SCOTTISH CROFTING FEDERATION
ENTRY LEVEL CERTIFICATED CROFTING INDUCTION COURSE
Evenings 10 weeks x 2 hours
Starting beginning October subject to numbers
£60.00 (FOC Job Seekers, Agency employees £120.00)
Venue to be confirmed (Strathcarron/Lochcarron)
Course Synopsis
1. Times past – times present. How did crofting evolve? What is crofting? Where is it today? How to acquire a croft. An introduction to crofting law and regulations.
2. Support mechanisms and EU dimension. The effect of EU membership on crofting agriculture. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Grants schemes.
3. Land & environment. From seashore to a high place – soils, wet, wind and weather. The benefits of shelter & drainage. Forage area – use of inbye/common grazings. Waste management & SEPA.
4. Crofting livestock. Single Farm Payments, LMO’s, Integrated Administration and Control System. Livestock records/identification.
5. Wildlife, habitats & landscape. Relevance of crofting to the protection of habitats and the natural environment. Relationship of the environment to tourism and the wider economy of the Highlands & Islands.
6. Croft business – Finance & marketing. Business Gateway. Highland Opportunities. HIE, Banks & Credit Unions. Alternative economy. Business plans; cash flow; P & L forecasting. Practical Training. Diversification and some alternative/beneficial uses of land and resources.
7. Animal health & welfare. Buying, selling and transporting of animals. Breeding regimes of sheep & cattle. Common ailments in sheep, cattle and other livestock. Notifiable diseases. Disease prevention/vaccinations.
8. Open choice module. Choose from Forestry, Horticulture, Renewables, Tourism (or locally appropriate combination).
9. Community. What is a community? Individual responsibility and your place within that community. Township/Grazings committees. Empowerment and capacity building and how communities can achieve goals. Community buy-outs of land – Why? When? How?
10. And finally… Presentation of course certificates. The format for this session is largely left to the discretion of the Local Course Director and can be tailored to meet the needs of course participants.
Registration to be received by 23rd September
For further information contact:
The Strathcarron Centre, The Station, Strathcarron IV54 8YR
Tel: 01520 722882 E-Mail: info@strathcarron-centre.com
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