Meet the Consultant - Janette Sutherland
I’m Janette Sutherland, a Senior Agricultural Consultant and team leader of our team of four in the Portree office. Our team comprises of Hannah, Agricultural Technician, Sammy-Jo who has recently joined us as a Trainee Consultant; and Christine, our office administrator who keeps us all right! Our clients are mostly crofters, and the backbone of agriculture on Skye are store lambs and calves. I joined this office as a Trainee Consultant and clearly have enjoyed it, as I am still here! I joined in 2005 after an advisor who had worked in Skye encouraged me to apply. Our family were SAC Consulting subscribers, and I had just returned home after getting my Ecology degree in Edinburgh.
It is a real privilege to be able to work with our clients to navigate all the changes thrown at them; changes in croft regulatory processes, croft registrations, Basic Payment Scheme, electronic sheep tags, Agri-Environmental Schemes or Carbon Audits. We are currently helping our clients to meet their obligations under the Whole Farm Plan in 2025.
Crofting and farming is integral to Skye, forming the backbone of managing the landscapes that tourists love, protecting habitats for rare wildlife, and engaging in rural communities. Our store lambs and calves are the first link in the chain of quality ‘Scotch Beef’ and ‘Scotch Lamb’.
I am involved with the delivery of the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) programme, including producing factsheets, podcasts and meeting facilitation. A recent highlight was an event called ‘The Value of Skye Cattle’ that not only showed the value for wildlife from Corncrakes, bats and wading birds of cattle but also that the annual one day sale of weaned calves brings £1.1 million into the local economy.
I am a founding member of the Skye Crofting and Corncrake Partnership that works with crofters and conservationists to create and manage habitats for these noisy, if rarely seen, birds. I have been involved with a lot of biodiversity work, helping farms and crofts to bring Corncrakes back to their land and have supported farmers to apply for environmental funding. For more information on, some of the work that the crofters undertake for these birds, please see FAS TV, Series 3 Episode 25.
I have a particular interest in Common Grazings and Sheep Stock Clubs. Collaboration and partnership are so important, but often not very easy. I have over the years developed guidance and supporting information, podcasts and videos for crofting businesses while trying to raise awareness of the unique sustainable land management practice of Common Grazings. I wrote a paper titled ‘Common grazing in the age of ‘conditionality’, on how new policy directions will impact these vital resources. I am also an invitee to the NFUS ‘Crofting Highlands and Islands Committee’; I enjoy taking part with discussions and marvel at how diverse the crofting counties are.
In May 2024, I had a “once in a lifetime” experience of attending an award ceremony in the Houses of Parliament as a finalist in the first National Women in Agriculture Awards, where I was shortlisted for the Agricultural Advisor of the Year category. These awards recognise and celebrate female talents in the industry, with the aim of creating a community and network of outstanding woman in agriculture who can become mentors and role models to the next generation. The venue was quite exciting for a political nerd like myself! I was honoured to be shortlisted for the award and it was great to meet all the women working in many different spheres of agriculture across the UK. There are many categories, so please visit the National Women in Agriculture website to nominate women in your life.
I am very fortunate to have job that allows me to work with crofters and farmers to manage their crofts to both produce quality livestock and benefit wildlife.
Janette Sutherland, Senior Consultant, Janette.Sutherland@sac.co.uk
Unearthed is the exclusive SAC Consulting members' monthly newsletter. Unearthed offers insights and tips from our experts on what we think is in store for farming and crofting in the coming months in order to protect and enhance your business.
Posted by Unearthed News on 20/01/2025
