MORE OPPORTUNITIES for the next generation of farmers are to be created using public land, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead announced this week.

Since 2012, Scottish Government land has been used to create 11 starter farms, particularly on the National Forest Estate, and to explore ways to create even more, Mr Lochhead set up an expert group last year, which is due to submit a formal report and recommendations this summer.

“Ensuring the next generation of farmers can get a foothold on the farming ladder is absolutely crucial for the future of the industry that puts food on our tables,” said Mr Lochhead.

“Our innovative approach of creating starter farms on public land has been a hugely successful way of doing this which is why I last year established an expert group to maximise the amount of publicly-owned land available to young farmers. Even though the group has yet to submit its final report, we are now beginning to reap the rewards of its endeavours with even more starter farms and opportunities for young farmers coming onto the market.”

Expert group leader Henry Graham, who chairs rural training body Lantra, said: “Over the last few months, I’ve been very pleased with the progress made by the group on identifying what farmers of the future need in progressing their career by delivering proposals to maximise starter opportunities on publicly owned land. It has been obvious from the discussions we’ve had with new entrants and different organisations that access to land is the key requirement.

“Over the last few years, I’ve been involved in the selection panels for the new entrants on the starter farms on the National Forest Estate. It has been great to see the drive, initiative and enthusiasm of these young people but it was also very clear that even before they took over these part time starter units, they all had been taking small areas of land on seasonal lets, often quite far apart,” said Mr Graham.

“There is still a little time before the report is completed but due to the cooperation of organisations such as Forest Enterprise Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Crown Estate, SNH and Scottish Water, a few of these smaller areas of opportunities will be advertised shortly. We don’t want to hold back this year’s opportunities because hopefully the growing season is not too far off and drier ground is round the corner.”

ScotGov’s existing starter farm programme on the National Forest Estate offers successful entrants a 10 year lease to enable them to build up a farming business. More information on the initiative and details of how to apply for the new units now becoming available can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/starterfarms

For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday’s issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk