THERE’S a ‘silver anniversary’ for a special group of visitors to the Royal Highland Show.

For the 25th year in succession a group of New Zealand farmers will be flying from the other side of the world to attend the Highland and gain an insight into farming in Scotland.

This tour was the brainchild of New Zealand farm consultant, Ross Macmillan, who in the 1970s spent a year on an exchange advisory programme working for the SAC office based in St Boswells. After a rewarding and enjoyable time in the Borders, he and his wife, Linda, returned to life in New Zealand but their time in Scotland remained close to their hearts.

In the early 1990s, Ross was managing his own farm consultancy and had founded Farm to Farm Tours after recognising the need for farmers to travel and learn. The business hosted a number of agricultural visitors to New Zealand and it wasn’t long before he hatched a plan to return to Scotland, with 25 or so New Zealand farmers in tow.

Since then, Farm To Farm has brought hundreds of New Zealand farmers to Scotland on an annual basis, which now comprises almost a month in the UK and Ireland – as well as the visit to the show.

Although Ross and Linda haven’t accompanied all of the groups, they have made it half a dozen times and a few of their farmer clients have returned for a second look.

With New Zealand having a large Scottish heritage, many of its original livestock and farming systems were based on Scottish traditions. Over time, New Zealand farm systems have adapted and developed to deal with local climatic, environmental and economic factors, such as the removal of subsidies in the mid-1980s and competing with exports in the international market place.

“When I returned to New Zealand after the year in Scotland, I was motivated to help New Zealand farmers improve their flock lambing percentages and slaughter weights as well as lifting cereal crop yields,” Ross told The SF.

“At that time, the 10/t ha wheat yield target was the goal. Scotland was ahead of us in those respects, but since then we have in the most part caught up and even passed Scottish performance levels.”

Ross and Linda’s daughter, Kirstie, who is now part of the business, will be accompanying this year’s group of 30 from New Zealand, and are looking forward to catching up with their regular farmer hosts. While in Scotland, the group will be guided by regular guide, Fiona Sloan, in her role as Farm To Farm’s local tour director.