The samples, collected in July and September, will be tested by scientists at SEPA and Newcastle University who previously tested herbage collected in April and May.

Those results demonstrated that there was no cause for farmers to be concerned about the potential risk to livestock from fluorosis. Volcanic Ash can contain very high levels of fluoride and while fluoride is essential in trace amounts it is toxic to both plants and animals in high concentrations, damaging teeth and bones as well as reducing milk yield. 

The samples of herbage collected at sites as far spread as Shetland, Dumfries, Lewis and Forfar all contained levels within the normal range of vegetation and below levels reported to be toxic to livestock.  SAC will continue to liaise with other agencies and will make any further recommendation should any new data indicate it is necessary. 

The Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme is a unique experience that is enjoyable, sociable and hugely stimulating at the same time.  For many previous participants the best part is meeting and developing business relationships with a range of like-minded people.  For others it is the leadership workshops and learning how to relate to others.  For some it is the learning journeys and getting access to the people who matter in the corridors of power. 

Whatever else, the programme is also about action! A group on a previous programme developed an idea about promoting lamb consumption that may well lead to a national campaign in November.

Scottish Enterprise introduced the concept to Scotland in 2006, based on initiatives devised in the US in the mid-1960s. This latest programme, the fifth in Scotland, will start in late October and run through to late February of next year. Application is open until 6th August by contacting SAC, who have been appointed as facilitators.

There will be three working groups, focussed around SAC centres in Aberdeen, Ayr and Edinburgh, drawing potential young leaders from across rural Scotland.  There will be some 12 days of events, including facilitated workshops, inspirational speakers, individual coaching sessions, media training, new contacts and networks and a personal action plan for growth.

The programme is primarily targeted at those running or employed by small to medium sized enterprises in the rural sector.  To date there have been a diverse list of participants ranging from farmers, auctioneers, the processing sector, the supply trade, those working for rural organisations, estate managers, those in the food and tourism sectors, and other small rural businesses.  Age is not an issue and the most important criterion is a desire to improve your own business or the performance of the rural sector.

To apply for the 2010/11 Programme, or for any further information, contact SAC's Catriona Clark.

A previous event had focussed on the ewe and led to the publication of what has proved a very popular SAC publication, giving sheep farmers practical tips and explaining the science behind them.  It is hoped that the ram workshop will lead to something equally sought after.

Held in the Moredun Research Institute seminar room the event was organised by an SAC team including John Vipond, Tom McEvoy and Colin Morgan. They assembled a number of equally expert speakers from as far afield as New Zealand. The key messages concerned the way rams are presently prepared for the sale ring.

According to SAC Sheep Specialist, John Vipond,

“Rams need to be athletes, not couch potatoes. The cost of the ram per lamb produced is around £4 on many farms but this could be as low as £2 if rams lived longer and served 100 ewes a year.”

Funded by the Scottish Government, through its “Success through Knowledge” campaign, the programme included presentations by a range of SAC researchers covering how nutrition affects breeding rams and the selection of rams for efficiency, production and lamb survival. Other topics presented were tail docking, chicory as an alternative feed and eating quality.

Invited farmers also explained their own experience of selling rams, debating the pros and cons of what can be on offer at major sales or on farm auctions. New Zealander Murray Rohloff, a ram breeder from South Island, urged UK shepherds to demand rams that offered real flock improvement traits and forget big heads and bulk. He sympathised with UK ram breeders who had tried to sell lean fit rams but found no buyers.   

Those attending the workshop agreed commercial flockmasters need more information on the dangers of buying over fat, “soft”, rams and alternative approaches to ram selection.  The proposed publication will address those issues. 

For a taste of what the workshop was about, please view PDFs of the some of the presentations.

Free living nematodes (FLN) are becoming a major problem for potato growers. Populations of the tiny, thread-like creatures are expected to increase due to climate change and the removal of approved “nematicide” chemical controls. They feed on potato roots, causing direct damage and reducing yields and quality. They also indirectly transmit Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV).

Research Nematologist Dr. Andy Evans is SAC’s representative on the team. By assessing the damage FLN feeding causes to the roots of selected commercial potato varieties in field trials they will evaluate new control strategies and study the effects on tuber quality and virus transmission. In parallel, molecular markers will be developed to help in the breeding of new, TRV-resistant, varieties.

Supported by the Potato Council because of its importance to the GB potato industry the research is led by Cygnet Potato Breeders Ltd.  Other members are McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, PepsiCo International, DuPont, The Cooperative Farms, Eden Research, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, SCRI, Plant Health Care UK Ltd, Tozer Seeds Ltd, Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd.

£13.5m of the package is from Government through bodies like the Technology Strategy Board and BBSRC. 

