Ross sounds warning over ‘deeply damaging’ fall in north-east farm holdings
Agricultural holdings in Moray have dropped 10 per cent, new figures have revealed.
Statistics from the Scottish Government show that in 2024 there 1198 holdings in the region, down from the 1335 recorded two years previously.
This trend was mirrored in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. In the former region, holdings fell from 6940 in 2022 to 6505 in 2024, while over the same period in the Highlands the number of holdings dropped from 9948 to 8567.
The figures have been described as “deeply concerning” by Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross.
He went on to state that the “alarming” reduction will be having a “damaging” impact on the local economy where agriculture is so important.
Mr Ross, who grew up on a dairy farm and studied at the Scottish Agricultural College, says that the future of farming is being put under “huge threat” by Labour’s “cruel” Family Farm Tax.
He added that the SNP are also failing to do enough to attract new entrants into farming and have turned their backs on Moray farmers for far too long.
Mr Ross continued: “These figures are deeply concerning.
“To see such a reduction in the number of agricultural holdings in Moray in the last couple of years shows the challenges facing farmers and the sector.
“The alarming fall will be having a deeply damaging impact on Moray’s prosperity where farming is such a crucial part of our local economy and for local jobs.
“The challenges facing Moray’s farmers are now being compounded by Labour’s cruel Family Farm Tax.
“That will have a devastating impact on the future of family farms in Moray and Rachel Reeves must finally U-turn on this tax which will put many farms out of business.
“Farmers in Moray go above and beyond every single day but are being left to face those challenges without the SNP government being on their side. They have failed for far too long to encourage new entrants into the sector or support existing ones.
“These figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to start delivering for farmers in Moray and for Labour to drop the Family Farm Tax.”