A flock of chickens forages in a grassy area. The group includes a variety of breeds, with some having white feathers and others displaying brown plumage. In the foreground, a brown hen stands out, while several white chickens are scattered around. The scene is set outdoors, with a blurred background of greenery

Winter 26 Newsletter

Key environmental considerations when poultry farming

Stephen Field, SEPA

Whether you are already a poultry farmer or thinking of becoming one, there are key…

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Consultant holding organic material in his hands in front of large pile or organic material.

Winter 26 Newsletter

Importing organic fertilisers onto your farm -what do you need to consider?

Stephen Field, SEPA

Farmers and businesses receiving materials to be spread on their land have a duty to…

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Burn in agricultural field, with grass verge with trees and bushes along the left hand side. Mountains in the far distance.

Winter 26 Newsletter

Water Environment – Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)

Alex Pirie, SAC Consulting

In Autumn 2025 Minister Jim Fairlie announced the return of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS),…

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Drone image of meander in burn. Showing sediment deposition on south west bend of burn. Either side of burn shows two good agricultural fiends currently at risk of erosion from burn.

Winter 26 Newsletter

Riverbank restoration – where to start

Alex Pirie, SAC Consulting

Last year, Farming and Water Scotland attended a meeting facilitated through Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service…

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Black slurry tank with grey roof on yard behind a hedge. Grass field behind tank.

Winter 26 Newsletter

What are the regulations regarding slurry storage capacity and design on farm?

Stephen Field, SEPA

Regulation history In 1991, the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland)…

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Flooded rural ground

Autumn 25 Newsletter

Working towards weatherproofing

Rebecca Audsley, SAC Consulting

Farmers have always worked with the weather, but we are seeing an increase in both…

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field midden

Autumn 25 Newsletter

Management of Farmyard Manure on farm

Stephen Field, SEPA

Farm yard manure (FYM) from livestock production has always been a valuable source of fertiliser,…

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river flowing through a rural location in Scotland on an Autumn afternoon

Autumn 25 Newsletter

Environmental authorisations in Scotland are changing

Andrew Wallace, SEPA

From 1 November 2025, the way many farming activities are regulated in Scotland is changing.…

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Pond in agricultural setting

Summer 25 Newsletter

Pond creations on farms

Harry Fisher, Ecological Consultant, SAC Consulting

Everyone loves a win-win, and when it comes to land management that can benefit biodiversity…

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potato crop in field

Summer 25 Newsletter

SAOS explores potato irrigation innovations

Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd.

SAOS have teamed up with the Scottish Potato Co-operative (SPC) to investigate water resource management.…

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Separated slurry

Summer 25 Newsletter

Slurry Separators

Craig Bothwell, SAC Consulting

Slurry separators can have many benefits such as improving the utilisation of slurry, increasing your…

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trailing shoe

Summer 25 Newsletter

A Recap on Ammonia in Agriculture

Freya Lance, SAC Consulting

Unlike carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, ammonia is not actually a greenhouse gas. So…

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Ann-Marie MacMaster Land Use and Nature-Based Solutions Project Officer with The River South Esk Partnership

Spring 25 Newsletter

Catchment Management Plans – why are they important?

Here Ann-Marie MacMaster, Land Use and Nature-Based Solutions Project Officer with The River South Esk Partnership explains more.

Catchment management plans bring together all aspects of the water environment. They take into account…

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hands feeling soil

Spring 25 Newsletter

Sustaining Scottish soils

Sarah Buckingham, SAC Consulting

The importance of soils Soils underpin all nature-based systems, therefore, are vital in supporting Scotland’s…

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Riverbank along River Teviot, with sustainable protection from erosion.

Spring 25 Newsletter

Sustainable solutions to bank erosion: how trees can help protect Scotland’s riverbanks

Helen Reid, SEPA

Scotland’s rivers are facing increasing challenges due to more frequent and intense flood events. As…

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