As we approach the close of the year, now is the time to look back and see what has changed, as well as looking ahead to the landscape that awaits.
In an ever-shifting world of new technologies, new challenges and new threats, all industries have seen something of a shake-up, and the world of agriculture is no different.
With new plans on the horizon and changing trends, here are just three developments from Scottish agriculture in 2025
- The Whole Farm Plan
The Whole Farm Plan is designed to reform the agricultural payments system, and incentivises farmers to improve the efficiency of their farms through reduction of costs and emissions, as well as promoting measures to advance biodiversity.
The programme will also introduce protections for wetlands and peatlands in the name of nature preservation
The new model intends to nurture stability and create a new trajectory in the future of Scottish agriculture, including land management, livestock practices and environmental stewardship.
- Calls for greater support amidst changes
On September 3rd this year the Scottish Agroecological Partnership held a protest outside the Scottish Parliament to demand greater support for farmers alongside the introduction of the changes.
The Partnership is formed of a coalition of invested parties who want to see the Scottish Parliament do more to support the transition towards nature-friendly farming, seeing some measures as punitive to farmers who are not able to keep up with the changes to the industry’s regulations at a designated pace. While larger chains are able to implement new measures quickly in response to the legislation, it is family farms, the scottish agroecological partnership argues, that are suffering, without being provided support from the government.
Research from the University of Stirling recently affirmed the negative impact on farmers, and found that the lack of support contributes to reluctance to partake in schemes nurturing agro-ecological development, even if they are broadly in support of the goals of such measures. Resistance, the study found, came from fears over financial risk, lack of clarity on guidance and rigidity of the new rules.
- A fall in livestock numbers
Amongst the findings of the 2025 agricultural census, it was revealed that the country has seen a significant drop in cattle numbers.
While numbers of female dairy cows are rising, numbers of beef cattle are falling, with an identified shortage of females. This marks a short, sharp fall of 15% in 10 years, although numbers of pigs and poultry were both found to have increased.
The census also found that the agriculture sector accounted for 64% of the nation’s land area, whilst workers in the sector had decreased by around 1% compared to the previous year.
Lessons for 2026
The changes to come are many and complex, with larger operations having a significant advantage over small family farms, making protection more important than ever. Certain legal firms specialise in agricultural matters, including the likes of Dickinson Parker Hill whose expertise includes issues around farming, tenancies and leases and business purchasing.
These are just a few of the top stories and latest developments in Scottish agriculture from 2025.
