New opportunities for farming

29 Feb 2016 01:44 PM

Even more starter farm units created on public land.

More opportunities for the next generation of farmers are to be created using public land, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced.

11 starter farms have already been created on Scottish Government land since 2012, including on the National Forest Estate which is managed on Scottish Ministers’ behalf by Forest Enterprise Scotland.

To maximise the use of publically owned land to help the farmers of the future start their career in the industry Mr Lochhead set up an expert group last year, which is due to submit a formal report and recommendations this summer. Its work has already resulted in the creation of even more opportunities for young farmers:

In addition, young farmers are being encouraged to apply for a 10 year Limited Duration Tenancy currently being advertised for Den Farm on The Crown Estate’s Fochabers estate in Moray.

The Rural Affairs Secretary said:

“Ensuring the next generation of farmers can get a foothold on the farming ladder is absolutely crucial for the future of the industry that puts food on our tables.

“Our innovative approach of creating starter farms on public land has been a hugely successful way of doing this which is why I last year established an expert group to maximise the amount of publicly-owned land available to young farmers.

“Even though the group has yet to submit its final report, we are now beginning to reap the rewards of its endeavours with even more starter farms and opportunities for young farmers coming onto the market.”

Henry Graham, who heads up the expert group, said:

“Over the last few months, I’ve been very pleased with the progress made by the group on identifying what farmers of the future need in progressing their career by delivering proposals to maximise starter opportunities on publicly owned land. It has been obvious from the discussions we’ve had with new entrants and different organisations that access to land is the key requirement.

“Over the last few years, I’ve been involved in the selection panels for the new entrants on the starter farms on the National Forest Estate. It has been great to see the drive, initiative and enthusiasm of these young people but it was also very clear that even before they took over these part time starter units, they all had been taking small areas of land on seasonal lets, often quite far apart.

“There is still a little time before the report is completed but due to the cooperation of organisations such as Forest Enterprise Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Crown Estate, SNH and Scottish Water, a few of these smaller areas of opportunities will be advertised shortly.

“We don’t want to hold back this year’s opportunities because hopefully the growing season is not too far off and drier ground is round the corner.”

Notes To Editors

The creation of the expert group was announced by the Rural Affairs Secretary at the Royal Highland Show in 2015: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/New-generation-of-farmers-1a25.aspx

The group is Chaired by Henry Graham, Lantra’s Scotland Director with representation from SG officials, the major public sector land holders (Forest Enterprise Scotland, Crown Estate, Scottish Water & SNH) and from key industry stakeholders (NFUS, SLE, STFA & SAYFC). The has met every month from October to February and will submit its final report and recommendations later this year.

The Scottish Government’s starter farm programme on the National Forest Estate gives new farmers an opportunity to get their first foothold into the farming industry. Successful entrants are given a 10 year lease to enable them to build up a farming business using land and property on the National Forest Estate. More information on the starter farm initiative and details of how to apply for the units at Lochnameal and Ardentinny is at www.forestry.gov.uk/starterfarms

The Scottish Government has created a starter farm unit at Balrobert near Inverness: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Starters-orders-10de.aspx

For more information on leasing Den Farm on The Crown Estate please contact Savills Fochabers office on 01343 823003 or visit www.savills.co.uk