Mary-Jane Lawrie talks farming, biodiversity, and empowering women in agriculture
Senior Agricultural Consultant, Mary-Jane Lawrie has been shortlisted for a top industry prize. A member of the SAC Consulting team since 2011, Mary-Jane is in the running for 'Agricultural Advisor of the Year' at the 2025 National Women in Agriculture Awards. Ahead of the glittering ceremony in London at the beginning of May, Mary-Jane reflected on her career so far and picked out some of her highlights.
Tell us a bit about your career so far?
I started out as a farmland conservation apprentice, before joining land agency, Edwin Thompson as an environmental consultant in 2009. Following a move to Edinburgh in 2011 I began with SAC Consulting as a Trainee Agricultural Consultant, before becoming a consultant and I have now worked my way up to be a Senior Agricultural Consultant.
Alongside my day job, I also farm a mixed arable and beef farm with my husband and his parents, just outside Edinburgh. This involves juggling family life, work life and the odd middle-of-the-night calving.
You play a key role in women in agriculture groups, what inspired you to get involved?
In 2016, I recognised that women were not equally represented at farming events and training courses. It struck me there was a need for groups that could encourage women to come together for knowledge exchange, peer-to-peer learning and confidence building. After securing funding through Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS), I set up women in agriculture groups across Scotland. There are now 12 successful local groups from the Scottish Borders to Orkney, and an online group for women who are unable to attend the in-person events. I also run a Women in Agriculture Facebook group with over 2200 members.
How do the meetings support women in agriculture?
As I am involved in the running of a farming business, working off farm and raising our three young boys, I am fully aware of the issues that women in agriculture face, whether that is childcare responsibilities, timing of meetings and events or the mental load. Our meetings cover a range of technical subjects like animal health and welfare, business management and accountancy, as well as “soft skills” such as how to run committees, making your voice heard and networking. These topics are fluid and I develop the programme together with attendees to shape the future of the groups for their own benefit, and the benefit of their businesses.
Can you name a highlight of your career so far?
Having worked for SAC Consulting for 14 years, I have been able to deliver some fantastic work in my time here. SAC Consulting delivers FAS on behalf of the Scottish Government, and in 2024 I organised the first National Women in Agriculture Conference for FAS at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. This was an excellent opportunity to bring together many of the women who attend our local groups. It was a sellout event attended by likeminded women, with the aim to improve confidence, technical skills and personal resilience. This was one of my career highlights, seeing so many women together in one room which was buzzing with conversation as they networked at an event that I had organised. It was the first event of its kind and following its success, we will be running the event again in 2026.
What industry objective is the key focus of your work as a consultant?
My specialist skills in biodiversity have never been more in demand. In the last year alone, I have prepared more than 30 biodiversity plans for farmers in my local area. The plans map the habitats they have, the species likely to be present, and I give them specialist, targeted advice to manage these habitats. This could be for broad landscape features such as grass margins and hedgerows, or for more targeted actions to benefit a specific species such as barn owls or lapwing.
These specialist plans are unique to each farm, and I give them no cost and low-cost options to help boost biodiversity on their farm. I also give them guidance on how to apply for funding through the Agri Environment Climate Scheme if they wish to do more extensive work.
The National Women in Agriculture Awards will take place on Tuesday 6 May 2025.
For more information about SAC Consulting, visit: www.sac.co.uk.
Posted by SAC Consulting on 24/04/2025
