Agricultural consultant Mary Munro has ended a 25-year career with SAC Consulting to become head of a new farming division with land agents Strutt and Parker.
She is to be based in the company’s Perth office and intends to build up a team of consultants operating across the country. “Strutt and Parker’s nearest farm consultancy is based in Morpeth,” Mary said. “It is so easy for people to get confused if they are receiving information from the south when the CAP rules here in Scotland are now so different.
“I will of course have technical back-up from colleagues in the south but the plan here is for a steady expansion in Scotland.
“There is certainly no shortage of work at present.”
Following postgraduate practical farming experience with Ian Stewart at Ben Challum Ltd at Crianlarich and Crieff, Mary started her consultancy career at SAC’s Cupar office in 1986.
After seven years in Fife she moved to the Perth office, where she was to remain until 2008. Mary’s next move within the organisation was to the Edinburgh office serving the agricultural area of the Lothians. She remained there until last December.
She said: “Strutt and Parker of course have a strong presence in land management and sales but the company could see a need for farming advice covering everything from CAP reform and SRDP to agronomy. At the moment the focus is on completing single application forms.
“The online version has been completely redesigned and people would be well advised not to leave completing their SAF until the last minute and allow time to familiarise themselves with the new layout and codes.
“I am also accredited to carry out whole farm reviews (WFRs). These can be very useful and although they don’t always come up with something that has never been thought of , they do at least set people thinking.
“The new CAP will likely leave a number of farmers significantly worse off and for them conducting a WFR might be particularly appropriate.”