SEBG News Archive
Estates Join Forces with Executive to Promote Farm Business Development
29th September 2005The Scottish Estates Business Group (SEBG), which represents progressive rural estates in Scotland, today (Thursday September 29) announced it is preparing a series of seminars in association with the Scottish Executive to promote farm business development.
Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, revealed plans for the seminars when he delivered the keynote address SEBG’s annual meeting in Edinburgh today. He said: “The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring viable rural businesses.
“The seminars will continue to encourage farmers and their families, including tenant farmers, to think about how they can make use of the available funding to take their businesses forward and to prepare them to meet the challenges to come.”
Estate owners, managers, industry professionals and farming representatives from across Scotland attended the meeting which featured a cross-industry debate on farm diversity.
The Earl of Seafield, Chairman of SEBG, said: “It is in everyone’s interests for Scotland to enjoy a vibrant agricultural sector. In the era of CAP reform and extremely challenging economic circumstances it is vital every avenue is explored to ensure we can achieve that common objective.
“We are delighted to be working with the Scottish Executive’s Environment and Rural Affairs Department in order to contribute to the debate as to how farm businesses can develop. We believe the seminars will be useful to farmers who, quite rightly, are trying to ensure their industry has a future.
“We are seeing an increase in the amount of diversification and the Farm Business Development Scheme is an important vehicle to help farmers take advantage of potential opportunities.”
Among the speakers at today’s meeting were leading businessman Dr Maitland Mackie and representatives from SEERAD, NFUS, and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association.
For further information contact:
Ramsay Smith at Media House on 0141 226 3700/07788 414856
or Polly McPherson at SEBG on 07810891831
Notes to editors:
SEBG represents a group of progressive land-based estates with significant
agricultural and rural business interests. It aims to promote a modern
business approach in the management of Scotland's land resource in ways
which deliver social, economic and environmental benefits. The Group
seeks to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for rural areas and
its members work hard across Scotland to stimulate enterprise and economic
development.
