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The Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme represents a three-year investment of £440,000 made by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of growth targets as set out in Scotland's National Agritourism Strategy.

This includes bringing around 300 new farms and crofts into the sector and increasing the value of the sector to £250 million per annum from £170m per annum.

Eleven businesses and their local community members were interviewed about their future plans for agritourism and farm retail growth over a two-week period, with four successful businesses selected.

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Fearn Farm, in Easter Ross, which produces Scotch beef, Scotch lamb and cereals; Westerton Farmers, in Aberdeenshire, which grows a range of vegetable and cereals; Kinclune Estate and Organic Farm, in Angus, which produces Scotch beef and Scotch lamb and Ernespie Farm, in Dumfries and Galloway, which is a dairy farm, were selected.

Monitor farms

In addition, two other farms will become satellite monitor farms and will host one monitor farm visit each year.

An additional 40 businesses were being supported as part of the core community group, receiving targeted support and advice. 

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Latest statistics for the sector announced at the conference showed there were now officially 632 farms and crofts in Scotland with an agritourism or farm retail business, up by just over 100 in the last 12 months from 531. Some of these were new entrants and others have now listed with visitscotland.com and are now being counted in official figures. 

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance Shona Robison said Scotland's rural economy was ‘bursting with talent and potential' and she was ‘delighted' the Scottish Government was backing the programme.