Farm Assessor Thanked for Years of Work and Dedication

After assessing Scottish farms for over 15 years, a highly respected and well-known farm assessor has decided to hang up his wellies.

Jim Brown, who will be a familiar face to many Scottish farmers, was thanked by colleagues for his years of dedication and sterling work at his recent retirement farewell.

Mr Brown, who has carried out thousands of farm audits and assessments, started his agricultural career as an agricultural engineer with John Rutherford and Son of Coldstream, specialising in the grain handling department.

He joined the family farm in 1968 and then moved on to complete his City & Guilds in Agriculture attending Duns Agricultural Centre and Oatridge College, gaining three distinctions and seven credits.

Mr Brown then joined SFQC in October 1998, firstly assessing for the cereals scheme before joining the livestock team in in 2001 where there was a move towards providing integrated assessments.

At SFQC, Mr Brown demonstrated real industry experience and expert understanding, establishing him as a well-respected figure in the Scottish agricultural community.

Louise Prentice, SFQC’s Livestock Scheme manager said: “Jim will be an enormous loss to the assessor team as whatever he was asked to do, it was always completed on time and to a very high standard and I think that describes a lot about Jim’s approach to life and work.”

Uel Morton, QMS Chief Executive who presented Mr Brown with a token of appreciation said: “On behalf of the industry, QMS would like to thank Jim for his years of dedicated service.

“At QMS we very much appreciate the sterling work Jim has done for us on the QMS stand at the Highland show over the past eleven years.

“Jim has also been very supportive of the dual inspections with the Scottish SPCA and, as you know, this has been a very important development for the industry.

“On behalf of everyone at SFQC and QMS I would like to wish Jim a long and very happy retirement.  Well done Jim.”

Mr Brown, who was visibly humbled by the presentation, said: “I’ve immensely enjoyed working with great colleagues and in such a rewarding role.

“After so many years of working in the Scottish agricultural industry, and getting to know many of the farmers, I will to continue to keep a keen eye on developments.

“I am, however, really looking forward to taking life easy, although I might dabble in some farming work here and there!”