Report from Fergus was passed round the Forum.

Lime on Mull –Forum and NFUS have researched the possibility of bringing  a 900 tonne boat load of lime form from Fort William to Mull – has the potential to reduce cost of spread lime by a half.  Forum currently surveying  farmers to see how much, when and if sampling is required.  Forum role to pull people together to create critical mass, if successful can be applied else where.

Working Farm Woodlands project-successful inspirational evening meetings held in March.  Funding secured form FCS , LLTNP and 2 Leader groups. Initial plan was to begin the facilitation project pre summer, but now pushed back to autumn with as September start. Successful in applying for an extension until December.

Argyll Hill Lamb Producers Working Group –lamb finishing trial 2008/09 with 250 blackface lambs form North Argyll and Mull put to finish in the borders. 190 through market, 54  wholesaler and 6 lost.  Demonstrated that there was demand for a consistent high quality branded lamb product and highlighted the need to reduce costs of finishing.  Strong interest, 80 Farmers to Mull meeting in May and 45 to Glen Feochan meeting in August.  Proposal to run futher trial this year with up to 1000 lambs. Calculating  costs, members agreement potential funding through linking to EID trial.

Food From Argyll – the group of producers have now formed a co-operative called the Argyll Food Producers. Cooperative Development Scotland provided support for SAOS to write a feasibility report. Marketing Development Scheme Application for coordination/marketing role for 3 years –  a very slow process.  Still linking with ABC as a means of promoting the area/creating an umbrella brand and launched the website at the rugby sevens www.argyllandtheisles.com  – but has been scaled back to a campaigning issue on councils corporate plan.  Group won a "food oscar" Scotland of Food and Drink Excellence Award for partnership working, an Argyll and Bute council excellence award and a commendation from  Enterprising Britain 2009.  Events attended/attending in 2009 are Lochfyne food fair, Spirit of the West, International Rugby Sevens, Tin the Park, Lattitude, Belladrum, V –Festival, Cowal Highland Gathering, BBC proms in the Park and Camanacdh Cup. Market research undertaken this autumn.

Community Local food –working to support Islay, Bute and Kintyre projects and make private sector linkages where possible.  Kintyre just recruited a coordinator/gardener.

Renewables- Bute Biogas – Glasgow Caledonian uni undertook second feasibility analysis – same conclusion – big plant only viable after 10 years -  Expect it to revert to a one or two farm pilot.

On Farm Hydro –speaking with  farmers who are currently having difficulties getting micro hydro of the ground.  Still plan to hold a meeting to bring potential community groups and funding interests and farmers together. Planning to hold an on farm small scale wind power day.

Ross Lilley – Government perspective on small scale hydro might change soon in relation to SRDP.  clarification to come out soon

Climate Change  - On Farm Energy Audits -  working with Neil Donaldson and Malcolm Macmillan (climate challenge funded posts) to secure funds for  undertaking a series of audits across Argyll – act as baseline info to identify target areas for action and highlight low carbon farming.

Rural Skills in Schools – held meeting in early February with school teachers responsible for rural skills across Argyll.  Forum has undertaken research on level of involvement in Argyll and is researching the structures for a rural skills coordinator.  Enthusiasm for taking on a rural skills coordinator for Argyll (similar to highland model) – outline expression of funding from ABC and Argyll College.

2.  LFASS update

The payment for this scheme will be rebased from 2010.  The applicants will have to establish active farming, as a consequence of misuse of the scheme.  It was also felt that dairy farmers were excluded from this scheme, ‘economic uplift’.

It was agreed that the problem with the scheme is that it is not easy to apply.

3.  Access report - Jolyon Gritten

Jolyon Gritten outlined the progress of the access consultation to date.

The Council completed the latest consultation on the Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan in June 2009. This consultation resulted in the Council receiving over 250 responses to the proposals. These responses are now being placed into a data base.

Consultants are now undertaking a series of meetings across Argyll.  JG circulated the meeting venues and dates.

4.  SRDP/ Land Manager options update

Report given by Ross Lilley on behalf of Bill Dundas.

There have been 66 applicants considered and there are 5 categories (pots).

1)      Business Development

2)      Agri environment

3)      Forestry

4)      Rural Enterprise

5)      Community including retail

9 million available to be allocated in 2009, and 11/12 million in the future.

Cabinet Secretary’s decision – analysis next meeting.

5.  Monitor Farms - Peter Beattie, QMS

This project covers Lamb, beef, and pork farms.  The farms in the Monitor project in this area are in Bute and North Connell.  What they are looking at is how live stock farms work and how to improve them.  The suggestion is that the monitor farms have 6 meetings a year over 3 years which also involves other farms in the area.  The investment required in the monitor farms roughly works out that for every pound invested there is a £6.50 return. By the end of this year it is hoped to have 14 monitor farms in Scotland.  A discussion took place regarding a need for more monitor farms in the Argyll area and the benefits to the area most especially to the islands.  It was also agreed that there would be a great social benefit also to this project and ‘suggested an open day’ It was also mentioned that it was important that it was farmer led.  The benefit would be for the area and not just the specific farm.

It was suggested that island farms involved in the scheme be paired with mainland farms.

Sponsorship cash can be had from local businesses involved in the farming business.

6.  LBAP Review update

Report from Simon Zisman was not available at this meeting and will be coveredata future meeting.

7.  SA climate change programme

Report from Lynn Matheson to be coveredata future meeting.

8.  Partnership approach to projects, Rural Skills

Fergus explained that a meeting would be held in November to bring all parties together who had an interest in Rural Skills from primary to apprenticehips.

9.  Forum succession

This was discussed by the Forum and Angus has expressed a desire that new Chair be appointed in his place and it was agreed that the best way to do this was to appoint a deputy in the meantime with the view that they are later appointed as Chair.  It was also suggested that we put an advert out for a Deputy Chair.

10.  AOCB

11.  Date for next meeting

Friday 30^th October on Bute.

Drew MacFarlane Slack gives his apologies for that meeting.