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SHOWS & EVENTS
WINTER 2011 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
4
AgriScot 2011 enjoyed its biggest turnout yet this year, with some 9,000 visitors descending on the Royal
Highland Centre at the showground in Edinburgh.
AgriScot 2011
- 16th November
Once again the XLVets stand was on hand to
provide the throng of showgoers with expert
knowledge and advice as well as arming
them with the skills of heat detection, loading
an AI gun and making a halter from a single
piece of rope.
Enjoying a more prominent pitch this year
ensured a steady stream of interested visitors
and willing volunteers for the challenges
throughout the day and many of the XLVets
members were able to catch up with clients at
the show as well as forging links with new
farmers and businesses alike.
As well as promoting XLVets to a diverse
audience north of the border, FarmSkills were
also on hand to offer advice on upcoming
courses and training, skilfully assisted by an
impressive stilt-walking juggler, who literally
stood out from the crowd and drew people to
the stand, ensuring a busy day was had by all.
Thanks to all those who helped out on the
stand including Neil Laing and Trevor Hamilton
from Clyde, Adam Montgomerie from
Kingsway, Colin Lindsay from Capontree,
Mervyn Drever from Ardene, Ed Hewitt from
Armour and Helen Miles from FarmSkills.
The scheme aims to help businesses to
become more profitable, whilst reducing
the impact of farming on the environment.
£20m is available under FFIS until
December 2013; grants are available for
capital items. 40% grants are available to
farmers in non upland areas (up to 50% in
upland areas).
Farmers, foresters, woodland owners,
agricultural contractors and horticulturalists
can apply for grants of between £2,500
and £25,000 to invest in green projects,
new machinery and improvements to animal
health and welfare so their businesses can
grow in an environmentally friendly way.
The Farming and Forestry Improvement
Scheme will fund projects that:
l
save energy and reduce carbon
emissions;
l
reduce dependence on artificial fertilizers
through better use of manures;
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improve soil quality;
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improve animal health and welfare;
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save and recycle water; and
l
promote woodland management by
processing timber more efficiently.
£20 MILLION FOR FARMING AND FORESTRY BUSINESSES
A new £20 million fund to help farming, forestry and horticultural businesses
to become more efficient at using resources has been launched.
For more information go to
http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/
funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-
improvement-scheme.
Dairy Event & Livestock Show
2011
It was another great year for FarmSkills at the Dairy Event and Livestock
Show - a huge thanks to all XLVet members who donned the green t-shirts
again and helped train show-goers how to set up an AI gun, look for
signs of heat in cattle and assess colostrum quality. It was great to see
many farmers at the event who have already been on a FarmSkills
training course and looking for details of future courses.