On the 12th until the 14th of June 2018, the Newbie consortium held its second project meeting. The meeting took place in Aberdeen and was organized by the James Hutton Institute. The consortium discussed the barriers of new farmers in developing sustainable businesses, including access to land, labour, capital, housing, markets, networks and knowledge. Furthermore, the consortium shared experience in the establishment of national steering boards and discussion circles.
As part of the NEWBIE project meeting in Aberdeen, researchers and agricultural advisors visited four ‘new entrant’ farms in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where enthusiastic farmers have adopted a range of approaches to address the biggest barriers to new entrants to farming. The visits demonstrated how barriers of new entrants are shared across Europe, with Scotland facing particular challenges regarding access to land. Increasing support for new entrant farmers in Scotland is a key policy priority for the Scottish Government.
New farmers can face a number of barriers in developing sustainable businesses, including access to land, labour, capital, housing, markets, networks and knowledge. These barriers are shared across Europe, with Scotland facing particular challenges regarding access to land. Increasing support for new entrant farmers in Scotland is a key policy priority for the Scottish Government.
As part of the NEWBIE project meeting, researchers and agricultural advisors visited four ‘new entrant’ farms in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where enthusiastic farmers have adopted a range of approaches to address the biggest barriers to new entrants to farming.
Our first new entrant visit in Aberdeen led to Kirsten Williams at Upper Tullochbeg, Huntly. Kirsten is a farm advisor and member of the FONE Group (Farming Opportunities for New Entrants). She and her partner have a 10 year starter farm that they rent from Forestry Commission Scotland. Second farm on our schedule was Megan Albon at Coldwells Farm, Insch. Megan is in the first year of a market garden enterprise. Third farm on the schedule was William Willis at Glasgoforest Farm. William is a successor dairy farmer with an innovative milk vending machine. Finally, the Newbie consortium visited John Fyall, Sittyton Farm . John is a farm consultant, new entrant sheep farmer, and current chair of the National Sheep Association (NSA) Scotland.