Organised in conjunction with industry development body, the Potato Council, they are:

• Thursday, 22nd July, Luffness Mains, Aberlady, E. Lothian. EH32 0PZ
• Tuesday, 27th July, Gilchorn, Inverkeillor, Arbroath. DD114UP
• Wednesday, 28th July, Sauchenloan, Fishford, Colpy, Aberdeenshire. AB51 8YP

and will feature field demonstrations and discussion on a range of topical industry issues. Much of the information available at “Potatoes in Partnership” is the result of Scottish Government-funded research and development programmes for potatoes and presented through SAC’s ‘Success through Knowledge’ campaign.

The three Potatoes in Partnership events are true to their name. They represent a partnership between host farmers and the researchers, who themselves work in partnership across different research institutions. In addition to SAC there will be speakers from SCRI and Scottish Government scientists.  SAC’s strong relationship with the Potato Council also helps underpin a well-respected series of meetings.

At each of the host farms there will be morning and afternoon sessions, offering busy farmers and their staff the maximum opportunity to come along. The short, sharp, focussed discussions, led by SAC experts, will cover the latest research results on blight and potato cyst nematode. There will be sessions on biosecurity, aphid and virus control, powdery scab and the latest diagnostic testing techniques. With seed a major input cost, information on optimising seed rates will offer help over requirements to optimise crop output.  There will be a strong emphasis this year on the financial effectiveness of crop protection decision-making.

Organiser Stuart Wale of SAC expressed his gratitude for the co-operation given by the host farmers, Allan Stevenson of Luffness Mains, Aberlady; Guy Stirling, Gilchorn, Inverkeillor and Ian Cruikshank of Sauchenloan, Fishford, Colpy. He also stressed the interactive nature of the three events.

“These are not events where you just come and listen. The best way to learn new things is through discussion and debate, based on experience. That way the researchers get feedback on research as much as the growers hear about new techniques. It has worked well in the past and we believe it will work well again this year.”

Anyone wishing to attend should contact Drummond Todd (Potato Council) on 0131 472 4062 or Sandra Chalmers (SAC) on 01224 711080.

Dominic specialises in policy analysis and environmental and resource economics in both developed and developing countries. His personal award of a Chair in Environmental Economics recognises his outstanding achievements in research, scholarship, leadership and engagement with research users.

The citation delivered at the ceremony explained that:

“We are facing some huge challenges in society today including ensuring global food security, coping with climate change and dealing with the immense pressure on our natural resources. Dominic Moran’s area of expertise is highly relevant to these challenges and, indeed, his work is contributing significantly to national and international policy in these areas.”

Professor Moran’s research focuses on applying economics to environmental management and bringing together experts from different branches of the natural and social sciences to tackle resource allocation problems.  He and his colleagues work mainly on what are known as ‘public goods’ from agriculture and rural land use.  This includes studying the demand for, and supply of, environmental amenity, clean air and water, biodiversity, and animal welfare.

According to his citation:

“Researchers are often rewarded in their careers for becoming ever more specialised in their chosen discipline.  However, many of the huge challenges we face need research that brings together experts from several disciplines to work on solutions. Dominic has done more than anyone to stimulate this type of research in SAC and with our research partners in Scotland and beyond.”

He recently led well-received work for the UK Committee on Climate Change involving SAC, the Macaulay Institute, Pareto Consulting, Aberdeen and Cranfield Universities. It identified technologies and farming, forestry and land use practices most likely to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. The results have been used nationally and internationally, by economists, scientists and policy makers.  It has established Dominic and SAC as leaders in the area.

Recently this project won the research category of the prestigious ‘Green Gown’ awards for universities and colleges across the UK.

This event is open to all.

The show includes competition for ponies, horses, cattle, sheep, dairy goats, poultry, alpacas, shepherds' crooks, horse shoeing, young farmers stock judging and industrial arts, with over five hundred open classes. There are approximately 250 trade stands including farm machinery, crafts and gifts, motor vehicles, clothing, equestrian goods, food outlets and furniture retailers. There is also a special countryside area, the ‘Flavours of the Borders’ food fair, a children's fun fair, catering and bars.  SAC will be exhibiting at this event. 

Issues for discussion at this meeting will be-

• Utilising hill and upland grazing
• Update on rotational grazing systems- cattle and sheep
• Sheep management post weaning
• Nitrogen fertiliser issues
• Coping with a difficult year- options to minimise feed shortages this winter

SAC runs training courses and hosts exams for all people wishing to become suitably qualified (An SQP is a Suitably Qualified Person and is allowed to prescribe and/or supply certain medicines (those classified POM-VPS and NFA-VPS) for farm animals, horses, and pets).