Rural Business

New Entrants Case Study: Mix of Farming Arrangements

Case Study: Ian McKnight To build a viable farming business, one young farmer retains flexibility to work within different agreements. After studying Agriculture at the Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive (Ayr)…

New Entrants Case Study: Joint Ventures for Landowner

Case Study: Stephen Withers and Neil Sandilands Share Farming – A Different Approach for Owner and Operator Share Farming is not common in Scotland but two farmers explain how it…

Integrated Land Management Plan Case study: Fergus Laing, Glenbeg Estate

Name and business: Fergus Laing, Glenbeg Estate For many years, land owner, Fergus Laing has run a successful and diverse highland estate, incorporating a tenant farm, golfing, fishing and hunting. However, due to unforeseen…

Integrated Land Management Plan Case study: Bitney MacNab, Cairnston Smallholding

Name and business: Bitney MacNab, Cairnston Smallholding Inspired by her youngest daughter to pursue a career in farming, Bitney MacNab – has ambitious plans to diversify from her bed and…

ILMP case study: Fergus Laing, Glenbeg Estate

For many years, land owner, Fergus Laing has run a successful and diverse highland estate, incorporating a tenant farm, golfing, fishing and hunting. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, there is a good likelihood that the tenant farming lease may not be renewed when it expires. To prepare the business for potential change, Fergus applied to the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) for Scottish Government funding to help develop an ILMP.

ILMP case study: Bitney MacNab, Cairnston Smallholding

Inspired by her youngest daughter to pursue a career in farming, Bitney MacNab – has ambitious plans to diversify from her bed and breakfast business, and establish a completely self-sufficient, sustainable, eco-friendly smallholding. Being new to farming, Bitney sought help from the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) on how to go about making her vision a reality.