You don’t have to farm to have a stake in farming

The traditional image of Scottish agriculture can sometimes feel like a fairly self-contained world. To the casual observer, it begins and ends at the farm gate: a solitary figure, a tract of land, some livestock, and a tractor. But that picture only tells a small part of the story. In reality, the farm gate is not a boundary wall. It is the precise point where a much wider network of Scottish businesses begins.

PA

The sheer economic weight of the sector makes this clear. In 2025, Scottish agriculture generated £5.1 billion in output, but the critical figure is the £4.1 billion spent on production costs. That money does not sit in a barn. It flows directly into local economies, sustaining a vast, sophisticated ecosystem of professional support.

Every modern holding relies on a network of businesses and professionals to function. Vets protect herd health, agronomists help maximise crop yields, and dealers service advanced machinery. Beyond the fields, accountants manage finances, banks structure investment, and solicitors navigate land tenure. Feed merchants, engineers, insurers, and agritech firms all drive the industry forward.

None of these professionals farm the land themselves, yet their businesses are closely connected to the success of those who do.

This interdependence matters because Scottish agriculture is currently undergoing a significant change. Farmers and crofters are on the frontline when it comes to adopting new technologies, managing land under tightening environmental regulations, and adapting to a changing agricultural support system.

Crucially, these decisions are never made in isolation. The businesses surrounding agriculture have an important role to play in that transition. If a supplier fails to anticipate changing farming methods, they risk losing their market. If a farmer cannot access cutting-edge local expertise, their business stalls. The relationship works both ways; the confidence and profitability of the farm businesses has a direct impact on the businesses that supply and support them.

Take Birsay Farmers in Orkney, a co-operative with 1,200 members supplying everything from fertiliser to animal health products. Its general manager, Kevin Groundwater, joined NFU Scotland as a professional member to bridge the gap between suppliers and producers. As he notes: “Farmers change their approaches all the time, and their suppliers have to keep up”.

This is the agricultural economy in action. Vets must anticipate livestock policy shifts. Accountants must master evolving tax codes. Machinery dealers must gauge on-farm financial pressures before ordering inventory. When a farmer builds a new shed, local contractors thrive. When a crofter buys a tractor, local engineers benefit.

For businesses working alongside farmers and crofters, being close to the issues shaping agriculture matters. It helps them understand where the industry is heading, the pressures their customers are facing and where new opportunities may emerge.

That is why NFU Scotland’s footprint extends far beyond primary producers. Our Professional Members bring expertise from across the wider economy, ensuring that as policy decisions shape our rural landscape, the entire supply chain moves together.

We mustn’t view farming as a self-contained sector operating in a vacuum. It is the foundation of a large, interconnected rural economy that employs thousands of people who have never sat in a tractor. As we enter a defining era for rural Scotland, the connection between farming and the businesses around it has rarely been more important.

John Davidson is CEO of NFU Scotland