Welcome to SRUC’s Rural Brexit Hub!
Here you will find information on Brexit-related activities being undertaken across SRUC, including work by our researchers and SAC Consulting staff. Read more about the hub here
Technology can help farmers meet net-zero goals
Professor Davy McCracken looks at the future role of technology in upland farms, providing examples and reflecting on experience at the Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms in Crianlarich. You can access the full article by clicking here: Technology can help farmer meet net-zero goals For more environmental resilience resources on the Rural Brexit Hub click here:…
“Education needed to help Scottish farmers meet the ‘asks’ of modern society”
Professor Davy McCracken writes in the Press & Journal about the importance of education in equipping land managers with a broad range of skills and knowledge to deliver integrated land management approaches for a sustainable future. You can access the full article by clicking here: Education needed to help Scottish farmers meet the ‘asks’ of…
Exploring the emissions intensity of Scottish sheep and cattle livestock farms
Research based on a pilot study that linked farms in the Scottish Farm Business Survey to SAC’s Agrecalc carbon calculator has published results measuring emissions intensity and farm-level technical efficiency in the beef and sheep-meat sectors in Scotland. The research finds that there is a high level of variance in emissions intensity in Scotland’s beef…
Scottish Farm resilience: robustness, adaptation and transformation of Scottish farms 1989 to 2020
A research brief has been published looking at Scottish farm resilience between 1989 and 2020. The research used data from the Scottish Farm Business Survey and key findings include: Most farms score highly on their robustness scale, which reflects a high resistance to change. However, around 20 to 25% of farms suffered shocks, in terms of…
A comparative analysis of Island and Mainlands smallholder farmers and crofters
A new briefing comparing the characteristics, past behaviours and intentions for investments between the islands and the mainland smallholders and crofters has been published. The research uses the farmers intentions survey (a survey of 2,494 Scottish farmers conducted in 2018) and finds that there are differences in characteristics, management influences and investment behaviours between the…
Scottish Farm Efficiency: trends and drivers from 1989 to 2020
A new research brief looks at the technical efficiency of Scottish farms from 1989-2020 using data from the Scottish Farm Business Survey. Some key findings detailed in the brief include: There is a great deal of variance within farm types, which indicates that for each sector there will be challenges and wide level of performance…
Regenerative agriculture matters but let’s not forget about High Nature Value farming systems
In this article for the Press & Journal, Davy McCracken discusses the importance of high nature value farming systems and recognising that supporting and promoting appropriate grazing practices will be important not only for biodiversity but will also have impact on social, cultural and landscape values. You can read the full article by clicking the…
Collaborative proposals to improve the health of our national sheep flock
Professor Davy McCracken provides an update in the Press & Journal on collaborative research projects to improve the health of the national sheep flock. These projects include the EU funded EuroSheep project and EU funded project Techcare. The two main goals for the EuroSheep project are: To assess how best to improve individual and flock…
Precision solutions to animal health and welfare (Podcast)
In this episode, George Gauley is joined by Dr Claire Morgan-Davies, Dr Fiona Kenyon and Professor Davy McCracken to discuss precision solutions for livestock farming. The guests discuss some of the PLF technology solutions which are currently being used & developed, along with details of the research projects which are currently in place to help…
Uphill battle to progress change in farm biodiversity
Professor Davy MCracken discusses recommendations made to the Hill, Upland & Crofting farmer-led group and highlights the importance in recognising that biodiversity management and carbon sequestration opportunities vary from sector to sector. While recognising the differences between farming sectors, Davy and colleagues argue for future support policy to ensure there is a common starting point…
