Crofting Matters – Details, episodes & analysis

Support is changing, and although not all details are clear, crofters claiming subsidy need to have specific items and plans in place by next spring.  Listen in to hear the essential information you need for next year’s Basic Payment Scheme claim.   

We simplify one aspect of the new system, which is called the Whole Farm Plan.  The WFP is actually made up of 5 different parts, of which 2 need to be in place next year, by the 15th May 2025.  We discuss the most sensible and easiest routes for crofters to prepare. 

The changes have come about as our subsidy system evolves outwith the EU.  The new support system is in four Tiers, with the familiar Basic Payment Scheme in Tier 1.  The Whole Farm Plan will affect Tier 1 Basic Payment Scheme.  We will cover the other Tiers in future podcasts as more details are released and we understand the impact on crofting, so please subscribe to keep up to date.

Related FAS Resources

Preparing For The Future | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)  

Crofts & Small Farms resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Crofting Businesses: Carbon Audits and Preparing For Sustainable Farming | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Preparing Small Farms and Crofts for 2025 and Beyond - Events

Disease risk in livestock, and biosecurity is something we perhaps don’t consider as much in crofting areas as farmers might in more intensive systems. Crofting tends to be more extensive, with lower densities of stock, but we often share bulls, and graze on common ground. In this episode I’m joined by Kythe MacKenzie, who is a vet with SRUC, and Kate Lamont, who is a researcher, to discuss the practicalities of managing disease risk.  

Linked FAS Resources

Crofting Discussion Groups | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Succession Planning – Crofting | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Crofting Legislation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Getting a croft isn't easy, whether you are new to agriculture or have been working in crofting all your days. In this episode, Siobhan Macdonald and Graham Fraser discuss how to get a croft, types of tenure, what to be aware of and how to keep a croft.  

 We cover:  

• How much does a croft cost?  
• What is the difference between assignation of a tenancy and buying an owner occupied croft?  
• Financing the purchase 
• Responsibilities and duties of a crofter 
• Avoiding becoming landlord of a vacant croft 
• Lets of owner–occupied crofts 
• Decrofting & Resumptions 
• Bareland crofts  
• Where to look for crofts?   
• Shares and deemed crofts 
• Contributions to the CG maintenance 
• Sub-lets 
• Creation of new crofts 

Linked FAS Resources 

Crofting Legislation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Useful Resources

Register of Crofts | Crofting Commission (scotland.gov.uk)

About crofting - Scottish Crofting Federation

Woodland Crofts | Supporting Lives & Livelihoods through Managing Woodland

Selling livestock this autumn and winter? We have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding and store cattle and sheep. Sarah and Siobhan discuss the current beef and sheep markets and tips on presentation. Siobhan also speaks to John William Gillies of the North Rasaay Sheep Stock Club, who discusses how they batch lambs at the mart, and the popular Portree sale of store calves. 

For further information, have a look at this webinar which details buyer’s requirements, feed conversion and handy tips: https://www.fas.scot/publication/going-to-market-managing-your-stock-in-preparation-for-selling/ and you might also be interested in this case study, which although not in a crofting area, describes how Nigel Millar sells his AA & BSH store calves to a finisher: https://www.fas.scot/publication/fas-beef-supply-chain-case-study-co-operative-strategy-finishes-cattle-in-the-scottish-borders/ 

Sarah mentions Agribusiness News, which is a publication with up-to-date monthly market and policy intelligence for farmers and crofters: https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/agribusiness-news/

Linked FAS resources: 

A Guide to Buying and Selling at the Mart - https://www.fas.scot/downloads/a-guide-to-buying-and-selling-at-the-mart/ 

Croft & Small Farms: Store Livestock - Adding Value in Presentation - https://www.fas.scot/downloads/croft-small-farms-store-livestock-adding-value-in-presentation/ 

Small Lambs – A Problem or an Opportunity for Crofters and Smallholders? -https://www.fas.scot/downloads/small-lambs-a-problem-or-an-opportunity-for-crofters-and-smallholders/ 

If you are a new crofter, or new to buying livestock, we have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding cattle and sheep.  Sarah and Siobhan discuss disease risk, how to bid, different terms used, buying in guineas, how the auction mart works, and how to prepare. 

Linked FAS resources: 

New Entrants Guide to Buying and Selling at the Mart Practical Guide - https://www.fas.scot/downloads/a-guide-to-buying-and-selling-at-the-mart/ 

No matter the size of your herd, choosing the correct suckler replacements is important to ensure yearly, trouble free calvings and avoid nights spent calving or coaxing calves that refuse to suckle! Or worse, pets! 

Crofting regulation, which covers what you can do with your croft land and how, is a tricky subject, full of acronyms and references to various Acts of Parliament.  For most crofters, the day-to-day croft work is unaffected by legislation.  It’s often only when crofts change that attention to the legislation is needed.  In this podcast, we discuss some of the most common scenarios.  Is there anything you need to do now or be prepared for? 

Linked FAS resources: 

Webpage on succession planning with a succession tool -https://www.fas.scot/succession-planning-crofting/ 

Webpage with cartoon videos explaining crofting legislation - https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/crofts-small-farms/crofting-legislation/  

Growing Grass 

How can we make the best use of our grassland?  What is the difference between rotational, mob, deferred and set stocking?  What are the benefits of liming?  

For many crofters, low soil pH and rushes reduce the productivity of grassland.  In this episode, Poppy Frater discusses how to control rushes, increase growth of better grasses, reseeding, soil health and fertilisers.  

With many Crofters across Scotland currently putting their bulls out, it is a good time to consider your current bull management practices.

From pre-breeding examinations and diet, to the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme, Crofting Matters discusses key points for Crofters to be thinking about with Sarah Balfour.

Sarah works out of the SAC Elgin office and is a Beef Consultant for the SAC Livestock Team.  As well as running an upland commercial suckler herd, Sarah and her family also have three pedigree herds and produce Limousin, Angus and British Blue bulls.  

Relevant Resources:

Information note about the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme, tips for custodians, common problems and options

Crofts and small farms – A season with cattle webinar recording on the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme 

This episode hears from 2 crofters with two different routes into crofting. In this episode we discuss how they gained their croft, what they found were barriers, and hints and tips for aspiring or new crofters.  I’m delighted to be joined by Derek Dick, who is a relatively new crofter in Berneray, and Angus Ferguson, who is an experienced crofter in North Uist. 

Linked FAS resources: 

Crofting Discussion Groups | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Succession Planning – Crofting | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Crofting Legislation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)