Consulting and Commercial

Crop Updates: December 2024

Our regular round up of the issues affecting crops around Scotland, summarises how crops are developing and what weather and other issues are affecting them.…

SAC Consulting
20/12/2024

Diversification Through a Succession Lens

Without a vision for your future, how do you know what you are working towards, or why you are doing what you do? For many farmers and crofters, their purpose comes from a drive to build a sustainable business, produce high-quality nutritious food, and protect and enhance our environment while creating a fulfilling lifestyle for their family.…

SAC Consulting
11/12/2024

Survey participation the key to the future of farming

Scotland’s farmers are being asked to participate in the vital round of annual data gathering that will help inform the direction of policy decision-making in the nation’s agricultural sector. Every year the Scottish Farm Business Survey (SFBS) gathers key economic and environmental data to provide in-depth focus and analysis. The information is used to help Scottish Government shape its future agricultural policy.…

SAC Consulting
06/12/2024

Safeguarding the future of Scotland’s potato industry at 26th SACAPP Conference

Successful potato production requires continual innovation and improvement – the market and threats to production are ever-changing. Meeting the challenges will be the focus of the 26th annual gathering in Dundee of the country’s leading potato producers and the companies that support them.…

SAC Consulting
04/12/2024

Crop Updates: November 2024

Our regular round up of the issues affecting crops around Scotland, summarises how crops are developing and what weather and other issues are affecting them. The update provides information on the…

SAC Consulting
03/12/2024

Fife course in new drive to widen golf access

Elmwood Golf Course. Under-16s will be offered free membership at a popular Fife golf club under new plans to widen access to the sport. SRUC has announced that new adult and family season tickets at…

SRUC
02/12/2024

Crofters have six months to meet future payment conditions

Scotland’s crofters risk missing vital funding if they do not embrace new payment conditions, SAC Consulting has warned. The Scottish Government wants members of the crofting community to meet new environmental guidelines as a condition of financial support.…

SAC Consulting
22/11/2024

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…

SAC Consulting
15/11/2024

Crofting on the West Coast: Laura MacGregor’s crofting journey

I am a fifth-generation crofter from the village of Taynuilt on the West Coast of Scotland. My crofting journey started at a young age, with helping my grandfather and father doing jobs that involved being outside with the cattle.…

SAC Consulting
15/11/2024

Smallholdings on the West Coast: Niall Campbell’s farming journey

Niall Campbell. My journey into actively working a smallholding started quite late in life. I have worked on farms and crofts helping out at peak periods for most of my life and always enjoyed the experience.…

SAC Consulting
15/11/2024

Crofting in Orkney: Graham Scott’s crofting journey

Growing up surrounded by livestock (cattle, sheep, poultry and a goat) on my parents smallholding was always going to leave a deep impression on me. With all five of my mothers’ sisters and their…

SAC Consulting
15/11/2024

Succession and the Budget 2024: How do we talk about death and money?

The recent UK budget and its changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) has generated a significant reaction across industry. The long-held ability of family farming businesses to pass land and assets on to the next generation upon the death of the owner free of inheritance tax is gone. We now must pay much closer attention to how we do this as individual farming businesses. …

Sascha Grierson
13/11/2024