Johnny Little
It’s not an uncommon idea that many of us working our 9-5’s in offices have: Wouldn’t it be lovely to get away from the city and live and work on a farm. Though, with a predicted 10% decrease in Dairy farmers due to industry insecurity, just how viable is the future of farming as a career?
I spoke to Ann Dorward, Owner and Operator of Dunlop Dairy in Ayrshire, who attested to the difficulty of working in the industry:
‘It is not easy. It’s everyday and every weekend, it’s very different to a 9-5. The grass is always greener on the other side.’
‘I wanted to farm, but we ended up making cheese as it’s the only way to make the farm viable’
Ann noted the importance of diversification for succesful dairy farming, and also shared her thoughts about the future of the farm. Ann acknowledged there is difficulty convincing the next generation to take over the business when she retires:
‘That’s an issue at the moment. The next generation don’t want to do it. I don’t know whether they will eventually take it over or we’ll just lease it out’.
Julie, a worker on the Dunlop Dairy farm, spoke to the viability of becoming a farmer in this day and age after having worked previously in care:
‘You can do it, I’ve heard a lot of people doing it through people I know.’
‘You find it peaceful, it’s a different way of life.’
Julie, despite noting the many pluses of the job, also spoke to the issue of finding the next generation of farmers to take over Scotland’s fields and farms:
‘It is what it is. It’s like every job. There is next generations that will come on and others won’t.’
‘There’s other ones that want to go farm abroad. The tractors over there are bigger than here, and most of the young boys just want to drive tractors!’
Ellen Freel, Independent councillor for Annick in Ayrshire, talked about the difficulty of finding the next generation of farmers due to the industry not having the same reach that it used to:
‘They’re not getting the right money for the milk they’re producing. There used to be farmers delivering milk to the door, but they don’t need that anymore’
‘I think farming is a particularly personal thing. They want to do it because they enjoy doing it rather than a career opportunity.’
The councillor also spoke to the viability of people transitioning from regular work to farm life, who wish to transfer to the field:
‘I think it can be made but you have to be prepared to make big sacrifices. It’s getting up very early in the morning and in the night, and not always making big money from it.’
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