SRUC creates golden dairy farm opportunity
Acrehead farm.
A rare opportunity to take over the running of a long-established dairy farm has been created by SRUC.
Applications are now open for the position, which will come with minimal upfront expenses, and which will benefit from SRUC’s experience and support.
Prospective dairy farmers are invited to submit an application to manage SRUC’s 130-hectare Acrehead farm, near Barony campus in Dumfries and Galloway. The opportunity has been created as part of wider SRUC aims to support the future of the industry by prioritising forward-looking issues such as reduced emissions, biodiversity, human health and economic growth.
Following the submission of a successful business plan, the contractor will receive a share of the milk cheque dependent on the performance of the plan, while running the farm and taking part in knowledge exchange activities. SRUC will maintain responsibility for the condition and legal compliance of the farm and, furthermore, will provide the herd and machinery.
Opening up Acrehead to those seeking their next step in farming has been facilitated by a shift to focus SRUC‘s academic dairying activities to Barony. The move is set to secure the status of Barony as a hub of dairy research and innovation, providing new capabilities for collaboration.
The successful applicant will benefit from proximity to this world-leading nucleus of dairy research; Barony is home to the SRUC-led Digital Dairy Chain and Dairy Nexus innovation hub which opened last month. Barony will also soon house the famous Langhill Experiment - for which SRUC won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2017. The dairy herd was previously based at Crichton Royal Farm and will continue to provide vital scientific data, using updated equipment, at its new home.
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “This new venture is a unique opportunity and we’re proud to be able to support the future of farming by making SRUC land available to the farmers of tomorrow. If you’re a knowledgeable farming entrepreneur seeking a new opportunity, or a farmer early on in their career, ready to take on the rarely available chance of a next step up, we would like to hear from you.”
Acrehead comprises highly productive grasslands, with outputs reaching 12t/ha DM, along with sufficient buildings and infrastructure to support a herd of approximately 210 cows. Overwintering facilities, milking parlour and associated plant form part of the offer, along with a house nearby. This is a five to ten-year proposal. Acrehead sits on the Crichton unit, with strong connections to nearby Barony, all forming part of SRUC farms provision in Dumfries and Galloway.
Candidates for this contract opportunity at Acrehead can register their interest with the Scottish Land Matching Service at www.slms.scot/acrehead-dairy. The closing date for registrations is midnight on Sunday 11 May. SRUC is hoping to announce the successful contractor at this year’s Royal Highland Show on 19 June.
For more information about Acrehead farm and the application process watch this video.
Posted by SRUC on 01/05/2025
