The family businesses operate through a number of trading concerns:| Trading Name | Proprietors |
Seafield Estate |
The Earl of Seafield |
| Reidhaven Estate | The Reidhaven Trust |
| Ogilvie-Grant Estate | The
Hon. Alexander Ogilvie-Grant |
| Cullen Farms | The
Earl of Seafield The Countess of Seafield The Reidhaven Trust The Hon. Alexander Ogilvie-Grant |
| Dava Enterprises Ltd | The
Earl of Seafield The Reidhaven Trust |
| Deskford Trading Co Ltd. | The Earl of Seafield |
| Docharn Enterprises Ltd. | The Reidhaven Trust |
Seafield Estate
The operation manages woodlands, let farms and residential property in the Cullen Estate, and mainly mature forestry interests in Strathspey.
Commercial woodland at Cullen is predominately Sitka spruce which grows on a 60 year rotation and is intended, mainly, for the UK construction market. In the course of a growing cycle, a number of thinnings may be made to allow the better development of the crop. Much of the timber at Strathspey is native Scots pine which has a much longer growing cycle. All of the family woodlands are certified under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). Compliance with UKWAS involves adhering to agreed principles and practices of sustainable forest management, from initial planning to harvesting. UKWAS is recognised by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which is an international organisation that brings people together to find solutions which promote responsible stewardship of the world’s forests.
There is considerable interaction with the local villages. The Estate, as the major landowner in the area, acts as a facilitator making land available for housing and commercial needs to enable the settlements to grow.
Reidhaven Estate
Although there are let farms, in hand farmland and forestry interests at Cullen, the major trading operation involves the sporting and let land on the Strathspey Estate.
The Estate manages some of Scotland's most prestigious sport. This site hosts a sample of our sporting brochure, which sets out the variety of sport and quality accommodation available. The three Castle Grant fishing beats are internationally renowned and the Estate's grouse moors are equally famous. The sporting operations are managed entirely commercially rather than for the benefit of the proprietor.
Sporting shooting is labour intensive. While revenue comes from only a few days sport, there is a continual program of vermin control and moor maintenance. The sport is expensive to supply and manage but it allows the essential muirburn etc. to be financed and allows Scotland's beautiful uplands to be maintained. Shooting supports rural families and jobs and brings considerable foreign currency into the local economy. It receives no subsidy from the UK treasury.
Ogilvie-Grant Estate
With business interests at both Cullen and Strathspey, income is generated from forestry and the letting of agricultural land at Cullen.
Cullen Farms
All of the arable land belonging to the above three estates which is not let, has been committed by the proprietors to a farming partnership. In 1995, a large area of less productive land was turned over to new forestry planting. With break crops from potatoes and oil seed rape, barley of malting quality is the main output to quality assured standards. The spread of crops on arable land in a typical year would be:
| Acres | Hectares | |
| Spring Barley | 2,268 | 918 |
| Winter Barley | 314 | 127 |
| Winter wheat | 716 | 290 |
| Winter oilseed rape | 399 | 161 |
| Grass | 450 | 182 |
| Potatoes | 180 | 73 |
| Set aside | 500 | 202 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| Totals | 4,827 | 1,953 |
| ===== | ===== |
Under the new European Common Agricultural Policy, the partnership qualifies for 1,652.08 Single Farm Payment (SFP) units of entitlement. The amount paid is after deductions for the National Reserve, modulation and financial discipline. In 2007 the SFP amounted to £354,547. Payment depends on the land being managed to a standard described as ‘good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). The SFP and associated cross-compliance controls acknowledge the public benefits derived from good agricultural management. Under the new CAP proposals, it is anticipated that the SFP will reduce in future years.
Dava Enterprises Ltd
This company has two main functions: the operation of a small industrial site
at the former Boyndie Airfield, near Banff, and the provision of corporate management
for all of family estates and associated businesses. A wind farm at Boyndie has been generating electricity since 2006.
Deskford Trading Company Ltd
Docharn Enterprises Ltd
Both companies are partners in Cullen Farms, and owned by the Earl of Seafield
and The Reidhaven Trust respectively.