MORE THAN 250 ladies involved in the Scottish farming sector gathered at RBS Gogarburn, on Monday, to hear views from a panel of four women.

The Women of Agriculture group first came together in April, 2015 as a means to recognise the contribution of women to the agricultural, rural and land-based industries, and support and develop opportunities going forward – and Monday was its third meeting.

The panel was chaired by Professor Sally Shortall, and featured Priscilla Gordon-Duff, who is heavily involved with all aspects of the family-owned Drummuir Estate, near Keith; Maddy Norval, 25, who took on a 62-acre croft in Rogart, Sutherland, and combines this with an online craft business; Melissa Irvine, who rose to fame during the BBC's 'This Farming Life' and helps on the family-run farm near Keith; and fellow TV star Sybil MacPherson, who also appeared on the BBC programme but, in her own right, rose to be chairman of the National Sheep Association as well as her local NFUS branch.

During questions, NFU Scotland was given a hard time for the lack of women and indeed the younger generation in general sitting on its boards, with the worry from one audience member, Daye Tucker, of Carbeth Home Farm, being that the union is losing the influence of more open-minded youngsters and women.

But Sybil was quick to point out that she is chair of her local Lorn branch which benefits from a lot of young and enthusiastic people at meetings, while Angus-based Gill Lawrie added: "So many young people are trying to make a career, earn a living and have a family that they don't often have time to head to meetings, meaning that the people who sit on these boards do tend to be the older generation."

Caroline Montgomerie, of Lessnessock Farm and chair of the Cumnock and Failford branch, said: "I found absolutely no discrimination in Ayrshire. The main issue we have is that there are a lot of dairy farmers in the area and many of them are still milking at the time of meetings – we've tried hard to get both young people and women along but aren't having much luck.

"Going forward, it's my business that is holding me back from going on to regional boards, and nothing to do with the fact I'm female," she added.

Perhaps one of the key questions was what are the main challenges going forward and how do we cope?

Priscilla Gordon-Duff, who is heavily involved in all aspects of her family's Drummuir Estate, near Keith, answered: "On estates there are always changes but of the values of not focussing on one product or one type of land-based industry means we are fortunate that if three parts of the business are on the way down you hope at least one or two things are on the way up."