Young farmers could use public land in effort to combat shortage of starter farms

The 10 point plan published by the Scottish government said starter farms could begin on land owned publicly
The 10 point plan published by the Scottish government said starter farms could begin on land owned publicly

Young farmers in Scotland could have the chance to start their businesses on government-owned land to combat a shortage of opportunity among next generation farmers.

The 10 point plan published by the Scottish government said starter farms could begin on land owned by Scottish Natural Heritage, the Crofting Estate, the National Forest Estate, the Crown Estate and local authorities.

"We firmly believe that there is a supply of land in public ownership with the potential to provide a route into farming for New Entrants. We hold that these units can offer long term regional economic and social benefits," the report said.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing welcomed the report: "New entrants are essential to any industry, bringing energy, enthusiasm, new ideas and approaches. We firmly believe that there is a supply of land in public ownership with the potential to offer a route into farming for new entrants.

"That is why we established this short life group to investigate how this land could be used to kick start the next generation of farmers, secure food production and boost our economy for years to come."

Alternative careers

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs rural affairs chairman Sarah Allison said the report was a big step forward but it was not enough: "This on its own will not address the chronic lack of land available, and further work must be done to assess what kind of business environment is needed to create a thriving tenanted sector in Scotland once again."

Data from the June 2015 Agricultural Census, showed around 9% of farm occupiers are 40 and under.

It is estimated that the average age of a Scottish farmer is 58. In a significant number of instances there is no successor in place. A survey has previously found this could be the case on a quarter of all farms.

This is frequently due to children choosing alternative careers due to the farm being unable to sustain additional family members or potential income being comparatively poor.

Both land for purchase and rent in Scotland are 'relatively scarce,' with the report suggesting 'demand continues to outstrip supply.'