With farming confronting a barrage of major changes in government support, economic conditions, and environmental pressure, the Virgin Money seminar at this year’s National Sheep Association (NSA) Scotsheep event on June 5, will offer expert guidance to farmers on planning how to steer their business into a sustainable, successful, and profitable future.

At this flagship event for the Scottish sheep farming community, Virgin Money’s agricultural team will be focusing on what that future might look like for Scottish farming in general and sheep farming in particular.

Chaired by head of agriculture for Virgin Money, Brian Richardson, the seminar will be presented by a formidable line-up of experts from different fields of the farming industry, including managing director of Harrison & Hetherington, the UK’s largest livestock trading company, Scott Donaldson; senior livestock manager for Morrisons and Woodheads, Emma Nelson and head of rural at land management and property consultants, Galbraith, Ian Hope.

As chair of the session, Brian will set the scene and highlight the importance of planning and looking forward, as he explains: “Understanding what the future will be for sheep farmers is a daunting challenge given the pace of change in farming and the continuing uncertainties around future political support for the industry. But farming is a long-term business, and it is absolutely vital for all farm businesses to look forward and plan for the future now.

READ MORE | The Scottish Farmer: Media Partner for Scotsheep 2024

“Farmers need to be making the right decisions today to secure their success tomorrow, and I hope that by bringing together speakers from these key areas of expertise alongside our own banking experience, we will be able to give some useful guidance and a starting point for that journey.

“There are many positive steps farmers can take to make their business future-proof, and although we certainly won’t have all the answers, we will welcome plenty of tough questions on the day, and hopefully we can give everyone some pointers to their own way forward.”

NSA Scotsheep 2024 will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, East Lothian, by kind permission of the Hamilton family.