Business Divisions

The Estate manages some of Scotland's most prestigious landscape. Our sporting brochure and quality accommodation, which is also available for corporate or private lets, can be viewed at www.strathspey-estate.co.uk. The three Castle Grant fishing beats are internationally renowned. The sporting operations, including grouse moors, 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 programme of vermin control and moor maintenance. The sport is expensive to supply and operate but it enables essential essential land management to be financed and helps maintain our beautiful Scottish uplands. Shooting supports rural families and jobs and brings considerable foreign currency into the local economy. Shooting sports receive no subsidy from the EU or the UK Treasury.

Old Cullen Farms - a typical annual cropping programme

	Acres	Hectares
Spring Barley	2,313	936
Winter Barley	254	103
Winter Wheat	736	298
Winter Oilseed Rape	288	117
Grass	371	150
Potatoes	109	44
Set Aside	270	109
Totals	4,341	1,757

 

Under the new European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the partnership qualifies for 1,269.05 Single Farm Payment (SFP) units of entitlement. The amount paid is after deductions for the National Reserve, modulation and financial discipline. In 2013 the payment is around £304,000 (around �70 per acre). Payment depends on the land being managed to Standards of Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (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.

Woodland at Cullen is predominantly Sitka spruce which grows on a 55 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.

	Acres	Hectares
Spring Barley	421	170
Winter Barley	179	72
Winter Wheat	111	45
Winter Oilseed Rape	192	78
Grass	35	14
Potatoes	121	49
Set Aside	18	7
Totals	1,077	435

 

The business qualifies for 374.24 Single Farm Payment (SFP) units of entitlement after Standards of Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) have been met, with the 2013 payment in the region of £90,000 (�83.50 per acre).