Agriculture has faced some draconian transformations in recent years, but go back further, and the industry has been completely metamorphosed, such that it is now virtually impossible for Scotland’s budding young stockmen and women to get a foothold on the livestock ladder and farm in their own right.

Land prices often at a minimum of £5000 per acre, massive farm rents complete with extortionate machinery and breeding stock costs, not to mention never-ending fixed and variable costs have priced the industry out of the market for all but the real farming enthusiasts born into the industry. And even then its mostly only for those whose parents remain successful, mastering IAACS forms and the myriad of ever increasing paperwork.

Over the past 20 years alone, the industry has been revolutionised. Small family farms are becoming a thing of the past due to financial difficulties, and a massive paperwork burden, while not surprisingly the youngsters seek out higher paid professions elsewhere. Instead, modern farming appears based more on phenomenal costs of production and economies of scale. But, what about the fun and enjoyment which many believe has been completely ripped out of the heart of the industry?

The Scottish Farmer went to visit two individuals who have experienced opposite sides of the equation to find out more...

 

There can be few better ‘kent’ faces in the Scottish livestock sector than those of Tom and Robin Findlay, The Rench, Dechmont, who are currently renowned for breeding top quality Shetland sheep, having in the past enjoyed a lifetime dedicated to various farming enterprises from ploughing fields with Clydesdale horses to milking cows, growing prize winning crops and bringing out show winning prime cattle and sheep.

At the canny old age of 84, our Tom has achieved many feats, the majority of us mere mortals could only dream of – who else do you know who has not only secured championship honours in both Clydesdale and conventional ploughing competitions, numerous prize rosettes at fatstock events up and down the country, inter-breed fleece awards and numerous grain tickets at the Winter Fair where he also toppled the World Toronto Winter Fair champion in the late 1970s? And that’s before you consider the four breed championships and at least six reserve wins he and Robin notched up at the Highland Show, with pedigree Shetland sheep over the past 20 years.

But, then you are more likely to be successful when you relish every working day and take pride in your chosen profession.

“I’ve had a wonderful life and I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Tom who must be one of the kindest, most unassuming gentlemen farmers The Scottish Farmer has had the pleasure of meeting.

“I enjoyed every day farming – we had four full-time men when we first came to Burnhouse, Dechmont, Broxburn, in 1944, having previously farmed at Drumclog, Strathaven, and at busy times we took on a lot of townsfolk to help harvest the potatoes, so there was always plenty of chat. People had time then to stop and talk then, and we enjoyed ourselves – we even used to play football at lunch-time, but that’s all changed. Now, most family farms are made up of a father and son team working flat out, all hours,” said Tom who was a founder member of both Avondale and Bathgate JACs.

But having witnessed so many, many good times, to include the trends and mutations in UK farming, he has no regrets about retiring and selling the farm when he did, in 1985. That was when farming was just beginning to take on one of it’s biggest transformations, which over the years has resulted in the loss of many talented young farmers’ sons and daughters being lured into the city by hopes of fast cars and big fat pay cheques.

Not surprisingly, he fears for the future of the industry, especially when the returns from farming – if there are any – cannot compete with those of big business.

“There was a time when someone could start up in farming with a horse and a plough or a horse and cart and eventually have a farm to run, but I can’t see how a young person would want to farm now unless they’ve been born into the industry or they’ve got huge financial backing. In fact I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go into farming unless they had the finance – it’s just not worth it and that’s really, really sad when you think we’re losing so many good young stockmen and women.”

Tom also admits that while the industry is reaping the rewards of a growing number of successful businessmen buying into pedigree livestock farming, only those with real stockmanship capabilities are likely to succeed on a regular basis.

As a real ‘kenner’ and an avid fan of all breeds and types of livestock farming and cropping, Tom believes only a select number of people have that enviable gift of being able to see an animal for it’s true value, which in livestock breeding can mean that all important difference between making money or, a huge loss.

He added: “Good stockmanship is either in you or it’s not. You can learn it to a certain degree but ideally it has to be bred into you. Part of the secret to breeding and bringing out a good animal is getting the right article in the first place. I was always taught that a good animal has to have character, so you start at the head and work through. It has to have a good level back and have plenty of shape, backend and be good on its legs. You have to get the basics right in any job.”

And, that’s where Tom succeeded in his purchase of show winning cattle. When the Findlays sold off their Ayrshire dairy herd, in 1968, they opted to increase the cropping side of the business to provide home-grown feeds to finish up to 100-150 head of cattle and 1000 North Country Cheviot lambs, most of which were either bought at Lairg, Dingwall, or Rogart.

But it was the cattle that were always enjoyed most in those days with Tom and his right hand man then, Bobby Mitchell, travelling throughout much of the north of Scotland to buy in calves, many of which went on to win Christmas Show butchers’ championship awards year after year after year at Lanark, Peebles, Biggar and Bathgate. Most years, it was Aberdeen-Angus crosses, many of which were bought privately from Mrs MacDonald, Dornoch, or Miss Warbrick, who owned a croft at Bonar Bridge, that the Findlays took top honours with, but they triumphed with all breeds and crosses.

But in contrast to some of the extortionate prices paid these days for potential show calves, Tom never spent over the odds, with all purchases made purely on a commercial basis and often after he had placed the top winners, judging calf shows up and down the country. Furthermore, while Tom and Bobby spent many a long night happily whittling away the hours clipping and training potential show calves to walk and stand, they never used any fancy feeds – home-grown bruised barley, oats, turnips and potatoes, were always the order of the day.

It’s the people from those days that are missed most now too, as the Findlays not only built up a great business relationship with so many of these farmers they also established great friendships.

However, their Rench Shetland sheep flock – introduced purely by accident but which proved an instant hit with both Tom and Robin – undoubtedly helped to ease the pain.

“Looking back we’ve had more pleasure out of the Shetlands than anything else,” said Tom.

“Keeping Shetlands and showing them has been a wonderful way to spend our retirement because we’ve met so many good friends from all walks of life through them.

“Our first two started off as a gift but we got so fond of them that we eventually increased numbers up to 50 ewes, with purchases from Andy Abernethy, Clousta, Shetland.

“Shetland sheep were really good for us at that time because they gave us an added interest, and they weren’t too big – we could lift them, turn them and do anything we wanted with them. They’re also really natural, hardy sheep and each one has it’s own character,” added Tom who won their first Highland Show breed championship with a Shetland in 1991.

Tom and Robin have won numerous breed titles since and have gone on to judge the Shetland classes at almost every show in Scotland. And it wasn’t just Tom who knew the sheep either – often if would be Robin who was regularly asked for advice by fellow ‘Shetland folk’.

In fact, such has been their dedication to the Shetland Sheep Society that they were awarded honorary membership in 2006.

They’re not finished either, Tom already has several judging stints lined up for this year and he also hopes to show a few Shetlands from their much smaller Rench ewe flock at this year’s Highland.

That’s of course if there’s time – their two daughters, Jessie, who lives and works in Birmingham, and Margot who lives with her family in New Zealand, could also be staying at the same time.