Summer 26 Newsletter

Working together to improve fish passage in Scotland’s rivers

Pete Wright, SEPA

Across Scotland, more than 300 man-made barriers are currently preventing fish from reaching important breeding,…

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Summer 26 Newsletter

Poaching by Livestock – What is the 5 metre rule?

Nanette Blyth

(Image source: Melissa Irvine Photography) Livestock access to watercourses can lead to the loss of…

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Summer 26 Newsletter

Water Update Summer 2026

Fiona Salter

As I write we are approaching the end of June 2026, SEPA’s current water scarcity…

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Summer 26 Newsletter

Building Farm Resilience in an Unpredictable Climate

Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly frequent operational challenge. We were at Royal Highland Show recently, with a stellar panel of speakers to explore how farmers and land managers are securing access to water resources.

We heard how weather trends are predicted to change, with an increase in warmer, wetter…

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trailing shoe

Spring 26 Newsletter

Top Tips: Getting the most value from your slurry

Alex Pirie, SAC Consulting

Test before you spread Slurry nutrient content can vary widely between farms and even between…

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Spring 26 Newsletter

River basin management and nature-based solutions

Fiona Salter and Lorna Cole

River basin management plans (RBMPs) provide a framework to address environmental objectives outlined in Water…

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Spring 26 Newsletter

Silage Pit Preparation & Maintenance

Pete Wright, SEPA

With silage season approaching, it is essential to ensure your silage pit is in good…

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Yellow cart attached to tractor with seats transporting farmers to different locations on farm. Cart and tractor sitting on grass field with farmers inside.

Spring 26 Newsletter

Sustainable Management of Waterways

Rachel Smillie, Senior Land Management Advisor for Forth Rivers Trust and Partner in The Upper Forth Farmer and Land Manager Network.

In early March, the Upper Forth Farmer and Land Manager Network (UFN) collaborated with Farming…

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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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