health and efficiency at Lochfer Farm, of Inverdunning Farms, in Bridge of Allan. Since joining the farming operation five years ago, Jack Shaw has been making substantial...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is launching a comprehensive and freely-available pack with latest facts plus shareable stats and videos highlighting the positives about red meat. It will build on the new TV and social media advertising campaign launching this January....

Livestock farmers are invited to a free day of discussions and practical demonstrations to find out what farm management software and technology is right for their farming business. The meeting on 23 January, at United Auctions, Stirling, is being organised by Monitor...

A highly respected journalist whose “wonderful” weekly newspaper columns had the ability to make his readers both laugh and cry will continue to help people even after his death from prostate cancer. Described as “a wonderful writer” and “a philosopher” by former...

A South-West dairy farmer has been trialling different rates of slurry and artificial fertiliser in silage fields to see how he can optimise yields and reduce costs. With input prices remaining high, John Kerr at Woodhead Farm in Ayrshire wanted to see if he could...

Leading animal nutrition specialists and feed mill, East Coast Viners is pleased to welcome trainee ruminant nutritionist Rebecca Bennett as it expands its team. A recent graduate of Harper Adams University, Rebecca brings with her broad practical on-farm experience...

One of London’s most talked about new places to eat has credited the Scotch beef it serves for helping win rave reviews. Michelin-starred chefs and top food critics have been some of the first to book a table at The Devonshire, tucked away in central London behind...

Tickets have gone on sale for an international agricultural conference with Royal roots being hosted in Scotland. The Princess Royal is patron of the 30th Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) Conference, an organisation which was founded in 1957 by...

The start up behind a new AI-based forecasting tool for the soft fruit industry was one of just 13 businesses selected from across the UK to showcase innovation and investment opportunity to the world’s leading financiers. FruitCast, which uses imagery and data to...

With a commitment to classroom and on-farm education, BASF has directly supported more than five thousand children in 2023 by providing resources and attending events, aimed at the next generation. In collaboration with industry partners, the company is passionate...

Beef and lamb farmers are invited to a series of Scottish Meat the Market workshops. Organised by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), the events aim to give beef and lamb producers greater industry knowledge about target specifications for finished animals in order to...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Levy payers in the Campbeltown area are being given the chance to hear how the organisation plans to deliver its five-year strategy and make the country the choice for premium red meat. The event is part of a series of regional workshops...

LiveScot, the prestigious Scottish National Fatstock Club livestock event held at Lanark showcased the Royal Smithfield Club Beef Ribs & Saddle of Lamb competitions. Entries were judged by Dan Gilmour from Gilmour Butchers and the event was supported by Quality...

Lamb took centre stage at the Scottish Parliament as part of Lamb for St Andrew’s Day, an initiative to encourage people across Scotland to celebrate with Scotch Lamb on the patron saint’s day. Scotch Lamb was served, and sold out, in the canteen for Members of...

A partnership between Simpsons Malt Limited and BASF Agricultural Solutions has been announced, marking the start of a unique carbon reduction and certification programme. Simpsons Malt is one of the largest, independent, family-owned malting companies in the world,...

On Shetland’s islands – 16 of which are inhabited - agriculture is a key component of the community and its economy. The livestock mart at Lerwick, run by Shetland Livestock Marketing Group, regularly fills with sheep and cattle from the island’s crofts and hills....

The Middle East could prove a lucrative new market for Scottish sheep producers, with First Minister Humza Yousaf among the delegates being served Scotch Lamb in Dubai to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. In a special COP 28 dinner organised by Scottish Development...

More than 120 attended the recent Monitor Farm Scotland lamb selection event at United Auctions Huntly, including a sizeable young contingent eager to build on their sheep farming skills. The evening began with breakout sessions from Michael Wilson, Livestock Buying...

Having the time to effectively use the information gathered from weighing cattle can be a challenge for farmers in Scotland, says Lorna MacPherson, consultant at SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), but it can make the difference to profit margins...

Over 10,000 visitors and 240 trade stands filled the exhibition halls at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston last week (Wednesday 22 November) for the largest indoor winter farming event, AgriScot. As one of the strongest events yet, and with a record number of...

Preparing for lambing and ensuring it goes well is the focus of the Dumfries Monitor Farm winter meeting. All sheep producers are invited to the afternoon meeting ‘Are EWE ready for lambing?’ which will look at pre-lambing preparation and best practice at lambing for...

More than 100 individuals have now completed the OFC Inspire Programme, supporting their personal and business growth through skills development and networking. The success of the initiative, run by the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), has resulted in career changes,...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) predicts that the organisation’s first ever Christmas TV campaign celebrating Scotch meat, will reach almost 90% of Scotland’s adult population when it runs on STV, Border TV and STV Player from today (Monday 20 November).    Scottish...

Farmer’s daughter Clare Dickson had been dreaming of finding a job that combined the rural sector with helping people once she was ready to return to work after having her young family. She says her appointment as Community Engagement Specialist for Farmstrong...

As the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest, there is firm demand for the available supply levels of beef, lamb and pork products in Scotland. Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), explains that, in early November, cattle,...

Stepping up and getting involved is very much at the heart of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) ethos and, following the retirement of the previous Secretariat, a new organisation has joined the ranks. The British Growers Association (BGA), which has all the skills...

BASF launches a new fungicide, Privest®, at British Potato 2023. Designed to control late blight, Privest® has a unique mode of action with ametoctradin combined with potassium phosphonates which primes the plant's natural defence mechanisms. It gives growers...

High school students throughout Scotland are relishing the challenge to get their teeth into their own recipes with the launch of this year’s Better Burger Challenge. Organised by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) in partnership with Food and Drink Federation Scotland, the...

