Crofting in Stornoway: Iain Macmillan’s crofting journey

_{Ian Macmillan on the farm with his dog, Sam.}

I can honestly say that I have always been a crofter. My dad was a crofter and Harris Tweed weaver, his father was a crofter and my mother’s father was a herring fisherman and crofter, so it goes back generations.

I have always had the passion for having my own sheep flock and this has developed from Blackfaces to Texel Crosses. When I was younger, we only had a small croft of 2.5 hectares and common grazings but when opportunity came to take on a small farm beside our holding this gave me an opportunity to expand my business. Crofting is very much a release from the pressures of work and an opportunity to work with my own young family and make friends across the island.

Crofting is a way of life and blends in with the culture of island life and experiences. I wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else. The power of the landscape, changing climate and the transition from successive generations has an impact on all islanders.

Having a croft and working as an Agricultural Consultant with SAC Consulting for the past 18 years, offers the opportunity to relate to my clients and other crofters. I’ll hold my hands up to not being the perfect crofter but I’m an open book and if things are not going to plan then there is always someone I can ask for assistance. The local crofters see that I’m going through the same wins and losses on the land and in the sale ring, inclement weather and pressures of everyday life. If I see good practice, I’m not ashamed to ‘steal’ a good idea and to share it. You can learn a lot from the older generation.

_{Ewes walking home from the dipping.}

In my role we are here to support, and I have the benefit from seeing many crofters from small to larger units over a year and I get to listen to what is happening on their crofts. If anything, this helps to shape the direction of advice and assistance I and SAC Consulting can deliver on the island.

I approach crofting with a ‘glass half full’ mentality. Change happens, not always the way we want it, but we must address it head on. If it’s a wet year, silage crops are poor, stock losses are higher, we suffer a close bereavement, new schemes are developed. They can affect us, but we should not suffer in silence, asking for support and assistance should not be frowned upon.

Our island offers a limited extent of quality land, expensive input costs, and separation from wider markets. However, this is not holding the local crofters back. The development in the quality of livestock over the past 20 years has been exceptional. The willingness of crofters to adapt, learn new techniques, diversify, and develop local markets such as locally sourced meat and vegetables is encouraging.  Hill cattle from North Harris are a credit to their owners and you won’t get much tougher areas to work. Young crofters working together to use islands for managing large sheep flocks and carrying on past traditions should be rewarded giving the benefits to habitat and wildlife. 

We are seeing surprising interest from younger people coming into crofting with more women involved at the forefront of their businesses. This is a generation with a firm grip on technology and an unenviable positive approach to risk. Looking at new systems, getting involved in village grazings, attending training events, introducing new breeding, looking at diversification. It leaves me somewhat breathless but if I can encourage and establish their businesses to give them a good platform to emerge, I will feel I am doing a good job.

Iain Murdo Macmillan

Senior Agricultural Consultant

Lewis and Harris

Posted by SAC Consulting on 15/11/2024