Managing change and uncertainty

Working in agriculture can be very rewarding, but it can be physically and emotionally demanding on you and your family. During times of change and uncertainty, whether personal, professional, or political, questions around the long-term resilience of your farming business may take their toll on your physical and mental health.

If you have concerns about the future of your business and how best to respond to change, Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) can help. Specialist Advice is available on a range of topics to support farm businesses through change, including:

Resilience planning – for businesses looking to increase their financial resilience to threats, changes in the market or personal circumstances.  It can include financial analysis, output/profit/margin analysis, business risks and opportunities.

Farm Business Efficiency – assess the efficiency of your business with a professional analysis of finances, areas of development, grassland management and soil health, labour, machinery and vehicles, capital, assets and liabilities, diversification options, external sources of finance/funding and more.

Succession planning – expert guidance through one of the hardest stages of running a business to give you the confidence to change your lifestyle, knowing your business is in safe hands. It can include advice on the financial position of your business, its viability, retirement options, successors, legal considerations, and tax implications.

Up to £2,000 of funding is available to your business for specialist advice on two topics through FAS. More information about advice topics, funding and how to apply can be found at fas.scot/specialist-advice.

If you are struggling with your health or know anyone that needs support the FAS Health is your Wealth pages bring together a range of experts to cover mental health, physical health, nutrition and the support available to farmers and crofters.