– By 1956 fears over the new system of guarantees for fatstock were justified as far as cattle were concerned.

Auction market prices fell drastically compared with with the previous year. Prices continued to fall throughout the summer and by July it was evident that there was little hope for the then national average of 94s per live cwt, farmers blamed this on the influx of Argentine meat. At the beginning of November, recognising the crisis, the government announced that supplementary payments – ranging from 23s per cwt in March, 1956, to 3s per cwt in February, 1957 – would be paid.

– Agricultural debt hit in headlines in 1957 when farmers received a shock when the bank rate was raised from 5% to 7%. This was compounded with the revelation that Scottish agriculture was indebted to the banks to the tune of around £30,000,000.

– Big news for the Royal Highland Show came the following year in 1958. An announcement was made that from 1960 the Royal Highland Show would be held on a permanent site. Since the end of the second World War, the costs of erecting and dismantling the showgrounds had risen to impossible heights. It was reported that there was much disappointment that the show would no longer travel and that 'there was a deep regret that the 'Highland', loved beyond all other shows, part and parcel of the fabric of Scottish agriculture and rural life, should even have to contemplate going off the road after 130 years of taking the show to the people'. The show organisers bought the 86-acre estate at Ingliston at a price of £30,000. They had also taken an option of 160 acres for car parking. The show is still held at this location now, although there was some worry it would be purchased to build a new runway at Edinburgh airport but this has been put on hold for now.

– Important legislation for farmers was introduced in 1958. There was a radical change to the 'Farmers Charter' in the Agriculture Act of 1947. As far as Scotland was concerned the proposed measures affected principally security of tenure, the right to bequeath a lease, the fixing of farm rents, and the powers of Agricultural Executive Committees. The moves created much acrimonious talks between landlords and tenants. Farmers stood by their views that their security of tenure and the right to bequeath a lease was no more than enough if they were to farm with confidence and if they were to hand over the fruits of their endeavours to their families. Landowners argued that the Act prevented a landlord ever obtaining posession of their land. Despite their opposition, the bill passed.