The Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has made 12 awards under its scheme to recognise technical innovation in farming and rural industry, including a gold award to a previous silver winner.
The prestigious gold medal has gone to Bibb Equipment, Whauphill, Strichen, Fraserburgh, for its catcher crate, a tractor-mounted crate developed for the easier management of grazing cattle.
Operated from the tractor seat, the crate eliminates the need for anyone to be on foot when catching an animal. It includes a simple crush and head yoke and can be used for administering drugs, calving, artificial insemination, retrieval of strays and adjusting the number of cattle in a field.
The catcher crate, which won a silver medal in the 1990s, also provides a safe environment in which a farmer can tag a new-born calf, protected from the mother. The equipment includes an optional calf nest that folds flat when not required, to carry a newborn calf and retails for £2850 plus VAT.
Douglas Fowlie, Millhill, Longside, Peterhead, convener of the panel of judges for the awards said: "With frequent reports of injuries to people working with livestock, the crate provides a high level of operator safety. Animals also remain calm when being caught. Indeed, they will walk into the crate very readily. It was these two factors that impressed the judges.
"The crate has been refined and improved since it originally won a silver medal and we had no hesitation in awarding gold."
Young farmers to have a voice NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren and the leaders of Scotland's young farmers have met to discuss how to support the future generation of farmers and to explore how the union and the Scottish Association of young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) can work closer together.
Speaking after the meeting, McLaren said: "I have said from day one that I want to forge a new, much closer relationship between NFUS and young farmers. I want this union to attract, involve and ultimately be driven forward by the next generation of farmers, as well as those currently established in the industry.
"One of the obvious areas we are taking forward together is the proposed new entrants scheme. The rural affairs secretary has made clear his commitment to developing a new support package for young farmers, but he needs the whole industry to come together to identify the priorities and how best to spend the £10m earmarked for the coming years.
"Of course, it is not just work on new entrants that is important. The big issues NFUS are tackling such as supply chain development, regulation and the future of CAP support will dictate the environment within which young farmers try to make their living.
"So their voice needs to be heard now and, with SAYFC and NFUS working hand- in-hand, we can make that happen."
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