X Factor for Farmers?
Posted: Monday 29 August 2011
Young award-winning Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Graduate wins tenancy.
Recently reported by Scottish Land and Estates was the interesting story about one of their members, Ian Christie, from Alford in Aberdeenshire who fought off 15 other applicants for the tenancy of Ballaterach Farm, on the Inchmarnoch Estate near Ballater (initially on a five-year Short Limited Duration). Mr Christie, who has recently graduated from the SAC, has spent four years building up a breeding flock and last year won the Agriscot 2010 Business Skills Award organised by the SAC for which he had to produce a detailed farming business plan.
Ralph Peters, estate factor and a partner in Strutt & Parker’s Banchory office, said: “We had 15 good applications but Ian’s was very strong and the landlord was keen to give a young farmer an opportunity. Ian comes from a farming background, came across very well in interviews and his business plan, while ambitious, is plausible. The owners were struck by his enthusiasm and, subject to conditions, were delighted to award him the lease and give him this brilliant opportunity.”
Mr Christie commented, “I am very grateful to Mrs Carson for giving Rachel and me this fantastic opportunity. I hope that the example set by me will encourage other ambitious young farmers and persuade them that it is possible to get a start in farming through the tenanted sector.”
Today’s demands for rural business men and women require a careful balance of agricultural knowledge and business acumen. The Agriculture and Rural Team at Morton Fraser regularly work with both landowners and tenant farmers to ensure all aspects of tenancy and business are compliant and protected for profit-driven trading.
We advise on the full range of agricultural tenancies, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters, including, but not limited to:
- Traditional agricultural tenancies governed by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991
- Both forms of limited duration tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003; and grazing or mowing lets.
Our working knowledge of both the 1991 Act tenancy regime and the post-2003 Act reforms ensures that we can provide the best advice regardless of the issues you may be facing.
We also advise on other forms of agreement covering different types of occupation such as licences and contracting agreements. Whether your aim is to secure IHT reliefs or simply to enjoy the convenience of having your ground looked after by a contractor, we can ensure that your contract farming agreement is fit for purpose and tailored to your specific needs.
You can sign up for our regular free Agriculture bulletin here.
If you would like to speak to our Agriculture team you can enquire at privateclient@morton-fraser.com
