Rural Britain is a wonderful assortment of farms, estates, hamlets, villages, forests and moors, lochs and valleys. Our stunning scenery, close communities and wonderful rural businesses provide an idyllic lifestyle for many, but rural life can also throw up some pretty unique challenges.
The Rural Scene (the Scene & Herd rural blog and news updates) looks at what’s new, what’s relevant, what’s tasty, what’s fun and what’s challenging about life in the Great British Countryside. We offer an insider insight into rural Britain, highlighting some of the exceptional people, businesses and innovations we believe that everybody should know about.
It has long been the subject of science fiction, latterly morphing into various predictions, promises and prototypes, but now the wait is over. Farmers and contractors in Scotland and the north of England now have the chance to put full scale, autonomous tractors to work in their own fields. The AgBot 5.115T2, a 156hp dual tracked autonomous tractor, capable of a multitude of field tasks using standard PTO powered and draft implements, is now available to buy from Angus based precision farming specialists, SoilEssentials.
READ MORENetworking. The word brings me out in a cold sweat. The idea of sidling up to people I don’t know, and who already look happy in the conversation they are having, makes me feel awkward and rude. I even once went to a workshop which taught people how to sidle up in the most polite way possible. I still felt stupid!
READ MORELast week’s OnFARM podcast focused on encouraging rural businesses to share their stories of how they have helped communities and landscapes flourish, as nominations for the Helping It Happen Awards 2022 remain open. The Awards, run by Scottish Land & Estates, are now in their sixth year, again focusing on the key aim of recognising the role of estates, farms and rural businesses in enabling and supporting success in rural areas and helping rural Scotland to thrive.In the podcast, Sarah-Jane Laing, SLE Chief Executive, highlighted that not only are the awards a superb source of motivation for businesses and their teams, but also that past winners have seen increases in turnover since winning – reason enough to enter surely?!
READ MORE"If we had lost this show, I would have presumed I was jinxed - but, all being well, we're looking at a barnstormer". RHASS Chairman Bill Gray has been sharing his thoughts and feelings ahead of the 200th Royal Highland Show this June. Bill's chairmanship has been a rollercoaster ride through the Covid period, but he looks set to end his tenure on a high.
READ MOREMembers of a Danish farmers co-operative experienced a packed 3-day tour of the Angus potato industry recently. The delegates were members of KMC, a cooperative owned by potato farmers from throughout Denmark who specialise in growing 30,000ha of potatoes for starch production. They enjoyed a packed itinerary organised and hosted by SoilEssentials, the Forfar based precision farming technology company.
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Anna Davies: Email: anna@sceneandherdpr.co.uk
Ross (Monty) Montague: Email: monty@sceneandherdpr.co.uk
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