Agricultural Advice and Consultancy Services

About Me

For anyone that doesn’t already know me, I have been an agricultural consultant since 2009 advising on a wide range of agricultural matters and providing services to farming clients throughout the Highlands.

I grew up on Westness Farm on the island of Rousay, Orkney where my parents have around 75 Simmental cross cows, 600 Cheviot ewes and grow around 30 acres of oats. I was interested in the farm from a young age. Summer holidays were spent spreading slurry, wrapping bales and shearing sheep and so it was a natural progression to study agriculture at SAC’s Craibstone campus.

While studying, I worked at Thainstone Mart on Fridays and on a mixed organic farm near Oldmeldrum, which was an excellent experience. I was a member of the Aberdeen Agri Society which organised farming trips, social events and the annual Agri ball. This is where I met my wife, Laura, who was studying law and planned to pursue a career close to her family farm, in Inverness, where we now live with our three young children.

When the phone rings as an agricultural consultant you never know what challenges you will end up involved in and I enjoy the variety of work. It is a great feeling when a grant application is approved, or you have supported a client through a difficult time. Helping new entrants is always fun, with their enthusiasm and many new ideas. I enjoy listening to my client’s farming ambitions and issues and tailoring the advice provided for each situation.

In my spare time you can find me curling at the ice rink, playing the accordion and helping my family with their small flock of sheep.