The Jardine family’s 123-hectare farm on the Applegirth Estate near Moffat recently welcomed a visit from Agriculture and Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie. The visit focused on how public land is helping new entrants succeed in the dairy industry.
Andrew and Suzanne Jardine secured their tenancy on the estate in 2019, having won the opportunity over 16 other applicants. Despite having little previous experience in dairy farming, the Jardines’ determination and support from Crown Estate Scotland allowed them to grow their business from humble beginnings – starting with just one heifer and no dairy facilities – to now managing a herd of 120 milking Jerseys and an additional 120 followers.
The visit comes ahead of a summit where repurposing publicly owned land for farming and attracting new people into the agricultural sector will be key topics of discussion.
The Scottish Government established the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group to explore how to provide new entrants with opportunities to secure land and start their farming businesses.
(From left to right) Oster Milambo, Jim Fairlie, Suzanne Jardine and Andrew JardineMinister Mr Fairlie expressed his support for the Jardines’ success, noting that their story exemplifies a strong partnership between new entrant tenants and land managers.“This is a good example of a positive relationship between new entrant tenants and land managers, resulting in a thriving agricultural business,” he said. “I’m looking forward to continuing our efforts to support the next generation of farmers.”
Crown Estate Scotland, which manages farming tenancies on four rural estates across Scotland, played a significant role in the Jardines’ journey.
Oster Milambo, director of property at Crown Estate Scotland, highlighted the importance of supporting new entrants to diversify land management and upgrade vital infrastructure.
The estate has provided practical financial support for essential improvements to the farm, including the installation of a herringbone parlour, a 5000-gallon bulk tank and cubicles, with assistance from builders T and G Carruthers Construction.
Mr Jardine praised the Crown Estate Scotland, stating: “They are not far off 10/10 in the support they have given us, and we are so grateful to be here.
“Everything is about time, and while sometimes things take a bit longer than you’d like, everything happens in the end.”
The business also benefited from an Agri-Environment Climate Scheme grant and support from Crown Estate Scotland to install a new slurry storage facility, capable of holding one million gallons, helping to save on fertiliser costs.
FONE chair Henry Graham was also present for the farm visit and noted that the use of a selection matrix for identifying young tenants, developed by the FONE group, has provided new opportunities for young people in agriculture.”
With the backing of organisations such as Crown Estate Scotland and FONE, the Jardines’ success story is a testament to the potential of new entrants in the farming sector.
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