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AgriScot wishes to thank everyone associated with AgriScot 2011 for making it such an outstanding success including visitors, exhibitors, sponsors and our Media Partner - The Scottish Farmer who produce the official programme and catalogue.
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The organisers of AgriScot 2011have received a ringing endorsement of their efforts with a visitor survey showing almost everyone interviewed were either satisfied or more than satisfied with the range of available activities.
As a result, more than 80% of the visitors stated they intended coming back to the 2012 event which will be held on the 21st of November at Ingliston.
The survey which is carried out every second year also produced substantial evidence that AgriScot now attracts visitors from all sectors of the farming industry.
While 62% of those interviewed came from farms featuring milk production, some 58% of visitors also had beef cattle either as a main or secondary enterprise.
More than one third of those coming through the doors at Ingliston to AgriScot also had sheep and arable enterprises with smaller percentages of poultry and pig farmers also attending.
Confirming its reputation as a business event, the vast majority of visitors were involved in one part or another of the farming industry, either at the production end or in one of the allied industries.
Among the main reasons visitors gave for attending were they wanted to see the latest products, to do business and to meet and talk to others in the industry.
The survey which saw more than 200 visitors interviewed also confirmed that the event which is now entering its second decade, attracts support not only from all parts of Scotland but also from further afield.
Within Scotland there was particularly strong representation from the South West while areas such as Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Yorkshire and Durham were all represented.
This past year also saw a party of Finnish dairy farmers visit as part of an organised tour but four fifths of this party said they would come back next year.
The furthest travelled was a New Zealander whose prime motive of his trip to the UK was to visit AgriScot to look at dairying issues and check on the quality of the dairy stock
AgriScot 2011 saw a record number of visitors through the doors and, as has been the case for a number of years, trade stand space sold out long before the event. But what brings people to AgriScot and why do many of them return year on year?
We spoke to a snapshot of visitors to find out just what entices them along to Scotland’s premier farm business event.
Alan Laidlaw
Alan Laidlaw is Head of New Business Development for The Crown Estate.
He leads the rural estate in Scotland and is responsible for joint investment and working with tenants across the estate. With the exception of last year when he wasn’t able to attend, Alan has visited AgriScot every year since it first began.
Alan said,
“Agriscot is a great chance to catch up with industry developments and to have a chance to discuss, away from the farm, new opportunities and challenges with contractors and customers right across the industry and UK. It is the ideal platform for networking and keeping up to date, and for farmers and the allied industries it is a relaxed atmosphere for personal and business development. As an effective way of seeing a lot of diverse contacts in one place after the peak work periods in the calendar have passed, AgriScot is a well timed, well located event, being easy to get to and well formatted.”
Rory Christie
The Christie family’s farming business in Wigtownshire incorporates dairy, pigs, beef and arable. Rory sits on the NFU Scotland Milk Committee, the NFU Scotland New Generation Committee and the Lactalis Producer Group. Rory attended AgriScot this year for the first time since 2004. Rory is very clear about the purpose of AgriScot to him and his business, coming to the event this year with the express purpose of networking, forming business relationships and attending relevant meetings and seminars.
Rory says:
“Despite having the greatest need for the dairying element of AgriScot, I find the event very well rounded and far more agriculture specific than other similar events I have attended. Going forward, I think that AgriScot and its seminars should concentrate on the generation of profit. Seminars, workshops and demonstrations should all put cost saving and financial sustainability at the top of their agenda. I also think that it would do well to keep its focus on the core sectors of agriculture although I am sure that farm diversification also has a role to play in terms of what visitors expect.”
Charles Young
Charles farms near Pencaitland in East Lothian.
Focusing on cereals and potatoes as well as livestock, Charles is a regular visitor to AgriScot, having attended every year since its inception
Charles cites AgriScot as one of the key events in his farming calendar when it comes to making contacts and doing business.
“Many of the people I meet and the research I do at AgriScot has led me to buy something, whether it be feed or machinery. I think that making a purchase here can often mean securing cost savings and value for money. But far from just being about shopping, AgriScot is also about watching the live demonstrations and about seeing people I have not have had a chance to catch up with for many months.“Some of my neighbours in East Lothian are of the view that the event is more suited to livestock and dairy farmers than it is to arable farmers but I certainly find it worthwhile.”
William Thomson
William farms outside Longniddry in East Lothian, growing wheat, barley and oilseed rape and renting out ground for potatoes. William sits on the NFU Scotland Combinable Crops Committee. William has been to AgriScot for the last three years running.
He said,
“My farm is 100 per cent arable and AgriScot offers what I need. Last year I purchased my farm computer software here and I was given a substantial reduction for purchasing at AgriScot. I also find it the ideal place to speak to contacts and to learn more about products and services. This morning I attended the AHDB grain seminar and am considering changing some of my planting as a direct result of what I learned. So I feel that my day has been thoroughly worthwhile – and will hopefully improve my bottom line come next harvest!”
Colin Dargie
Colin farms beef, sheep, cereals and potatoes close to Dundee. In addition to farming, Colin is also Deputy General Manager and Crop Production Manager for East of Scotland Farmers Ltd.
Despite having been well aware of AgriScot for a number of years, 2011 is Colin’s first visit to the event.
Colin stated, “I came today because I was on my way back from a conference in Edinburgh and I was attracted by the AHDB seminars. Having been here for a few hours, I’m also sure that my day will be worthwhile as a research and fact finding day. I don’t think I shall sign on any dotted lines in a business sense but I’m sure that the people I meet and the information I glean here will lead to some significant transactions in the near future. I fully intend on coming back next year.”
DM Handling Systems
DM Handling Systems exhibited their all-in-one sheep handling kit at AgriScot this year. The system, which uses an entirely unique conveyor belt operation, enables dosing, jagging, weighing, tagging, clipping, feet trimming and much
William Mitchell, who was on the stand all day said: “We have seen great numbers and have had a really busy stand. Whilst visitors are without doubt interested in seeing the new technology in operation, I have also spoken to a number of genuinely interesting potential customers and am confident that many will be back in touch. At DM Handling we always ensure that we follow up on leads that we make at events such as AgriScot and when we evaluate I am confident that we’ll find that the event will have been a great success for our business. I hope to return again next year.”
Duncan Barrie, CKD Galbraith
Duncan works in the Rural Management Department of CKD Galbraith's Perth Office.
Although he and colleagues have attended AgriScot for many years, this year was the first year in which CKD Galbraith had a trade stand.
Duncan said:
"We were on the waiting list for a trade stand due to their popularity and thankfully we eventually got a space in the main foyer. We also sponsored the Best Promotional Stall competition which was an added benefit.
Certainly our whole exhibition package was excellent. AgriScot is at just the right time of year and I really noticed high numbers of farmers coming through the door. We spoke to at least a hundred farmers and got some really good leads from the day, making it extremely worthwhile. It is also valuable for us to attend from a brand building perspective so that we can cement our position in the marketplace. Feedback from the farmers we met was very positive, it's a great show and it helps build business so I would certainly hope that we will return next year.
