The Southern Reporter - Farming Feed

Ian aiming to promote region round the world

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:00:54 GMT

A former shooting manager for a top hotel has set up his own business in the Borders, offering rural sporting packages to visitors.

It’s never been an easy life for man ... or woman

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:47:45 GMT

It’s hardly surprising that things have changed in 170 years. But it is still a sobering thought that in 1841 one in four people in Britain were employed in farming, while now it is less than one in 100.

Land ownership ‘obsession’ is stalling best use progress

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:19:33 GMT

An ‘obsession’ with who owns the land rather than the best use of it halts progress, Buccleuch Estates’ boss told a seminar in Edinburgh last week.

Government £2million for new farmers

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:19:30 GMT

The Scottish Government announced £2million of funding for new entrants to agriculture, writes Sally Gillespie.

Furore over show cheats – Landlines by Halidon

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:17:41 GMT

Given some of the present serious problems for farming, ranging from weather and cash flow to cash flow and weather, it’s hard to know whether to laugh or cry over the recent furore about “showring cheats”.

The reasons why I will never, ever, be a llama farmer

Thu, 30 May 2013 08:28:35 GMT

Animals. You just gotta love ’em. Or do you? I think yes, if you’re a smallholder. It’s hard to get up at 5am, slog through the snow/mud/rain, open metal fasteners that stick to your fingers in the winter, break ice on water troughs and wrestle with doors that have frozen shut in the night for an animal you don’t love.

Market Prices

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:53:29 GMT

St Boswells

Thistledoo nicely says Alan to top ticket

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:43:50 GMT

The sheep interbreed champion at Monday’s Northumberland County Show is such a big Suffolk it’s difficult to coup her to trim her feet, joked her breeder and exhibitor Alan MacKinnon of Little Swinburn Farm Cottages, Coldstream.

Bids invited for £6M farmer financial aid

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:43:48 GMT

Farmers are being urged to take up the offer of financial help from the £6million weather aid announced earlier this month.

Schmallenberg vaccine expected by summer

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:48 GMT

Livestock farmers in the Borders will be able to vaccinate against the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) which causes birth defects in lambs and calves.

Tenants’ forum urged to be ‘constructive’

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:41 GMT

The Tenant Farming Forum (TFF) is best placed to come up with solutions to land tenure issues, says the Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) in its interim report out on Monday.

First schools countryside day ‘a success’ say organisers

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:33 GMT

Primary five schoolchildren from across the region went to their own special Border Union show - the first event of its kind - in Kelso on Tuesday.