John Fletcher is a speaker at the Farming Scotland Conference, ‘Progress to Profit’ which takes place in Carnoustie on 5 February 2015. John, a deer farmer, vet, and a director of Venison Advisory Service Ltd, will be speaking on The Background to the Recent Upsurge in Scottish Deer Farms and Venison Production.

Other speakers at the conference, which is sponsored by EQ Accountants, Bell Ingram, Thorntons Law and RBS, include Professor Nick Hanley, Environmental Economist, St Andrews University; Angus Duncan, Head of Procurement, Diageo International Supply, and Jonathan Skinner, Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year 2013.

More information.

The latest edition of Rural Business News from Saffery Champness carries an informative article from Susie Swift of the firm’s Inverness office on tax and business planning considerations for prospective deer farmers. Read the article.

The first day of the Deer Farm Demonstration Project will be held on Tuesday 15 April at Culquoich, Glenkindie, Strathdon courtesy of Ali Loder.

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The search is underway to select a host farm for the Deer Farm Demonstration (DFD) Project that will start in Spring 2014. The DFD project is part of a two-year initiative to raise the knowledge base across Scotland’s farming sector about the production of venison and breeding stock from deer farms and parks. Year 1 of the project will comprise five demonstration days spread evenly over 12 months with presentations, hands-on workshops and training, and the opportunity for those interested in diversifying into deer farming to meet experts from the sector.

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The Scottish Venison Partnership has welcomed Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead’s announcement made on Scottish Venison Day 4 September of a significant funding package to enable two deer demonstration units in Scotland to be set up.

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Deer farming demonstration day on Scottish Venison Day 4 September 2013.

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Rog Wood writes in the Herald: “Scotland’s main game dealers imported the equivalent of 25,000 deer carcases last year to meet a growing demand that shows no sign of abating.” …

Full article.

BBC Farming Today talked to VAS Director Dick Playfair in September 2011 about the need to develop more deer farms in Scotland to meet a rise in demand in the UK for venison.

New consultancy to provide advice and assistance to prospective deer farmers …

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