Crofting Matters

Welcome back to Crofting Matters. On today’s episode, Siobhan is joined by Graham Fraser (SAC Lerwick) to discuss an often asked question – how to start up a croft, smallholding or farming business. The Farm Advisory Service has an Advice Line – free to call or email for advice.  Every year the team receives lots of questions about starting up a farming business.  It can be tricky to get a croft, but tenancies and purchases do come up so if you are looking for an opportunity, then this will help you understand the process when it happens.Graham and Siobhan talk about setting up an agricultural business with particular emphasis on crofting and chat through some of the questions they have received through the advice line.Timestamps: 01.07   Starting up in crofting – things to consider03.09   Owner occupier, tenancy and assignation explained 05.14  Land that goes with a croft08.39  Common grazing shares10.05    The 3 duties of a crofter12.39   Common grazing responsibilities13.45   Subsidies and grants that a new crofter could be eligible for 18.13   Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF)19.33  Applying for BPS (Basic payment Scheme) & LFASS (Less Favoured Area Support Scheme)20.31  Getting a BRN (Business Refence Number)27.36   Numbers of livestock on a common grazing 29.23  Keeping livestock for the first time30.56  Getting your own flock/herd number33.01   Getting registered and set up – the order of eventsFAS ResourcesFAS - New Entrants -Getting StartedFAS Introduction to crofting - Gaelic FAS -Introduction to crofting - English Other Resources Highlands and Islands Enterprise(business support)Scottish Enterprise(business support)  CroftingRegister Welcome| Crofting CommissionRuralPayments and ServicesAnimaland Plant Health Agency - GOV.UKPreparingfor Sustainable Farming For more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: advice@fas.scot

Please note: We recorded this episode while out at an event, therefore the audio quality varies throughout.Interviewees:Prof Sally ShorthallKaris BeattieHaley ShepherdThe Grass Ceiling is an EU-funded project that helps rural women become leaders in innovation—especially in farming and sustainable rural development. It runs from 2023 to 2025 and supports women across Europe through ‘Living Labs’ where they test ideas, get training, and connect with others. The aim is to help women to drive real change in rural communities—whether it's through eco-tourism, smart farming, or green energy projects. In short: it’s about lifting the “grass ceiling” so women in rural areas can grow, lead, and shape the future. The Scotland Living Lab is based in the Highlands and Islands, working with eight rural women innovators connected to crofting communities. It’s a partnership led by NICRE (National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise) and the Centre for Rural Economy (Newcastle University), in collaboration with the Scottish Crofting Federation. The Lab officially launched with a workshop in Ullapool in June 2023, bringing together women from across the Highlands & Islands.  Women share practical rural innovations, such as livestock rearing, croft diversification, wildflower seed sales, water sports ventures, and creative uses for wool.  Related ResourcesWomen in Agriculture (FAS.scot)https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/women-in-agriculture/Glass Ceiling - The Living Labhttps://www.grassceiling.eu/living-labs/scotland/?utm_source=chatgpt.comDiversification on a Shoestringhttps://www.fas.scot/article/diversification-on-a-shoestring/ Croftworks podcastCroftwork Podcasts - Scottish Crofting FederationBusiness support from https://www.hie.co.uk/  and https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/   

Thinking of diversification projects on the croft?  Hear from two entrepreneurs who have set up shops, campsites and tours in Uist, and are managing to bring in tourists and have a healthy footfall.  They discuss the issues with funding on croftland, ferries, finishing animals, abattoirs, Instagram posts, Scottish Agritourism, and Enterprise agency support. Anne MacLellan runs Balranald Campsite, the Dunes Cabin, a catering business, a new self-service vending machine with fresh veg and fish, and a self-catering cottage and a pod.  Lyndsay Robertson and DJ run Long Island Retreats, with a shop of local and islands produce and offer immersive tours of the croft and machair to UK and international travellers.  Related FAS Resourceshttps://www.fas.scot/article/diversification-on-a-shoestring/FAS TV Series 5 Episode 9 - Supporting Crofting with Diversification - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrYYHOqkQbIOther Related ResourcesBusiness support from:https://www.hie.co.uk/https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/

The Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) grant scheme is a new scheme in 2025, allowing crofters and farmers to invest to improve business efficiency, nature and climate friendly farming. The FFIS offers flexible capital grants to support investments with tiered levels of funding available. There are other changes affecting crofters, such as a simplified Crofting Agricultural Grants Scheme, which offers grants towards infrastructure; and changes to Greening rules which will affect crofters with more than 15ha of arable land.   The Preparing for Sustainable Farming scheme is available this year, for the last time, and can help with the Carbon audit and Soil elements of the Whole Farm Plan.  For 2026, the Whole Farm Plan requirements are for 2 elements out of the five choices: Carbon Audit, Animal Health Plan, Biodiversity audit, Soil Analysis and Integrated Pest Management. This episode covers many schemes!  For background, have a listen to the previous podcasts on Subsidy and Support Changes for Crofting, and Subsidy Future and Current Schemes, to find out more about the structure of support for the agricultural sector. Related FAS ResourcesPreparing For The Future | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceCrofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

A game changer for sheep on hill grazings?   It’s very tricky to castrate and tail lambs within 7 days unless lambs are born inbye.  Could two new techniques, that allow castration and tailing up to 3 months of age, not only reduce pain levels in lambs, but allow better and easier management on commons and hills? The all-important intake of colostrum and bonding of ewe and lamb can be disrupted by tailing and castrating.  Changing timings, so that one or other is carried out when the lamb is older, perhaps alongside other treatments such as vaccination or worming, reduces mismothering, and could be more efficient.  The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) report on tail docking and castration of lambs (2022) recommends that effective anaesthesia and analgesia should be used routinely for castration and tail docking of lambs, when the methods used are likely to cause significant pain.  In recent years new equipment that can reduce the pain associated with tailing and castrating have been developed. Numnuts and Clipfitter are now more widely available and have been shown to have welfare benefits when used for tailing and castrating.   In Scotland, the Government has allowed these techniques to be used beyond 7 days of age.   Here we discuss the two products: techniques, benefits and drawbacks, costs and practicalities for use with lambs and calves. Subscribe to hear more about the project when we report on crofter’s experiences of using the products.  Related Resources:Watch our webinar recording where we look at how three farmers are using different methods and approaches to tail docking and castration Webinar - Sustainable Sheep Systems - Tail Docking and CastrationTechnical Note (TN679): Castration and Tail Docking of Lambs Using clipfitter in practice:Using Clips for Castration and Tails FAS TV - Tail Docking and Castration in Lambs

Many aspire to having and working a croft, however crofts are difficult to obtain, at least in the more productive and scenic areas.  At the same time, retiring crofters sometimes find it hard to give up their business, their source of income and home.  The Scottish Land Matching Service is designed to help aspiring new producers, whether crofters or farmers, with advice, guidance, and a database of opportunities.  Ian Davidson joins us today to discuss the SLMS role in helping crofts to remain in productive use. Related ResourcesScottish Land Matching Service

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 ResourcesCrofting 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)

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)

In this episode we look at what we can learn from the Irish system, where farms are similar to our crofts. A group of crofters are just home from a study tour to Ireland, and we hear from Derek Jamieson who crofts in Unst, Shetland, what he took from this exchange of knowledge.  We also hear from Keith Fahy, advisor with Teagasc, explaining the Irish subsidy system and improvements being made to their national flock and herd.  Ireland Study Tour with Crofters Crofting in Unst Typical Irish farms Croft tenancies Mart provision in Ireland and Scotland Subsidies in Ireland Agri-environment Schemes The Irish Green Cert Discussion Groups for Crofters Linked FAS resources: https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/crofts-small-farms/crofting-discussion-groups/ 

Gary Campbell is our guest this week. Gary is the new Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, having just started his role in January this year. With a background working in both the public and private sectors he talks us through his previous roles, his own family crofting story, what he is planning to achieve in his new CE role and his vision for the Crofting Commission. Related FAS Resources: Crofting & Smallholders Guide to OrganisationsSuccession Planning – Crofting | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Crofting Legislation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

