We are at Dornie hall, talking to clerks and committee members about the issues they face when trying to run the common grazing, especially when it comes to finances.  Firstly, we talk with Finlay Beaton from the Crofting Commission, about the problems that they deal with and the solutions for clerks. Finlay also has the advantage of having worked with RPID, so also understands the grant and subsidy systems.  Arthur Macdonald adds his take from years of running finance training, working with...

Don’t miss out on the current schemes which boost income and improve animal and soil health! We discuss the PSF scheme, the future of subsidy, recent changes to the Croft House Grant and what we should all do now to prepare for the 2025 change.  We cover:   What the term ‘conditionality’ means PSF Animal Health & Welfare Eligibility How to carry out and how to claim Benefits of animal health  Soil sampling   Carbon audits What do we know so far What is Just Transition What are the...

Crofting legislation is fairly complicated and its no different when it comes to succession! Brian Inkster, well-known crofting law specialist, takes us through different scenarios and highlights what to watch out for when it comes to passing on a croft.   We cover:   Terminology such as Executor, Testate and Intestate  Wills and witness signatures  Procedure for a Straightforward tenancy with a will in place  Moveable items  Confirmation  Docket  Splitting a croft to leave to different...

It might not sound that interesting, but, especially these days, understanding what you can and should be doing with accounts and tax is important to save unnecessary expense and keep within the law. Margi Campbell, an expert in tax and vat, gives some insight into what crofters can do to improve their finances. It’s a confusing topic, but in this podcast we chat about the different terms, and what they mean in practice for crofters who are self-employed or employed, or vat registered or...

The Crofting Commission has recently started accepting online applications through their website for some of their crofting regulatory applications. In this episode, Siobhan Macdonald and Graham Fraser discuss which applications can now be completed online, how to go about completing them, what the benefits are of doing applications online over paper forms, and where you can access help.   Linked FAS...

Getting a croft isn't easy, whether you are new to agriculture or have been working in crofting all your days. In this episode, Siobhan Macdonald and Graham Fraser discuss how to get a croft, types of tenure, what to be aware of and how to keep a croft.    We cover:   How much does a croft cost?  What is the difference between assignation of a tenancy and buying an owner occupied croft?  Financing the purchase Responsibilities and duties of a crofter Avoiding becoming landlord of a vacant...

Selling livestock this autumn and winter? We have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding and store cattle and sheep. Sarah and Siobhan discuss the current beef and sheep markets and tips on presentation. Siobhan also speaks to John William Gillies of the North Rasaay Sheep Stock Club, who discusses how they batch lambs at the mart, and the popular Portree sale of store calves.  For...

If you are a new crofter, or new to buying livestock, we have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding cattle and sheep.  Sarah and Siobhan discuss disease risk, how to bid, different terms used, buying in guineas, how the auction mart works, and how to prepare.  Linked FAS resources:  New Entrants Guide to Buying and Selling at the Mart Practical Guide -...

No matter the size of your herd, choosing the correct suckler replacements is important to ensure yearly, trouble free calvings and avoid nights spent calving or coaxing calves that refuse to suckle! Or worse, pets! 

Crofting regulation, which covers what you can do with your croft land and how, is a tricky subject, full of acronyms and references to various Acts of Parliament.  For most crofters, the day-to-day croft work is unaffected by legislation.  It’s often only when crofts change that attention to the legislation is needed.  In this podcast, we discuss some of the most common scenarios.  Is there anything you need to do now or be prepared for?  Linked FAS resources:  Webpage on succession planning...

Growing Grass    How can we make the best use of our grassland?  What is the difference between rotational, mob, deferred and set stocking?  What are the benefits of liming?     For many crofters, low soil pH and rushes reduce the productivity of grassland.  In this episode, Poppy Frater discusses how to control rushes, increase growth of better grasses, reseeding, soil health and fertilisers.  

With many Crofters across Scotland currently putting their bulls out, it is a good time to consider your current bull management practices. From pre-breeding examinations and diet, to the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme, Crofting Matters discusses key points for Crofters to be thinking about with Sarah Balfour. Sarah works out of the SAC Elgin office and is a Beef Consultant for the SAC Livestock Team.  As well as running an upland commercial suckler herd, Sarah and her family also have...