The North Ayrshire Monitor farm meeting taking place on September 12 will focus on the important but sometimes sensitive subject of succession planning.
The meeting will take place at the Auchens Restaurant, Dundonald, and begin at 7:30pm.
Heather Wildman from Saviour Associates will be speaking at the event and will highlight the advantages of planning for the future and suggest ways of approaching the process for farming businesses.
Avoiding the key issue
According to Wildman, the process of succession planning is one that many families choose to avoid for a number of reasons.
“For some people, they are afraid that the subject may cause conflict within the home, the process will be too difficult, or they simply don’t know how to approach it with their family,” he said.
“Time can also be a contributing factor,” said Wildman. “When you are running a business day-to-day it may be difficult to find the time to consider long-term issues.”
Heather Wildman
However, she urged farmers to consider planning at an early stage in order to secure the success of their business for the next generation.
Wildman, who has published a guide to succession aimed at farmers, acknowledges that every farm business and situation is different, and it is important that each business develops a succession plan that works for them.
John Howie, from Girtridge Farm, North Ayrshire’s Monitor Farm, runs the 140ha livestock farm in partnership with his mother Margaret and his sister Mary.
He is hoping that the meeting will help support farmers in the area who may be looking for guidance on the succession planning process in their own businesses.
More information
The North Ayrshire Monitor Farm is one of nine monitor farms that have been established across Scotland in a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Agriculture Horticulture Development Board Cereals and Oilseeds, with funding from the Scottish Government.
The aim of the programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
Those attending the meeting are invited for a meal at the restaurant at 6:00pm before proceedings get underway at 7:30pm.
Farmers wishing to attend the free event are asked to confirm their attendance by September 11Â at: 01292-525-252. Alternatively, those interested can email:Â [email protected].
For more information about the monitor farm programme Click here .
