Agriculture

Despite challenging times for the sector, agriculture remains a key primary industry sector in the Highlands and Islands - generating around 250 million per annum for the area's economy.

Livestock, mainly sheep, beef and dairy herds and cereal or fodder crops remain the staples for the industry. But, increasingly, diversification is taking place into non-farming activities such as tourism and contract services.

While further reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy is expected to cause substantial readjustment within the sector, agriculture's significance to the region's economy is set to continue for the foreseeable future.

HIE works with the sector to:

• Enhance the quality of production and of primary processing;
• Support diversification of farming-dependent communities;
• Increase the competitiveness of producers through improved products, processes and markets;
• Improve awareness and understanding of all stages of the supply chain;
• Identify and support new opportunities for raw material processing.

These priorities are in line with the Scottish Executive's Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture.

Bob Stubbs can advise further.