DESPITE THE high degree of uncertainty across the whole of Scottish agriculture, the likely disruption to policy, support measures and trade patterns can spell opportunity for new entrants.

That was the message given to delegates at the annual new entrants gathering by SRUC senior economist Steve Thomson, who said that while there was often resentment within the industry towards change, policy and practices had to evolve and adapt:

“And when the status quo is disrupted there will inevitably be opportunities for new entrants,” he told the Farm Advisory Service organised conference.

Thomson also said that if future policy moved towards a closer focus on climate mitigation measures and the environment, areas of the country which had faced many constraints could, in the future, find themselves in a very good place:

“With both a climate and biodiversity emergency declared, many parts of the country which have in the past been viewed as having limited options are also the ones which account for the country’s high proportion of environmentally designated areas, such as deep peat bogs, and could enjoy new focus under new policies.”

But delegates also heard that while Scotland might be the best of places for new entrants to set up and develop innovative farm and rural-based enterprises, it could also be the worst of places, with opinion divided amongst some of the speakers over the encouragement and incentives which were available for ideas which could contribute not only to improved business performance but also to the wider rural economy.

Paisley-born Jenny McKerr who, together with her husband, set up a beef and sheep farm which is supplemented by its own award-winning gin distillery, and who intends to further diversify into food and drink tourism, said that the opportunities to draw on knowledge and advice offered in Scotland were second to none: “Having a Scottish Government funded integrated land management plan carried out on our farm business helped us to identify opportunities and key into a wide range of expertise through the SAC – and this offered us huge benefits and fantastic support in terms of knowledge transfer.”

However the owner and developer of the innovative Laggan Outdoor, revealed that while his business had now diversified into other areas on their farm, the activity centre itself is set to close its doors in November this year.

A host of activities had been introduced since the centre opened for business in 2007, ranging from archery lessons to Europe’s longest zip wire and a human slingshot on a few acres in rural Dumfriesshire after farmer’s son Duncan McConchie returned home after a career in television.

More recently a substantial capital investment had seen the business further diversify into seaview chalets, a high class wedding venue and a soon-to-be opened bistro.

However McConochie said that the tough decisions to close the activity centre – with the loss of 16 jobs – had been taken as Transport Scotland had left the business in no doubt that any further increase in traffic visiting the centre would see it forced to pay between £300,000 and £400,000 to upgrade the A75 which accessed the centre.

“In the activity business you have to be constantly introducing something new into the mix – but further investment in the Outdoor Centre made less sense as attracting more people would have led us to costly road upgrades.

“And while we were keen to negotiate with the Scottish Government – and despite promises of help and support from individual MSPs – they are unwilling to budge as it was a condition of our planning permission – so we’ll now focus on the hospitality side,” said McConchie.