17 October 04
Vintage Tractor Ploughing Match - Results & Pictures
Saturday 16 October 2004
 The
overall champion and Caithness champion was Graeme Mackay, Buldoo.
The day stayed dry although threatened from time to time to turn to rain
as it had earlier in the week. From those earlier downpours the
ground was heavy but the competitors proved that these old tractors can
still do the job when combined with skilled ploughmen.
15 June 04
Tug O War Success
 Halkirk
Young Farmers' Tug of War teams enjoyed a double success at the
Royal Highland Show eliminations at Cornhill Games on Saturday
5th June. The boys and girls teams both won their respective
competitions and now go forward to represent the North Region at
the Royal Highland show on Saturday 26th June, at Ingliston.
15
June 04
'TARGETED BEEF ENVELOPE PAYMENTS' - GIBSON
SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands Rob Gibson as a committee
member has welcomed the Environment and Rural Development Committee
report on the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy that was
published this week. However Committee member Mr. Gibson says that
the Scottish Executive must to go to Brussels to ensure that National
Beef Envelope payments are more targeted at those in rural and remote
areas who most need help.
Mr. Gibson said……
"I agree with the concerns of the committee, there is nothing set in
place that will guarantee that the payments from the scheme will go to
those who need it most and I strongly urge the Minister to clarify this
point with the EU commission and make sure that the money goes to those
remote and island communities which deserves it."
22 May 04
SNP Attack Finne Over EU Demands To End Livestock
Improvement Scheme
"Finnie should back crofters and face down EU state aid rules threat" -
GIBSON & MATHER
Highlands and Island SNP MSPs Rob Gibson and Jim Mather are calling for
Ross Finnie to protect crofters, instead of trying to intimidate them with
the threat of a possible EU clawback of cash for the Crofters Commission
bull hire scheme. Said Rob Gibson...'Deputy Environment Minister
Allan Wilson claimed in Wednesday night's debate that 'categorical' legal
advice from DEFRA threatens to end the 103 year-old Livestock Improvement
Scheme as he claims it break EU state aid rules.
13 May 04
EW CATTLE BREED ARRIVAL IN CAITHNESS
 A
new cattle breed arrived in Caithness this week, with the birth of two
French Bazadaise (pronounced. Baz A Day) cross calves. The calves were
born within 24 hours of each other at Achalone, Halkirk under the
watchful eyes of Isobel Mackenzie and Alistair Sutherland. The calves
were after the Bazadaise AI Bull Polux. The calves weighed in at a
healthy 38kg.
13 May 04
Kenneth Sutherland Takes
Top Award
Halkirk Young Farmers Club held their Summer Stockjudging at the
following venues–
Messrs Manson , Skaill, Messrs Ronaldson, Westerseat and Messrs Gunn,
Carsgoe. Official Judges over the two evenings were Mr Johnnie
Campbell, Mr Charles Angus and Mr Don Miller.
27 April 04
Serious Money for Cereal Ambitions
Food and industrial organisations, using grain in innovative ways in
their production process, are being offered the opportunity to apply for
up to £50,000 Enterprise Award funding from Home-Grown Cereals Authority
(HGCA). They will join previously successful companies including a
producer of dog treats, a group of brewers exporting beer to Italy, and
a grain trader investigating the use of straw-based fuel pellets for
power stations. All of these have been awarded significant sums for
product development or marketing by HGCA.
The money has been awarded to the companies as part of the HGCA
Enterprise Awards, a scheme designed to encourage new and innovative
ways of using UK cereals and oilseeds. Launched on April 13th, the
latest round of applications offers funding of between £5,000 and
£50,000 to finance most aspects of developing new products and markets,
from the planning and research stages right through to public launches
and promotional campaigns. Companies can benefit from marketing and
business support in addition to the cash award. The initial application
form, which can be found on the HGCA Enterprise website
www.hgca.com/enterprise is simple to fill out and
only takes a matter of minutes.
Julian Gibbons, Chairman of HGCA's Market Development Committee said: "I
would urge anybody using, or considering using, UK-grown grain to
seriously think about applying for a HGCA Enterprise Award. In addition
to the potential financial support, previous winners have benefited from
the free marketing and public relations provided.
