Ben was about the poorest sheepdog around, and I can say that from pretty close observation as he was the shepherd’s dog on my father’s farm.

Six projects aimed at educating and informing Scottish children about farming and food have been awarded a total of £30,000 in the first distributions from NFU Scotland’s Centenary Trust.

Another five million chickens of those produced annually in Scotland will appear on the supermarket shelves of retailing giant Tesco following its decision to only source fresh chicken from this country for its 194 Scottish stores.

In NORMAL times, this is the changeover period in the sheep trade, with the supply of hoggs from the previous year drying up and new lambs coming on to the market.

Pig and poultry producers need to be more straightforward, honest and open about animal welfare if they are to encourage shoppers to choose British food over cheaper imports.

So FAR so good but watch out in the future was the message from the NFUS yesterday after it reported no positive samples in a survey as to whether the Schmallenberg virus had entered Scottish dairy farms.

Although sympathetic to a plea from NFU Scotland for a relaxation in grazing rules for agri-environment schemes, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead yesterday warned any such move might infringe strict European rules.

Details emerged yesterday on how the £2 million promised in February by rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead would be distributed to new entrants and deer farmers, both of whom are currently excluded from single farm payment support (SFP).

TENNENT’S maker C&C Group is preparing to launch its flagship lager into overseas markets including India, while freezing prices at home and introducing a beer aged in whisky casks.

There is nothing particularly sporting about it but the Olympic podium model for providing future subsidies looks the best option for specialist Scottish beef producers, according to Scottish Rural College beef specialist Douglas Bell.

MOVES in Brussels that would fund short-term supply problems in the milk sector in Europe were yesterday attacked by both Scottish and English NFUs as only adding to bureaucracy and helping competitors.

RECENT milder weather has handed a much-needed boost to Britain’s biggest pub landlord after the freezing winter kept drinkers away and drove half-year sales 4.2 per cent lower.

THERE was unanimous support for only one issue yesterday at the EU Agricultural Council yesterday and that was a need to have all the main bones of the next common agricultural policy (CAP) settled by the end of June when the Irish will lose the council presidency.

Sheep producers have been slow to commit to using performance recording as a method of improving their financial returns but one of the enthusiasts for using breeding figures yesterday claimed that there could be a bonus of around £1,000 per ram from doing so.

YOU would think it was the best job in the world spending £1 billion – but being cabinet secretary and having the next Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) cash to distribute is a veritable minefield.

The best way to secure a future for the Scottish dairy industry is to look at increasing marketing options according to NFU Scotland in their response to a Scottish Government review into the sector.

The Scottish red meat industry has made its presence keenly felt in Hong Kong this week at HOFEX, the largest food and hospitality trade show in Asia-Pacific.

With less than a fortnight to go before May term rents have to be agreed, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) has urged tenants not to feel pressurised into agreeing last-minute demands for “unreasonable” rent increases.

The latest bullish cereal production predictions for 2013 produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)did not dent confidence in grain trading futures yesterday with markets remaining at previous levels.

FALLING prices due to a global increase in salmon supply hit sales and profits at Marine Harvest’s Scottish operations.