In conversation with Malcolm Smith
Our Agricultural Adviser, Malcolm Smith, made the switch to an office-based job after decades as a self-employed farmer in the Cairngorms National Park.
In his new role, he offers advice and support to local farmers and crofters, to help us work together to increase biodiversity, and mitigate and adapt to the climate emergency. Now three months into the job, we caught up with him to find out how he has found it so far.
You have spent years on your family farm – what made you decide to get an ‘office job’?
My grandfather took on the tenancy of our farm in 1936 and moved there when my Dad was four years old so I’m the third generation to farm at Auchernack. I went to agricultural college and worked at a few dairy farms before returning home in my early twenties to farm with my Dad – taking over the day to day running a few years later when he semi-retired.
After building up a pedigree dairy herd, the opportunity came along to double the size of the farm and we changed over to suckler cows in 2003. Unfortunately, there have not been other opportunities to expand the land holding since then, which has limited the ability of the farm to support two wages.
I am passionate about farming so when the job at the Park Authority came up, I felt that I could be the person to help make the connection between the National Park and the farmers and crofters that are so vital to our landscape and economy. With two sons wanting to farm, it seemed the perfect opportunity to step back and let the next generation have a go.
Moving to an office-based job working in such a large organisation has been a complete culture shock, but I’m loving every minute of it, enjoying the interaction with my colleagues and finding out how I fit into the big picture with my role as agricultural adviser.
You just said that farmers and crofters are vital – in what way?
Farmers and crofters are the backbone of the rural economy, for generations they have shaped the landscape as they go about the task of producing the finest quality food for the nation. The Gaelic word dùthchas means the deep-rooted connection between people and the land and nature and nowhere is this seen more than in our farmers and crofters. They are not just food producers, they are passionate stewards of the countryside, creating habitats, increasing biodiversity and helping to combat climate change. It is essential that we support this industry to maintain sustainable food security and keep viable rural employment and thriving communities for this generation and the next.
What does your day to day role look like?
My day-to-day role is liaising with farmers and crofters and looking for ways to support them to make their businesses sustainable and successful. Being able to get involved with projects like the Strathspey Wetlands and Waders Initiative and the current Climate Adaptation Fund have been recent highlights for me. Going out and talking to farmers and helping them to make good applications for grant funding has been really rewarding. I’ve not given up farming completely though – I still manage an early tour of the calving sheds before I head into the office.
Has anything about the role stood out to you so far?
The passion of the staff. The Park Authority is full of hard-working dedicated people delivering for nature and for people living and working in the National Park. There’s a great team of people working behind the scenes to support those on the ground in land management, conservation, peatland restoration, and access. They are also the friendliest bunch of people and have made me feel very welcome in my new role, as well as being very patient and helpful when explaining all the (new to me) technology.
Tell us something about yourself that we might not know – who is the man behind the job title?
As someone who looks like they were built for comfort rather than speed it might surprise you to know that I used to really enjoy cycling. Due to a couple of unfortunate accidents, the cycling has been neglected in recent years, but I am now in my fifth week of cycling to work and enjoying feeling a bit fitter, as well as reducing my own personal carbon footprint. As a Scotch beef producer, I do like to cook a bit too. Mostly comfort food like hearty stews, spicy chilli or a beef rendang if I’m feeling adventurous. Although I love both my jobs, I also subscribe to the “more to life than work” mantra and enjoy touring Scotland with Mrs Smith on the motorbike or more extended adventures in our old convertible car with some other couples of a similar vintage to ourselves.
To find out more about what Malcolm has been doing in his role you can click here to read his recent Cairngorms Nature column.