Organic farmer will head up wide-ranging survey of businesses

Perthshire organic farmer Sascha Grierson has been appointed to lead the Scottish Farm Business Survey, which helps the Scottish Government devise agricultural policy.

The team of 14 surveys between 400 and 500 farms every year to gain a financial understanding of their business and give an insight into the industry’s needs.

Ms Grierson said: “We have some big changes ahead – Brexit, increased digitisation and the use of ‘ big data’ – and I felt that I wanted to be a part of tackling these big issues, which is why I applied for the role.

“There are many ways of measuring a business, including who is behind the business, what ’s happening on the farm, for examp le w ith succession and also thinking about what we need to record about farms in the future, like the number of pollinators or birds that it supports.”

Andrew Lacey, head of SAC Consulting, said: “Sascha epitomises our vision for SAC Consulting as our organisation moves forward, joining a team that lives and breathes the growth of our rural economy.

“She is a skilled practitioner, has wideranging experience and is a great communicator.

“Wi t h the changes t h at agriculture and the wider rural economy is facing , we must provide strong support to rural businesses in many new ways in the future.”

Ms Grierson and her husband Hugh have a closed herd of AberdeenAngus suckler cows, a flock of Easycare sheep, a small herd of home-bred pigs , slow-growing broilers and a flock of free-range organic laying hens.

Sascha Grierson is looking forward to the work.