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Archive 2003

23 November 03
Ploughing Match Stanstill - Pictures

Review of the Crofters etc Building Grants and Loans Scheme (CBGLS) 2003
Consultation Paper

21 October 03
Caithness district Young Farmers Cattle & Sheep Dressing Competitions
Caithness District Young Farmers recently held their cattle and sheep dressing competitions at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae by kind permission of Aberdeen & Northern Marts.  Five teams took part in the cattle dressing, which saw James Barnetson and Stuart Mackay (Bower) take home the Stainland Shield for winning the senior competition......

21 Oct 03
HIGHLAND COUNCIL MOVES TOWARDS OPPOSING COMMERCIAL GROWING OF GM CROPS
The Highland Council is being increasingly pointed towards opposing the commercial growing of Genetically Modified Crops.  This is the view of Councillor Richard Durham, Chairman of the Council’s Land and Environment Select Committee, who has asked the matter to be debated when his committee meets next on Thursday 6 November.  Councillor Durham made his comments after noting the results of the biggest environmental-impact study of GM crops anywhere in the world, which indicated that the cultivation of GM crops – such as oilseed rape – reduces biodiversity in wildlife compared to their conventional equivalents................ Coop Stores Ban GM Food

15 October 03
Agricultural Census Full Results

13 October 03
Wage Increase For Agricultural Workers
The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board today confirmed that, as it had received no written representations against its proposals, there would be a 5.5 % wage increase for agricultural workers in Scotland from 1 January 2004.

Details of the award are as follows:
For adult workers in the first 10 weeks of employment a rate of not less than £4.55 per hour.  For adult workers employed for more than 10 weeks a rate of not less than £5.00 per hour.

Equivalent increases will be made in all other rates including the Dog Allowance, which will be increased to £3.80 per week for each of up to 4 dogs.

The additional sum payable to workers with appropriate qualifications will be £0.75 per hour.

The Board also confirmed the modification of the multiplier for overtime as 1.5 times the minimum hourly rate applicable while conserving the current overtime rates paid to those workers in employment on 31 December 2003.

A new Wages Order will come into effect on Thursday January 1, 2004.

The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is constituted under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949. It is an autonomous body and comprises 17 members, 6 representing the interests of employers nominated by the NFU Scotland and the Scottish Landowners’ Federation, 6 representing the interests of workers nominated by the T&G Scotland, and 5 independent members appointed by Scottish Ministers one of whom one is designated Chairman.

10 September 03
Provisional results from Agricultural Census
The Executive today issued provisional results from the June 2003 Agriculture Census. These provisional results indicate that, compared with June 2002:-
* There has been little overall change in the number of cattle and in the number of sheep.
* The total number of pigs has fallen by seven per cent, from five hundred and twenty six thousand to four hundred and eighty nine thousand.
* The total poultry flock fell by five per cent to around 15 million.
* There was little change in the area of barley (down one per cent), but the area of wheat fell by ten per cent. The area of oilseed rape rose by sixteen per cent.
* The total number of regular staff employed fell by three per cent but casual and seasonal staff levels rose slightly.

11 August 03
Harvest 2003

29 July 03
Scottish Executive Report
On The Costs Of Foot & Mouth

22 July 03
Future of Farming Following CAP Reform

19 July 03
Caithness County Show 2003 - 258 Pictures

15 July
New Mart Opens On the Edge Of Dingwall

Dingwall & Highland Marts opened their new Mart on the edge of Dingwall.  Captain Roderick Stirling, Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh opened the mart on 15 July 2003.   A huge crowd representing farmers in the Highlands turned out for the opening.   The new mart is built on ground which was part of Humberston farm the whole of which the mart bought to provide not only the mart but significant grazing for animals from all over the Highlands and Orkney.  An inaugural show was held with some superb cattle on show.   The first sale takes place on Wednesday 16 July 2003 when over 1600 cattle are already booked into the sale.  Dingwall has been a mart town for almost 120 years with the first two centres established in 1884.

12 July 2003
Latheron Show 2003 Pictures

7 July 03
New funding for green farming Farmers and crofters share in funding worth £23.6 million to support wildlife conservation.

26 June 03
European CAP reform Confirmed
The most radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in over a decade.

16 June 03
GM Food The Public Debate
UK government site asking for your views by 18 July 2003

16 June 03
2003 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme: Quotas
Notification of Permanent Transfer or Lease of Quota
Forms must be completed and returned to the Department BEFORE the date on which the Department receives a 2003 premium claim from the recipient of the quota.
producers who wish to transfer or lease in quota must ensure that the transfer or lease notification is received by the Department NO LATER than the date the Department receives the SCPS claim from the recipient of the quota.

21 May 03
Changes To Farm Tenancy Laws

19 May 03
Stock Judging At Caithness District Young Farmers
Caithness District Young Farmers held their Summer Stock Judging, judging dairy classes at Westerseat by kind permission of Mr Morris Ronaldson followed by beef and sheep classes at Reiss Lodge by kind permission of Mr Harry Gunn.  Mr Ian Gunn, Whitefield and Mr David Campbell, Bullechach were judges for the evening with 24 competitors judging the 4 classes.  The results were as follows:......................

11 May 03
Farm Skills Day At West Greenland
f you think young farmers come into the world with all the skills and knowledge think again.  Modern machinery and cost cutting mean that many farms work with one one or two men.   This recent skills course at West Greenland is one way of ensuring that young farmers learn the techniques and safe practices needed today...

1 April 03
CASE HELPS WITH PURCHASE OF COW BATH!
An innovative piece of agricultural machinery designed to assist in the treatment of sick or injured cattle is now available for hire in the far north, with help from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE).  G, E & A Mowat of Quoynee Farm near Halkirk have been awarded a business development grant worth £1,500 towards the purchase of an Aqua Cow Riser Tank, which can be hired out to vets and other farmers in the area through the Caithness Machinery Ring.  Farmers often have to deal with 'downer cows' - cattle which through sickness or injury are unable to get back on their own four feet themselves. 

25 March 03
CALUM THE CROFTER ENCOURAGES
YOUNG PEOPLE INTO CROFTING
A cartoon mascot enlisted by the Scottish Crofting Foundation to attract young people into crofting will make his debut on the organisation's revamped website today.  Cartoon character Calum the Crofter will have a starring role on the Foundation's new-look site - www.crofting.org   - which has been developed to generate more interest in crofting...................

25 March 03
Environmental Impact Assessment
The Executive today made the following environmental and agricultural announcements: Farmers and crofters planning to convert uncultivated or semi-natural land into intensive agricultural use this year were reminded of the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Uncultivated Land etc) (Scotland) Regulations 2002.   Environmental Impact Assessment is a procedure for considering and assessing the potential impact of land use change.  Further information is available from SEERAD Area Offices and Sub Offices. An application form, guidelines and other information for farmers and crofters can be accessed on www.scotland.gov.uk/agri/eia/default.asp

14 February 03
Ploughing Match Winners

Pictures by John Baikie photographer

13 February 03
Ploughing Match At Stemster Farm

Pic 1 Don Macleod from Strathburn in a Fordson / Cockshutt
( 2nd in class 6 Vintage Trailing )
Pic 2 Graeme Mackay from Buldoo, Dounreay  youngest competitor aged 13 in a T20 Ferg/Ferguson in class 5 Vintage Mounted.
Pic 3 Martin Munro from Halkirk in a Ferguson/Begg in class 5 Vintage Mounted
Photos www.mikebrunton.co.uk photographer

Archived Caithness Farming Items 2005
Archived Caithness Farming Items 2004
Archived Caithness Farming Items 2003

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