Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Jenn Stewart. Jenn Stewart, partner & Head of Rural and Landed Estates at Johnston Carmichael, joined the company in 2019. Jenn has extensive experience in advising owner managed businesses and provides counsel to a wide-ranging portfolio of clients across multiple sectors. Jenn was brought up in her own family farming business and is now involved in her husband’s farming business. Jenn talks to us about the topic and theme of succession. A succession plan provides a level of certainty for everyone to ensure the ongoing sustainability and financial sustainability of the business, therefore the earlier this topic is brought to the table the better.

Related FAS Resources

You can get funding for succession planning through FAS. See Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources

Johnston Carmichael | Chartered Accountants

Jenn Stewart LinkedIn Jenn Stewart - Partner, Head of Rural & Landed Estates & Dundee Office Head - Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers | LinkedIn

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

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National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Kirsten Williams. Kirsten is a livestock specialist with SAC Consulting and she also runs a farm business on Ranna Farm in Aberdeenshire with her husband Ross. They have sheep, cattle, and a turkey enterprise on their rented farm. They were new entrants, working hard to secure a tenancy and build up their business to support them and their family. Kirsten has a really positive outlook on life and she tells us how determination and hard work have helped them succeed.

FAS Resources

Women in Agriculture (WiA) Discussion Group at Farm Advisory Scotland (fas.scot)

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by some of the team at Glenrinnes Estate at the foot of Ben Rinnes in Moray. Estate manager Ali Laing tells us about the estate as a whole, and we are joined by head keeper Gordon Aitchison, distillery manager Martin Peroni, trainee farm worker Alex Shearer and head gardener Damon Powell. They all share their stories of working on Glenrinnes Estate and how their skills and enthusiasm come together to help run a successful community focused Scottish Estate.

Other Resources

Glenrinnes Organic Estate

Eight Lands Organic Spirits (eight-lands.com)

Pre-Apprenticeship | Ringlink Scotland

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email:  advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to John Scott and Jock Gibson from Farmstrong Scotland. Farmstrong Scotland is a new initiative which is inspired by Farmstrong New Zealand and Doug Avery’s visit to Scotland a couple of years ago. John and Jock tell us what Farmstrong is, why they want to be involved in it, what wellbeing means to them, and give examples of how they implement Farmstrong’s five steps to wellbeing in their own lives.

FAS Resources

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Agriculture | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

What's Stopping You - Wellbeing | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources

Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well

Step-Guide.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk)

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lawrence Martin who was a new entrant to farming. After doing an HNC in agriculture at college, he started an apprenticeship with Lantra and SRUC. The apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to get out on farm and ultimately became a farm manager. He tells us of his farming journey, how the apprenticeship scheme works and how you can get involved in the scheme.

FAS Resources

Managing People | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources

Carbeth Home Farm – an an adventure in ecology, agriculture and tourism

From apprentice with no farming background to farm manager | The Scottish Farmer

Apprenticeships - Lantra

Study at SRUC | Apprenticeships

Modern Apprentice Lawrence Martin tells us how much he enjoys his career in farming - YouTube

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

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National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lucy Mitchell. Lucy was an active member of Young Farmers from her early twenties and went on to become national chair of SAYFC from 2022 to 2023. Lucy has recently handed over this role, and she tells us about what Young Farmers is, what sort of opportunities it gives young people, and what her year as national chair was like.

Related Resources:

Lucy Mitchell | LinkedIn

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC

You searched for lucy mitchell - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (sayfc.org)

Scottish Rural Leadership Programme | Elevator UK

Challenge of Rural Leadership - Worshipful Company of Farmers (farmerslivery.org.uk)

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Ana Allamand. Ana grew up in Chile before moving to Scotland. She tells us about agriculture in Chile and her work over here with the Soil Association. Ana works to bring farmers together to learn from each other and foster innovation, and has great knowledge about how culture and agriculture fit together.

FAS Resources

FAS Connect | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Resources

Agreocology project series:

Facilitating the Transition; Enabling the Transition; Strengthening Livelihoods.

Soil Association Scotland

Our Work In Scotland (soilassociation.org)

Twitter: Soil Association Scotland (@SoilAssocScot) / X (twitter.com)

Soil Association (UK wide)

Soil Association

Twitter: Soil Association (@SoilAssociation) / X (twitter.com)

Other organisations Ana mentioned:

Nourish

Nature Friendly Farming Network

Landworkers Alliance

Pasture Fed Livestock Association

Scottish Crofting Federation

Parkhill Farm

Aipple cider

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

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National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, aka The Black Farmer. Wilfred is of the Windrush Generation and describes his difficult start to life in the UK, before he eventually found his chance working at the BBC, where he found his passion for food. He left television to start his own food and drink marketing company which gave him the opportunity to finally realise his dream of owning his own farm. The Black Farmer is now a successful brand which sells a range of products including sausages and deli products. Wilfred tells us about his life and his determination to become a farmer, and how the danger of playing it safe can hold us back from success.

https://www.theblackfarmer.com/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot