Encouraging the next generation into farming is one of the sector’s biggest challenges. It is significant even for people from farming families. For those without an existing foothold in the industry, the barriers can be greater still.
New entrants are not short of high-profile inspiration. Kaleb Cooper, known for Clarkson’s Farm, has captured the nation’s attention with the hard work and enterprise behind his farming and contracting business.
In Scotland, Ayrshire farmer Cammy Wilson has built a global social media following through his YouTube channel, The Sheep Game. His journey in agriculture also reflects determination and a clear eye for business.
Their stories are encouraging, but they also highlight the scale of the financial hurdle facing people who want to establish their own careers and businesses in farming.
When our rural team advises someone seeking their first agricultural tenancy or looking to buy their first piece of land, the same question often arises: could more be done to support new entrants to farming in Scotland?
Finance is a practical barrier
Finance is often the greatest practical barrier for the new entrants needed to help secure a strong and sustainable future for the sector. Without substantial funds or assets to offer as security, obtaining a tenancy—let alone buying a farm—can be extremely difficult. This comes at a time when two-thirds of farmers in Scotland are aged 55 or over.
Scotland’s relinquishment and assignation process has brought some progress. It allows an agricultural tenant without a successor to transfer the lease to a new entrant or progressing farmer. However, it does not remove the underlying financial barrier. In fact, funding the acquisition of a tenancy can be harder than funding a land purchase, as the asset itself (the tenancy) cannot be secured to a bank.
People who are entirely new to farming may be at a disadvantage when competing to buy a tenancy. They may not have access to sufficient funding or another asset against which they can raise finance.
By contrast, progressing farmers may be able to draw on assets from an established family business, even where they are seeking to set up independently. In a highly competitive market for agricultural tenancies, that difference can be decisive.
Could targeted funding help new entrants?
The central policy question is whether Scottish Government funding should be available to true new entrants to help them secure a tenancy. Initiatives such as the Future Farming Investment Scheme are welcome, as are programmes that help prospective tenants develop robust business plans. Organisations including the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs also provide valuable support.
If Scotland is to be successful in getting more people into farming, improved access to finance could be an important part of the answer.
What must a prospective agricultural tenant demonstrate?
Funding alone is not enough. Anyone acquiring an agricultural tenancy through assignation must be able to show that they have the skills or experience needed to farm the holding. Alternatively, they may need to demonstrate that they are undertaking an agricultural course that will qualify them within an appropriate timeframe.
Competition for tenancies is intense, particularly for traditional “secure” tenancies. Strong applicants usually demonstrate financial resilience and present a clear business plan. That plan should explain how the farm will operate, how the figures work and whether other income—such as earnings from employment or another enterprise—will support the business.
Early legal advice can help prospective agricultural tenants understand the tenancy process, assess the terms on offer and prepare for the practical obligations involved.
The original version of this article by Lorna McKay featured in The Scotsman on Monday 5 October 2026.