“Both the quantity and quality of applications for Enterprise Awards
have risen over the past few years, and the projects funded are using
considerable additional amounts of grain. “ Further information on the
awards can be obtained from Charlotte Smethurst by e mail
charlotte.smethurst@hgca.com
or by telephone on 0207 520 3927
19 April 04
A Future For Farming And Crofting
 Sweeping proposals
were published on 19th April 2004 which could help safeguard the future
of farming and crofting communities in one of the most remote parts of
Great Britain. The conclusions are contained in an extensive report
commissioned by The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust to examine the
decline of farming and crofting in Caithness. Uncertainty hanging over
the future of sustainable farming and crofting, the fall in farm incomes
over the years and the changes taking place across the agricultural
industry prompted the Trust to initiate the study which was carried out
by the Arkleton Institute for Rural Development Research at the
University of Aberdeen, North Highland College, Thurso and Sahbal Mor
Ostaig, Skye.
29 March 04
HIGHLAND COUNCIL AGREES POLICY ON WASTE FOOD
AND FALLEN STOCK
New regulations affecting the disposal
of animal by-products will come into effect
in the Highlands on Thursday (1 April). Over
the past few months, representatives of The
Highland Council's Technical, Environment
and Community Services have been contacting
affected businesses to explain the impact of
the regulations and offer advice as to
alternative means of disposal. The
regulations target concerns about possible
sources of diseases such as BSE, CJD,
Salmonella, and Foot and Mouth Disease and
aim to protect public health and animal
health by controlling the treatment and
disposal of animal by-products. A wide
range of businesses are affected by the
Regulations including farms,
slaughterhouses, rendering plants, knackers'
yards, food manufacturers, catering outlets,
butchers, fish processors/mongers and food
retailers.
16 February 04
Ploughing Match - Lynegar Farm, Watten
North & West Caithness Ploughing Association's 15th Annual Ploughing
Match at Lynegar Farm, Watten. A new trophy, presented in memory
of the late Billy Henderson, Castletown, was presented to the best
junior. It went to Graeme Mackay, Buldoo. He is pictured after being
presented with the trophy by two of Billy's grandchildren - Lisa
Campbell and Craig Manson. All the trophy winners pictured after the
presentation with James Barnetson Jnr (back row centre) who presented
the prizes
16 February 04
Barn Fire At Halkirk
Farm
 About 11.15pm hours on Saturday, 14
February, 2004 a fire was discovered within
a Dutch barn at Buckies Farm, Halkirk. Three
units from Highlands and Islands Fire
Brigade attended. The barn and its
contents were completely destroyed. As a
result of the fire a 62 year old man was
treated at hospital for the effects of smoke
inhalation but was later released.
There are no suspicious circumstances and
enquiries are continuing into the cause of
the fire.
12 February
04
Common Agricultural Policy Reforms
The Executive today announced its key decisions on how the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform will be implemented in Scotland.
Ministers describe the proposed changes as the most radical reforms to
agricultural policy for more than a generation that will place the
future back in the hands of farmers, reduce the reliance on subsidy and
reduce the bureaucracy.
10 February 04
New Consultant for SAC's Thurso Office
 New Farm Business
Consultant, John Morgan joined the staff of SAC's Thurso Office in
January. Together with Bob Tosh, he will provide technical and business
advice to farmers and crofters in the area. John, who is the son
of a Denbighshire sheep and beef farmer, graduated recently from the
University of Wales where he gained an honours degree in agriculture. In
2003 he was a finalist in ADAS Pinnacle 'Awards of Excellence' in
Business Management, a competition, which is run buy the Farmers Club
and the Cave Foundation and which aims to stimulate and encourage an
innovative approach to business management.
Archived Caithness Farming Items 2005
Archived Caithness Farming Items 2004
Archived Caithness Farming Items 2003
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18 July 04
Caithness County Show 2004
7 July 04
Busy Two Weeks For Caithness Young Farmers
Caithness Young Farmers have had an eventful two weeks, starting with
the County Clipping held at Quarryside, Castletown
24 June 04
DO
YOU REALLY WANT TO USE YOUR SINGLE FARM
PAYMENT TO SUBSIDISE YOUR FARMING?
Scotland’s farmers must make full use of
the opportunities created by the new single
payment system or face being left behind by
their peers, according to industry expert
Peter Cook. That is the message the
former head of the Scottish Agricultural
College’s rural business unit will give when
he addresses farmers at the Royal Highland
Show on Thursday 24 June. “Of course
there will be winners and losers under the
new system, but it is important that people
understand how to make the most of the
alterations. “Due to the
implementation of the Single payment system,
farmers will be free from the restrictions
and ties of the current subsidy regime. This
will in turn allow them to re-design systems
to offer better efficiency or completely
restructure their businesses.
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Farming In The North Of Scotland
