[Rosemary]

Well, smallholdings now have their own page on the ScotGov website. http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/agricultural-holdings/Smallholdings

We also have access to a subscription to SAC Farm Advisory Service for £69 plus VAT a year. Click through the link at the top of the ScotGov page.

I'm not sure what some of the things you get for your subs are - Farmtext for example. Maybe some crofters on here that have used the service can tell us? [member=25668]oor wullie[/member] [member=28644]Hamish Crofter[/member]

I think I might sign up.

[Hamish Crofter]

I've not used it I'm afraid.......

[oor wullie]

I've not used it either.  In fact I don't know anything about it.

If you do sign up do report back to let us know what services you get and how worthwhile it is.

[Rosemary]

I've not used it either.  In fact I don't know anything about it.

If you do sign up do report back to let us know what services you get and how worthwhile it is.

I think that's what someone will have to do 

[oor wullie]

I've not used it either.  In fact I don't know anything about it.

If you do sign up do report back to let us know what services you get and how worthwhile it is.

I think that's what someone will have to do 

And I think you are the person best placed and with the best abilities to find out all we need to know and to share the information far and wide................

[PK]

Just looked at the link. 20,000 small holdings (est) in Scotland is quite a sizeable number of households.

[oor wullie]

There nearly 20 000 crofts in Scotland (although that doesn't mean there are 20 000 crofting households) so I can easily believe there are just as many small holdings.

An underrepresented demographic I would suggest.

[Cuddles]

Hi Rosemary,

I think I'm going to sign up for it - I'll probably give them a call later today.  I went down to the smallholders meeting they were running in the borders.  It was only a few hours but for a relative newbie it was still really useful (hopefully they will be rolling these type of events in other areas of scotland).
Part of the subs is upto 2 hrs of advice, I'm thinking that might be worth the subs alone. 

Even if I only keep it going for a year or so...

Cuddles

[Rosemary]

I'm also going to subscribe and have signed up for three events being held in Forfar.

[Anke]

I went down to the smallholders meeting they were running in the borders. 

Eh... when, where? Advertised where?

[Marches Farmer]

I wish there were something similar for those South of the Border.  It's something I've been grumbling to our vets about for years.  Apart from Red Tractor (quick, hide the broken feed trough, the inspector's here tomorrow) there's nothing to distinguish our stock, kept closed and to the highest possible standards, from anyone else's.

[Cuddles]

Eh... when, where? Advertised where?

Hi Anke, sorry I've only just seen your post... Have a look on the FAS website: https://www.fas.scot under the events section - you can even narrow it down by region. 
They are running a number of different sessions across the country.  I think the initial borders meeting was one of the first rolled out across the country - but I don't think they've held any subsequent meetings.  If you want I can PM you the email address of the people that were running it?

I've been to a few of the FAS events and they've been brilliant so far... and for a self confessed miserable scotsman thats high praise! 

Cuddles.

[Anke]

Eh... when, where? Advertised where?

Hi Anke, sorry I've only just seen your post... Have a look on the FAS website: https://www.fas.scot under the events section - you can even narrow it down by region. 
They are running a number of different sessions across the country.  I think the initial borders meeting was one of the first rolled out across the country - but I don't think they've held any subsequent meetings.  If you want I can PM you the email address of the people that were running it?

I've been to a few of the FAS events and they've been brilliant so far... and for a self confessed miserable scotsman thats high praise! 

Cuddles.

Thanks, will have a look.

[mjlawrie]

Hi All
I'm a consultant with SAC, so can let you know what you can get for your subsidised subscription.  Farmtext is a service that we have where we text out local meetings, updates (e.g. a reminder about deadline for basic payment forms, changes to cross compliance rules, greening regulations), etc.  You don't need to sign up for this service if you'd rather not get texts from us, but they are carefully selected and only sent out if we think something is of interest or is important. 

You can use the two hours of advice however you like, for example telephone advice for a quick query about sheep tagging, or an office visit for help with grant applications, grassland management, rations for livestock, soil results advice etc. 

I hope that helps!

Mary-Jane

[Rosemary]

I'm going to use my two free hours and my two cut price hours for my Small Farm Grant application