News

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Food production, climate change and biodiversity ‘vital’ in Scotland’s future agricultural support regime

23 Jun 2022
Press Release

Fifty per cent of future farming subsidies should be ‘unconditional’ in order to maintain food security and thriving production in Scotland. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, today published an update to its #Route2050 ‘On Track for Rural Scotland’ strategy at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh. The document...

Early payment of farm support welcomed

17 Jun 2022
Press Release

Early payment of farm support has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. The Scottish Government has announced that it was introducing a revised timetable for payments in response to the inflationary pressures being felt by food producers. Stephen Young, Head of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Farming businesses have been...

Two new directors at Scottish Land & Estates

2 Jun 2022
Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has appointed two new members to its board of directors. Laura Warrender and Michael Dunglass have taken up the positions following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, held virtually on 31 May. Laura is a partner of Minuntion in South Ayrshire, a hill farm and sporting estate which includes tourism and...

Muirburn vital to Scottish land management

30 May 2022
Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has responded to the latest unverified claims regarding the use of muirburn by land managers. Tim Baynes, Moorland Director, Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The controlled burning of heather, or Muirburn, is a long-established land management tool that is supported by government...

Tough legislation long overdue to tackle flytipping scourge

25 May 2022
Press Release

Tougher penalties for flytipping offenders and increased protection for victims contained in proposed legislation is welcome and long overdue, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation has submitted its consultation response for a proposed Member’s Bill in the Scottish Parliament brought forward by Scottish...

Scottish stakeholders call on Scottish Government to bring forward payment schedule to recognise cash flow concerns

25 May 2022
Press Release

Key organisations committed to the viability of Scottish agriculture and all that it underpins have written to the Scottish Government to express concerns over the impact that the unprecedented cost inflation is having, calling on it to bring forward crucial support payments to ease growing cash flow concerns. The letter to Cabinet...

Houses let via tenanted farms 'require bespoke rural solutions'

17 May 2022
Press Release

Regulating houses let as part of agricultural holdings through private rented sector legislation instead could lead to intractable problems for farming businesses, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation held its annual conference in Edinburgh today which a focus on rural Scotland’s housing stock. The Scottish...

Rural solutions needed to solve Scotland’s rural housing crisis

17 May 2022
Press Release

Landowners have appealed to help resolve Scotland’s rural housing crisis – and asked government to knock down the barriers that exist in providing new and existing homes. Scottish Land & Estates, which held its annual conference in Edinburgh today, said population decline and government ambition to improve rural housing will not be...

Organisations warn Scotland's private rented sector jeopardised by tenancy reforms

5 May 2022
Press Release

Three organisations have written a joint open letter to the Scottish Government warning that the supply of homes for rent – particularly in rural Scotland - may be irreparably damaged by proposed new legislation. Scottish Land & Estates, the Scottish Association of Landlords and NFU Scotland said tenancy proposals contained within the...

Post-Brexit agriculture announcement welcomed

29 Apr 2022
Press Release

The latest update on the shape of post-Brexit subsidy support for Scotland’s agricultural sector is welcome, but further clarity is needed soon from the Scottish Government, says a leading membership organisation for rural businesses. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), whose diverse membership includes farmers, land managers, and rural...