THE search is on for two new farming families to become Scotland’s next agritourism monitor farmers.

Anyone with an interest in farming, rural tourism and food and drink is invited to come to the launch event for the new agritourism monitor farm programme, which will take place on at Briarlands Farm, Blairdrummond, by Stirling, on Monday, January 28, from 3pm to 6pm.

The event will allow anyone interested in either applying to become the monitor farmer or interested in becoming part of the community groups who attend each monitor meeting, to find out more about what is involved.

One of the new agritourism monitor farms will be in the East Central area of Scotland and one will be in the West. Although the monitor farmers must come from within one of these areas, those attending the meetings can come from anywhere in Scotland.

Scottish Enterprise funded and managed, the last two agritourism monitor farms have been at Laggan Farm in Dumfries and Galloway and at Peel Farm in Angus.

Scottish Enterprise this week said that it was 'delighted' to announce funding and support for a new three-year programme, with the first meetings at the new farms taking place in the early spring.

Head of rural at Scottish Enterprise, Julian Pace, said: “The last programme was very successful and supported significant growth and development not only for the monitor farmers themselves, but also for many community group members who either developed new services, invested in facilities or set up a new agritourism business from scratch.”

Caroline Millar, who delivered the first agritourism monitor farm programmes and who has extensive experience at home and abroad in supporting farm businesses in tourism development, recently won the bid to facilitate these new monitor farms. Caroline will be supported by Rebecca Dawes and Becca Rainnie of Jane Craigie Marketing in event management and communications for the project.

In order to reach as wide an audience as possible across Scottish agriculture, NFU Scotland will also work to share knowledge and best practice in farm tourism and actively encourage new farmers to consider the farm tourism market.

NFUS chief executive, Scott Walker, said: “Agritourism is already providing a valuable income stream to many farming and crofting family businesses across Scotland. The sector plays a vital role in bringing consumers and farm-based businesses closer together, something which is essential for the future of our industry. We are keen to support this investment in skills and knowledge sharing for the benefit of our sector and the wider Scottish economy.”