The Scottish Farmer continues to be a steady presence in the sector against a backdrop of continuous change and challenge.
When it was founded, the leading papers of the time were Farmers World and the North British Agriculturalist and it was thought that Scotland should have its own paper, with a distinct identity and that the farming business north of the Border should not be labelled as ‘North British’.
The newspaper’s charter was to be set in stone by several prominent agriculturalists of their day. They included Charles Howatson, of Glenbuck – the first farmer to pay more than £100 for a Blackface tup – the Rev Dr John Gillespie, a staunch supporter of the Galloway breed who became its first breed secretary; John Martin, of Auchendennan, near Glasgow, who called the meeting in 1878 which led to the formation of the Clydesdale Horse Society; and Patrick Hunter, of Waterybutts, Errol, who as well as being a prominent farmer, was also chairman of the General Accident Assurance Corporation.
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Pre-eminent among them all – not least because of his regal bearing – was Campbell MacPherson Grant, Drumduan, an enthusiast of Shetland ponies and Aberdeen-Angus cattle (his brother, Sir George, was a highly successful breeder at Ballindalloch).
These leading men of agriculture produced a charter for the workings of this newspaper and they chose Archibald MacNeilage, then and co-incidentally for many years after, the secretary of the Clydesdale Horse Society, as the instrument by which they applied their strict code. But, as ever with newspaper owners then and now, there was a finely walked line by what the owners wanted said and what should be said.
Today, the Scottish Farmer is proud to be the authoritative voice for the agri sector – holding government to account and reporting on the issues – good and bad – that affect our industry.
