Farm Life

While there may be a guaranteed income to be had from leasing land for a solar use, it is a long-term commitment with serious tax implications. Iain McVicar, of Albert Goodman, tells us more.

I write this on the day the twins have gone back to school. It is school, but not as we knew it, with three hours once-a-week for five weeks and they have had some useful teaching of maths, which is a relief from struggling through online worksheets.

Increased use of tracking security devices last year on tractors and quad bikes has helped Police Scotland recover tractors, quad bikes and other farm equipment valued at £893,000.

The year 1976 was a notable one. Steve Jobs launched Apple, the first Star Wars came out and I turned one during harvest that August.

The longest day, summer solstice is behind us. As we move into official summer, it is such a beautiful time of year to be up at silly o’ clock as the sun rises and there is very little noise in the countryside, except the vocal birds singing their dawn chorus. They seem to be even louder this year.

Tim May has made some big changes to the Kingsclere estate over the past decade, shifting from entirely arable to incorporate grassland and three livestock enterprises. Clemmie Gleeson finds out more.

Defra’s public money for public goods scheme could be open to challenge from other countries at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), according to two industry experts.

As lockdown enters its final stages, in England at least, it is remarkable to consider the changes wrought by this unprecedented time. None more so than the impact the pandemic has had on the travel and transport industries.

Mure Grant, 20, is a sheep farmer’s son from Thurso, Caithness, and recently competed in Scotland’s young handlers section at the international sheepdog trials.

In these uncertain times, it might be tempting for farmers to put the brakes on investment in sustainability but now is the time to ensure the British agriculture sector is at the centre of a green economic recovery, and the support for farmers is out there, says Lee Reeves, head of agriculture at Lloyds Bank.