Membership rise helps union off to a positive start to the year

NFU Scotland is entering 2020 on a healthy financial footing with membership growing again for a third year in a row, according to the organisation’s chief executive.

Reporting on the publication of the union’s annual accounts, Scott Walker said that income during 2019 was up by £61,000 on the previous year – with additional subscriptions accounting for nearly all the increase:

“Farming, crofting and professional membership at financial year end was 8366, up from 8315 at the same time last year, an increase of 51,” said Walker.

However he explained that the decision to extend membership to all family members actively involved in the farming business had seen an additional 368 names, taking the total number of names on the union’s books now standing at 8734.

Expenditure in 2019 was up £176,000 at £3.2 million which Walker said was a reflection of the additional activity undertaken in 2019 (2018 - £3.0 million) leaving an operating deficit of £109,200. Stating that one of his jobs was to deliver a “boring set of accounts” Walker said he had succeeded on this front.

He revealed that income and unrealised gains meantNFU Scotland endedwith a net surplus before tax of £110,500 compared to £42,600 in 2018, while affinity income generated from the wide range of exclusive member services and discounts remained strong at £145,000 (2018 £146,000).

“As a result, the balance sheet remains strong with net assets increasing by £91,000 to £3.06 million”.