DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 15th) sold 446 store cattle, 27 adult head of breeding cattle & 61 OTM cattle. Bullocks (226) averaged 221.4p and sold to 269.7p per kg for a 330kg Limousin cross from Balmaglaster, South Laggan, and £1,335 gross for a 635kg Limousin cross from Inchbae, Garve.
Decrofting legislation to tackle specific difficulties owner-occupier crofters are facing when decrofting their land has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse announced recently that the Scottish Government would bring forward a Bill which will amend the crofting legislation.
Mechanisms to deliver important aspects of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) have been thrashed out by the European Fishing Ministers. Covering important areas such as the discard ban and regionalisation – and following input from the European Parliament – the details agreed are crucial to the new CFP being workable and giving the flexibility needed to deliver a better future for Scotland’s fishing industry.
New farmers can now get financial support thanks to a new scheme opened by the Scottish Government today. £2 million worth of funding will be available to support new entrants and deer farmers who are currently excluded from receiving single farm payments.
A revised action programme to tackle nitrate loss from agricultural sources in Scotland comes into force today. The European Union’s Nitrates Directive aims to prevent or minimise nitrate pollutants draining from farmland and into surface waters and groundwater.
Revised proposals have been announced this week for a £30 million wind farm development at Spittal Hill, just over 2km north east of the village of Spittal in Caithness. Comprising up to 8 turbines, with an installed capacity of up to 24 megawatts (MW), the proposals have been brought forward by Spittal Hill Windfarm Ltd, owned by Statkraft and a group of Highland based shareholders.
The Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee of Highland Council will continue to pursue its interests in the economic growth of the area when it discusses Workforce Development and Skills Training at its next meeting at the Assembly Rooms, Wick on Monday 20 May. Councillor Deidre MacKay, Leader of the Area Committee said: “Members have received reports on the economic potential and current patterns of employment and unemployment in the area.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 14th) sold 63 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (41) averaged 231.8p (-2.0p) and sold to 249p per kg and £1,725.20 gross.
Employers all over Scotland will be encouraged to employ more Modern Apprentices as the second Scottish Apprenticeship Week gets underway on Monday 20 May. Skills Development Scotland wants to work with bosses to recruit 25,000 new Modern Apprentices – matching the 25,000 training last year across more than 80 different occupations.
One of Scotland’s most famous mountaineers, Cameron McNeish is helping endorse the Highlands’ natural credentials as part of the Year of Natural Scotland 2013. VisitScotland, in partnership with Highland Council, has launched its latest initiative to get people out and about during this year, targeting those living in Scotland and Northern England.
Week Commencing 6 May 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Ignis Wick Ltd, the company behind the combined heat and power scheme in Wick, have announced a further expansion of the district heating system with the connection later this month of the Wick Assembly Rooms. This will allow the north’s largest public performance venue to be heated entirely from renewable energy, enabling its oil-fired boiler to be switched off.
Two top Highland Council leaders have been paying a fact-finding visit to Gills Harbour. Council convener Councillor Jimmy Gray and Caithness & Sutherland Area Committee chair Councillor Deirdre Mackay looked over facilities at the busy Canisbay facility, on the shores of the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound.
First time homebuyers within The Highland Council area are set to benefit from the introduction of a mortgage guarantee scheme, using the Local Authority Mortgage Scheme model already successfully launched by a number of English councils. The scheme aims to support up to 33 new homebuyers in the current year in getting on to the property ladder.
Highland Council offers five new graduate opportunities. Five graduates will soon get the opportunity to conduct a six-month internship with The Highland Council under the pilot ‘Graduate Intern Programme’ developed and led by the Council’s Planning and Development Service.
Police issue warning to disqualified drivers. The Highland and Islands Division continue to receive information and intelligence about drivers who drive illegally when they have been disqualified or do not hold an appropriate licence.
Work got under way today (Friday 10th May 2013) on the demolition of The Highland Council’s Caithness HQ at Market Place, Wick in readiness for an £8 million redevelopment of the town centre site as modern Council office accommodation. The Council has awarded a contract to Morgan Sindall to carry out the redevelopment of Market Place.
Buyers urged to beware of scams, stick to reputable traders. Scammers are trying to take advantage of the latest wave of large-capacity USB memory sticks by selling fake devices with much lower memory than advertised.
The district heating scheme in Wick is being expanded. Ignis is to supply heat to the Wick Assembly Rooms, which is the largest public performance venue north of Inverness.
Europe Day - EU Open Doors On 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman, the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly, presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. This proposal, known as the 'Schuman declaration', is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 7th) sold 64 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (44) averaged 233.8p (+1.0p) and sold to 244p per kg and £1,851.50 gross.