Where there’s a will there’s a way – but there needs to be a Will!

THREE GENERATIONS delegates to Whitriggs of the Mitchell family welcomed the Women in Agriculture Scotland

FINDING ways to either supplement farm income, or improve margins are part of discussions taking place around every farm kitchen table or office in Scotland – and they were also key topics at the recent Women in Agriculture Scotland meeting, in the Scottish Borders.

Increasing overheads, especially, has led to many farmers re-evaluating their farming policy, which past generations would have considered unthinkable, but if future farming generations are to carry on, these changes are becoming fundamental to the sustainability of the whole business, the meeting heard.

This doesn’t only include changes in the fundamentals of the farming enterprise itself but also changes in succession planning, something that is all too often put on the back burner until it is too late.

The meeting heard that ‘the only certainty in life is that we will die. The only uncertainty is when that will happen’. The task was to be brave enough and bold enough to have the discussions now, make the decisions as a family and before someone has to make them for you.

These were two of the subjects tackled at the recent Women in Agriculture meeting held at Whitriggs

Farm, Denholm, Hawick, which began with a farm walk hosted by Lesley Mitchell and her family.

On a not so pleasant day in the Borders, the 50-plus attendance of women of all ages and from all walks of agricultural life, joined together to walk and talk about the policy changes at Whitriggs, which had come about from those necessary conversations about the future.

Historically women in agriculture often had a specific role, which didn’t always involve them in the actual running or future of the business. Since the 1980s, however, it has become increasingly more apparent that many are no longer ‘farmer’s wives’ but are ‘married to farmers’.

Many have careers which support farm finances, with some having part-time positions which allow them to work around the children and farm work. An increasing number are fully integrated into the farming policy, allowing them to jointly make decisions about both theirs and their children’s futures.

There is also a realisation that a work life balance is fundamental to the outcome of the business. Agriculture is an industry with an unacceptably high incidence of suicide and poor mental health, a subject still taboo to many but a necessary concern to everyone, farmers included.

Whitriggs was great

example of a family that is looking to the future, with the recent addition of a next generation consolidating that thinking. “We needed to look at our margins,” explained Lesley. “That to me, as the number cruncher of the business, seemed to be the way forward.

“There is limit to how much you can expect on the top line, therefore we had to look at ways of reducing our inputs if we were going to move forward on the bottom line. Everyone comes up with the ideas in the business but if I look at the figures and if they don’t stack up, we have to think again.”

The Mitchell family moved from continental cross cows to an organic system of smaller traditional breeds crossed to suit its farm. The hope was that they could cut down on the time the cows required to be in during the winter, saving on both concentrate and more importantly on the bedding for the herd.

The success of the change has seen the herd staying out all winter, becoming kept on grass and home-grown grain, with wintering costs being reduced from £18 to £4.50 per head, per week – which was more than they had hoped for, added Lesley.

“This isn’t a system which would suit everyone, but it worked for us and the numbers stack up. It means we can do all of our tractor work during the winter with silage bales strategically placed on the hill, with son Stuart, the engineering mind of the team, custom building equipment to roll out bales of silage placed there in readiness for the winter. We are also self-sufficient in barley and straw.

“The sheep flock was doing OK ... but only OK,” explained Robert, “We took some tests and found there was MV in the flock and the only alternative was to cull and replace the flock.

“However, we could not ensure that any replacements we bought would not have a similar issue, so we looked at replacing the flock with a herd of red deer.”

Lesley added: “The numbers again stacked up and this new venture has proved to be a success for the farm, and an enterprise that the whole family were

DESPITE THE weather, visitors were given a spectacular view from the top of Whitriggs on board with and enjoy working with the deer.”

The family philosophy is ‘Be your best self. All are keen on making the most of available training and information, and do not seem afraid of failure, or change.

However, they all make every effort to ensure that, in whichever way they take their business, the figures must be right first and they make the most of specialist advice on moving forward.

A work:life balance is clearly important to the family and they are managing to balance that with a successful business, in which they are all invested.

Following the farm walk, the group gathered for lunch in Denholm to discuss their morning, do some networking and to listen to talks from various excellent speakers on those things which affect the future of any family business, namely inheritance, succession and increasingly importantly, wills and powers of attorney.

Almost half of those present had still not made a will, which was surprising to those who had. With the uncertainty of life/death and long-term illness, the importance of ensuring that all of the family is protected should be paramount on any family farm, it was stressed.

Leaving it to someone else to sort out after your death is just not acceptable. Everyone should be aware of what will happen on your death, regardless of your age, whether father, son, mother or daughter.

“Don’t leave it to the courts to decide, because you don’t want to have that conversation with your family,” said one speaker. Powers of attorney and proper wills need to be in place, should anything suddenly happen to make you or your partners suddenly incapable through disease or accident.

Those who are not ‘a partner’ in the business but are part of the business, need to also have the conversation on where they stand in the future should things change and they prove to have no legal rights. Inheritance in such circumstances can soon reduce or disappear under an avalanche of solicitors’ bills. Money well spent now could also save a massive tax bill in the future.

Take advice from an expert now! Get a will in place and a power of attorney if appropriate and take the stress out of death for you and others.

The attendees heard that while, yes, it might be difficult discussion to have and yes, it might take some time to bring the subject up and get things in place, but you cannot have that discussion too soon.

Ask yourself what you want to achieve for yourself and your family in the future, and take it from there.

Women in Agriculture Scotland brings members of our community and its support network together to make new friends and acquaintances and learn from one another to the benefit of Scottish Agriculture. Anyone can join for free at https:// www.womeninagriculture. scot/

THE FARM tour proved an interesting part of the Women in Agriculture open day