Scots Tory grant plan to boost numbers entering sector

In an exclusive to The Scottish Farmer, rural affairs spokesperson Rachael Hamilton outlined the policy which they say could attract up to 500 new farmers with grants of up to £100,000.

The scheme would be available to any farmer under the age of 41 – mirroring the age limit of the Scottish Government scheme.

The Young Farmers Start-Up Grant mentioned would also incorporate further payments for farmers who want to branch out into agri-tourism or other projects.

Speaking ahead of the official announcement at the party conference in Aberdeen, Ms Hamilton said: “All too often under the SNP-Green government, young people in our rural and remote communities are facing far too many barriers to enter the world of farmers.

“Previous schemes to support young entrants into the sector were extremely popular but ministers have failed to continue them.

“That is why I am delighted to announce that the Scottish Conservatives are committed to introducing a Young Person’s Agricultural Enterprise Fund– worth up to nearly £100,000 for successful applicants – in order to attract 500 new farmers into the industry.

“Every young person living in rural Scotland should have the opportunity to farm if they wish to do so but the SNP-Green government are not on their side.

“We want to be as ambitious as possible in ensuring that we have the farmers in place to continue to produce high-quality food for generations to come and I urge SNP-Green ministers to adopt our plans.”

The Scottish Government previously ran The Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme (YFSUG) and the New Entrants Start-Up Grant Scheme (NESUG) between 2014 and 2020.

The Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme had a budget of £10.8 million and delivered 205 grants. The New Entrants Start-Up Grant had a budget of £0.8 million and delivered 49 grants. The fourth and final round of applications closed in September 2017, followed by the confirmed closure of the schemes in 2018.