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UK will receive €36.1m emergency aid
cows
"It is imperative that Scotland's farmers get a fair share of the EU's emergency funding," said the rural affairs secretary.
Scotland calls for urgent discussions on funding split

The UK has been awarded €36.1 million in emergency farm funding, the European Commission has announced.

It is part of a €500m support package to help European farmers cope with current cash-flow problems. The commission also aims to help stabilise the markets and address the functioning of the supply chain.

The UK has received the third largest allocation of funds in the whole of Europe.

Responding to the news, Scotland's rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead has called for an urgent meeting to discuss how the funding should be distributed within the UK.

Scottish farmers are suffering from the impact of very poor weather conditions earlier this year, as well as volatile markets, Mr Lochhead explained.

"In this time of need, it is imperative that Scotland's farmers get a fair share of the EU's emergency funding."

Recent UK negotiations, he added, have left Scottish farmers with the lowest Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment rates in Europe.

"Scottish farmers are paying the price for this injustice and the UK Government should urgently put right this wrong. A first step should be to ensure that Scotland gets a fair share of this new EU agriculture aid and I will be writing to the Defra secretary of state requesting and urgent meeting to discuss this very matter."

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.