Steven Thomson

Travelling outside the UK? Help stop the spread of diseases like African swine fever and Foot and Mouth. Don’t bring restricted animal or plant products—including pork—into Scotland. Watch EPIC and Scotland’s Plant Health Centre’s animation: youtu.be/92y4gdX5-Ms

Changes to the 2026 EFA greening rules mean more farms will grow new crops for home‑grown dairy feed. This article looks at crop options that boost energy and protein, and why good grazing and feeding management is key to performance and animal health: fas.scot/article/nutrit…

What’s next for Community Wealth Building in Scotland? ✨ Our new study looks beyond pilots and the Bill to what already works in rural & island areas— and recommends accelerating local practice bit.ly/40QYy7V #CommunityWealthBuilding #RuralScotland #Island #NISRIE

@farmer_just Awesome pics

The night sky 🌙✨

📢Farmers and crofters! 📢 We've produced a blog to outline the latest increase in grant rates available to help you integrate trees into your business. Grab a cuppa and read on. 🌳🌳 forestry.gov.scot/news/why-trees…

@DavyMcCracken @talklandscape Lots of housing issue in rural and Island contexts raised in work in the @SGRESAS strategic research programme work by @SRUC at ruralexchange.scot. The 2023 report assessed housing affordability and 2025 report energy efficiency in rural and Island contexts.

Office for the day @talklandscape conference in Edinburgh

Thanks to @iaas_scotland for an excellent evening at @MurrayfieldStad celebrating the centenary of the institute

@armadalefarm Good effort

Normal service has resumed after a rough ten days of weather. The environmental grazing team are back in action. Bale out with the quad this morning to a new block that needs knocking back for ground nesting birds and waders. Loving the warmer temperatures to melt the snow.

Well done @LornaDawson15 👏 pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/692464…

@SRUC 2025 Rural & Island Insights report now published. @scotgov funded through @SGRESAS Strategic Research Programme - we offer novel insights on a wide range of topics affecting rural & island communities & businesses. @MairiGougeon @JimFairlieLogie ruralexchange.scot/nisrie/rural--…

Just announced today 🚜. Seems like protests and relentless pressure by member organisations has had impact @NFUStweets @ScotLandEstates gov.uk/government/new…

Draft 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 legislation removes the 75% grassland derogations for EFA (required if > 15ha of cropland & grass under 5 years). Introduces new options & amends existing ones. From 2027 area needed increases from 5% to 7%. New SSBSS derogation for small claims. legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2025/9780…

I heard a local Aussie talk about Oz having the most expensive food in the world - BUT $2:£1 reveals how cheap protien is here at supermarkets- remembering all their profit is from the market. Every 🐂 graded for meat eating and now exporting increasing volume to 🇨🇦. Lessons?

You travel across the globe and find fishermen & farmers have the same problems as home. Labour availability, lack of ocal workforce, cost inflation, consumer price squeeze. Suburbia expanding meaning rapid house price inflation and growth in 2nd homes in coastal communities

An interestimg read on the state of our oceans. A learning day for me for sure. marine.copernicus.eu/news/copernicu…

Interesting piece on beef from a butchers perspective by the "frustrated farmer". Some interesting trade offs discussed. youtu.be/W2qSBWkkuWg?si…

@NatureofScot @JamesHuttonInst @TheBotanics @SAMSoceannews Will diversionary feeding not supercharge the predator population long term that may impact the capercaillie in the future? Is this not similar to feeding deer to maintain numbers that then impact habitats? I hear that predator control (stoats) is reaping rewards 🐦‍⬛ in Orkney? 🤔

Makes for stark reading given how buoyant beef & sheep markets have been. As direct support disappears in England the consequences are clear - I suspect there is geographical pattern to these numbers too. Upland agriculture is tough at the best of times ahdb.org.uk/news/england-s…

Meanwhile..... foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/news/meq-camer…

@EdinvaleFarm 😁

To all you old buggers that keep wanging on about 1976 😂