THE Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 is aimed at creating a new approach to managing flooding across Scotland, including the use of natural processes that slow down the movement of water through the landscape.

A key element of this is developing new approaches, agreements, or schemes to act as incentives for land managers to store and control flood water on their land.

Land agent Smiths Gore, working with Cranfield University, is currently advising the Scottish Government on developing such incentives.

Their study aims to identify what has been done in the UK, Europe and internationally on the issue, and to assess the effectiveness of alternative approaches.

They want to get a practical understanding of how land managers can contribute to the control of flooding, and how flood management might fit into their decision making, and examples used will help develop approaches in Scotland.

Examples of the use of land management to control flooding, or interesting arrangements that reward land managers for providing that, or other services are now being sought.

Authors of the study would be grateful for information by the end of July.

Contact: Dr Jason Beedell, Smiths Gore on 01733 866562 or Jason.beedell@smithsgore.co.uk

A FREE waste oil collection service for farmers across the UK has been launched by Solway Recycling of Dumfries.

Rather than pay 10p a litre to have waste oil removed and safely disposed of to meet EU cross-compliance regulations, farmers from Kent to Caithness can now use this free service.

Simply contact Roy Hiddleston and his team at Solway Recycling Ltd on 01387 730667 to have waste oil removed and proof of safe disposal supplied as required by Farm Quality Assurance and Single Farm Payment regulations.

“All we ask is that waste oil is stored in 40-gallon, 200-litre, drums with a minimum collection of one full drum per farmyard,” explained Mr Hiddleston.

UNITED Auctions sold 1814 prime lambs at Stirling on Thursday to a top of £103 per head and 229p per kg, to average 200.4p (-8.1p on the week).

The firm also had 471 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £156 for Texels, £148.50 Suffolks, £142.50 BFL, £133.50 Cheviot, £98.50 Mule and £91.50 for Blackfaces.

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart sold 2568 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £104.50 per head and 231p per kg to average 207p (45p per kg ahead of the corresponding sale last year).

Another tremendous show of 4790 cast sheep met a trade as dear as ever seen in July with an overall average of £92.16.

Heavy ewes sold to £160.50 for Texels and averaged £101.26, while light ewes peaked at £108.50 for Cheviots and levelled at £63.33.

Cast rams sold to £173.50 for a Texel and averaged £100.66.