Huntly Development Trust (HDT), an ambitious not-for-profit community organisation, is looking to recruit two people to join their team to deliver the ‘Huntly 2030’ vision for a greener, more inclusive and prosperous town in the heart of northeast Scotland. HDT Chair,...

Vayo®’s first season proves its value with trials, and on-farm experiences, demonstrating unrivalled efficacy throughout the season. BASF brought its renowned active, Revysol® to the fruit sector earlier this year with the new protectant fungicide, Vayo®. It is...

Scotland’s leading independent agronomy advisory service and farmer-owned cooperative, Scottish Agronomy, is pleased to announce the appointment of Zach Reilly. Zach brings experience as a farm consultant, most recently with SAC Consulting’s Forfar office, assessing...

Levy payers are being given the chance to hear how Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) will deliver its five-year strategy and make the country the choice for premium red meat. A series of regional workshops will let members see how a first levy increase in more than a decade...

A wellbeing initiative for Scottish farmers and crofters has taken a big step forward with the appointment of a key team member. Alix Ritchie, a Perthshire farmer and passionate advocate for the rural community, has been named as the inaugural Programme Director for...

Sheep producers in the North and North-East are invited to a lamb selection and butchery demo as part of the Monitor Farm programme. The free meeting will bring together all three North Monitor Farms – Strathspey, Deeside and Buchan. Open to all, the event at Huntly...

As the input balance moves from home grown forages to systems requiring bought-in concentrates over the winter, sheep farmers should take a closer look at the growth of their lambs to protect both margins and next year’s crop, says Kirsten Williams, a senior sheep and...

Last night (Thursday 26th October), the inaugural Scottish Agriculture Awards took place welcoming over 450 people to celebrate some of the most innovative and progressive agricultural business and individuals within the sector. Hosted by three leading organisations...

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), the UK’s leading agricultural, business and food event, has announced three new Directors will join their board. NIAB CEO Professor Mario Caccamo, Farm Estate Manager David Hill, and Food and Drink Consultant and Coordinator Sheena...

Adapting quickly is the key to farms unlocking a successful future, according to the director of a major player in British agriculture. John Barrett, Director of Sentry, says: “The next few years are crucial for British agriculture; there will be winners and losers....

The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) has released its 2022 throughput figures gathered from its members, who operate auction markets in Scotland. Alan Hutcheon, IAAS President, said: “Markets recorded total throughput of 2.76m head of...

Journalist Sarah Todd is to join the ranks of agrifood and rural sector communications agency Jane Craigie Marketing (JCM), whose clients include BASF, ABP, QMS and the Oxford Farming Conference. Sarah has been an award-winning writer for over 30 years; learning her...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) honoured three prominent European importers for their unwavering support of the Scottish red meat industry at Anuga 2023. The awards were presented by Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, QMS Chief Executive, Sarah Millar, and Chair,...

ABP Food Group has announced that it has joined the Harper Adams School of Sustainable Food and Farming Delivery Partner Network. The school is at the forefront of the development of sustainable farming methods and also in exploring methods to help British farmers...

ABP’s PRISM 2030 (Programme for the Improvement in Sustainability of (red) Meat) initiative brought beef and lamb farmers and technical experts together, for a grazing and knowledge transfer event on a suckler beef farm in Cheshire, offering a first look at initial...

Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) ‘Tasty Little Weeks’ initiative is back, with schools receiving £180 worth of vouchers to spend with their local Scotch-assured butchers, as well as a bank of resources packed with ideas and tools to inspire children and teachers. In...

As Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) prepares to go to Germany for Anuga - the world’s leading food and beverage trade fair - a new report reveals Scottish exports of red meat and offal rocketed to a new record high of over £93 million in the year from August 2022 to July...

Sheep farmers are invited to the Stirlingshire Monitor Farm next week to hear about managing OPA (Jaagsiekte), the benefits of blood-testing pre-tupping for mineral status and iceberg diseases, plus new business funding opportunities. The evening meeting at the Duncan...

Tickets have gone on sale for the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) and a list of headline speakers has been released, including environmentalist and financier Ben Goldsmith, chef, broadcaster and writer Romy Gill MBE, farmer and musician Andy Cato, and Chair of...

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is aiming to expand global trade opportunities for Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork at the world’s leading food and drink trade fair. A team is heading to Anuga 2023 in Germany next week to champion Scotland’s...

The new President of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers (IAAS) met with Under Secretary of State for Scotland, John Lamont MP, at ANM marts at Thainstone to demonstrate how high frequency EID electronic tagging could revolutionise the livestock industry.  ...

Entries have opened for the 22nd annual AgriScot Silage Competition. The competition which has attracted more than 3000 entries since it began, is the longest running silage competition in Scotland. It is a reflection of the high regard the contest is held in, that...

More than 40 high-level executives from France’s agricultural, agro-industrial and agro-food sectors gained an insight into Scotland’s agricultural and meat processing systems on a visit to a Tayside farm. The chief executives, presidents and others are members of...

The UK’s premier agricultural business event, AgriScot, has announced a new partnership, enabling delegates to benefit from express, free entry. CLAAS Financial Services, the asset finance division of one of the leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery and a...

Over 24,000 school children are signed up to Lamb for St Andrew’s Day, the initiative from the industry that aims to encourage more people to cook, eat and enjoy lamb as part of the Patron Saint’s celebrations.   To inspire the next generation, Scotland’s Institute...

As part of its bid to increase the integrity of its assurance scheme, Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) is moving from an annual scheme to a product certification model. This means that audits can take place throughout the year and grain passports can be issued earlier in...

After a summer of challenging weather for silage making, beef and dairy farmers are looking for alternatives for winter feed to ensure optimal performance. Adding liquid molasses to straw and homegrown cereals will be a cost-effective and productive solution this...