We are at Dornie hall, talking to clerks and committee members about the issues they face when trying to run the common grazing, especially when it comes to finances.  Firstly, we talk with Finlay Beaton from the Crofting Commission, about the problems that they deal with and the solutions for clerks. Finlay also has the advantage of having worked with RPID, so also understands the grant and subsidy systems.  Arthur Macdonald adds his take from years of running finance training, working with landlords and crofters, and working at the CC.  These meetings are continuing around the crofting counties, so if you are a clerk, book on!We cover:Common themes such as monitoring and accounting for funds, who is responsible for the funds; how and who to bring onto your committee; how to set it up; the difference between CG and clubs; vacant croftsUseful LinksFinance Forms for Common Grazings | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)A Simple Guide to Common Grazings Terms | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Appointment of Grazings Committees | Crofting Commission (scotland.gov.uk)Regulated Commons Grazings | Crofting Commission (scotland.gov.uk)Common Grazings Dilemmas | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Don’t miss out on the current schemes which boost income and improve animal and soil health! We discuss the PSF scheme, the future of subsidy, recent changes to the Croft House Grant and what we should all do now to prepare for the 2025 change. We cover:  What the term ‘conditionality’ means PSF Animal Health & Welfare EligibilityHow to carry out and how to claimBenefits of animal health Soil sampling  Carbon auditsWhat do we know so far What is Just Transition What are the Tiers BPSWhole Farm PlanHabitat assessmentsGrazing sharesBeef calf schemeScoteid My herd stats CHGS changesTop tips to prepare for 2025 – FAS biodiversity audits, carbon audits, psf scheme  Related FAS ResourcesCrofting Businesses: Carbon Audits and Preparing For Sustainable Farming | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)The Croft House Grant Scheme | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Crofter’s Fuel Poverty – Improving the Existing Housing Stock | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other Related ResourcesPreparing for Sustainable Farming Support (ruralpayments.org)Croft House Grant (ruralpayments.org)MyHerdStats Information Guide - ScotEID Library (dozuki.com)

Crofting legislation is fairly complicated and its no different when it comes to succession! Brian Inkster, well-known crofting law specialist, takes us through different scenarios and highlights what to watch out for when it comes to passing on a croft.  We cover:  Terminology such as Executor, Testate and Intestate Wills and witness signatures Procedure for a Straightforward tenancy with a will in place Moveable items Confirmation Docket Splitting a croft to leave to different people Owner occupied crofts  Deemed crofts Heritable and moveable 

It might not sound that interesting, but, especially these days, understanding what you can and should be doing with accounts and tax is important to save unnecessary expense and keep within the law. Margi Campbell, an expert in tax and vat, gives some insight into what crofters can do to improve their finances. It’s a confusing topic, but in this podcast we chat about the different terms, and what they mean in practice for crofters who are self-employed or employed, or vat registered or not. In this episode, we cover:Do crofters need to do tax returns? Is an accountant needed to prepare accounts? What are audited accounts? How much could a set of accounts cost? What is a sole trader, why would you be one, what tax do you pay, can you be vat registered?  What are partnerships and Limited companies? What do the terms Incorporated/unincorporated mean? What is the effect of the 5 year rule for hobby farms? What items are tax deductible? Can you offset your income with the cost of buildings, such as a shed? What about smaller kit and tools? The best way to keep records, VAT, MTD, can you keep everything on paper/programme? What is the Herd basis? Who gets taxed through a Sheep Stock Club? Who pays tax from Common Grazing income? What should you do if you are starting up? Top tips FAS Resources: Women in Agriculture, Balivanich: Why Keep Accounts? Bookkeeping and Farm Accounts | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other Links:You can contact Margi through LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretcampbellinverness Or at www.Saffery.com Also listen to Margi’s story on Episode 6 - Margi Campbell - Women In Wellies | Acast 

The Crofting Commission has recently started accepting online applications through their website for some of their crofting regulatory applications. In this episode, Siobhan Macdonald and Graham Fraser discuss which applications can now be completed online, how to go about completing them, what the benefits are of doing applications online over paper forms, and where you can access help.  Linked FAS resources: https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/crofts-small-farms/crofting-legislation/  Crofting Regulation PodcastExternal resources:https://www.crofting.scotland.gov.uk/  

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 ResourcesRegister of Crofts | Crofting Commission (scotland.gov.uk)About crofting - Scottish Crofting FederationWoodland Crofts | Supporting Lives & Livelihoods through Managing Woodland

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

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/